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The Challenge

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How might we restore vibrancy in cities and regions facing economic decline?

Inspiration 894 inspirations

Concepting 330 concepts

Applause 330 final concepts

Refinement 20 final concepts

Evaluation 20 final concepts

Winning Concepts Announced!

Concept

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Reclaimed in Detroit

Detroit's ~100K vacant lots are a reinvention opportunity. Could some be salvaged for community centers; others cleared for urban farming; & old building materials reused for furniture? Could "Reclaimed in Detroit" become a mark of Motor City pride?

ABANDONED BUILDING ISSUE

Detroit has a huge abandoned building issue (almost 100K vacant homes/lots). Some can be renovated for new purposes like art/community centers & new businesses. However, with the drop in Detroit’s population from almost 2 million in 1950 to a little over 700K now, driven by permanent shifts like the decline of the traditional auto industry, not everything can be used/maintained (not enough people to move into houses, no one will invest say $100K to renovate something that will only be worth $50K afterwards, shrinking tax base for supporting infrastructure, etc.). And if they’re just left standing as depressing eyesores, broken window theory & experience shows the blight can create more problems like crime, as dramatically manifested during Devil’s Night (hundreds of arson fires started in Detroit shortly before Halloween) each year.

VACANT BUILDINGS/LAND => MODEL SUSTAINABLE CITY

However, this abandoned building problem is also a huge opportunity. By rightsizing & clearing away excess unusable/unmaintainable buildings, as Detroit is currently doing, a blank canvas is opened for reinvention. In fact, Detroit could leapfrog to become a sustainable city that’s a model for the US and the world.

For instance, look at what Greensburg, Kansas did after a >200 miles/hour tornado in 2007 completely destroyed 95% of it and left the remaining 5% severely damaged. It rebuilt around sustainable living, and now generates wind, solar, & geothermal energy for itself and nearby communities (pre-Tornado, oil/gas was a primary economic base), has the most LEED Platinum buildings per capita & per sq. ft. in the world (green roofs, water re-use, LED lighting, reclaimed materials, etc.), and been recognized with various sustainability awards such as the 2011 United Nations Global Green City Award (http://www.greensburggreentown.org/tour-book).

Detroit is already moving in the direction of a sustainable city, with its continued development of public light rail transit, bike paths, & walkability. Now, imagine if Detroit’s 40 square miles of vacant land were utilized for initiatives like urban farming, which are already cropping up on a grassroots (many linked Detroit Urban Farming inspirations on right) & large-scale level. With its abundance of available space, rare for a large city, Detroit could become the 1st city to produce all of its food locally in beautiful farms that provide fresh food security/access, air quality, natural pleasure, etc.

RECLAIMING BUILDING MATERIALS

What becomes of the buildings that are cleared away? Well, in keeping with sustainability, and to recover the most value, building material should be reused when possible, recycled/composted otherwise, and only disposed as a last resort.

For instance, imagine having a uniquely crafted coffee table, made from reclaimed old building material, with the character of the Motor City? These unique pieces are created by skilled & creative craftspeople, many with experience in auto manufacturing & building construction, and youth apprentices. Could "RECLAIMED IN DETROIT" become a sought out badge for furniture? Would people from Michigan and beyond buy and cherish these pieces for their homes? Could this contribute to sustainable revitalization in Detroit, economic & otherwise?

RECLAIMING DETROIT

What else could building materials be reclaimed into? Could the beautiful history & materials from a building relegated for demolition, be reused & preserved in the renovation of another building for revitalization? Could materials from cleared buildings in turn be used to create raised planting beds to kickstart urban agriculture?

What else in Detroit is ripe for reclamation? Community heritage, Skilled Craftsmanship....?

Image Attributions: http://www.flickr.com/photos/87255087@N00/2590729196/ , http://www.flickr.com/photos/proforged/5208154018/ , http://www.flickr.com/photos/tgaw/4065415006/ , http://www.flickr.com/photos/ourunitedvillages/3041268537/ , http://www.flickr.com/photos/ourunitedvillages/3042112014/

What resources (money, time, people, technology, etc) will your concept need to be successful?

