Community Based Planning

Current

I was impressed by Pomegranate Center’s ability to turn anger and frustration into a shared, community supported plan. It began with tears and ended with applause.
- Virginia Hassinger, Seattle Parks and Recreation

Yesler Terrace Cultural and Community Stewardship Project, Seattle, Washington.
The Seattle Housing Authority is developing community-based ideas to honor the people, history and uniqueness of the historic Yesler Terrace affordable housing community. Pomegranate Center is leading a series of community conversations at Yesler Terrace to incorporate these concepts and elements into community gathering places, and integrate art into public areas during the site redevelopment design process.

2006

Main Street Reconstruction Public Art Enhancement Vision, Duvall, Washington.
Pomegranate Center, in partnership with KPG Engineering, assisted the City of Duvall with its Main Street design by envisioning how art enhancements could retain and strengthen the community’s identity. Beginning with the place-making question “What makes it Duvall”, the visioning process yielded themes from the adjacent river and nature which embodied the City’s past, present, and relationship to the natural world.

2005

Highlands Council Strategic Plan, Issaquah, Washington.
Pomegranate Center assisted Port Blakely Communities and the Highlands Council—a multi-stakeholder group of Port Blakely staff and community leaders—in developing a strategic plan for a newly formed Council the purpose of which is the development of a vibrant and caring community: promoting greater involvement, life enrichment and sustainability of the entire community.

2004

Burien Pedestrian and Bicycle Trails, Burien, Washington
Pomegranate Center, in partnership with the J.A.Brennan Associates, facilitated community meetings to determine needs and desires of residents in developing the City’s plan for non-motorized trails. The plan received 2005 award from the WA Planning Association.

2002

Burien Town Center Visioning, Burien, Washington
Pomegranate Center, in partnership with Carlson Architects, led a community visioning and conceptual design process for the second phase of the Town Center. Developed by many people through a hands-on process, a set of core interviews, and a “community climate” check, the process defined a set of core principles which then were used to define the structure and character of the Town Center public realm (a network of streets, paths, and gathering places), and to develop the RFP for the public-private development. This framework and set of relationships was then used to locate buildings and specific uses within the Town Center, which is now in development.

2002

Ernst Park, Seattle, Washington
Pomegranate Center collaborated with landscape architect Tom Atkins in helping neighborhood residents plan and design for developing a vacant lot into a neighborhood pocket park. This park was envisioned to serve as a social focal point for the Fremont neighborhood.

2002

Creative City, City of Ottawa, Canada.
Milenko Matanovic conducted a day-long symposium for City staff and community leaders on developing a series of projects combining place-making, community building and art.

2001-2002

Ravenna Creek Day-lighting Project, Seattle, Washington
Facilitated community process for the Seattle Parks with the goal of day-lighting Ravenna Creek.

2000

Spokane Neighborhood Action Programs, Spokane, Washington
Facilitated a series of design workshops for an affordable, energy-efficient housing project.

1999-2000

U.S. Department of Energy and APEC
Convened an interdisciplinary planning process for a model rural sustainable village in Guanghan, China.

1999-2000

OPAL, Orcas Island, Washington
Facilitated community consensus for a new affordable housing development on Orcas Island.

1998

U.S. Department of Energy, Marlington, West Virginia
Led a goal-setting session with community members to identify options for the future in the wake of persistent floods.

1998

WA State Department of Community, Trade, and Economic Development
Facilitated strategic planning meetings for the statewide housing program.

1997-1998

City of Calgary Parks Department, Calgary, Canada
Conducted meetings between citizen groups and governmental bodies toward creating a more sustainable and humane city.

1994

U.S. Dept. of Energy, American Institute of Architects, Pattonsburg, MO
Led goal-setting sessions with town residents to identify environmental and cultural priorities for a new town plan in the wake of persisting flooding.

1993-1998

Port Blakely Communities, Inc., Seattle, Washington
Facilitated the integration of Guiding Principles of environmental sustainability, aesthetic integrity, and community amenities into a new urban village.

1991-1993

Chattanooga, Tennessee
Coordinated citywide forums and initiatives resulting in greater commitment to a sustainable future.