Congo Street

Our students are really amazing!! I know I've told some of you a bit about what their doing, but it would be wonderful for more folks to visit their blog : http://r3works.blogspot.com/.



And though pictures tell so much, here's a bit of background...

Through my organization I help to teach a design/build architecture class at UT Arlington - my boss handles the technical bits and I meet with them to work through their thoughts about the soul of the project (they're building a house, but the relationships they grow in the neighborhood are so, so very important) - it's been really incredible!

They started as 8 students (now 7) finishing up designs through a series of community meetings and long hours locked together in a house that serves as their design studio, and are now building a house that will serve as temporary residence for families on Congo Street in the Jubilee Park Neighborhood of South Dallas. (This blog goes straight to the heart of Congo's relationship to the rest of the city).

Three families own the 6 houses on the street's North side, and together with students and some immeasurably generous folks we hope to renovate or rebuild all 6 without any of the homeowners having to move from their street or their families - one household at a time will move into what they've named the "holding house" until the whole North side is restored.

Still no word from the landlord who owns rental units on South side of the street, but maybe one day?