Design Thesis - Strengthening Community Through the Post-Industrial Landscape

Preface 1-2

I.Exploring the Post-Industrial Landscape 3-5 II.Gas Works Park - Seattle, Wa 6-10III.Zhongshan Shipyard Park - China 11-13IV.Reclaiming the Post-Industrial Landscape 14-15V.Whatisa“Sense of Place”? 16-17VI.The Site - LaGrange, Ga. 18-36 1. Geologic History 19-21 2. Textile History 22-24 3.Creating Community 25-26 4. Callaway Mill Village 27-29 5. Physical Signs of Social Capital 30-36VII.Site Analysis - Assessing Social Capital 37-46VIII.Site Design - Building Social Capital 47-54

Bibliography 55-57

Appendix 58-67

Table of Contents

istrengthening community through the post-industrial landscape : table of contents

Inthismodernera,architectsandplanners

alikestrivetogeneratea“sustainablecommunity”-a

communitywhere“peopleworktogether,naturaland

historicresourcesarepreserved,jobsareavailable,sprawlis

contained,neighborhoodsaresecure,educationislifelong,

transportationandhealthcareareaccessible,andall

citizenshaveopportunitiestoimprovethequalityoftheir

lives”.1Thiscontemporaryinterestformoresustainable,

morelivable,communitiescontinuesanage-oldtradition

inthesearchforidealhumangroupings-adebatethat

haspersistedintheUnitedStatessinceitsestablishment.

Beginningwiththematterofdeterminationtoward

whichformofsettlementcontributedmosttodemocracy,

Americawasabruptlysuperimposedwithimmediate

competitionbetweenJefferson’sdispersedagrarianism,

Adam’sBoston,Franklin’sPhiladelphia,andHamilton’s

NewYorkCityideals.2Designmanifestation’softhis

naturehavesincebeenincludedinmanydebatesranging

fromFrankLloydWright’s“BroadacreCity”tohisprotege

PaoloSoleri’sradicallydifferent“organic”manifestation

ofArcosanti,and(morerecently)LewisMumford’s

decentralistregionalismincontrasttoJaneJacob’surban

villageconcept-allofwhicharehumanaspirationsin

searchofaplacethatfostersa“commonunity”amongits

peopleandtheland.

Derivedfromthelatinrootword,communis,

meaning“commoninthesenseofsharingequallyor

togetherwithothers”,“Community”isdefinedas“an

associationofinteractingpopulations,usuallydelimitedby

theirinteractionsorspatialoccurrence”.Theideaofthis

communitasassociationisrepresentedwithinaframework

ofsharedbeliefs,interests,andcommitmentsthatunitesa

setofvariedgroupsandactivities.3Thus,“Community”

isdependentupontheconnectionandformationofsocial

networks-networksgeneratedthroughthepresenceof

socialcapital.

Thisthesisseekstounderstandtheconceptof

socialcapitalanditsrelevancetothehealthofurban

communities.Withafocusdirectedtowardhistorictextile

millsandtheirrespective“millvillages”withinthecityof

LaGrange,Georgia,myinvestigationexploresstrategiesto

fostersocialcapitalandtheformationofsocialnetworksas

theenduringbackbonetotherevitalizationofthe“senseof

community”withinthearea.Whyisthefocusonthemill

1. “Sustainable Development : A New Consensus”. pg 12

2. Steiner. “Human Ecology”. pg 59

3. Selznick. “In Search of Community”. pg 195

1 strengthening community through the post-industrial landscape : preface

villages?Well,thetextilemillvillagesofLaGrangewere

onceverystrongsocialcommunities.Broughttogether

byasenseofinclusioninthetextileindustry,thelocal

millwasthesenseofidentityforthemillworkersand

theirfamilies.Thecharacteroftheirvillagesetthemapart

fromtherestandsotheytookgreatprideinpreserving

it.Togethertheymaintainedthestatusoftheirvillage,

whichcanbeseeninthenumerouscommunitygardens,

parks,festivalgrounds,andothercommunalvillagesites

presentinthehistoricSanbornFireInsurancemaps.Once

thetextileindustrydeclinedresultingintheclosureof

themills,avastamountofthepopulationhadtoleave

thevillageinsearchofwork.Astimepassed,thelackof

industryledtoarapiddeclineinpropertyvaluesaswell

asthedeteriorationofthemillsandpreviouslycommunal

villagesites.Thevillageswereeventuallyre-inhabited,but

weretargetedasacheapplacetolive,notasaplacewith

anoutstandingcommunitystatusordeepculturalhistory.

Thus,thecommunitylostits“roots”inplacewhich

fosteredthesocialvitalityofthevillages.4

TheprojectsitethatIhavechosenconsistsoffour

ofthesepost-industriallandscapes,allofwhicharelocated

intheSouthwestpartofthecity,wherethedereliction

ofthosesites’hasextendedbeyondtheirboundariesand

intothesurroundingcommunity.Howdoyoumanage

thesesitesastheinitialefforttowardtherevitalization

ofthecommunity?Willthecommunitybenefitifthese

sitesarepreservedorremoved?Howcanyoureclaima

“senseofplace”backintothislandscape?Thesearejust

afewofthemanyquestionsthathavearisenthroughout

thisthesisinvestigation.AsIseektoprovideanswersto

theseinquiries,Ibeginthisdocumentationwithaninitial

explorationintothecauses,meaning,andcurrentstateof

thepost-industriallandscapeitself.

Myestablishedgoalforthisinvestigationis

tounderstandtheuniquespatial,architectural,and

culturalqualitiesofanabandonedindustriallandscape

andhowthesequalitiescanbereclaimedintoavibrant

socialspacethatcanstrengthen“Community”withina

neighborhood.

2strengthening community through the post-industrial landscape : preface

4. Interview. Ricky Wolfe. Native of LaGrange, Georgia.

Thisthesisendeavorgrewoutofaninterestin

derelict,post-industriallandscapes.Whiledrivingthrough

historicindustrialcitiessuchasAtlanta,Iwasintrigued

bythenumberofvacant,industrialsitesabandoned

throughoutthecity.Technologicalstructures,once

symbolicofavibrant,economicallyvitallandscape,are

nowrelicsofahistoricallyrichculturalheritagethatis

driftingintofurtherdisrepairwitheachpassingofthe

day.Myinitialinvestigationistoexplorethepresence

oftheseindustrialartifactswithinthecontemporary

urbanlandscape.Howarethesederelictlandscapes

interpreted?Dotheseabandonedstructuresstillhold

apurpose?Theseinitialquestionsledmetothetopics

ofbrownfieldredevelopmentandindustrialarcheology,

twocontemporaryandseeminglyconventionalmethods

usedtomanagethepost-industriallandscape.Fromthis

preliminaryresearch,abroadinvestigationhasaccrued.

Whyarederelictlandscapessoprominent

acrosstheurbanscene?JohnA.Jakle,authorofnumerous

worksonsocialgeographyanditsinfluenceonthebuilt

environment,believesthatlandscapederelictioninthe

UnitedStatesistheresultofbothphysicalandfunctional

obsolescencebeginningsubstantiallyafterWorldWar

II.“ThesuccessesoftheWar,andoftheAmerican

worldeconomichegemonythatfollowed,bolstered

U.S.confidencetoconfigureitselfanewinthesuburban

environment.Growthwasbelievedtobethepanaceato

solveallproblems,sincetheAmericanengineforchange

appearedboundless.Institutionscreatedtoremedythe

Depressionofthe1930’s,complementedbynewinitiatives

fosteringascendantspecialinterests(housing,automobiles

andhighways,andhomelanddefense),setinmotiona

massiverebuildingthattooklittleheedoftheold,which,

ingeneral,wasallowedtolanguish.However,bythe

1970’s,theveryfabricofAmerica’straditionalcitiesand

countrysideshadbeguntounravel,andbehindthe

facadesofmodernityaccumulatedextensivedeclineand

decay.Bythe1980’s,Americansthenfoundthemselves

withunprecedentedblight,anditistheremnantsofthis

The Post-Industrial Landscape

Introduction:

photos taken by researcher

der-e-lict:left or deserted; abandoned; neglected; relinquished

3 introduction : exploring the post-industrial landscape

conditionthatstillpersiststhroughouttheurbanfabric

today”.1Thefactories,mills,powerplants,transport

terminals,railandhighwaygridsthatweseeallaround

ushavenowbecomerelicsthatremindusofthishistoryas

wellasourtransformationintothe“Post-IndustrialAge”.

Formallyconsummatingthewholeorderofoursociety

across

theUnitedStates,thespreadofAmericanIndustryhas

nowrunitscourse,andasocietalchangemustensuethat

recognizesanewandvastlydifferentsetofprinciples.Itis

preciselythoseprinciplesregardingtherelicsofthe

industriallandscapethatIammostinterestedin.

AccordingtoJ.B.Jackson,founderofLandscape

Journal,“weadmireandtrytocollectthingsnotsomuch

fortheirbeautyorvalueasfortheirassociationwitha

phaseofourpast,morespecifically,aprivatevernacular

past”.2However,asAmericans,weseemmostwillingto

appreciateandlearnfromwhathaslatelybeenlost.In

regardstotheindustriallandscapesthatlayderelictacross

thenation,theircontentshaveprogressedonwardleaving

behinddeterioratingstructurestocharacterizethefinal

remnantsofsymbolicvaluetoourindustrialheritage.

Well,whyisourindustrialheritageimportant?Whatisthe

significanceofitsremembrance?InthewordsofJackson,

“ruinsprovideanincentiveforrestorationandareturnto

origins”-(ie.Historyteachesustocherishthepresent,

lessonslearnedsowedon’tmakethesamemistakesover

again).3Inhisessay“ATouroftheMonumentsofPassaic,

NewJersey”,RobertSmithson,anAmericanminimalist

artistfamousforhislandart,noted“aplacewithoutrelics

seemsfullofholesthatinasensearethemonumental

vacanciesthatdefine,withouttrying,thememory-tracesof

anabandonedsetoffutures”.4

Whethertheselandscapesshouldbepreservedfor

QHow are these derelict landscapes interpreted?

Do these abandoned structures still hold a purpose?

4introduction : exploring the post-industrial landscape

photo taken by researcher

1. Jakle and Wilson. “Derelict Landscapes: The Wasting of America’s Built Environment”. pg 9

2. Jackson. “The Necessity for Ruins” .pg 89

3. Jackson. “The Necessity for Ruins”.pg 102

4. “Robert Smithson : The Collected Writings”. pg 72

purposesisuptothevernacularpastoftheobserver.

