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When discussing Hazelwood’s past, the influence of steeling and the railroads seems all-pervasive up until relatively recently. While commonly built along the river, the railroad in Hazelwood’s infancy was placed bisecting the neighborhood, lending to the term “below the tracks” to describe those areas closer to the river. This phrase has been utilized in this design.
The tallest buildings in this proposal aim to imitate the rhythms of railroad ties, with their shadows cast over Blair Street. The road branches as if entering a rail yard. The buildings are each a rail car.
The form of walking trails throughout the space mimic the industrial past. Circular running loops on the waterward edge of the site are reminiscent of the pump house across the railroad, while the geometric pattern in the center is a peel-away to the soil pollution underneath with the pattern of steel I-beams.
The streetscape allows for ample room for on-street parking, pedestrians, and bicycle traffic, while still maintaining outdoor space for resident businesses.
Artificial turf in the center protects users from contaminated soil while providing a durable surface for events and play.
Plants chosen for the site were picked according to their characteristics and are native species where possible. The heavy metal pollution in the soil and potential for runoff in a wide, urban space have led to their selection.
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