Claywood Construction’s Post

📣 VOA-GNY is thrilled to announce that we have been selected as a co-developer of Hillside Grove. This transformative project will replace a long-disputed sanitation depot in Staten Island with affordable housing and a vibrant hub of amenities for the local community. As a part of a broader initiative to revitalize Staten Island’s North Shore, Hillside Grove will feature: 🏠 232 units of affordable housing 🌳 Courtyard spaces for residents 🛍️ A public plaza and a grocery store, addressing a critical food desert in the area For decades, community advocates have fought for the depot’s closure. Now, this project will do just that while advancing housing, food, and environmental justice. We are grateful to our collaborators Spatial Equity Co., NEHEMIAH HOUSING DEVELOPMENT FUND COMPANY INC, Purpose by Design Architects PLLC, Ametrine Group, NYC Department of Housing Preservation & Development, and NYC Department of City Planning for making this vision a reality. Together, Hillside Grove is a powerful example of how collaborative efforts and community-driven planning can be achieved when a once-in-a-generation investment is made to realize the vision of community members. Read more about the project here: https://lnkd.in/eyJvfBSg #AffordableHousing #CommunityRevitalization

𝗖𝗥𝗘𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗡𝗚 𝗔 𝗖𝗢𝗠𝗠𝗨𝗡𝗜𝗧𝗬 𝗣𝗔𝗥𝗞: What do you do with 5-10 acres of idle land if you don't want to sell or farm it? Create a community park. Not a mini-park. This is where a Master Plan comes in. What is it? It's a vision board for your park. A Master Plan is more than just a blueprint, it's a community bond. Picture this: • A small lake for fishing • Playgrounds for the kids • Walking trails, and outdoor exercise equipment for all ages • Picnic areas for family gatherings • A stage for outdoor concerts or performances • A community garden, and maybe even a farmer's market 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗽𝗼𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗹𝗲𝘀𝘀. Creating a Master Plan doesn't have to be expensive. Here are some tips: • Collaborate with local businesses, community organizations, and city officials • Tap into grant programs for funding • Engage with landscape architects and construction companies in your area for the best deals This is your chance to turn idle land into a thriving 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗵𝘂𝗯 that brings people together. Start with a Master Plan, and watch your community grow. Check Out PodCity Small Parks Initiative (SPI) https://lnkd.in/d6i4KCED

Governor JB Pritzker and the Illinois Department of Natural Resource announced that the Homewood-Flossmoor Park District has been awarded $600,000 in matching funds through the State of Illinois’ Open Space Land Acquisition and Development (OSLAD) Program to assist in the renovation of Irwin Park. Tentative plans include a new playground, rain garden with pollinator plants, story walk, seating areas and more. These improvements will not only enhance the park's aesthetic appeal but also make it a more inclusive, and more enjoyable space for residents of all ages. We will continue to keep you all updated as we we move forward with this project.

It’s #EconDevWeek and we're celebrating #NorthCarolina’s #PublicPower partners who are embracing diverse downtown strategies to fuel thriving local economies. Discover how these strategies have been making a tangible impact in NC’s public power communities below! - The City of Wilson, City Of Statesville, and #HertfordNC are investing in #PublicArt -- from murals and sculpture installations to artistic displays on electric light boxes -- igniting downtown revitalization and attracting spending. (Wilson Economic Development Council, Iredell County Economic Development Corporation, Perquimans County, NC) (Statesville, NC shown below) - The Town of Smithfield, NC’s focus on improving nighttime lighting enhances business visibility and pedestrian safety; vital for nurturing its evening economy. (Johnston County NC - Economic Development) - Retention is key to guaranteeing consumer amenities and ensuring a stable local economy. The Town of Wake Forest, NC is piloting a retention grant to mitigate financial risk that may threaten newly established businesses as they establish a foundation in the town. (Wake Forest Business & Industry Partnership) - The City of Albemarle’s investment in building rehabilitation and stabilization adds viable inventory to its #RealEstate pipeline and spurs economic vitality in its central business district. (Stanly County Economic Development Commission) #WilsonNC #StatesvilleNC #SmithfieldNC #WakeForestNC #AlbemarleNC #EconDev

We’re thrilled to share a new video that brings the story of Greenfield Commons to life! Watch it now: https://buff.ly/3POy6X7 to see how this groundbreaking project came together through powerful partnerships. Greenfield Commons isn’t just a housing development—it’s a testament to what’s possible when we work together. This two-phase, 200-unit development represents innovation at its finest. By utilizing modular construction and Type V building techniques—where wood-frame construction ensures efficiency and cost-effectiveness—Greenfield Commons sets a new benchmark for thoughtful, community-focused housing. None of this would have been possible without the dedication and expertise of our incredible partners. A heartfelt thank you to our exceptional general contractor, Swinerton, and the talented design team at HED Architects for their dedication to this project. We are profoundly grateful to our funders and lenders, including the California Department of Housing and Community Development, the County of Monterey, KeyBank, and the City of Greenfield, for their invaluable support. We also extend our deepest appreciation to the leaders and advocates featured in this video, whose commitment to the community has been instrumental: California Department of Housing & Community Development, Director Gustavo Velasquez, City of Greenfield, California Mayor Bob White, District 3 Supervisor Christopher Lopez, City Champion John Huerta Jr., and Swinerton Project Executive Daniel Chavarria. Your passion and vision are shaping a better future for the Salinas Valley. Together, we’re not just building homes—we’re creating a community where agricultural families and veterans have the opportunity to build their futures. Video credits: Cognizant Films #EAHHousing #Partnerships #AffordableHousing #ExcellenceinDesign #FarmworkerHousing #Swinerton1888 #HED #GreenfieldCommons #CommunityCollaboration #SustainableDesign #SalinasValley #Greenfield #California