However,inthewakeofthiscurrentdemolitionand

ignorance,ournationcontinuestoregardthesesitesas

“utilitarianembarrassments,tobeignoredifpossible,

otherwisedespised”.5Thisobservationisheavily

influencedbythefactthatthemostpervasivelandscapes

ofthepost-industrialageareabusedandpolluted

“brownfield”sitesthatpresentnumerouschallenges.

Describedas“abandonedorunderusedindustrialand

commercialsiteswhereredevelopmentiscomplicatedby

realorperceivedcontamination”,6brownfieldobscurities

rangefromtheremediationoftoxicenvironmentsto

thetaskofdefiningnewprogramsforthesecurrently

inhospitableplaces.Mostfrequently,theseparticularsites

areonlynoticediftheirlocationhasthepotentialfor

immediateeconomicdevelopment.Therefore,duetothis

perspectivethatviewstheseparticularareasasaneconomic

incentiveatthecostofenvironmentalremediation,

rarelyistheremuchenticementtocapandconceal

thecontaminatedsoiloradaptivelyre-usetheexisting

buildings.Thebrownfieldremediationprocessbecomes

simplisticandtimeefficientiftheexistingcontentsare

completelyremoved,butconversely,throughthistabula

rasaapproach,thepreservationofthesite’shistoriccontent

becomesobsolete.So,whyinvestthetime?Whatarethe

benefitstotheadaptivere-useofthesehistoricstructures?

Whatcanthesestructuresprovide?tabula rasa (latin) : tablet + erased - to start over; to return to the beginning; re-establish origins

photos taken by researcher

5 introduction : exploring the post-industrial landscape

5. Sande.“Industrial Archeology : A New Look at the American Heritage”. pg 3

6. “Manufactured Sites : Rethinking the Post-Industrial Landscape”. pg 4

Gas Works Park - Seattle, Wa

Case Study: “terra firma giveswaytoterra incognita;thatwhichisvisibleischallengedbytheinvisible.” -RichardHaag-DesignerofGasWorksPark

6 case study : gas works park

Photo courtesy of the cityofseattle.net/gasworkspark

GasWorksParkisatwenty-acrecityparklocated

twomilesNorthofdowntownSeattlealongthenorth

shoreofLakeUnionandthesouthendoftheWallingford

neighborhood.Comprisedofanassemblageofindustrial

ruinsfromthelastremainingcoalgasificationplantinthe

UnitedStates,thesiteisananomaly,anidiosyncratic

momentinabroaderexpanseofcontrastingfabric.

TheSeattleGasLightCompanygasificationplant,

whichoperatedfrom1906to1956,waspurchasedby

theCityofSeattlein1962anddesignedasaparkby

LandscapeArchitectRichardHaagin1975.Interpreting

theindustrialremnants-theturbinesandcompressors,the

scrubbersandgenerators,thesheds,thetowers,andthe

sixty-foothighmoundofcontaminatedsoil-aselements

inan“unself-consciousassemblage”1,Haag’sre-

incorporationoftheoldplantsiteinvolvedbotha

preservationandanadaptivere-useapproach.

Complimentingthestructuresthatheleftasruins,Haag

creativelyre-condtionedafewoftheindustrialremnants

tobecomeutilizedforrecreationalpurposes(ie.what

wastheplant’sexhauster-compressorbuildinghasbeen

convertedintoachildren’s“playbarn”structure).When

theparkwascompleted,RichardHaag’sprojectwas

viewedandprimarilydefinedaseitheranactofindustrial

heritagepreservationandaestheticconsciousraising,or

justanotherreclamationproject.Haagagreedthatallof

Gas Works Site in 1960

Photo courtesy of Seattle Municipal Archives www.seattle.gov/gasworkspark

“Asworksthatmoveaswellasintrigue,thattouchaswellasmean,RichardHaag’sGasWorksParkismorethanaprecursortoacurrentinterestinrevealingnaturalphenomenaandfindingformthroughnaturalprocesses.Rather,thisprojectopensupconnectionsbetweenbothenvironmentalandculturalhistoriesofaparticularplace.GasWorksavoidsaestheticizingnaturalprocessesorreducingnaturalphenomenatopurespectacleasmuchbyomissionasbyaction.Thelandscapeproducesanexcessofformthroughminimalinterventions,andinsodoingprovidesspacesforflightsofimaginationandperiodsofwondermentandrevelation.Haag’sworkexemplifiesapostmodernsublimeinthequestioningofthenondemonstrableandanattempttorepresenttheunpresentable,theinvisibleofthesite.”

-ElizabethK.Meyer,AssociateProfesser,UniversityofVirginiaDepartmentofLandscapeArchitecture

Inside the “Play Barn”

Photo courtesy of seattlephotographs.com

1. Meyer. “Seized by Sublime Sentiments - Bloedel Reserve and Gas Works Park”. pg 8


thoseassumptionsdodepictthesurfaceoftheproject,

butthattheindustrialruinscontainmuchmorethan

examplesofpreservedhistorictechnology.Byconserving

theindustrialruins,Haagbelievedthattheseremnants

wouldbecome“mnemonicdevicesthatbringtomind

changesinitiatedbyhumans’needtoharnessnaturefor

powerproductionandbuildingmaterials-devicesthat

canexhibitarelationshipbetweentheforcesofhuman

settlementandtechnologicalprogressandtheirimpact

onnaturaldailyprocesses.”2Throughinterventionson

thedisturbedsite,hehopedtocreateaplacewithagreat

formalandvisualpresencethatwouldnotonlyevokethis

relationshiptovisitors,butwouldalsopushthem

throughthebordersofbeautyintoanexcessofformand

experiencethatwasnotagreeablebutpleasurablypainful.

Thus,bydoingthis,hebelievedthatvisitorswouldinduce

apresenceofsublimitywiththesite-astateofmind

inoverwhelmingawe,grandeur,reverence,oremotion

thatwouldevokeeachindividualtoestablishtheirown

personalmeaningtothesite,structure,ormomentin

time.“Mydesignintentionisthattheruinswillhelp

visitorsto“see”thelandscapebyundertandingthesites

initialhumaninterventionanditstransformationthrough

theevolutionofnatural,cultural,andtechnological

processesovertime”.3

WhenRichardHaagencounteredtheGasWorks

site,apreservationistattitudewasnotpre-determined

inthereclamationprocess.Infact,itwasunknown

whetherthestructurecouldbepreservedatall.However,

hisaffectiontowardanemotionalinfluencehefound

residingbehindtheindustrialremnantsaswellasthe

site’ssignificancetothecityofSeattleinspiredhimtodo

somethingwiththeplaceratherthanjustdosomethingto

theplace.TheGasWorkssitenowtellsastoryofprogress

andcontrol.Out-datedbycleanerpoweralternatives

2. Meyer. “Seized by Sublime Sentiments - Bloedel Reserve and Gas Works Park”. pg 8

3. Hilderbrand. “A Teacher’s Teacher - Bloedel Reserve and Gas Works Park”. pg 74

Gas Works Site in 2005

Photo courtesy of USGS photo imaging department


suchashydroelectric,theobsoletegasifciationplanthas

yetanewroletosignifybothtechnologicalachievement

andsociety’sachievementinsolvingtheundesired

environmentaleffectsofthattechnologyandbetter

technologytoariseinthenearfuture.Thus,understanding

thisimportantanduniquequalitywithinthislandscape,

Haagfoundthepotentialintheseindustrialruinstoutilize

landscapearchitectureassiteinterpretationinsteadofjust

designonthelandwhich,accordingtoThe Seattle Times

newspaper,hasinreturn“forgedamechanicalgraveyard

intoanemotionallypowerfulurban-pleasureground”.4

Thesublime,accordingtotheoriesofImmanuel

Kant,islocatedintheviewer,nottheobject.Therefore,

ifthesubjectofthesublimeisonewhoistouched,one

whomovesandismoved,isitpossiblethatlandscape

architecturecandomorethangenerateformfromnatural

processes,orsimplyrevealnaturalprocessesthroughits

formsandspaces?Canafeelingofthesublimemove

asubjecttoamorecomplexunderstandingofthe

interdependencebewteenhumansandtheland?Can

Haag’swork,operatingattheedgeofcreationand

destruction,regenerationanddecay,offeramorecomplex

disciplinarymythologythanredemptionandthepromise

ofhealingforitself?Thus,canaworkoflansdscape

architecture,thatcomplimentstheruinsfromasite’srich

history,engenderadifferentlandethic?

Photo courtesy of Kristen Kennedy www.gasworkspark.com

Photos courtesy of seattlephotographs.com

4. The Seattle Times. 15 June, 2001. “A Critical Review of City Parks Throughout Seattle”


ZhongshanShipyardPark,locatedon11hectares

(25acres)oflandalongatributaryofthePearlRiver,

combineshistorical,contemporary,andecological

elementstobothincorporateandacknowledgeChina’s

recentpast.Occupyingthesiteofadesertedshipyardthat

formerlyconsumatedthelargestemployerinZhongshan,

theparkisatributetotheshipyardworkersandmillions

ofotherswhohelpedtobuildmodernChinesesociety.

