The Celia Saxon Neighborhood
is in the heart of one of Columbia’s historic communities.
Working in tandem with the area’s recent Empowerment Zone
designation, the HOPE VI Revitalization Project will replace an
isolated, obsolete eye-sore with a true mixed-use, and mixed-income
community that will provide jobs, training, and housing choice.
The new plan will
create safe and attractive connections throughout the neighborhood,
linking important educational institutions with residential and
recreational areas. A new commercial core of existing and proposed
businesses will be anchored by a 26,000 sq. ft. grocery store.
Existing assets, including a community center, daycare, and recreational
facilities at Drew Park will be renovated and enhanced.
The Architects worked
closely with residents and community leaders in an intensive eight-day
design process to create the overall plan. The neighborhood will
contain 256 new homes along traditional tree-lined streets and
small parks. In addition to promoting homeownership, five distinct
building types will be mixed together to respond to different
resident profiles and income levels.
