Design Initiative Backs SCA Project

To the Editors:

This letter is in response to the editorial, entitled “SCA Should Focus on Community,” published in the March 15 issue of the Review. It suggested that the Sustainable Community Associates better involve themselves within the existing institutional infrastructure of the Oberlin community as they pursue developing 43 East College Street.
I agree that it is important that members of the College bear in mind the long-term needs and changes in the town when working with community members, and that it is important that any developer seriously consider and foster their relationship with the surrounding community. However, the editorial seemed to imply that SCA is not working within existing community organizations and committees; it suggested that they get involved with the Oberlin Design Initiative and the Economic Development/Restructuring committee. To that end, I would like to take a moment to set the record straight.
As a Co-Director of the Oberlin Design Initiative, I can attest to the work that we are doing in partnership with SCA and their ambitious redevelopment project:
We have researched and assembled a set of state and national funding mechanisms for construction and programming.
We are leading a team of students in working with a local architect to research environmental design principles and technologies that will be incorporated into the building.
And we are in the process of planning a series of community design charrettes that will generate the best combination of design alternatives for the open space behind their building.
As a member of the Economic Development/Restructuring committee, I would like to point out the potential economic anchor that their development could provide for the downtown. As that committee embarks upon assembling an application for a Community Development Block Grant, SCA’s development will likely function as the necessary element for receiving a large, and much needed, grant for downtown building owners.
It is important to be involved in local committees, commissions, and organizations, but those are only useful if you are working towards some end. Committees are only a means to an end, and you don’t build buildings by committee.

–Morgan Williams
College senior