SituatedintheheartofthePearlRiverDelta,

Zhongshan’sYuezhongShipyardbecamethecoreofthe

city’seconomyfollowingthetransitionfromtraditional

agriculturetoheavyindustryshortlyaftertheturnif

the20thcentury.Operatingfornearlyfiftyyears,the

shipyardbecamemuchmorethanjustanemployerto

thelocalresidents.Yuezhongwasoneofthefoundations

ofthecommunistsocietyenvisionedbyMaoZedong,

formerleaderofthePeople’sRepublicofChina,inwhich

theworkplacewastransitionedintoamonolithicsocial

institutionthatencompassedallaspectsofthelivesoftheir

employees.Inadditiontomonetarycompensation,1,300

workersandtheirfamilieswereprovideddormitories,

cafeterias,schools,andmedicalcareclinics,allofwhich

weremanagedonsite.YuezhongShipyardflourisheduntil

thelate1990’swhenthecity’seconomyshiftedyetagain

fromheavyindustrytoelectronicproductionresultingin

itsclosure.1

KongjianYu,professoroflandscapearchitecture

atBeijingUniversity,incollaborationwithTurenscape,

oneofthelargestlandscapearchitecturefirmsinChina,

reclaimedthisindustriallandscapelessthanadecade

Zhongshan Shipyard Park City of Zhongshan, Guangdong Province, China

Case Study:

Photos courtesy of turenscape.com

11 case study : zhongshan shipyard park

1. Padua, Mary G. “Industrial Strength”. Landscape Architecture Magazine. June. 2003

afteritbecameobsolete.Incorporatingdesignelements

unknownintraditionalChineseparks,Yuandhisteam

“brokefromprevailingpracticebyrecyclingindustrial

buildingsandotherremnantsfromtheoldshipyard”.2

Yuvaluedtheindustrialremnantstoreflectaremarkable

fiftyyearhistoryofsocialistChinathatincludedthe

CulturalRevolutionofthe1960’sand70’s.Hefeltthat

theruinswould“buildaspiritualconnectionbetweenthe

peopleandtheirland”.3

KongjianYu’sdesignhasinfusedtheparkwith

anawarenessofthehardshipsandlaborthatwentinto

buildingthemodernChinesesociety.Throughamixture

ofconservedandrecycledfeaturesthroughoutthepark,Yu

hascombinedrecreationaluseswithsymbolicreferencesto

thehistoryofthesiteandmodernChina.Forexample,

therailroadpathisamajororganizingaxisoftheparkas

wellasareferencetothepathusedtomovevesselsinand

outofthewaterintheshipyard.However,notallofthe

symbolismintheparkemphasizesprogressinChina.The

“RedBox”,designedasaroomforcontemplationofthe

CulturalRevolution-oneofthegrimmestperiodsof

recentChinesehistory-hasbeenknownto“leavethe

strongestimpressiononmostvisitors”.4Constructedof

recycledsteelplatesthatenclosereflectingpools,thespace

callstoattentiontheprofoundpoliticalimplicationsof

thecolorredinChinaandremindsvisitorsofsomeofthe

“Asmallparkthattellsabigstory;astoryoffiftyyearsofcollectivestruggletobuildanewChinesesociety;astoryofoverwhelmingprogressandchange.” -KongjianYu,designerofZhongshanShipyardPark


Rendered Perspective of Zhongshan Shipyard Park

Photo courtesy turenscape.com


3. Kongjian, Yu. “The Art of Survival”. pg 41


Photo courtesy of turenscape.com

famousquotesofVladimirLeninandMaoZedong.Also,

the“GreenRooms”mimicmorethantwodozensixteen

squarefeetareasenclosedineight-footverticalhedgesto

offerastrikingglimpseoftheformerconcreteroomsthat

usedtohousethedormitoriesofclosetoadozenworkers

fortwentyyears.Complimentingallofthesedidatic

features,YuhasalsomadesignificantadvancesinChinese

ecologicaldesign.Byusingnativeplants,Yunotonly

preservedtheoriginalvegetation,soil,andnaturalhabitats,

buthealsoincreasedlocalawarenessoftheregion’srich

agriculturalheritageandmanagedthesiteforfrequent

floodingbytheadjacentriveraswell.

Theaward-winningZhongshanShipyardPark

hasbecomeagroundbreakingprojectforcontemporary

Chineselandscapearchitecture.Constructedinthemidst

ofadramaticriseinurbanization,globalization,

andmaterialism,Yuhasutilizedhisprojecttoraisean

awarenessabouttheprotectionandrebuildingofthe

spiritualhomelandasthemaintanencetoconservecultural

identity.“MaterialismistakingoverChina,asitistherest

oftheWorld.Theland,whichusedtobeinhabitedby

variousspiritsthatmadethelandscapemeaningfuland

poetic,isbecomingcommericalized.Gradually,weare

losingourspiritualconnectionstoourlandtosuperficial,

exchangable,andinternationalimagesoftheworldbeyond

theearthyone”.5Constitutinga“dramaticmeldingof

localhistoryandthenaturalenvironment”,Yu’sparkis

avisiontothepotentialestablishmentofthat“spiritual

connection”forformershipyardworkersaswellaslocal

residentstorelivememoriesofChina’sprogressivepast.6Photos courtesy of turenscape.com

5. Yu, Kongjian. “The Art of Survival”. pg 24

6. McGuire, Leslie. “Connection, Protection, Fusion, and Ethics - The Global Influence of Landscape Architects” LASN. September. 2006


Photos courtesy of turenscape.com

14 reclaiming the post-industrial landscape : the influences of smithson and eisenmen

The Influences of Smithson and Eisenman

Reclaiming The Post-Industrial Landscape:

1. Berger. “Representation and Reclamation”. pg 6-8

Reclaimingasitethathasoutliveditsoriginaluse

orhasbeendamagedisnotanewconcept.TheBack Bay

FensofBostonremadealandscapeforfloodcontrol,

andtheParc des Buttes-ChaumontinParishasrecovered

anabandonedquarryasapublicpark.Bothofthese

projectswerebuiltinthelate1800’s.However,dialogues

thathavearisenbetweenbothartandthelandscapeand

thelandscapeasalayeredhistory-dialoguesinfluenced

bythework,writing,andtheoriesofartists

andarchitectssuchasRobertSmithsonand

PeterEisenman-haveevokedanaltered

perceptionofderelictlandscapes,suchaspost-

industrialsites,thathasinfluencedmany

contemporarylandscapereclamationprojects.

“Reclamation”-theclaimingorconstructingof

newfuturesoutofpre-existingconditions,incontrast

to“restoration”-bringingsomethingbacktoformer

conditions,hasbecomeadistinctcategoryoflandscape

alteration.Derivingfromtheprefixre-,meaningback,

again,against,andtherootclaim-,meaningtoaskforasa

right,ortocallfor,thecontemporaryculturaltranslation

hasbecomeakintoworksoperatingwithintherealm

ofreform,recover,andrescue.1Toreclaimalandscape

involvesthevariablesoftheparticularsite(itsproblems

andprogramsforreuse),legalrequirementsthatmay

havetobemet,aswellasthevisionofthedesigner.

Historically,thefinaldesignandformofthereclaimed

landscapemighthavebeenthevisualandecological

integrationoftheprojectsiteintothelandscapethat

surroundsit(Back Bay Fens),oranentirelynew

revelationbythehandofthedesigner,butarevelation

thatunderscoredprevioushumaninterventiononthe

site.However,emerginginlate1960’sandearly1970’s,

“earthwork”artistsevokedanewdialogueintothe

landscapethatwouldbegintochangedesignperceptions.

Bycreatingtheirartbydirectlyengagingtheearth

asboththemediumandthesettingoftheirwork,artists

suchasRobertSmithson,MichaelHeizer,andWalterDe

Maria,offereda“dramaticallydifferentattitudetowardart

Photo courtesy of Pressley Associatespressleyinc.com/services/historic.html

Photo courtesy of Alliance Francaise of Birmingham/KimT Webdesign

afbirmingham.org/paris

Frederick Law Olmstead’s “Back Bay Fens”

Jean-Charles Adolphe Alphand’s “Parc des Buttes-Chaumont”

andthelandscapethanthatwhichprevailedatthetime”.2

Smithson,inparticular,becameaveryinfluentialfigure

whenhisworkbeganto“challengethenotionthatculture

andnaturewereopposites”.Heexclaimed“human

interventionontheearthisasmuchapartofnatural

processesasanearthquake.Itisinappropriatetodisguise

asite’shistory.Therelationshipsbetweenhumanand

naturalprocessesshouldbeacknowledgedthroughthe

engagementoftime,change,growth,anddecay”.3

Projects,suchasAsphalt Rundown andPartially Buried

Woodshed,reflectSmithson’saspirationstoevokethat

differentlandethictowardnaturalandimposedprocesses

uponthelandscape.

Complimentingthenotionsofthe“earthwork”

artists,architectPeterEisenmanemergedhisdesignidea

ofthesitecontaininga“palimpsest”intheearly1980’s.A

palimpsestisamanuscriptortabletthathasbeenwritten

uponseveraltimes,oftenwithearlier,imperfectlyerased

writingstillvisible.AccordingtoEisenman,“thinking

ofthesiteasapalimpsestallowsdesignerstoutilize

thesite’slayersofhistorytorevealaspectsofthesite.

Usingprinciplesofcollageandjuxtaposition,history

canbe“seen”notasalinearphenomena,butaslayers

ordiscrepanciesbetweenapastevent(history)thatcan

createanemotionalpresentrecall(memory)”.4

Tomanycontemporarydesigners,urban

wastelandsandotherderelictordamagedsiteshavea

uniquebeautyorcharacter.However,Smithson’sand

Eisenman’sworkhasinspiredcountlessartistsand

designerstoengagenatureasaprocess,ratherthanasa

scenery-designerssuchasRichardHaagandKongjian

Yu,whombyexploitingthatstrongdialoguebetween

alandscapeshistoryanditsrelinquished“art”,have

establishedanemotionalconnectionwiththelandscape

observerandgivenanewmeaningtoplace.5Well,what

doesthisimply?Whatdoestheestablishmentofa“sense

ofplace”offertothelargercontext-beyondtheborders

ofsitespecifity?Placedinthecontextofitspotential

implicationstocommunity,canthisspiritualconnection

orsublimeemotionthatfosterssuchauniquerelationship

betweenhumanandtheland,fosterasimilarrelationship

betweenhumanandhumanaswell?Relationshipsthat

couldadvancethestrengthofsocialcapitalwithinthe

community?

2. “Manufactured Sites : Rethinking the Post-Industrial Landscape”. pg127

3. “The Writings of Robert Smithson”. Edited by Nancy Holt

4. Fisher. “Eisenman Builds”. Progressive Architecture Magazine. October. 1989

5. Steiner. “Human Ecology”. pg 80

Photo courtesy of the Robert Smithson / James Cohan Gallery robertsmithson.com

15 reclaiming the post-industrial landscape : the influences of smihson and eisenman

“Partially Buried Woodshed” Before and After

“Asphalt Rundown”

AccordingtoJ.B.Jackson,a“senseofplace”is

anambigousmoderntranslationofthelatintermgenius

loci.Inclassicaltimesitmeantnotsomuchtheplace

itselfastheguardiandivinityofthatplace.Itwasbelieved

thatalocality-aspace,structure,orwholecommunity

-derivedmuchofitsuniquequalityfromthepresenceor

guardianshipofasupernaturalspirit.Thevisitorandthe

inhabitantswerealwaysawareofthatbenignpresenceand

paidreverencetoitonmanyoccasions.Thephrase

thusimpliedcelebrationorritual,andthelocationitself

acquiredaspecialstatus.1

Wenowusethecurrentversiontodescribe

the“atmosphere”toaplaceorthequalityofits

“environment”.A“senseofplace”nowdescribesplaces

thatare“cherishedbecausetheyareembeddedinthe

everydayworldaroundusandeasilyaccessible,butat

thesametimearedistinctfromthatworld.Placesin

whichavisitisasmallbutsignificantevent,andweare

refreshedandelatedeachtimewearethere.Placesthat

moveusbychangingourmood,inabriefbutvividevent.