What an exciting development for those leading the charge to convert the abandoned Kenwood "L" embankment in Bronzeville to a 606-style rail-trail! As the Sun-Times reports, the Mellon Foundation is granting $900,000 to the Bronzeville Trail Task Force to conduct pre-development research and landscape design work with Botanical City. The Kenwood "L" closed in 1957 and today is a forested green spine running east-west through dense neighborhood blocks. This once vital transit spur shuttled thousands of workers daily between Bronzeville and the Union Stockyards. It has a chance to become an extraordinary recreational and cultural amenity with the right planning and backing, serving the community in a new way. Read on: https://lnkd.in/gMsXuZyF #RailTrails #recreation #Bronzeville #BronzevilleTrail #LandscapeDesign

Lake Placid has agreed to hire an outside agency to plan the future of its downtown business district. The town will pay $40,000 to the Central Florida Regional Planning Council to develop a “downtown vision and action plan” for the town’s Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA). The resulting land use and development parameters will guide everything from food trucks, parking, landscaping, architecture and other aspects of downtown life. The Planning Council is governed by a body of elected and appointed representatives of the region’s member governments. It has provided planning advisory services and programs to all five counties and 25 cities of the region for a half-century. #RedevelopmentWorks #Redevelopment #FloridaRedevelopment #MyFRA #FLRedevelopment #LakePlacid #LakePlacidCRA

DID YOU SAY HIGHLAND PARK? Growing up in Dallas there is a certain cache about HP. And why not, it’s one of the most beautiful communities, with premium houses and a vibrant tax base. If HP is your baseline, then tract neighborhoods in the suburbs are a foreign concept. But here is the funny part. Highland Park was started as a master planned community with multiple product offerings including apartments. The land plan was given plenty of green space and open areas for community. So the next time you drive home to (or through) HP, don’t forget that HIGHLAND PARK is the realization of one land man’s dream. And it was located at the end of the earth. North of Dallas. In 1906, John Scarborough Armstrong purchased 1,400 acres of prairie and hired Wilbur David Cook, the designer of Beverly Hills, to plan the development. The name "Highland Park" comes from the neighborhood's high elevation and the 20% of land dedicated to parks, creeks, and lakes. The first two lots were sold in 1909. The development was ahead of its time in the use of parks. Great land planning generally yields lasting value and appreciation. What are you building? Are you proud of your end product or just in it for money? Armstrong knowingly set aside 20% for parks to help drive absorption and quality of life for those moving “out”. Don’t get me wrong. The mega communities with mini oceans and waves are cool. But long term nothing beats nature, green space and public pocket parks.

Had a walk down memory lane with my Communities Director the other day. We talked about how much his role and our communities division have evolved over the years. As our unit count skyrocketed, so did our standards. He laughed about how much the bar has been raised for him too. A few years ago, our standards were pretty basic: *No trash on properties. *Grass cut. *Existing landscaping (or lack thereof). *Clean hallways. That was it. Now? We’ve taken things to a whole new level. Today, our standards are: *Properties so clean you could walk barefoot to the dumpster. *Grass cut with perfect stripes, edged, and fertilized on time. *New, symmetrical, and cohesive landscaping. *Hallways that aren’t just clean but also smell great. And those are just the basics. Our standards now go beyond appearances – they’re about the quality of our projects, the experiences of our residents, and our overall reputation. We’ve made it a habit to meet the bar and then raise it. Sure, it’s challenging, but for those who want to grow, it’s the best way to push past your limits and win.

Next week is our CAN-opener where we will kick-off CANstruction 2024 and this a reminder to RSVP for the event. This is an opportunity to meet potential teams, sponsors, and volunteers. This year will be our 28th Canstruction Portland event which will be at Pioneer Place in mid-September. Our goal is to raise enough food and funding to provide over 60,000 meals to those who are food insecure in Oregon and SW Washington during our in-person event and ultimately, help make an impact on the issues that perpetuate hunger in our community. This year’s CAN-opener is on Wednesday, April 24th at 5:30pm at Mahlum Architects, Inc. We will have an online option for those who cannot attend in-person. We are trying something a little different this year by sending out the presentation out late next week to use the CAN-opener as a questions and answers forum. So come ready with questions and conversation! Last year, Oregon Food Bank saw a 14% increase in visits to meal assistance sites- and they are on track to see another 1.2 million this year alone. It is estimated that 1 in 10 Oregonians are facing hunger. Despite the climb out of the pandemic, rising costs of goods, housing, healthcare, and inflation generally has meant that we aren’t seeing a decrease in hunger. Your participation in and support of Canstruction is a vital way we can bridge the hunger gap for our community. Together, we can help create a resilient community with every can and dollar we raise at this event. And we need you to make the difference. We are asking for your continued support to help us grow Canstruction Portland and make a positive impact in our community as we return to an in-person event. We would love for you to spread the word about the event to your clients, coworkers, and friends. Please email us at info@canstructionpdx.org if you are interested in joining us. #Portland #Canstruction #canstructionpdx #oregonfoodbank #OneCanMakeaDifference #CanstructaWorldWithoutHunger #endhunger #nawicpdx #aiaoregon #aiaportland #ASCEOregonSection #agcoregoncolumbiachapter #OBOA #design #architecture #engineering #construction #art #designbuildfeed