the village at market creek

the village at market creek executive summary october 2012 i

ii introduction

The Village at Market Creek is primed to grow into one of San Diego s most lively, multi-cultural arts destinations. Our community is proud of its unique cultural heritage and artistic traditions, and plans to highlight them through The Village development. Continuing the art and design work that residents and community artists have created over the last decade, we aim to innovate as we envision what public art in The Village can be now and in the future. With this Plan as a guide, our goal is to incorporate the arts into all future development within The Village to help build our community s economic strength and enhance its beauty and vitality. 1

introduction history of arts and culture From the beginning, arts and culture have played a key role in the development of The Village at Market Creek, bringing together community members as well as artists to shape both its look and character. The rich history of arts and culture in The Village can be experienced in many different ways. Coyote Tracks Sculpture Writerz Blok Graffiti Art Park African Batik Tile Walkway Market Creek Plaza Amphitheater 2

Planning Background and process The National Endowment for the Arts awarded the City of San Diego Commission for Arts and Culture and the Jacobs Center for Neighborhood Innovation (JCNI) an Our Town grant in 2011 to engage local residents, cultural leaders, artists, and regional arts leaders to collaborate in the development of an art and design plan for The Village at Market Creek. The Plan is based on concepts outlined and affirmed by community stakeholders along each step of the process. Six community workshops were conducted to gather input on specific Plan elements. In addition, regular meetings with a Guide Team, arts stakeholders, and the JCNI Development Team helped to shape content and refine concepts and recommendations. Community Workshop in the Center for Community & Cultural Arts 3

community vision Residents have led the vision and planning of the community throughout The Village at Market Creek development process. Likewise, the Art + Design Plan is based on a vision for the future shaped by the values and ideas of community participants. Through the visioning process, residents identified the overarching themes that artists should integrate into future public art projects. They also identified a range of potential art forms, including many that reach outside of conventional media to reflect the uniqueness of The Village community. 4

cultural celebrating a unique cultural community natural chollas creek as a symbol of natural history and a sustainable, caring revitalization process for the neighborhood traditional + contemporary multi-generational experiences and expressions of beauty inspirational an engaging arts district that inspires us every day to be creative and innovative Common themes Community members identified several fundamental values that should be expressed by art in The Village. These values were synthesized into common themes that will guide the creation of all public art, ensuring a sense of unity and beauty throughout The Village at Market Creek. 5

community vision Art Forms Through a brainstorming process, community members and the project team answered the question, What is art in The Village? Branching outside of traditional media, the answers incorporate unconventional expressions of art such as sports, food, and storytelling. The diagram below is not intended to limit potential public art concepts, but rather should be used as a starting point to inspire a broad view of the potential for the arts to reflect and enhance this community. landscape architecture writing environmental art mosaics storytelling architecture water elements temporary art installations photography food sculpture Digital Art murals performance graffiti tattoos music clothing crafts painting dance/ movement multi-sensory art art using recycled materials sports cultural performance sound/ audio jewelry 6

Architecture Clothing Crafts Digital Art Environmental Art Food Graffiti Multi-sensory Art Murals Painting Performance Photography Sculpture Sports Storytelling Tattoos 7

locations for art Guymon Apartments Horton Elementary School Market Street Hillside Commercial Northwest Village No Co Market & 47th Southeast Corner Writerz Blok Village Transit Hub T Creek Terrace Townhomes V West Village Chollas Creek Enhancement Project Festival Park & World Courtyard Ma Market Creek Amphitheater Southwest Village River Parkway 8

T west Village Enhancement t he Village at Market Creek Master Plan llage creates a framework of development sites Northwest Village Creek Enhancement Project ntary Institute ence orthwest Village BRYCO Business Park ommercial Valencia Park/ Elementary Institute Malcolm X Library of Science BRYCO Business Park Valencia Park/ Market Street Office/ Malcolm X Library Light Industrial Project Market Street Office/ Light Industrial Project V connected through a system of walking trails and pathways. They are organized around Chollas Creek as the unifying element in the neighborhood. Within this framework, several distinct types of opportunity V sites for visual and performing arts were Chollas Creek Encanto ChollasTributary Creek Enhancement Encanto Project Tributary Enhancement Project Tubman-Chavez ART OPPORTUNITY SITES Multicultural Center man-chavez ticultural Center Naranja Commercial EXISTING ART OPPORTUNITY SITES CONSTRUCTION FENCE VACANT LOT BUS STOP T TROLLEY STOP CONSTRUCTION BLANK WALL/FENCEFENCE CREEK LOT VACANT WALKING TRAIL EXISTING V TROLLEY STOP FUTURE TRANSIT STATION BLANK WALL/FENCE COMMERCIAL CREEK OPEN SPACE WALKING HOUSING TRAIL Plaza WALKING TRAIL N 200 400 feet N 100 200 400 feet developments, parks and trails, pedestrian BUS STOP T 100 process. These categories include new V a Commercial Creek Plaza arket 0 identified during the Art + Design Planning BRIDGE FUTURE GATEWAY TRANSIT MEDIAN STATION LANDSCAPED SIDEWALK COMMERCIAL OPEN SPACE HOUSING WALKING TRAIL BRIDGE GATEWAY MEDIAN LANDSCAPED SIDEWALK paths, gateways, and temporary sites. Building on the community vision, each of these locations is explored based on their assets and opportunities for improvement. 9