Nevertheless,werecognizethatcertainlocalitieshavean

attractionwhichgivesusacertainunidentifiablesenseof

well-beingwhichwewanttoreturnto,timeandagain.

Thus,itisnotatemporaryresponse,foritpersistsand

bringsusback,remindingusofpreviousvisits”.2

Somebelievethata“senseofplace”occurs

onlywiththeestablishmentofa“senseoftime”,such

asaritualorre-occuringevent.Othersbelievethatthe

feeling“comesfromaresponsetofeaturespresentinthe

landscape-eitherabeautifulornaturalsettingorwell-

designedarchitecture.Theybelievethata“senseofplace”

comesfrombeinginanunusualcompositionofspaces

andforms-naturalorman-made”.3Ifthisbeliefholds

true,thenlandscapessuchasGasWorksParkor

16 reclaiming the post-industrial landscape : its attribute to social capital?

QWhat is a “Sense of Place”? What does it mean to social capital?

How do these case studies attribute to the generation of this capital?

genius loci (latin) : spirit + place - the distinctive character or atmosphere of a place; the guardian spirit of a place.

1. Jackson. “A Sense of Place, A Sense of Time”. pg 157



ZhongshanShipyardParkcanbevalidatedtohavingtruly

evokedthatfeelingfromtheobserver.Theintriguing

anddebatablepartthenlieswithJ.B.Jackson’scomments

whichstatethat“fromthisfeelingandexperienceensuesa

senseoffellowhipwiththosewhosharetheexperience,a

fellowshipthatinvolvestheinstinctivedesiretoreturn,to

establishacustomofrepeatedritual”.4Thus,canthe

reclaimedlandscapesdevelopedbyRichardHaagand

KongjianYu,landscapesthatexploitthesite’sgenius loci

throughtheessenceoftimeandchange,attibutetothe

generationofsocialcapitalaswell?Ifso,doesthe

preservationofasite’sremaininghistoryinthe

reclamationprocessofapost-industriallandscapeproveto

benotonlyanaesthetic,butalsoasocialbenefittothe

surroundingcommunity?

Asmythesisendeavorfocusestore-establisha

“senseofcommunity”withinthehistorictextilemill

villageinSouthwestLaGrange,thesecasestudiesreveal

thatthosepost-industriallandscapescanstillpossess

meaningtothatventure.


17 reclaiming the post-industrial landscape : the influences of smihson and eisenman

“terra firma giveswaytoterra incognita;thatwhichisvisibleischallengedbytheinvisible.” -RichardHaag-DesignerofGasWorksPark

18 the site : lagrange, georgia - callaway mills

LaGrange, Georgia - CallawayMills

The Site:

Photo taken by researcher

19 the site : geologic history

LaGrange, GeorgiaContext Map

Document Produced By Researcher

LaGrange,GeorgiaislocatedintheChattahoochee

Valley,lessthan15milesacrossthestatelinefrom

Alabama.NamedafterthecountryestatenearParisof

theMarquisdeLaFayette,aFrenchmilitaryofficerinthe

AmericanRevolutionaryWarwhomfoundedthearea

in1825,LaGrangehasbeentheCountySeatofTroup

Countysince1828.Thecitycurrentlymaintainsits

positionasatransportationhubofInterstates85and185

whichfosterssatelliteindustriessuchastheKIAMotors

assemblyplantandWal-Marttosupportitspopulationof

nearly26,000citizens.However,LaGrangeisaproductof

thetextileindustry.Aformerindustrialcenterfortextiles

fornearlyacentury,theindustrycompletelytransfomed

thecityasitdidwithmanycitiesintheSouth.Thus,

thehistoryofLaGrangemustfirstbeginwiththehistory

ofthetextileindustry,anindustrythatmaturedalonga

geologicalformationknownasthe“FallLine”.

TheFallLineisaphysiographicbordermarking

anareawhereanuplandregionofhardmetamorphosed

terrain(continentalbedrock)-theproductoftheTaconic

Orogeny,andthesandy,relativelyflatoutwashplainofthe

UpperContinentalShelf(coastalalluvialsediment)meet.

ThisisalsotheoriginalAtlanticOceancoastlineduring

theCretaceousandTertiaryGeologicalPeriods.TheFall

Lineisvisuallyprominentwhencrossedbyariver,for

therewilloftenberapidsorwaterfalls.Manytimesafall

linewillrecedeupstreamastherivercutsouttheuphill

densematerial,ofternforming“c”shapedwaterfalls.

Duetotheseobstructions,riverboatstypicallycannot

travelanyfartherinlandwithoutportaging,unlesslocks

arepresent.Ontheotherhand,therapidchangeinthe

elevationofwater,andtheresultingenergyrelease,made

falllinesagoodlocationforinitalgristandsawmills,etc.

Thus,throughtheutilizationofthiswaterpowerresource


Columbus, GeorgiaChattahoochee River

Photo Taken By Researcher

Piedmont-Coastal Plain Fall Line

Base Map Courtesy of USGS.comDocument Produced By Researcher


22 the site : textile history

inconjunctionwithadirectriverportforinlandtrade

totheeasterncontinentalcoast,settlementsknownas

“portage”townsoccupiedriverintersectionsthroughout

theentiretyofthisgeologicformation.

ThenorthernedgeoftheFallLinecontainsthe

“roots”oftheAmericantextileindustry.Occupyingthe

siteofaformergristmill,industrialistSamuelSlater

openedAmerica’sfirstsuccessfulwaterpoweredtextile

millinPawtucket,RhodeIslandin1793.Withthepatent

ofEliWhitney’scottonginshortlyafterwardsin1794,

Slater’sformerlyBristishindustrygrewtremendously

throughoutNewEngland.IntheantebellumSouth,

however,thetextileindustrydevelopedslowly.The

inventionofthecottonginturnedrawcottonintoa

highlyprofittablecrop.Aslongasthepriceremained

high,“Southernerslookedfornootherinvestment”.

Thus,duringtheearly19thcentury,theSouth’seconomy

remainedfirmlyentrenchedinagriculturedominated

bythecottonplantation.However,theSouthwasnot

completelydevoidofearlycottonmills.In1808,the

firsttextilemillwasfoundedbyDr.JohnShecutwhom

establishedtheSouthCarolinaHomespunCompany

inCharlestonutilizinganoldgristmill.Muchlike

thecurrentSoutherngristandsawmills,tanneries,

andblacksmithshopsthatappearedwiththeearliest

settlements,thistextilemillalongwithmanyother

Southernmillsbefore1830,remainedlocalizedwith

small-scaleproduction.

Ascottonpricesbegantofall,plantersbeganto

investincottonmanufacturing.Accordingtohistorian

RandallMiller,“theconcernfortextilemanufacturers

grewoutoftheplanters’dissatisfactionwiththefrequent

andannoyingfluctuationsinthepriceofrawcotton,crop

failures,thedramaticdeclineofcottonpricesinthe1840’s

duetotheincreasedavailabilityofthecottongin,andout

ofthis,thegrowingirritationandembarrassmentoverthe

South’sslavishdependenceuponahostileNorthforbasic

goodsandservices”.1OftheSouthernstates,Georgiain

particularexperiencedthefirstdramaticincreaseinthe

developmentofcottonmillsfrom(19)in1840to(35)by

1850.However,from1880to1920,textilemanufacturing

wouldspreadrapidlythroughouttheSouthasthreestates

-NorthCarolina,SouthCarolina,andGeorgia-would

eventuallydominatethesoutherntextileindustryandhelp

1. Turner, Julie. “Historic American Enginneering Southern Textile Industry”. Randall Miller Interview.


theSouthclaimafull60%ofU.S.mills.Althoughthe

northernstateslayclaimtothe“roots”oftheAmerican

textileindustry,theSouthwouldutilizecheaplaborand

alocally-grownproducttogenerateover600millsduring

thatfour-decadespan(increasingfrom161tomorethan

700)anddevelopintothefoundationoftheindustry

throughoutthe20thcentury.

TheestablishmentoftextileindustryinTroup

County,Ga.canbeattributedtoRobertRobertson,a

Scottishimmigrantwhom,in1847,convertedanold

gristmillonTurkeyCreekintheSouthwestpartofthe

countyintoatextilemill.Hisentrepreneurshipledtothe

conversionofTroupFactoryandmanyothertextilemills

fromoldgristmillsitesthroughoutthecounty.However,

itwasn’tuntil1895beforethefirsttextilemillwould

becomeestablishedinLaGrange,Georgia.Following

the1895CottonStatesandInternationalExpositionin

thecityofAtlanta,Georgia,J.H.LaneandCompany

-aninvestmentcompanyinBoston,Massachusetts-in

partnershipwithlocalresidentsofLaGrangesuchas

BenjaminH.HillandFullerE.CallawayestablishedDixie

Millthatsameyear.UndertheleadershipofMr.FulllerE.

Callaway,thecityofLaGrangewouldestablishsevenmore

millsbetween1900and1930,andtransformfroman

agriculturalcommunityintoanindustrialcenter.

Ranging1500kmalongtheeasterncoastofthe

UnitedStates,thesectionoftheFallLineknownasthe

“Piedmont-CoastalPlainFallLine”(wherethePiedmont

oftheAppalachiansdescendssteeplytotheCoastal

Plain)encompassedthe“cottonbelt”andtheheartofthe

textilemanufacturinginthe21stCentury.Freedfrom

thedependenceonapowerfulriversourceduetothe

inventionofthe“WattsEngine”in1788-asteamengine

developedbyJamesWattwhichincludedacentrifugal

governortocontrolthespeedoftheengine-citiesnow

needonlyacreektoprovidethewatersourcetopower

thetextilefactories.Thus,citiessuchasLaGrangebegan

toflourishoutsideofthis“FallLine”andcontinuously

growthroughoutthistextileboom.Accompanyinglarger

groupsofnewemployeesmigratingtothesepreviously

ruralestablishmentsdaily,theconceptofthe“millvillage”

begantoaccompanythistextileindustrialboom.

The “Fall Line”

Base Map Courtesy of USGS.comDocument Produced By Researcher


1. Courtesy of “Building Social Capital Through Community Development”. Journal of the American Planning Association.

Themillvillagewasakeyelementinthesuccess

oftheSoutherntextileindustry.Inordertopersuade

workersthatwereusedtoaclose-knitrurallifetomove

offofthefarmsandintotown,themillownersbuilttheir

ownminiaturecommunitiesaroundeachmill.Themill

village,alsocalledthe“MillHill”byresidents,created

aself-cotnainedneighborhood.Everydailyneedforthe

residentwasprovidedinwalkingdistanceoftheirhome.

