Site Partner: Sandhills Family Heritage Association

Available:  September 1, 2007

Deadline:  June 8, 2007

Decision:  July 6, 2007

Contact:  bryan@designcorps.org

Job Description:

COMMUNITY NEED:

The African Americans in Harnett and Cumberland counties, with a poverty rate 23.9 % and 20.8% respectively, have a goal for the adaptive re-use of the old Spring Lake Civic Center building and site, as a historic heritage museum.

The current poverty rates among African Americans in Harnett and Cumberland counties are 23.9 % and 20.8% respectively, contrasted with the rates among white residents--11.3% in Harnett and 7.7% in Cumberland counties. The state poverty rate is 12.3%. 

Poverty is a major obstacle in the region addressed by this project.  The lack of technical abilities for these low income residents means that local skills or fundraising alone will not lead to the planning, design, finance and renovation of the building. 

FELLOW’S ROLE:

The Fellow will coordinate all meetings and site visits, contact community members to participate in the charettes and arrange meetings with community members to learn more about the building’s history, past uses, and it’s significance.   Fellow will then develop plans for adaptive re-use of the old Spring Lake Civic Center building and site.  The Fellow will work with SFHA members who will be involved in the design process to help develop “adaptive re-use” plans for a community kitchen, small business incubator, heritage museum, SFHA offices, and landscape designs that include an herbal trail. 

TARGET RESULTS:

• Conduct charette process to gain community input for site design
• Produce blueprint for building/site design of heritage museum
• Interview key community members – elected officials, local gov’t, farmers & crafters, SFHA membership (code issues)
• Create landscape design – to feature herbal trail to accompany published book: Healing from the Land
• Contribute to effort to ensure sustainability for only African American farmers market in the region.
• Engagement of community around design & landscaping planning
• Raise awareness about connectedness of architectural design and community participation
• Create site where low wealth community can generate earned income.
• Gain knowledge of traditional healing techniques
• Community center will be a resource center for black history in the area and for tracking genealogy

QUALIFICATIONS:

The ideal candidate will have:

• A degree in architecture, historic preservation, landscape architecture, or planning.
• Experience/study in construction, urban design, urban policy, community service, non-profit or non-governmental organizations is a plus but not required.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• The ability to work with diverse groups, and the demonstrated capacity to move between cultures, disciplines, and professions.
• Highly organized and motivated.