Alchemist
transforming communities through action research
Saturday, August 19, 2006
Ideas and Fundraisers
Thursday, June 01, 2006
Our recent workshop generated lots of great ideas for the Alkali and Mansion Flats neighborhood (stay tuned for the short and long version of the notes) - many of which we're excited about setting into motion.
In order to keep moving, we'll need to raise some funds in the very near future. This is where you come in. Yes, of course we'd love it if you wanted to donate to us. But, we also want your ideas. We need ideas for exciting fundraisers that can engage a lot of people, capture people's imaginations and raise a good amount of money with a minimal expense. Something catchy...a central city marathon of some sort maybe....Got a good idea? Send it to us! Thanks!
Alkali/Mansion Flat Workshop
Thursday, May 18, 2006
Check out this event:
Alkali/Mansion Flat Workshop
Hosted By: Alchemist
When: Tuesday May 23, 2006 at 6:00 PM
Where: Boys & Girls Club
1117 G StreetSacrament, CA 95814, US
Description:Alchemist
Natomas and the Central City
Tuesday, May 2, 2006
Last week, Alchemist appeared at City Council to oppose the insane plans for Sacramento to expand into the flood plain of Natomas and offered some suggestions on how to accomodate new residents into the existing urbanzied areas of our city. Here's what was said:
Comments on Natomas Joint Vision, April 25, 2006
Good Evening Mayor Fargo and Members of the City Council:
My name is Wendy Carter, I live in the Alkali/Mansion Flats neighborhood, and Im here representing Alchemist, a non-profit community development organization.
As an organization committed to equitable and sustainable development in Sacramento, we must oppose any further action to develop the Natomas Joint Vision area. We believe that the resources both staff time and funding required to study and proceed with development - should be re-directed towards efforts in existing neighborhoods. We understand the need to plan for a growing population, but we dare to believe that this can be achieved primarily within the existing urbanized areas of the city.
To accomplish this, we propose three strategies:
Strategy 1: Dedicate more resources to neighborhood scale planning, and empower communities to take the lead. The idea of Form Based Codes has been so attractive to residents not only because it provides an avenue to protect historic neighborhoods, but because it includes a strong emphasis on public participation. Residents need to be able to define what they DO want, rather than having to spend all their energy fighting against what they dont want. With assurance that new growth will be respectful of the existing neighborhood, residents are much more likely to accept higher densities and new development. The current level of funding dedicated to form based codes is not adequate and the implementation plan is set too far in the future.
Strategy 2: Develop stricter policies and enforcement mechanisms related to vacant buildings and lots to reduce the incentive for speculation, which renders substantial quantities of city land unproductive, especially in older central city neighborhoods such as Alkali Flat and Oak Park.
Strategy 3: Make central city areas attractive to families by continuing to invest in safety, affordable housing, education and the arts.
By halting further development in the Natomas area, you will be taking a great step towards achieving the goals set by the Urban Environmental Accords, signed by Mayor Fargo this past weekend.
Thank you.
Last week, Alchemist appeared at City Council to oppose the insane plans for Sacramento to expand into the flood plain of Natomas and offered some suggestions on how to accomodate new residents into the existing urbanzied areas of our city. Here's what was said:
Comments on Natomas Joint Vision, April 25, 2006
Good Evening Mayor Fargo and Members of the City Council:
My name is Wendy Carter, I live in the Alkali/Mansion Flats neighborhood, and Im here representing Alchemist, a non-profit community development organization.
As an organization committed to equitable and sustainable development in Sacramento, we must oppose any further action to develop the Natomas Joint Vision area. We believe that the resources both staff time and funding required to study and proceed with development - should be re-directed towards efforts in existing neighborhoods. We understand the need to plan for a growing population, but we dare to believe that this can be achieved primarily within the existing urbanized areas of the city.