Theprovisionofschools,churches,community

gardens,greenhouses,parks,andballfieldsby

themillcreatedastrongsocialnetwork

throughoutthevillage,andthecharacterofthe

localtextileindustrygavetheareaanidentity

andtheresidentsasenseofplaceinthelandscape.United

inacommoninterest,thesesocialnetworkswerederived

andmaintainedthroughthepresenceofsocialcapital.

Definedas“anaggregateofrealorpotentialresources

thatareassociatedtothepossessionofadurablenetwork

ofmoreorlessinstitutionalizedrelationsofmutual

recognition”,socialcapitalistheobligationsofreciprocity

thatarisesfromrelationsoftrustandtheinformation

derivedfromsocialnetworks/relations.1Asresidents

wereconstantalyengagedwithoneanotherthroughout

thevillage,theircivicnaturecreatedsocialnetworksof

interpersonaltrust.Allofwhichproducedbothinidividual

andsocialbenefitsfortheentirecommunityofworkers.

However,oncethetextileindustrydeclinedresultingin

theclosureofthemills,avastamountofthepopulation

hadtoleavethevillageinsearchofwork.Astimepassed,

thelackofindustryledtoarapiddeclineinproperty

valuesaswellasthedeteriorationofthemillsand

previouslycommunalvillagesites.Thevillageswere

eventuallyre-inhabited,butweretargetedasacheapplace

tolive,notasaplacewithanoutstandingcommunity

statusordeepculturalhistory.Thus,thecommunitylost

its“roots”inplacewhichfosteredthesocialvitalityofthe

villages.

Whatistheimportanceofre-buildingsocial

capitalinthearea?Well,accordingtoRobertD.Putnam-

Mill Villages of the Textile Industry

Creating Community......

25 the site : creating community and building social capital

Images Courtesy of Woonsocket.org

authorandprofessorofpiublicpolicyatHarvard

University-communitiesabsentofsocialcapitalcontain

individualsthatareisolated/disconnectedfromone

another,andareunlikelytodeveloprelationsoftrustwith

ohterinhabitantsofthestateofnature.Thisprevents

themfromaccessinfinformationandresourcesfromtheir

neighborsthatmightmaketheirliveseasier.Whatisthe

currentstateofsocialcapitalwithinthehistoricLaGrange

millvillagecommunity?Howdoyouassesit?

AccordingtoPutnam,thelevelofsocialcapitalcan

beassesedintofourcategories:1)thelevelofcommunity

engagement2)gaugingthecharacterisiticsoflocal

socialnetworks3)theleveloftrustamongcommunity

membersand4)theextentandeffectivnessofcommunity

organizationalstructure(Allthroughlydescribedin

detailinthefigurebelow).However,withouttakinga

neighborhoodsurvey,whatarethephysicalsignswithin

acommunitythatwouldcharacterizethepresentlevelof

socialcapital?

26 the site : creating community and building social capital

Documents Courtesy of “Building Social Capital Through Community Development”. Journal of the American Planning Association.

Images Courtesy of BethelBaptist.org

SouthwestLaGrangefeaturesaremarkable

collectionofearly20thcenturymillbuildingsand

associatedstructures.Millworkerdwellingsofvarious

popularhousetypeswerebuiltincrementallyasthemills

expandedfromtheturnofthe20thcenturythroughthe

1920’s.AllofthemillsinSouthwestLaGrangewerebuilt

undertheleadershipoflocalmerchantandentrepreneur

Fuller E. Callawayandhissons.StartingwiththeUnity

Cotton Millin1900-01,eachexpansion

oftheCallawayMillsgrouphelpedtransform

thesouthwestareaofLaGrangeintoaseries of

overlapping mill neighborhoods.

UnityCottonMilllocatedjustinsideof

thecitylimits,wasdesignedbyAtlantaarchitectA.

FrancisWalkerandproducedasignature“cottonduck”.A

neighborhoodofworkerhousingwasconstructedongrid

planstreetstothewestofthemill.Next,Elm City Cotton

Mill(1905-07),andUnity Spinning Mill (1908-09)were

builtnearby,inwhatusedtobeanunincorporatedarea

ofSouthwestLaGrange,creatingacontinuousmillvillage

neighborhood.CallawayaddedHillside Millandmore

workerhousingtothegroupingfrom1914-1915.

TheCallawayMillshousingwastypicalof

southernmillvillagesduringtheearly20thcentury.The

homesbuiltinSouthwestLaGrangeweremainly

free-standinghousingintendedtohouseafamilywith

severalmembersworkinginthemill.Amajorexceptionto

thisfamily-basedlaborpatternintheCallawayMillswas

thedormitoriesbuiltforHillsideMillduringthelabor

shortagesoftheWorldWarIboomyearsinthetextile

industry.

TheMartha Washington Innhousedsinglefemale

workersandtheBenjamin Franklin Innhousedsingle

males.TheCallawayMillsaddedamenitiessuchas

schools,churches,aYMCA,BoyScoutcabin,greenhouses

andcommunitygardens,parks,andplaygroundsto

providefortheworkersintheself-contained

neighborhood.

27 the site : callaway mill village

Images courtesy of Historic Troup County Archives.

Callaway Mill Village

Southern Textiles......

ThedevelopmentofthetextileindustryinLaGrange,GeorgiareflectstheindustrialgrowthoftheentirePiedmontRegionoftheSoutheasternUnitedStatesinthelate19thCenturyandearly20thCenturies.Withthegrowingprevalenceofsteam-engineinsteadofwater-poweredmills,thetextileindustrydevelopmentmovedawayfromtheriverbanksandclosertorailroadlinesforeasierdeliveryofrawmaterialsandshipmentofproducts.LaGrange,amercantilecenterandcountyseat,wasthelargesttowninTroupCountyandofferedgoodrailroadaccess.ThemillsinLaGrangewerelocatednexttoastreamorcreektoprovideasteadywatersourceforthesteam-poweredengines,andartificialpondswerelaterconstructedascoolinganddischargeareasforthemills.

LaGrange/Calumet Mill

Hillside Mill

Unity Spinning Mill Elm City Mill

Unity Cotton Mill

Dunson MillDixie Mill

Image Courtesy of Sanborn Fire Insurance Map Set, ca. 1930

Photos Courtesy of H.A.E.R.

28 the site : callaway mill village

Downtown LaGrange

The SiteCallaway Mill Village

Structures that have been removed

Structures still remaining in the present day

Images courtesy of Google Earth and Sanborn Fire Insurance Maps

29 the site : callaway mill villagePiney Woods

Lake

Downtown LaGrange

Ridgeline

Callaway Creek

Piney Woods CreekDixie Creek

Airport Creek

Pepperell Creek

Lee Creek

Tan Branch CreekBlue John Creek

TheTransitionofCallawayMillVillagefrom1920tothePresentDay.

30 the site : physical signs of social capital

1. Courtesy of “Building Social Capital Through Community Development”. Journal of the American Planning Association.

Images Courtesy of BethelBaptist.org

1)Places for Organizational Meetings

-Parks

-Churches

-Schools

-CommunityCenters

2)Location of Goods and Services

-Thelocationofgoodsandservicesfosterplaces

forsocialinteraction.

-Dotheresidentsgettheirgoodsandserviceslocally,

oraretheirneedslocatedoutsideofthecommunity?

3)Home Ownership vs. Rental Property

Rentersarelesslikelyto:

A)liveintheneighbiorhoodlongenoughto

developstrongneighborlyrelationships

B)beactiveincommunityinterests

(ie.maintainingproperty,joiningassocations,or

gettinginvolvedincommunityclean-upprojectsetc.)

Accordingtothe“JournaloftheAmericanPlanningAssociation”,whengaugingthelevelofsocialcapitalwithina

community,thereare3 physical signsonecanlookfor:


Images and Photos Produced by Researcher

1) Places for Organizational Meetings

Schools

SiteAnalysisoftheHistoricCallawayMillVillageofLaGrange,Ga.

Places for Organizational Meetings.............

Parks


Images and Photos Produced By Researcher


Places for Organizational Meetings............

Images and Photos Produced By Researcher

Churches&CommunityCenters




Images and Photos Produced by Researcher

2) Location of Goods and Services

AnalysisofPotentialSocialNetworkDensity/“Daily Rituals”

HistoricZoningMap PresentDayZoningMap

DowntownLaGrange

1/4MileRadius

1/4MileRadius

1/2MileRadius

1/2MileRadius

3) Home Ownership vs. Rental Property- Whilethenationalaverageforhomeownershipinasimilarsizedareais70%,only46%oftheHistoricMillVillage

Residentsowntheirhomes.

-1/4ofthehomeshavebeenmarkedassub-standardhousing.

D.A.S.H.(DevelopmentAgainstSub-StandardHousing)

-Non-ProfitHousingDevelopmentCorporation.

MISSION:topurchaseforlornhomesandabandonedlotstotransformagingbuildingsandderelictlandscapesinto

charminghomes.

INTENT:toimprovethelivesofindividualswhomlivethere,andcollectivelyliftcommunityspiritsbyressurectingthe

senseofcommunitythroughouttheoldneighborhoods.

Images Courtesy of DASH.com


36 the site : physical signs social capital

Photos Produced by Researcher

Physical Analysis Overview

- TheHistoricCallawayMillVillageofSouthwestLaGrangecontains:

1)Low-IncomeResidents

2)SomeParkSpace

3)AnAbundanceofChurches

4)AdequateAmountofSchools

5)OneCommunityCenterBuilding

-TheCommunityNeeds:

1)CloseproximityofDailyGoods&Servicessuchas:

-DryCleaner/Laundry,Pharmacy,CoffeeShop,ServiceStation,Grocery/Market,Bookstores,OtherRetail

2)MoreRecreationalCenters:

-Basketball,Tennis,BaseballFacilitiesetc.tosupportanactivepopultationandhelpconstructively

developtheyouthpopulation.

Accordingtothe“physicalsigns”togaugethelevelofsocialcapitalwithinanarea,SouthwestLaGrangecontainsmany

areas/buildings/spaceswherethisformofcapitalcouldbegenereated.However,whatisactuallyhappeninginthesespaces?The

buildingsandparksarepresent,butaretheybeingutilizedtohelpbuild“community”withinthehistoricmillvillage?Inother

terms,areresidentsengagedinaframeworkofsharedbeliefs,interests,andcommittmentsthatuniteasetofvariedgroupsand

activities?Arethesespacesfosteringthedevelopmentofsocialcapitalandacommunalspiritthroughoutthecommunity?

