The Beginning of a New Olympia

The year is 2011, the season is spring, and together: Michael Meza, Alex Eisenberg, Aubrie Christensen, Nick Losi, Jonathan McKenzie-Sullivan, and Jesse Nelson, are working tirelessly to create something bigger than ourselves; bigger than our program (Designing Green); even bigger than The Evergreen State College. This larger endeavor is the concept of alley revitalization and it was created to revolutionize the way we as a society and individuals view alleys. Places usually seen as the sanctuary of mischief and danger can now be seen as sanctuaries for peace, progress, and respectfully above all; community. Alley Revitalization as a practice is just the larger umbrella, and underneath that umbrella are projects in cities throughout the world attempting to bring people into the alleys and using them as spaces to live and be in. 

Our contribution to this urban goal will be our work in one alley in the lovely city of Olympia, Washington (population 42,500). Alley Revitalization has been on the minds of the Olympia Downtown Association (ODA) for over four years and they have been working to clean and light alleys throughout the city. The alley we are working on is between the Griswald and Patrico Buildings and Fourth Avenue and State Avenue. This alley in particular was recognized by the ODA as one of the more dangerous spaces in Olympia exhibiting typical misuse and undesirable characteristics of an alley. Examples of such activities include defecating and urinating, aggressive behavior, vandalism, and littering. Currently the alley is underutilized as a public space and pedestrian walkway, resulting in these undesired activities. The clients (owners of an adjacent building and the city) wish to reduce illicit activities, increase public access and walkability, and build community engagement and stewardship around the alley.

With the go-ahead from the city and the building owners, we began a process of generating ideas for all sorts of intervention that we could implement or initiate in the alley. After weeks of researching other alley revitalization/activation projects, sketching, brainstorming, debating, discussing, and designing, we came up with a plan that we felt met our goals which were to instill triple bottom line values, beginning from a place of social sustainability. Through this our project has the potential to inspire community engagement and stewardship of the space, which can effectively lead to improved ecological conditions within the alley and its immediate surroundings. 

In striving to meet these goals we will produce two archways book-ending the alley, emphasizing a contained space for public enjoyment. Rainwater management through collection barrels will address issues of standing water that currently impede pedestrian accessibility. A chalkboard and associated prompt on the Griswald building will cover the graffiti-marked mural, and serve to engage the community and draw attention towards the space. An end report will outline a phased plan for future development of the alley, as well as contain methods for similar alley improvement projects.

Our intended final products include:
        Archways over north and south entrances to alley
        Rain-fed planters on Patrico Building
        2D installation on Griswald Building
        Phased plan for future development
        Documentation of project

Thanks for your interest in our project. Anticipate new entries documenting our progress. Our first deadline is April 22 which is the weekend of Olympias bi-annual Arts Walk and annual Procession of the Species. We hope to have our 2D installation up and ready for use by this time because it is an active time for people in the community and will be a great way to stimulate engagement in our work. Wish us luck!