Share your ideas!
THE CONTENT BELOW WAS SUBMITTED BY COMMUNITY MEMBERS PRIOR TO RELEASE OF THE SDC SPECIFIC PLAN AND DRAFT EIR. IT IS BEING RETAINED HERE FOR ARCHIVAL PURPOSES.
Truly great ideas are rarely generated through individual strokes of genius, but rather through a synergistic process of great ideas building on one another. Please share links, photos, videos, etc. of what you'd like to see on the SDC redevelopment site, and we will post them here in the order they are received.
Pocket Neighborhoods
Pocket neighborhoods are clustered groups of houses or apartments gathered around a shared open space — a garden courtyard, a pedestrian street, a series of joined backyards, or a reclaimed alley — all of which have a clear sense of territory and shared stewardship. They can be in urban, suburban or rural areas.
chautauqua: a north american cultural renaissance
A social and cultural phenomenon that permeated rural North America until the mid-1920s, the Chautauqua Movement attracted millions to hear educators, preachers, explorers, travelers, scientists, politicians, singers, violinists, pianists, bands and orchestras. Today, only a handful of Chautauqua communities survive.
Could we do something similar?
Falkirk Cultural Center
Falkirk Cultural Center, owned and operated by the City of San Rafael, is a beautiful 19th century estate listed on the National Historic Register. This elegant three-story home was built in 1888. The Cultural Center and its beautiful gardens have served the Marin community since 1974.
Imagine a Corps training center at SDC!
The Corps Network
Corps are organizations that engage young adults and post-9/11 veterans in service addressing conservation and community needs. Through a defined term of service, Corps participants – or “Corpsmembers” – gain work experience and develop in-demand skills.
green string institute
Green String Institute’s mission is to educate a new generation of farmers on how to respect the earth and respond to the needs of the environment as they raise food that brings health to local populations. Visit Green String Farm and farm stand in Petaluma, CA at 3571 Old Adobe Rd.
Institute for Sustainable Communities
The US is the largest economy in the world and the biggest per capita emitter of greenhouse gases, which drives climate change. Since 2008, ISC has been working with municipal and community leaders, companies, and nonprofits to accelerate climate and sustainability solutions.
Sweetwater Spectrum's pilot project campus opened in Sonoma,
Sweetwater Spectrum
The supported living model of Sweetwater Spectrum is based on co-housing, and offers choice to its residents with individual, customized and flexible programs, supporting life skills training, continuing education, gardening, art/music, exercise and healthy lifestyles.
Community Garden
The American Community Gardening Association is a binational, nonprofit membership organization of supporters of community greening in urban and rural communities. ACGA’s website provides information, tools, links, and resources for starting a community garden and locator tool for finding the nearest community garden.
What Can We Learn From Other Communities?
1/10/21: Possible lessons to be learned from closure and redevelopment of 3 military bases:
Baldwin Park in Orlando, FL
Liberty Station in San Diego, CA
Lowry in Denver, CO
(pdf submitted by Nancy Padian)
Community Pool and Rec Center
1/4/21: Many in the local community support the idea of a community pool and recreation center. Click on the link below to see the Basin Recreation Fieldhouse in the planned community of Newpark Town Center near Park City, UT. Could we create something similar?
Move dunbar Elementary School to SDC?
Some members of the community have suggested moving Dunbar Elementary School to the SDC campus. Pros? Cons? How would you feel about that? What would that look like? Share your opinion by clicking on the link below.
Arts and culture
1/2/21: Fort Mason in San Francisco should be considered as a potential model for some use of Eldridge. While it has a semi-commercial nature, it is organized as a nonprofit and serves primarily as a cultural benefit for locals and visitors. (Randall Kay)
12/19/20: Sustainable Sonoma's housing strategy calls for building affordable housing on the SDC redevelopment site, aka Eldridge (Strategy 3 starting on page 27). Click below to read the full report.
upper Sonoma Creek Restoration Vision
12/18/20: The Glen Ellen Forum SDC/Eldridge Committee applauds this vision developed by the Sonoma Ecology Center and believes it should be a factor in development of the Specific Plan.
Community Planning Assistance For Wildfire
12/17/20: This website looks like a good resource for land use planning in the Wildlife-Urban-Interface transition zone. (Alice Horowitz)
Glen Ellen-Eldridge Community Bikeway
12/15/20: Read Arthur Dawson's proposal for a bikeway linking Eldridge and Glen Ellen. Look for a pdf of the proposal in Downloads.
Community groups file lawsuit!
Sonoma Community Advocates for a Liveable Environment and Sonoma County Tomorrow, Inc. filed suit challenging the SDC EIR. Learn more by visiting scaledownsdc.org. And...
Please donate to the SDC Legal Fund. Every penny of every donation goes directly to paying for the lawsuit. Both SCALE and Sonoma County Tomorrow, Inc. rely entirely on hard working volunteers; no paid staff.