Theideaofcommunitasisrepresentedina

frameworkofsharedbeliefs,interests,andcommitments

thatunitesasetofvariedgroupsandactivities.Thus,

Communityisdependentupontheconnectionand

formationofsocialnetworks-thebackboneofSocial

Capital.

TheestablishmentofCommunityisfirst

dependentonthepresenceofaneighborhood structure.

TheNeighborhoodisthebackboneof

Community.Itshouldaccomodategrowth

for a diverse array of lifestyles, incomes,

and needs to provide marketable and viable

choices thatretain a sense of belonging and

identity. Anappropriatemixofuses,housingtypes,and

astrongdesignareessentialtodevelopinglivable and

sustainableneighborhoods.Aneighborhoodcanbemade

upofmanyqualities,amenities,andcharacteristics,and

theyvarydependingonage,geography,anddevelopment

pattern.However,therearebasicstructuralareasthat

shouldbeimplementedtodevelopastrongneighborhood

layout:

1)NeighborhoodCenter - Aneighborhoodshouldhavea

“heart”-aplacethatitsresidentscanidentifyasthefocal

or gathering point.

-TheNeighborhoodCenterservesacommonpurposeto

provideaplace for daily interaction-aplacethat

includesretail,food,anddailyservices,alltypicallywithin

afive-minutewalkofmostpartsoftheneighborhood.

-Thesecentersaremadeupofmanytypesofbuildings

andusesthatworktogethertoform a dynamic,

pedestrian-friendly environment.

-Varioustypesofresidentialunitsarenearlyalways

present,anddependingonthesetting,maybe

incorporatedinmixed-usebuildings.

2)NeighborhoodGeneral-Single-familyattachedor

detachedhomesonsmallerlots.Thismayinclude

townhomesorcottagespreferrablyhavinggarageaccess

fromalleyways.

3)Neighborhood Edge - Theleastintenseareaofthe

Assessing Social Capital

Site Analysis

37 site analysis : assessing social capital

neighborhood.Largerlothomesprovideanaturalbuffer

andboundarybetweentheneighborhoodandsurrounding

area.

4)Civic and Natural Open Space - Civicspaceshelp

completetheneighborhoodbyprovidingsharedgathering

spaces.Naturalopenspacesarepreservedruraland

environmentallysensitiveareas.

5)Streets and Circulation - Aneighborhoodislargely

definedbyitsstreetlayoutanddesign.Aconnectedstreet

networkshouldfacilitatethemovementoftrafficbutalso

createcomfortablespacesforpedestrians.

6) Building Types - Forthepastseveraldecades,most

“neighborhoods”havetypicallybeenenvisionedasstrictly

residentialareas,filledprimarilywithdetachedhomes.

Althoughaneighborhoodcertainlycontainssuch

elements,itshistoricalandmostusefulrootscombinea

varietyofresidential,commercial,andmixeduse

structuresinaconsistant and compatible scale.

-Thedesign,placement,andappropriatebalanceof

buildingsiscriticalincreatinganeighborhoodthatfeels

comfortable.

-Providingarangeofbuildingtypesallowsforvarying

streetexperiencesandhelps define specific areaswithin

theneighborhood,whileaconsistantscale,setback,and

charactercreateanenvironmentthatbothresidentsand

visitorscaneasilyunderstand.

InLaGrange,Ga.,theneighborhoodstructure

oftheCallawayMillVillagefostersphysicalsignsfora

communitytobuildastrongsocialcapitalbase.However,

howaretheresidentsutilizingthesegivensocialspaces?

Isthelayoutofthesefosteringadequatecommunity

interaction?Whatisactuallyhappeningatthegroundlevel

ofthecommunityintermsofdaily:

1)Rituals

2)Recreation

3)Leisure

4)ActivityCenters

5)InclusiveSpace

6)Seclusion

7)CommunityAwareness




Hospital

1/4 Mile Radius

1/2 Mile Radius

LaGrange College Campus

S.R. 209

U.S. 27U.S. 29

Downtown LaGrange

Industrial Park

ElementarySchool

K-12 Private School

Middle-School

Industrial Park

ElementarySchool

ElementarySchool

CallawayMemorial

Park

HighwayPrimary Route Through Site

Textile MillSites

Image and Photos Produced by Researcher


1) R i t u a l s

NearthePigglyWigglyandtheFamilyDollar(northeastedgeofthevillage),youwillfindthemostritualisticactivityofdailytravelforlocalgoodsandservices-anecessitylackingthroughouttheentiretyoftheneighborhood.



2) R e c r e a t i o n

Duetothelackofformalrecreationalareas,youwillfindmanyresidentsutilizingabandonedfields,yards,oremptystreetstofulfillrecreationalneeds.


42site analysis : assesing social capital

3) L e i s u r e

Nearlyeveryhomeinthevillagewasbuiltwithafrontporch.Theseporcheshavebecomethefocalpointfordailyleisureintheneighborhood.



4) A c t i v i t y C e n t e r

Onceagainwefindthefrontporchservingastheprimaryareaofactivitywithmostofthesespacesbeingusedasalaundromat,storagespace,oroutdoorroom.


44 site : assesing social capital

5) I n c l u s i v e S p a c e

Therearehardlyanyfencesseparatinghousinglots.Thus,manyactivitiesflowovertotheneighboringyard.Thefrontporch,notthepropertylineseemstobetheboundarythatdistinguisheseachhome.



6) S e c l u s i o n

Thevacanrmillscurrentlyserveasbuffersthroughouttheneighborhoodthatoffersasenseofseclusionbetweenresidents.Howmighttherenovationofthesemillsitesaffectthiscurrentintimatereltionshipwithinthelandscape?



7) C o m m u n i t y A w a r e n e s s

Theneighborhooddoescurrentlydisplayasenseofcohesivenessthroughthepresenceoftheneighborhoodwatch/survelance,restoration,andfestivalactions.Howcandesignstrengthenthesecurrentactionsandpromoteamoreactivistapproachthroughoutthecommunity?


47 site design : building social capital

Document Produced by Researcher

Hospital

1/4 Mile Radius

1/2 Mile Radius

LaGrange College Campus

S.R. 209

U.S. 27

U.S. 29

(Single-Family Residential)Area incorporated before Southwest LaGrange Mill

Construction in 1900

(Mill Village)Single-Family Residential

constructed for Unity Mill between

1900-1907

(Mill Village)Single-Family Residential constructed for Elm City and Unity Spinning Mill

between 1905-1909

(Mill Village)Single-Family Residential

constructed for Hillside Mill between

1905-1909

How can the reclamation of these four mill sites build social capital and revitalize “Community” within the Historic Mill Village?

Downtown LaGrange Textile Mill

Sites

Industrial Park

ElementarySchool

K-12 Private School

Middle-School

Industrial Park

ElementarySchool

ElementarySchool

CallawayMemorial

Park

Building Social Capital

Site Design

Building Social Capital

48 site design : building social capital

Image Courtesy of Sanborn Fire Insurance Maps, ca.1930

Astheinitaleffortinamulti-phaserenovationproject,whichtextilemillwillbecomethecatalystbywhichtheeffortsforthereclamationsoftheremainingmillsbecomethoroughlysuccessful?

49 the site : measuring social capital

Document Produced by ResearcherPhotos Courtesy of H.A.E.R.

1921 - Figure Grounds

Red-Structuresthathavebeenremoved Grey-Parking Green-BallFieldsandGardens

1

1

55

33

4

4

2

2

50 the site : building social capital

Image Produced by ResearcherPhotoes Courtesy of H.A.E.R.


Red-Structuresthathavebeenadded Grey-Parking

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Document and Model Produced by Researcher



Void Space Model from Present Day Figure Grounds

How can this currently derelict landscape be reclaimed into a vibrant social space that unites a set of varied groups and activities through shared beliefs, interests, and commitments within the neighborhhod?

Mill

Mill

Mill

How can “community” be strengthened between residents?


Proposed Design

Brown-CurrentFigureGrounds Pink-ProposedBuildingsandStructures

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B

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The Hillside Mill Reclamation Plan reclaimsapost-industriallandscapetoprovideneighborhoodamenitiesthatwillfosterfrequentsocialinteractionandbuild social capital.Theintentionofthedesignistore-usethisabandonedlandscapetobecomeaserviceforthesupportandenhancement of “Community”withinthesurroundingvillage,justasthisTextileMillpreviouslywasforalmostacenturybeforeitsclosure.WiththeadditionofadiversityofhousingtypetocomplimenttheproposedlocationsofaY.M.C.A.,TextileHistoryMuseum,andRecreationalAmernities,thehistoricCallawayMillVillagewillestablishastrongerframeworkofsharedbeliefs,interests,andcommitmentsunitedbyasetofvariedgroupsandactivities.Thisenhancedframeworkwilldevelopastrongpresenceofsocialcapitalthatwillstrengthenthecurrentstateof“Community”andrevitalizetheneighborhood.


Proposed Design

A-Renovation-NeighborhoodandCityY.M.C.A. B-Renovation-HighDensityResidential C-Renovation-CountyMuseumofTextileHistory D-Renovation-Live/WorkHousing E-ProposedCommericalBuildings

E


Recreational Park- Serves as a much needed recreational amenity and daily gathering space for a neighborhood lacking public recreational facilities. This will provide an area to locally support recreational leagues from the neighboring schools, churches, and residences.- Compliments the city’s current recreational complex (2.5 miles away) to provide additional space when hosting sporting tournaments.- Sporting tournaments will attract visitors to the area and help generate revenue for neighborhood commercial buidlings.- Provides amenities previously removed from original mill village layout such as band pavillion and park for events as well as a neighborhood Y.M.C.A.

Neighborhood Center- Creates a distinct focal point and helps to establish an identity for the neighborhood.- Provides a place for daily interaction through the accessibility of local goods and services within a conve-nient walk.- Helps to establishes a daily “Ritual” within the landscape.

High-Density Residential- Renovated Mill Buidlings can increase diversity in the neighborhood by promot-ing a different housing type, income, and resident to the prodominately single-family residential area.

Neighborhood’s Need For.....

1) Recreational Space

2) Diversity -Daily Goods and Services (Est. rituals within the Community)- Housing Typology

3) Shared Gathering Space

55 bibliography

Berger,Alan.“Drosscape:WastingLandinUrbanAmerica”.PrincetonArchitecturalPress.NewYork,NewYork.2006.