To accomplish this, we propose three strategies:
Strategy 1: Dedicate more resources to neighborhood scale planning, and empower communities to take the lead. The idea of Form Based Codes has been so attractive to residents not only because it provides an avenue to protect historic neighborhoods, but because it includes a strong emphasis on public participation. Residents need to be able to define what they DO want, rather than having to spend all their energy fighting against what they dont want. With assurance that new growth will be respectful of the existing neighborhood, residents are much more likely to accept higher densities and new development. The current level of funding dedicated to form based codes is not adequate and the implementation plan is set too far in the future.
Strategy 2: Develop stricter policies and enforcement mechanisms related to vacant buildings and lots to reduce the incentive for speculation, which renders substantial quantities of city land unproductive, especially in older central city neighborhoods such as Alkali Flat and Oak Park.
Strategy 3: Make central city areas attractive to families by continuing to invest in safety, affordable housing, education and the arts.
By halting further development in the Natomas area, you will be taking a great step towards achieving the goals set by the Urban Environmental Accords, signed by Mayor Fargo this past weekend.
Thank you.
New Board Members
Tuesday, May 2, 2006
Alchemist welcomes four new board members: Rebecca Dowd, Nancy Miller, Sherrie Navarro and Meredith Nixon. These awesome women bring with them lots of experience and energy, and they'll be helping us chart the course for Alchemist's activities in the coming year. Stay tuned!
Chris Aguirre and Carl Pinkston have retired from the board; we miss them but appreciate their contributions to building this organization.
As for Lisa Nelson and Wendy Carter, we're still at it!
Love Sacramento? We want to keep you loving it!
Alchemist welcomes four new board members: Rebecca Dowd, Nancy Miller, Sherrie Navarro and Meredith Nixon. These awesome women bring with them lots of experience and energy, and they'll be helping us chart the course for Alchemist's activities in the coming year. Stay tuned!
Chris Aguirre and Carl Pinkston have retired from the board; we miss them but appreciate their contributions to building this organization.
As for Lisa Nelson and Wendy Carter, we're still at it!
Love Sacramento? We want to keep you loving it!
Form-Based Codes
Tuesday, February 21, 2006
Alchemist on the move!
Hey friends of Alchemist! If you're on our mailing list, you'll soon be getting an update on some of our recent exciting activities! If you're not, then email us at info @ alchemistcdc.org. One of our most interesting and pressing projects is on Form Based Codes in the Alkali Flat neighborhood. Our unpaid staff and interns are working hard with the neighborhood association and the city to hold our first workshop to seek input from residents on how they want their neighborhood to develop. If you're wondering what Form Based Codes are, check out the The Form Based Codes Institute's resource list. Form-Based Codes create a predictable public realm by controlling physical form primarily, and land uses secondarily, through city or county regulations.
We are moving faster than the city on this one, and need your donations to help pay for basic supplies and materials for our first workshop. Are you willing to donate your time or money? You can donate securely on line at http://www.alchemistcdc.org/donate.php, send us a check (email back for the address), or email us at info @ alchemistcdc.org and we'll be in touch with you!
Alchemist on the move!
Hey friends of Alchemist! If you're on our mailing list, you'll soon be getting an update on some of our recent exciting activities! If you're not, then email us at info @ alchemistcdc.org. One of our most interesting and pressing projects is on Form Based Codes in the Alkali Flat neighborhood. Our unpaid staff and interns are working hard with the neighborhood association and the city to hold our first workshop to seek input from residents on how they want their neighborhood to develop. If you're wondering what Form Based Codes are, check out the The Form Based Codes Institute's resource list. Form-Based Codes create a predictable public realm by controlling physical form primarily, and land uses secondarily, through city or county regulations.
We are moving faster than the city on this one, and need your donations to help pay for basic supplies and materials for our first workshop. Are you willing to donate your time or money? You can donate securely on line at http://www.alchemistcdc.org/donate.php, send us a check (email back for the address), or email us at info @ alchemistcdc.org and we'll be in touch with you!
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