Conceptual Master Plan - Emeryville Center of Community Life

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I have reservations about having young kids on this site that is really busy. Since
this is not the first presentation, what has been the feedback on this concept of
elementary school on this crowded site?
o Heard that we need separate drop-off zones, separate playgrounds and
play areas, and safe neighborhoods within site that is controlled and keeps
children safe.
o Other feedback has been on the shared pieces like the gym, how do
children navigate to these spaces? We have created bridges and walkways
to take children to the shared areas without crossing paths of the public or
other grade levels to address these concerns.
o Overall there has been a lot curiosity overall on this design.
o This includes feedback sessions with the school staff and more are
upcoming to make sure this is fully addressed.
o We have created successful shared use between schools and community in
bay area.
Concerned about dialogue I’ve seen in these meetings. Is the pleasantries and
niceness covering up the real ‘east’ Emeryville. It’s a war zone oaround San
Pablo Avenue, just this morning I saw a series of fresh bullet holes in Bucci’s
windows on Hollis Street. Also, a child was shot at the high school a few years
ago. The history is that the problems and issues go much deeper than just a
building and safety needs to be a top priority if the building is to be used. How
are we addressing these issues?
o We still need to have interactions with police department and school
security, this could help us know how to deal with these issues in the next
phase of design.
o We’ve also completed successful, safe buildings in at-risk neighborhoods
in San Jose and Sacramento, it can work.
Ruth Atkins commented that safety is necessary for equality in life.
ECCL builds relational infrastructure to build more safety and
security through the community’s relationships. We want to
promote and nurture the feeling of a village and that concept of
people looking out for each other. An example is Emery Bay
Village. 14 burglaries happened, but finally people looked out for
their neighbors and called police when suspicious activity occurred
and the burglar was caught. This concept of caring and community
is at work in the ECCL.
o Unidentified Guy Response to Atkin: Outreach and communication is the
only way to solve this, to think architecture can solve this is delusion and
not a due diligence to the community. I will sue the City to keep this
waste of time and money from happening.
Emery Bay Village is also having issues with prostitution, how are we going to
stop this behavior near a school?
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Unsure of the issue or problem, but it would be a concern and be
addressed.