“GeneratingSocialCapital:CivilSocietyandInstitutionsinComparitivePerspective”.EditedbyMarcHoogheandDietlindStolle.PalgraveMacmillan.NewYork,NewYork.2003.

Herrerros,Francisco.“TheProblemWithFormingSocialCapital:WhyTrust?”.PalgraveMacmillan.NewYork,NewYork.2004.

Jackson,JohnBrinckerhoff.“ASenseofPlace,ASenseofTime”.YaleUniversityPress.NewHaven.1994.

Jackson,JohnBrinckerhoff.“DiscoveringtheVernacularLandscape”.YaleUniversityPress.NewHaven.1984.

Jackson,JohnBrinckerhoff.“TheNecessityforRuins”.UniversityofMassachusettsPress.Amherst.1980.

Jakle,JohnA.“DerelictLandscapes:WastingofAmerica’sEnvironment”.Rowman&Littlefield.Savage,Maryland.1992.

Jakle,John,A.“TheVisualElementsofLandscape”.UniversityofMassachusettsPress.Amherst.1987.

JournaloftheAmericanPlanningAssociation.“BuildingSocialCapitalThroughCommunityDevelopment”.Spring2004.Vol.70.

Kemmis,Daniel.“CommunityandThePoliticsofPlace”.UniversityofOklahomaPress.Norman.1990.

Marx,Leo.“TheMachineintheGarden-TechnologyandThePastoralIdeainAmerica”.OxfordUniversityPress.NewYork.2000PhilipSelznick,“InSearchofCommunity”,Rooted in the Land: Essays on Community and Place,editedbyWilliamVitekandWesJackson.NewHaven,N.J.YaleUniversityPress.1996.

Reed,Peter.“Groundswell:ConstructingtheContemporaryLandscape”.MuseumofModernArt.NewYork.2005.

Sande,Theodore.“IndustrialArcheology:ANewLookAtTheAmericanHeritage”.S.GreenePress.Brattleboro,Vermont.2002.

“SocialCapital:CriticalPerspectives”.EditedbyTomSchuller,JohnField,andStephenBaron.OxfordUniversityPress.NewYork.2000.

Steiner,Frederick.“HumanEcology:FollowingNature’sLead”.Washington,D.C.IslandPress.2002.

ThePresident’sCouncilonSustainableDevelopment.“SustainableDevelopment:ANewConsensus”.Washington,D.C.UnitedStatesGovernmentPrintingOffice.1996.

Vance,James,E.“TheContinuingCity-UrbanMorphologyinWesternCivilization”.JohnHopkinsUniversityPress.Baltimore,Maryland.1990.

Williams,Jack.“East40Degress-AnInterpretiveAtlas”.UniversityofVirginiaPress.Charlottesville,Virginia.2006.

Yu,Kongjian.“TheArtofSurvival”.


58appendix A1 - alternative design solution

The Callaway Mill Village Master Plan reclaimsfourpost-industriallandscapestoprovideneighborhoodamenitiesthatwillfosterfrequentsocialinteractionandbuild social capital.Theintentionofthedesignistore-usetheseabandonedlandscapestobecomeaserviceforthesupportandenhancement of “Community”withinthesurroundingvillage,justastheTextileMillspreviouslywereforalmostacenturybeforetheirclosure.Withtheadditionofcommunitygardensandotherinformalparkspacesthroughoutthesitetocomplimenttheproposedneighborhoodcenter,highdensityresidential,andtherecreationalparkandtrails,thehistoricCallawayMillVillagewillestablishastrongerframeworkofsharedbeliefs,interests,andcommitmentsunitedbyasetofvariedgroupsandactivities.Thisenhancedframeworkwilldevelopastrongpresenceofsocialcapitalthatwillstrengthenthecurrentstateof“Community”throughouttheneighborhood.

59 appendix A2 - alternative design solution detail

Smoke Stack- Provides an identifiable landmark for the area.- Not only celebrates the site through a new interpretation of history, but provides a dominant focal point in the landscape.- Acknowlegdes a daily identity to place (an original identity that has been lost)

Opportunities for Mixed UseBuilding Types

- Residential or Office Space on the second floor with neighborhood scale commercial on the ground floor.Neighborhood Commercial Needs: - Dry Cleaner/Laundry, Pharmacy, Coffee Shop, Hardware Store, Small Grocery/Market, Book Store etc......(Intended not to compete, but to compliment and add any additional services not located in Downtown LaGrange)

Single-Family Attached Housing- Provides another diverse housing type in the area- Alley way continues the continuity of the current neighborhood layout(Garages and Parking behind buildings minimizes the impact of the automobile and creates a more pedestrian friendly environment.)

60appendix A3 - recreational trail design

Connections Via “Rail with Trail”

Connections Via “Rail to Trail”

Downtown LaGrange

1/4 Mile Radius

Trail Hub

Industrial Park

Neighborhood Park

School

School

1/2 Mile Radius

Hospital

LaGrange College

School

Grocery

Neighborhood Park,Church, and

Industrial Park

School

High DensityResidential

Churches

High DensityResidential

Trail Connections

,Church

Community GardenCallaway Park

Neighborhood Center

Recreational Park

School

Gateway to Piney Woods Lake

SensitiveArea 25’-40’

BufferZone

3’-5’GroomedZone

10’-12’Multi-Use

Trail

3’-5’GroomedZone

15’VisualBuffer

61 appendix B - troup county textile timeline

ThetextileindustrydevelopedslowlyintheAntebellumSouth,asdidallindustry.Duringtheearly19thCentury,theeconomyofTroupCounty,liketheSouthasawhole,remainedfirmlyentrenchedinagriculturedominatedbythecottonplantation.However,after1840,theSouth’stextileindustrybegantothrive.Accompaniedbycheaperlabor,alocalproduct,andthemostrecentpowerstabilityofthe“watts”steamengine,NorthCarolina,SouthCarolina,andGeorgiawouldbecometheinitial“powerhouses”ofthetextileindustry.TroupCounty’stextilemills,likemanyotherinitaltextilemilldevelopments,developedonsitesofoldgristmillcomplexesandwereimmediatelysupportedbysmall,fivehundred-residentmillvillagesofmillworkersandtheirfamilies.BeginningwithRobertsonWoolenMillin1847onTurkeyCreek,TroupCountysupportedatotalof23textilemills,13ofwhichdevelopedinornearthecitylimitsofLaGrange,Georgia.

62appendix C - soils map

VaB

VaB - Vance Sandy Loam127 acres - 2-6% slope

CuC - Cecil Urban Land2,272 acres - 2-10 % slope

CuE - Cecil Urban Land148 acres - 10-25 %slope

AmB - Appling Sandy Loam130 acres - 2-6% slope

CeB - Cecil Sandy Loam37 acres - 2-6% slope

Ud - Urban Land400 acres

CeC - Cecil Sandy Loam - 45 acres6-10% slope

CfC2 - Cecil Sandy Clay Loam145 acres - 6-10% slope eroded

CfD2 - Cecil Sandy Clay Loam244 acres - 10-15% slope eroded

PgE2 - Pacolet Sandy Clay Loam148 acres - 15-25% slope eroded

Rh - Riverview Loam453 acres

CuC

CuCPgE2

PgE2 Ud

Ud

Ud

AmB

Rh

Rh

CuE

CuE

CfD2

CfD2CfC2

CeC

CfD2

PgE2

CfC2

CeB

CeB

CfD2

Ud

Ud

CuE

CuE

CuE

CuE

PgE2

CuECuE

CuE

Rh

Rh

Soil Disturbance

Low

High

CuC

CuC

Vegetation TypeRiverview- sweetgum, oak, beech, yellow poplar, loblolly pine.Vance- american holly, flowering dogwood, sassafras, sourwood, and hophornbeam, loblolly pine, short-leaf pine, and virginia pine.Pacolet- forest of pine and mixed hardwoods. Cultivated for small grain, hay, and pasture.Cecil- forests of mixed hardwoods and pine. Cultivated for small grains, corn, cotton, and tobacco.Appling- forests of mixed hardwoods and pine. Cultivated for corn, tobacco, soybeans, cotton, and small grains.

Urban - More than 85 percent of the surface is covered by parking lots, streets, sidewalks, airports, large buildings, and homes. The natural soil cannot be observed.

Mill Village Revitalization

Case Studies:

mooresville,n.c.Background:Developed in connection with the Mooresville Cotton Mills around 1867, Mooresville Mill Village was a self-supporting community consisting of churches, company stores, parks, community gardens and ball fields. Emerging from the wreckage of the Civil War, the Cotton Mills were the source of growth and prosperity for the young town until their final closing in 1975. Like many other mill villages, the abandonment of the mills, and thus the historic local economy, led the area to a state of disrepair for many years. Sponsored by the Cherokee Investment Partners and Rigers & Associates, long and short-term plans are underway to guide the historic Mooresville Mill Village through the revitalization process.

“For generations, the Mooresville Mills were at the center of the town’s work and social activity. We hope to produce a project that will preserve, enhance, protect, and celebrate the architectural and social history that the Mills represent to the town of Mooresville.”

Background:Glencoe is a classic cotton mill village, one of the many that were built in the Piedmont area of North Carolina in the 19th century. Textile pioneer James H. Holt built Glencoe on a gentle stretch of the Haw River in the 1880’s. Although the mill ceased operations in the 1950’s, many of the mill buildings and village homes still remain, but they remain in a state of disrepair. However, in June of 1997, Preservation North Carolina (PNC) purchased the properties, and a master planned revitalization project is currently being implemented in the mill village. The revitalization of Glencoe Mill Village is expected to directly contribute more than $10 million into the economy of Alamance County while creating an authentic historic tourist destination adjacent to major transportation links.

glencoe,n.c.

“A nationally significant site representative of the Southern textile mill village and its role in the industrialization of the American South”

Preservation......

Sustainability.....

63 appendix D - mill village revitalization case study

Long-Term:- establish permanent organizations for mill village residents- address the appearance and condition of remaining rental properties- increase the percentage of home ownership

Short-Term:- create a zoning overlay district for historic and aesthetic preservation- address neighborhood infrastructural needs- improve community safety and clean-up

Project:- preserve the extant historic structures- permanently conserve open space along the Haw River- develop compatible new infill as a model to continue the uniformity of the historic architecture- renovate the 85,000 sq.ft of historic industrial space into residential and commercial use- gradually increase the percentage of owner-occupied homes

AvitalpartofAmericanindustryformorethan200years,textilemillsservedastheeconomicfoundationforhundredsofemergingtownsandcitiesduringtheearly1800’sandtheindustrialrevolution.U.S.textileoperationsremainedstronguntilthe1970’swhensocial,economic,andenvironmentalchangescausedmanyofthemtoclose.Astheindustrydeclined,sodidtheirrespectivecommunities.Withamassexodusofformeremployeesinsearchofnewjobsaccompaniedbythepresenceofabandonedmillsites,hundredsofdesolatelandscapesensued.Today,thepopulationhasrecovered,butthecommunityandthelandscapehasnot.Adis-connectionexistingamongtheresidentscurrentlyoccupyingthesehistoricneighborhoodscanbeseeninthedilapidatedhousing,lackofcommunalspace,andcontinuedneglecttonotonlytheabandonedmillsites,buttheirneighborhoodaswell.

