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 Site Plan for Brigid’s Paradigm

 

801 N. Emile St.

 

April 1, 2006

 

Mission:   Brigid's Place is a non-profit organization incorporated in the state of Texas, dedicated to the process of transformational spirituality through conversation, experience, hospitality, ritual, service and study. Housed at Christ Church Cathedral, 1117 Texas Ave, Brigid's Place offers programs and classes throughout the Houston area. 

 

Outreach:    The Brigid's Place outreach has included relief for Hurricane Katrina victims and assistance to women who have been incarcerated. The outreach of Brigid's Paradigm helps low-income women obtain homes. Brigid's Place is a 501c3 Non-Profit Organization licensed in Texas. (See  http://www.brigidsplace.org/ )

 

Experience:    Brigid's Paradigm has built one home in the Huntsville area and has embraced the use of salvaged materials under the direction of Dan Phillips of Phoenix Commotion. Dan has done many houses and has much experience in the Huntsville area. (See http://www.phoenixcommotion.com/ )

 

Last Organic Outpost is non-profit organization committed to developing urban agriculture in the greater Houston area. The fifth ward garden outpost is a demonstration project where we are building a garden farm in the inner city. Joe Nelson Icet started the garden in November 2001 on an abandoned piece of land in an industrial area near downtown. It's continued to expand with the help of a few dedicated volunteers. (See http://www.lastorganicoutpost.com/ )

Project Program

Community of 6 duplexes with a shared multi-purpose center with an on-site garden and bio-diesel manufacturing facility.  Vegetables and bio-diesel to be sold to the public.  Majority of construction to be out of recycled building materials and designed under the Texas Veteran Land Board Green Building Checklist.  

 

Residences:        

                             Minimum 500 SF/residence on 2400 SF or land (1200 for each unit)

                             240 SF base area +  100 SF per extra person + 50% * total area for deck space

                                Minimum insulation – R30 Roof, R19 Walls, 10% glazing

                                2 Story attached homes (duplexes)

                                Living Area

                                Bedroom(s)

                                Kitchen (no dishwasher)

                                Bathroom with bathtub

                                Second story loft

                           Storage stairs (closet or drawers underneath)

                                Small storage closet

                                Lockable storage space on or off property

                                Optional small fenced yard (private area)

                                Rainwater cistern

 

Shared Space – Multi purpose center:

                                +/- 3000 SF

                                Community artist work space/Classroom/Meeting Area

                                                Separate lockable space?

                                8 lockable private storage spaces (may be just fenced in areas)

                                Kitchen – secure, space to cook meals for 20-30,

Possibly certified for Organic Food Preparation & Sales, with 3 compartment sink.

                                Bathrooms (2)

                                Food Market

                                                Cold storage or root cellar

                                Exterior shared space

                                                Fire pit, BBQ area, Dining patio

 

Caretaker’s Residence:

                                Program similar to residences

Attached tool storage

 

Biodiesel Manufacturer and Distribution:      

                                Central space for bio-diesel manufacture

                                Secure storage

                                Distribution pump with drive-up area

                                Generator site for supplemental community power

 

Community Garden:

                                Tool storage – 150SF

                                20-30% of site for main garden, with 6-8 hours of sun available

                            Water access- community Greywater capture

Composting and Vermiculture - Community area – 400-800SF, and individual compost areas

 

Parking:  Residences=2 spaces each=24 spaces

                                Commercial space= 4 spaces/1000 SF

 Project Analysis

 HCAD:                    Account # 0402580000002

                                801 N. Emile St.

                                Houston, TX 77020

 

                                Legal description:

                                TRS 2AB2D

                                (001 B061 *TR5B)

                                Abstract 32 Harris & Wilson

 

                                2005 Land Value: $34,224

                                Land Area: 41,632 SF (0.955 acres)

 Deed Restrictions: None

 Flood plane:  No

 Brownfield: No

Site History – 5^th Ward, Houston

After the U.S. Civil War, newly freed slaves (freemen) began settling in the sparsely settled area. In 1866, it became the Fifth Ward and an alderman from the ward was elected to Houston's City Council. By the mid-1880s, it was virtually all black, home to working class people who made their livings in Houston's eastside ship channel and industrial areas or as domestics for wealthy Houstonians. Mount Vernon United Methodist Church, founded in 1865 by a former slave, is the oldest church in the ward. Five other churches are over a hundred years old. Over the years it had been home to the city's minority and immigrant population. Although it has been a mostly black area, Latinos and Italian Catholics also moved there.

With a $7,600 median income and 62% of the residents below poverty, 5th Ward is the lowest-income neighborhood in the South's largest city. Home to 18,000 people together with historic churches, the city's first settlement house and first black arts center, 5th Ward has a rich history with native sons and daughters who included:

Barbara Jordan, beloved orator, constitutional champion, and first black Congresswoman from the South.

Mickey Leland, congressman and leader in providing relief to Africa's needy;

Civil rights pioneer Dr. Lonnie Smith whose 1944 Supreme Court case opened Southern primaries to African-Americans.

Heavyweight champion George Foreman whose recent comeback has inspired Baby-boomers nationwide;

Joe Sample and the Crusaders, pioneers of Fusion Jazz;

Dr. Ruth Simmons, as Brown University president and the first black to head an elite Eastern college;

Houston political leaders Commissioner El Franco Lee and Representative Harold Dutton; and

Detective Easy Rawlings of Walter Mosley's best selling mysteries, now in film from Columbia Pictures.

 

The community is served by several Houston Independent School District schools, including Atherton Elementary, Bruce Elementary, Dogan Elementary, N.Q. Henderson Elementary, E.O. Smith Education Center (1-8), and Phillis Wheatley High School (built in 1927). It is served by Fifth Ward Branch of Houston Public Library.

 

Weather Analysis

               

                Houston weather data shows that natural ventilation and shade should be the top design priorities. Allowing for South and Southeast breezes to flow through each residence and employing shade to offset solar radiation heat gain (1 Btu = 1 lit match) will help offset air-conditioning costs. Rainwater harvesting and photovoltaic use are feasible.