The initiative was awarded a team of experts with national reputation through the Sustainable Design Assessment Team (SDAT) program of the American Institute of Architects. This team of experts will work with neighborhood stakeholders, local design and planning professionals, and city leaders to develop a vision and set of needed steps and policies needed to implement the sustainable neighborhood renewal aspirations of the initiative.

 

The primary activity associated with this SDAT award will be a three-day workshop October 28-30, 2009 where stakeholders will come together with the team and local professionals to craft this vision. Learn more about the workshop details.

 

The work of this team is guided by a steering committee that contains neighborhood residents, community leaders, local government representatives, and design professional representatives. An important aspect of the work of this steering committee is encouraging neighborhood engagement in the process. This will be done directly by reaching out to neighborhood organizations and other stakeholders as well as indirectly by using extensive public input gathered through separate recent and current neighborhood visioning and planning processes. (No need to reinvent the wheel).

 

What is SDAT?

The Sustainable Design Assessment Team (SDAT) initiative is a national, competitive program of the American Institute of Architects. The program is a community assistance program that focuses on the principles of sustainability. SDATs bring teams of volunteer professionals (such as architects, urban designers, planners, landscape architects, hydrologists, economists, attorneys, and others) to assist community decision-makers and stakeholders to help them develop a vision and framework for a sustainable future. Visit the AIA SDAT website for complete information.

The SDAT process helps communities:

• understand their structure at various scales and contexts;
• explore interactions between ecological, sociological, economic, and physical systems;
• visualize potential futures;
• articulate the qualities of a place;
• advance the principles of sustainable communities; and
• define the role of stakeholders and players in both the public and private sectors.

 

The Indianapolis proposal was made after talking with many area stakeholders and as an outgrowth of a recommendation by the Indianapolis Green Commission. As regional transit continues to gain momentum, this project will work to ensure an under-served neighborhood is ahead of the curve and able to address the many changes and pressures that a transit stop will bring to the area.

 

How Can I Stay Involved?

The project steering committee, with its’ neighborhood engagement and professional engagement subcommittees, are developing a series of outreach activities geared toward stakeholders in the neighborhood as well as opportunities for design professionals and students to contribute. Learn more about getting involved.