Community Development....

64appendix D - mill village revitalization case study

6 Room Second Style, ca. 1924-28Thishouseisanotherversiontothemulti-storycottage.Thefrontporchislengthenedtospantheentirefascadeofthehouse.Athree-windowdormeraddsanattractivetouchtothefrontwhileprovidinglotsoflighttotheupstairsmansard.Thesehomesprovidealargeamountofsquare-footage(1450squarefeet).Theornamentaladditionofthedormers,thesehomesareusuallyfoundonthemainstreetsasashowcaseofthemillandthegoodlifetheyprovidedfortheirworkers.

4 Room Style, ca. 1900-07Thesehomeswereoriginally3-room,square-shaped,andarelocatedonthetightlotsthroughouttheVillage.Likethe3-roomstylesofthepreviousdecade,thesehomesalsohaveshedroofporches.Thelowerpitchoftheroofmakestheincorporationofamansarddifficult.

4 Room Style, ca. 1924-28Withthesmallestamountofsquare-footageofallthestyles,this4roomcottageallowedamaximumamountofsingle-familyhousesintightareasofthemill’sland.Thehigh-pitchedroofwouldpermitamansard,althoughthemilldidnotfinishanyatticsinthisfloorplan.

3 Room Style, ca. 1900-07Thisistheearliestformofmillhouseconstruction.Thesehomeswereoriginallybuiltasa3roomhousewithafrontandbackporch.Theampleporchspansoverthefrontwindows.Theyarefoundpredominatelyclosesttotheworksitewhichreflectstheirstatusastheinitialmillconstructedhousing.

5 Room Style, ca. 1924-28Thesignaturefeatureofthislargemillhouseisitsoff-centerfrontdoor.Theobviousadvantageofthisstyleisthatthehouseprovidesamaximumofsquare-footageonaminimallot.Thisefficient,multi-storystyleofconstructionemergedwhenthepriceoflandbegantoincrease.

5 Room Style, ca. 1908-17Thishouseaddedaroomwhichalmostsquaredupthebackellandcreateda5-roomhouse.ThisisthemostspaciouysfloorplanintheMillVillage,providingover1500squarefeetoflivingspace.

4 Room Style, ca. 1908-17ThishousehasanL-shaped4roomfloorplan.Boththefrontandbackporcheshaveshedroofsandruntheentirelengthofthebackell(2rooms,36feet).Theconstructiontechniquesandmaterialsareverysimilartothoseofthe1900-07homes:woodlapsidingexterior,interiorpinesinglebeadboard,21/2”pinetongue-in-grooveflooring.Thereareonlytwosmallclosetsoneachsideofthedouble-sidedfireplacethatseparatesonefrontroomfromthebackell.

3 Room Style, ca. 1908-17Thishousebreaksfromthecontinuousroof-lineofitscontemporaries.Infact,itismuchlikethe3room1907stylehouse,butrotated90degreessothatthegablenowfacesthestreet.Also,contrastingwiththeother1908-1917constructions,theporchfeaturesahiproof,againmatchingthe1907stylehomes.

65 appendix E - mill village housing style detail

66appendix F - mill renovation case study

taunton, m.a.

Background: In 1890, the Cohannet Mill cotton factory opened in Taunton, Massachusetts. It was the third textile mill to locate in what was a bustling seaport and industrial community. After the factory ceased cotton production, the mill facility was re-tooled for several different industrial uses, including hosiery and yarn manufacturing and curtain production. In 1970, cotton spinning returned to the mill when Robertson Factories took ownership of the facility. In the following years, the local economy declined. As a result, several nearby mills and industrial facilities shut down, leaving abandoned and underutilized properties throughout the historic Weir Village Neighborhood. The Robertson Factories eventually ceased mill operations in the 1980’s. By 2003, 75% of the former Cohannet Mill site (now known as Robertson Mill) sat empty and Weir Village became one of the most depressed areas in Taunton.

Opportunities for Redevelopment:

Former textile mills are often the centerpiece of a town’s history, presenting opportunities for redevelopment. Since many dormant textile mills are designated historic structures, rehabilitation of these buildings, structures, and facades needs to be addressed in redevelopment plans. Many mills are being converted to residential reuse in neighborhoods where the cost per square foot for residential housing is high enough to compensate for the expenses associated with redeveloping a mill property and cleaning it to residential standards.

Additional Redevelopment Advantages of These Properties Include:

1) Architecture and History - Textile mills often include appealing architecture features such as high ceilings, large windows, open floor plans, and working infrastructure. These features make abandoned mill properties highly marketable for loft-style commerical and residential development.2) Desirable Location - Since many textile mills were located next to a water source for power, they are often located in highly desirable parts of town. Some of these properties represent the only land available for development and offer opportunities for towns to center their smart growth goals around the redevlopment of the mill property.3) Potential Economic and Social Revitalization - Regardless of a mill’s location, its cleanup and redevelopment can have a tremendous impact on the surrounding area. Since many of the communities were developed soley around the mill economy, the revitalization of these communities may rely strongly on the reclamation of the property. Redevlopment of a mill site can increase property values and tax revenues, create much-needed residential or commercial space, and improve the social outlook of the area.4) Accomodating Growth - Many neighborhoods are experiencing popultation increases, which results in a need for additional housing, recreational, and work resources. Redeveloped mill properties provide opportunities to accomodate expanding urban populations and increase economic viability of an area’s C.B.D.

Challenges to Cleanup and Redevelopment:

Specific issues with the production histories of textile mills create challenges that affect decisions about their ownership, assessment, cleanup, redevlopment, and financing.

These Issues Include:

1) Contamination - Inadequately documented environmental histories cause concern for resolving real or percieved environmental contamination problems. Typical mill contaminants include asbestos, mercury, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB’s), lead, other metals, and volatile organic compounds (VOC’s).2) Location - Textile mills - espcially in the South - are typically found in remote, rural communities, once hubs of economic activity but far removed from today’s existing markets. Their proximity to declining residential areas with small populations can limit potential redevlopment options.3) Size and Complexity - Most properties are extremely large with numerous buildings to address.4) Ownership and Liability - Properties may be abandoned with tax liens and potential liability issues.5) Historic Status - Mills are often appealing because of their historical significance. However, the restrictions of an historical designation can increase redevelopment and financing costs.

Taking on the Risk:

As part of a five-year strategic plan to restore its economy and outlook, the Weir Economic Industrial Revitalization Corporation, a local nonprofit community development corporation (CDC) targeted the 140,000 square-fot, 6.5 acre former Cohannet Mill property as one of its top three sites for redevlopment. The CDC also identified the redevlopment of the mill property as essential to the revitalization of Weir Village. While a number of reuse ideas were proposed for the mill site, the CDC envisioned a mixed-use, smart growth renovation of the former mill that would create affordable housing and commercial space while restoring the properties riverfront access and associated greenspace.

Results:

In December 2005, the “Robertson on the River” development opened, featuring 64 affordable residential units and 18,000 square feet of commercial space. The development offers riverfront greenspace and views of the river that restored the river’s significance to the community.

Other Successes Include:1) The property was cleaned up to stringent residential standards. This included the removal of contaminated soil (containing lead and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH’s) along former railroad easements, asbestos contamination, a transformer, and two underground storage tanks.2) The development serves as a model for smart growth in Massachusetts. The residences feature a “village” environment with acess to transportation, shopping, recreatiion, and housing.3) Provides new river access to the community, opening up additional recreational uses.

Image courtesy of EPA.gov

Image courtesy of Live Search Maps

“Space Needs to be Given an Identity in Order to Establish Permanence and Community” - J.B. Jackson (“A Sense of Place, A Sense of Time”)

Space Identity Permanence “Community”

Jackson presents a relationship between:

Daniel Kemmis -Community and the Politics of Place- Place identity = truly “Inhabiting” the landscape- “Inhabit” - dwell a practiced way (relies upon certain regular, trusted habits of behavior)- Habituated patterns of work, play, grievance, and celebration to “sustain culture, establish a local identity, and revitalize public life.”

What is Place Identity?

J.B. Jackson- A Sense of Place, A Sense of Time- Place identity = “sense of place” - A sense of place is established through:1) a sense of time (rituals, re-occuring events)2) “atmosphere” of quality of environment

E.Relph-Place and Placelessness- Identity = Both a persistent sameness of ones self and a persistant sharing of some charcteristic with others.- It is not static and unchangeable, but varies as circumstances and attitudes change.

What is the relationship between Identity and Permanence?

Ritual

Tradition

Culture- Communis - “common in the sense of sharing equally or together with others”- Defined as an association of interacting populations , usually delimited by their interactions or spatial occurence. - Thus, implies a social landscape - a quality of relationships present within a place (ie. a capacity to dwell with others)

J.B. Jackson- The Necessity for Ruins- Monuments = a reminder to the community of its original identity and its ancient pledges (ie. The “Golden Age”)- Creates a didatic landscape - celebrates the past and includes history and culture into a part of daily life.- The “Cosmic Drama” - viewing history not as continuity, but as a dramatic discontinuity - a new interpretation of history.

Social Landscape

Application to Callaway Mill Village in LaGrange, Georgia:

Historic:

Space Identity Permanence Strong Community

Rural Georgia Textile Mills Callaway Mill Village(Self - Contained Neighborhood)

Contemporary:

Space Remains But...........Identity and Cultural Permanence are Lost Community has Faded

Urban Georgia Derelict Landscapes General Urban Neighborhood

Q: How can a “a sense of place” (neighborhood identity) be established, and will this identity create a cultural permanence that will strengthen the community within the historic Callaway Mill Village?

What Type of Space is Jackson Referencing?

Existential Space?- The inner structure of a space as it appears to us in concrete experiences of the world as members of a cultural group. (A concrete 3-D Shared Reality)

67 appendix G - j.b. jackson theory

Design Thesis - Strengthening Community Through the Post-Industrial Landscape

Documents

Transcript of Design Thesis - Strengthening Community Through the Post-Industrial Landscape