Here are some of my small-scale development projects.
Paper Alley Reclamation: Westside South, Kansas City, MO, 2023- Present
I am obsessed with alleys. So when I realized no one was going to clear the paper alley behind my house, my neighbors and I got to work. The alley hadn’t been maintained for decades, and was completely inaccessible. The first step to reclaiming this asset involved sheep (!) and a big community event called “Flock Party” in September 2024. More about Flock Party here. The next step, which is currently in progress, involves activation.
Thanks to our friends at Strong Towns, Good Oak as well our as many neighborhood partners for helping to make Flock Party possible.
The Ship: Lawrence, KS, 2017- Present
Built in 1858, my long-term renovation of ‘The Ship’ (historically- ‘The Ellis House’), is an exercise in perseverance and sensitivity. When I bought it in 2017, the roof leaked everywhere, siding was rotted, insulation (if there was any) was falling out, wood rot abound, and the yard was overgrown and wild.
Most of its historic features were not intact, but remnants of decades of creative owners filled the house with a whimsy and artistic spirit. The charge: stabilize the structure and preserve the house’s character. Buildings should have names- so, inspired by the porthole-like design on the front porch, I named it ‘The Ship.’
Intersection Repair: Lawrence, KS, 2015- 2017
Inspired by grassroots traffic-calming projects in Portland, OR, Alicia Kelly and I, with guidance from Dave Lowenstein, facilitated the design and painting of two intersection murals. Our goal was to make the project as inclusive as possible, and we worked extensively with the neighborhood to do so. The painting of the first mural at 10th and New Jersey remains one of the best days of my life, and a testament to the power of community.
See a timelapse video of the second mural here.