Theme songs. Franchises. EcoCenter Awards.
The suggestions were flying Wednesday night at the first “design charrette” in the proposed Morristown EcoCenter.
Residents, business people and artists filed into the former Mini Cooper dealership at 55 Bank St. to propose uses for the space, which has been vacant for about 18 months.
“We’re looking for all the ideas people have about what they want to see, and all the concerns they have. Then we can integrate these into some kind of coherent concept. And then we can figure out the costs,” said Jonathan Cloud, chairman of the Sustainable Business Incubator and managing partner of the Tipping Point LLC.
Sessions will continue through Saturday, May 7. (Schedule below.)
In addition to the incubator, Jonathan’s group envisions the place housing an organic restaurant, rooftop garden, commercial kitchen and a performance space, among other uses.
Already, there is talk of expanding the upstairs area to double the size of the 20,000-square-foot building. But then, everything is in the talking stage. That is what design charrettes are all about. Dictionary.com defines a charrette as:
a final, intensive effort to finish a project, especially an architectural design project, before a deadline.
The word is derived from an old French term for a chariot or wagon, and refers to the speed of wheels, according to the dictionary site.
“You have to throw all the ideas in, the stupid, the crazy,” said Summit architect and photographer Sam Awad, who exhibited at an EcoCenter “pop-up” art show last week and returned for Wednesday’s charrette. “We need sustainable energy, and we need to create businesses.”
Jonathan said two companies–one selling green products like solar backpacks and the other selling green building products–have expressed interest in occupying portions of the building.
All of the EcoCenter plans hinge on Jonathan’s team coming up with rent money while they pursue investors and loans for the project. Landlord Jack McDonald is the EcoCenter’s biggest cheerleader, and so far his outlook remains optimistic.
“I have some runway ahead of me, as long as we keep moving. I believe this will happen, as long as there is interest. It has too much positive energy” to stall, Jack said.
One goal for the project is to retrofit the building to achieve a LEED gold rating, the second-highest environmental certification offered by the nonprofit U.S. Green Building Association.
Rich Feldmann of Potential Energies in Princeton is ready to help guide that process, if the EcoCenter advances that far.
“I’ve never seen a project developed like this locally,” the Bernardsville native said of the charrette.
Morristown “is one of the few towns that ‘gets it’ as far as trends. In 20 years, you’re going to have to do things this way. Here, you have got people who really understand that this is the way to make the future easier and better.”
Rich was involved with green renovations to Marty’s Reliable Cycle in Morristown. Paul Miller, the town’s sustainability coordinator, invited him to check out the EcoCenter. Rich in turn introduced environmental architect Ben Walmer to Jonathan’s team.
Next week, Rich is running a three-day art show at the EcoCenter.
It’s a labor of love; Rich is an avid cartoonist and he anticipates showing works by several illustrators from The New Yorker.
“The show will support artists who have focused on sustainability, and bring attention to what we’re doing here at the EcoCenter,” he said.
Admission will be free. The opening reception is scheduled for May 12 from 6 to 9 pm. The exhibition continues from 6 to 9 pm on May 13, when MorristownGreen.com will host Cartoonists Night, Doodling With a Message, featuring MG cartoonists Paul Laud, Matt Keown and Fred Caracci. The art show concludes on Saturday, May 14, from 1 to 5 pm.
UPCOMING ECOCENTER DESIGN CHARRETTES:
Thursday, May 5: Noon to 7 pm
Topic: Big Picture Planning
Site evaluation, drainage and hydrology, parking and traffic patterns will be discussed.
Who Should Attend: All those with expertise and strong interests in these topics are encouraged to attend.
Friday, May 6: 11 am to 5 pm
Topic: MEP (Mechanical, Electric, and Plumbing)
Most efficient ways to heat and cool the building as well as other energy savers.
Who Should Attend: All those with expertise and strong interests in these topics are encouraged to attend.
Saturday, May 7: Noon to 5 pm
Topic: Follow up and feedback
We will be following up on any unfinished topics from the previous days, and will be inviting public comment on results of the previous sessions.
Who Should Attend: Neighbors, Experts & Interested Parties
Sessions can be followed at https://charrette.morristownecocenter.com/. Anyone can post an article, sketch, or comment at this site, and these will be projected for those in attendance.
On Tuesday, MorristownGreen.com hosted a well attended Songwriters Night at the EcoCenter. More free fun is coming to the EcoCenter, from MorristownGreen.com and Sustainable Morristown:
MG Cartoonists Night, May 13: Want to start a comic strip? Three cartoonists tell you how. Art show, too! At 7:30 pm.
MG Wordplay: Fun With Words, May 17: Poetry, hip-hop, beat boxing, improv and more, starts at 7:30 pm.
MG Kids Art Show, May 25: Kids art, tips on green cooking for kids, a live art project, and more. (This event starts after school, at 2:30 pm.)
I’m glad to see that Ben Walmer of LiMN Architects is working on such an interesting, unique and inspired project that will put new life into the old MINI dealership.