Guadalupe Land Trust and Public47 architects invite you to help brainstorm ideas for a future community facility at Gallucci Learning Garden tomorrow.
The proposed new Gallucci Learning Garden Hospitality Building comes out of the learning garden concept as initially conceived in a collaborative design process involving the Guadalupe Land Trust and members of the community. The building was envisioned to include a teaching kitchen, meeting space, restrooms and other features to support the work of the current Learning Garden in Tacoma’s Hilltop. The Gallucci Learning Garden is fairly new; dedicated in 2010, and completed last year.
The Gallucci learning garden is a unique space that was designed with community input to be a learning garden – a place where people could come together to learn and share vs. a traditional community garden where people ‘rent’ a spot. It was completed in 2011 thanks to multiple local grants and thousands of hours of volunteer labor. The site was donated to the GLT and is named after Bob Gallucci – local activist in the Hilltop neighborhood.
Since its 2011 completion, the garden has been hosting the 4H Youth Development Program gardeners, and sponsoring a garden education program called “Garden Steward/Garden Intern,” where experienced gardeners team with people who want to learn more about growing their own healthy food.
The goal of the proposed hospitality building is to enhance programs already in place at the learning garden, and allow for the addition of new programs that will reinforce the connection between growing healthy food in the garden and preparing delicious, healthy meals with the produce in the teaching kitchen. The community meeting space in the hospitality building will provide opportunities for neighbors to get to know each other and celebrate the rich diversity of the Hilltop community.
The June 26 meeting will be an opportunity for Guadalupe Land Trust and the Public47 architects to listen to community member’s ideas and suggestions for the proposed building. It will also be an opportunity for the land trust to gauge the level of community support for the project. Community interest in, and support of the project will determine whether a capital campaign is launched in the near future, or whether the Land Trust puts its effort into building the required community support.
Public47 is offering its services pro bono as part of a voluntary 1% for the public good program. The 1% program asks architecture and design firms nationwide to dedicate one percent of their working hours to pro bono service. The Guadalupe Land Trust applied, and Public47 chose to work on the project.
When the planning process is complete, there will be a capital campaign to fund the construction of the building. A look at the Public47 brochure shows some exciting buildings, and suggests a firm that’s not afraid to keep it interesting. We’re excited to see what they come up with… with your help, of course.
Brainstorming Session for Gallucci Learning Garden Community Facility
When: Tuesday, June 26, 6:30 p.m.
Where: St. Leo’s Catholic Church, 710 South 13th, Tacoma
Details: Guadalupe Land Trust Facebook page
Light refreshments will be served. For more information, contact Tacoma-Pierce County Community Garden Coordinator Kristen McIvor at (253) 363-1846 or kmcivor@forterra.org.
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