courtney jones
Following the flood of 2016, the city of Baton Rouge realized the vulnerability of this historic social hub. The site’s location at the nexus of three different watersheds, but lack of proper stormwater management makes water retention a priority. With a close proximity to the Exxon Mobil plant, there are plenty of employment opportunities and housing within walking distance which seems to combat the ever-present air pollution. This project attempts to turn the site’s disadvantages into opportunities.
Due to historic neglect and institutionalized government zoning, this site has become an underutilized, polluted piece of land. A variety of green interventions create an opportunity to mitigate the influences of the fifth largest oil refinery in the US by removing particulate matter from the air, mitigate stormwater runoff away from the surrounding homes, and provide fresh produce to a community that previously had to do without.
There is a significant lack of designated spaces for the youth near the site, leading to spiked crime rates. The Walls Project has proven that providing a space and purpose for the youth of a given neighborhood can cut annual crime numbers in half. With the correlation of juvenile activities and lack of community spaces, this project attempts to create a welcoming space for them to hold study groups and other social gatherings.
A shared commercial kitchen is an opportunity for local chefs to actualize their dreams with low overhead costs until they can afford their own building. The rotating restaurants provide the working professional with a variety of dining options. To accommodate a wide range of lifestyles, flexible outdoor seating provides comfortable standing and sitting dining ideal for a quick bite to eat as well as a casual lunch meeting.
This teaching kitchen strives to provide training and employment opportunities for the local young adult population that currently faces a high unemployment rate and a low college attendance rate. There are many successful, locally owned food establishments along the Plank Road Corridor that could benefit from hiring through a program that trains potential employees for positions from waiter to management.