sewell street

long time no see, blog.

a ravine separates two tracts of land HERO owns in the north ward. we've begun major developments on the southern tract - 5 rural studio homes, 4 habitat for humanity homes, two hero homes, water and sewer lines, a landscaping plan, free gas tankless water heaters, excited parents, shrill babies, bobcats, hammers, scaffolding, block parties. the other tract remains untouched as of now. what to do?

currently it is access solely by a ruddy gravel and dirt road that stems from ward street on the east. the road meanders and dissolves into an eroding landscape that slopes gently, than furiously, into the ravine. time and weathering and misuse of the land has stripped the earth of its topsoil. patches of dry grass suffer to exist in the red clay. entire beds of tree roots are exposed and are losing their battle to grip the ground.

this little street, sewell street, is known in the area to be a dark, dangerous nook in the north ward of greensboro. drug dealing, dog fighting, who knows. people assume, and possibly know, that something is going on, but no one wants to take a peak.

so of course, pam and i had to. we went back there and met with a homeowner. sue loves her little house. it was owned by her mother. it is need of major repair, but she would never move. her family lives in the other homes on the land.

they seem happy. but complacent? if the status quo is all that you've ever known, how do you dream of something bigger?

so how can this little piece of land help them to dream bigger?

tree house
bridge to the other neighborhood
hanging garden
clean ravine!
butterflies
solar power
compost
veg
pavilion
pavilion over the ravine?
light
light sculpture
lightning bugs and cricket chorus
terracing + benches
chapel
wall o' sewell family photo extravaganza