locations for art The following section provides examples of art forms that could be installed in each type of location to achieve the community s goals and enhance the built environment. New Developments New developments can integrate art into their design, including patterns and motifs on facades, pathways, and parking lots; functional items such as lighting and shade structures with sculptural forms; and spaces for outdoor galleries and storefront art studios. Parks and Trails Parks and trails can integrate art into their design, including multi-sensory art to create a storytelling experience; art using recycled materials; art that reflects the natural context of Chollas Creek s habitats and ecology; interactive art games for children; functional items such as benches, lighting, and shade structures with sculptural forms; and performance art and art-making. 10

Pedestrian Paths Pedestrian paths can integrate art into their design, including kinetic art (art that moves), video projections, graffiti art, streetscape and landscape design, crosswalks with paintings or mosaics, colorful bus shelters, and audio art for storytelling. Gateways Gateways can integrate art into their design that can serve multiple functions, such as digital boards providing information as well as artwork; light sculptures and colorful lighting in bus transit stops that are both functional and inspirational; and sculptural wayfinding signage providing information while reflecting cultural forms. Temporary Sites Temporary art forms can include a range of interventions, including art woven into fences, digital art in vacant storefronts, graffiti art, video projections, temporary performance spaces, art fairs, and art studios in vacant buildings. Temporary sites create the greatest flexibility for creativity at low cost and high levels of innovative public engagement. 11

design guidelines The Village at Market Creek is envisioned as a bustling residential, commercial, and cultural district built upon the extraordinary multi-cultural strength and entrepreneurial spirit of the surrounding neighborhoods. The design of the built environment should contribute to this vision through identifiable buildings and open spaces that respect the cultural Identifiable Enhance the uniqueness of The Village by providing iconic and recognizable forms. Contextual Respond to the cultural, environmental, and physical characteristics of The Village community. 12

and physical context and help to ensure the sustainability of the community into the future. With the framework of the design guidelines, The Village can become a complex environment of sights, scents, sounds, and textures that surround and support the unique public art works integrated throughout the district. Multi-functional Create design elements that accommodate more than one purpose. Sensorial Design elements that cater to multiple senses. Sustainable Address the environmental, social, and economic needs of the community. 13

design guidelines A. Color The Village at Market Creek is expressive and colorful, and the built environment should reflect this vibrancy. However, every building does not need to have the same level of color variation. Some buildings can be more subtle in order to allow prominent community buildings and key architectural features to stand out. B. Shape Similar to color, distinctive shapes have helped to create The Village s unique identity. In future development, the variety of identifiable shapes should be carefully considered in the design of each building to determine how they work together to form a whole community. C. material/texture Building materials and textures bring both a visual and tactile dimension to the built environment. Landscape and planting palettes are also critical they should be carefully integrated into the design of new developments. 14

D. nature/environment Respect for the natural environment is central to many of the beliefs and values of the community; therefore, the guidelines for environmental sustainability should be incorporated into all future development in The Village. In addition, all new developments are required to meet the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design for Neighborhood Development (LEED-ND) criteria. E. culture The neighborhoods of southeastern San Diego are among the most culturally-diverse communities in the nation. From its beginning, The Village has embraced this cultural diversity and integrated it into the form of the community. This celebration of cultural forms should be continued in the design of all new developments in The Village. f. public art The arts are vital to the unique character of The Village. The built environment should support this creativity by physically integrating art into buildings and open spaces, as well as spaces for arts events and programming. 15

implementation The Art + Design Plan is a road map for the integration of unique artistic expressions and cultural features into the built environment of The Village at Market Creek. The arts are a key component of any vibrant and economically sustainable community, and the Plan outlines the implementation steps and partnerships necessary to realize the community s vision. Overall, the implementation strategy recognizes the involvement of community members, local artists, and arts and culture organizations in the development of The Village, and outlines the process to build upon this foundation to create a truly forward-thinking and inclusive community. 16

recommendations Overview Celebrating The Village at Market Creek Shape The Village identity through artworks and development that reflect the local community and build on existing programs. Creating a Community of Support Establish partnerships, provide outreach, and publicize the arts in The Village to create a broad base of interest and support. Supporting Artists Engage in practices that yield the best quality results from local, regional, national, and international artists. Funding the Public Art Program Create a funding program that includes public and private donors as well as future developers in The Village. Managing the Program Ensure that the program involves artists in the early stages of design and provides for the administration, community participation, and maintenance of public artworks. Managing the Artworks Establish appropriate administration and evaluation processes for public art in The Village. Creating Partnerships with City Agencies Collaborate with City of San Diego agencies and comply with relevant plans in the development of public art, buildings, and open spaces. 17

800 hearst avenue Berkeley, CA 94710 510-845-7549 www.migcom.com For more information go to www.thevillageatmarketcreek.com or email Arts@JacobsCenter.org 18