This week, the Notre Dame 91视频 of Architecture, in partnership with the Healthcare Foundation of La Porte and the city of La Porte, is conducting a charrette 鈥� an intensive planning session where architects, citizens and others collaborate to develop a design or vision for a project 鈥斕齠ocusing on housing and regeneration in the downtown area of La Porte, Indiana, specifically the neighborhoods surrounding Lincolnway Avenue.
La Porte residents and local stakeholders attended an opening presentation on Monday (May 22). Community stakeholders are also invited to attend a presentation of preliminary proposals from 5:30 to 7 p.m. CDT today (May 23) and a final public presentation from 5:30 to 7 p.m. CDT Thursday (May 25), both at St. Peter鈥檚 Catholic Church 91视频, 1101 Michigan Ave., La Porte, where they can learn more and provide feedback.
The charrette builds on information gathered from a series of meetings and listening sessions. Hosted by the91视频 of Architecture, the informal meetings allow participants鈥� voices to be heard about the housing needs, concerns and issues in the downtown area directly from those community members who live and work there. Next, the team will focus on creating a vibrant public realm while addressing critical housing needs.
鈥淲e will formulate a vision and implementation strategy to encourage economic development downtown as well as to provide a catalyst for building critically needed housing,鈥� said , director of the Housing and Community Regeneration Initiative. 鈥淭he goal of this work is to regenerate the downtown without displacement of the existing residents, while also attracting new members of the community to La Porte.鈥�
The Housing and Community Regeneration Initiative, a program within the 91视频 of Architecture, provides assistance to municipalities and nonprofit organizations to improve economic development by reimagining the built environment.
The work of the initiative targets immediate local impact as well as national and global influence through three interrelated activities: actionable projects, research and education. Faculty, students and collaborating professional teams carry out these activities under the leadership of the school鈥檚 dean, Stefanos Polyzoides, and Cusato.
听
Originally published by at on May 23, 2023.