The Detroit government can help jumpstart this “Reclaimed in Detroit” initiative by 1) giving entrepreneurs/artists/cooperatives easy access to old building materials in areas designated for "rightsizing" (maybe mobile workshops could even be setup to follow the rightsizing work?), and 2) commissioning Sustainable Motor City pieces for community-revitalizing public works projects such as park benches, communal coffee tables (http://www.openideo.com/open/vibrant-cities/inspiration/a-coffee-table-at-a-bus-stop-in-downtown-l.a./) , & even neighborhood swings ( http://www.openideo.com/open/vibrant-cities/inspiration/swings-tampa-bay/ ) !

And I’m sure challenge sponsor Steelcase, with its premier reputation & experience in workplace furniture, can find ways to get involved ;). For example, Steelcase could step in through its community support programs ( http://www.steelcase.com/en/company/who/in-the-community/pages/initiatives.aspx ) of employee volunteering (furniture design, manufacturing, marketing expert advisory & training/apprenticeships), cash/in-kind donations (furniture building machines/tools, joint Reclaimed in Detroit/Steelcase promotional campaign funding), etc. This could be a great fit, given Steelcase's contribution focus on programs that: "encourage community growth, promote life-long learning, harbor cultural acceptance, advance arts and cultural heritage, and create positive environmental contributions. In fact, Steelcase is currently a community partner for the "West Michigan Center for Arts & Technology" which provides art education and technical skill development for youth & adults. For more suggestions on how Steelcase could get even more involved, see the "My Virtual Team" section called "STEELCASE SOARS TO SUPER SPONSOR".

What steps could you take to implement this idea today?

Anybody—government or individual, business or nonprofit—can begin Reclaiming today! It's a simple statement, but becomes powerful through people's participation.

I've just learned (on 1/30/2012) that Dylan Box of the University of Michigan Art & Design School, has already begun making this idea a reality! He plans to move to Detroit and setup a studio/workshop/skillshare to pursue this. Check out what he's done so far (furniture designs, prototypes, strategy development, deconstruction research, etc.) at http://thesis.dylanbox.com/ . And he's seeking collaborators, so I'm sure he'd love to hear from you: http://www.openideo.com/profiles/505472980/ , http://thesis.dylanbox.com/?page_id=60 .

How can your idea be scaled so that it's implemented in cities around the world?

The name/rep of "Reclaimed in Detroit" cannot easily be transplanted away, as it's inextricably intertwined with Detroit's unique history, cultural identity, & specific situation. "Reclaimed in Detroit" will ultimately draw its strength from and contribute to the vibrancy of Detroit in a virtuous cycle.

However, other cities can certainly benefit from an approach of reinventing around sustainability, building on heritage, & strategic consideration of assets. Perhaps a guidebook could be established to help anyone reclaim locally anywhere, spreading the action, spirit, & values of reclaiming far & wide. Wherever you are, there's much to be reclaimed!

My Virtual Team

Here's an overview of the great insights/builds made & inspired by y'all. Please see the comments at the bottom for the full lively discussion!

*IT'S ALREADY WORKING IN BUFFALO: Buffalo's population declined by almost 40%, with 23K unwanted structures, 10K planned to be demolished by the government. Buffalo Re-Use/ReUse Action ( http://reuseaction.com/ , http://www.buffaloreuse.org/ ) , founded by Echoing Green Fellow Micahel Gainer, uses creative deconstruction/construction to divert old building materials from the landfill & lower disposal costs, reclaim into furniture & new buildings/renovations, sell low-cost materials for people to improve their homes, create community gardens/parks, and provide youth job training. Primary income for sustainability is already coming from sales, rather than government/foundation grants or individual donations.
-Team: Gemma Bulos ( http://www.openideo.com/profiles/608482143/ ) , Michael Gainer ( http://www.echoinggreen.org/fellows/michael-gainer )

*DEMAND FOR "RECLAIMED IN DETROIT": besides local Detroit residents, the surrounding Michigan area, and people beyond who have an affinity for Detroit's history & culture, there are broader design & sustainability markets for "Reclaimed" products. For example, it only makes sense for a sustainable house to have sustainable furniture (aesthetically & ethically). People are seeking what is sustainable, local, & unique.
-Team: Susannah Ware ( http://www.openideo.com/profiles/suslane/ ), Ken Thomas ( http://www.openideo.com/profiles/virken/ ), Yen Chiang ( http://www.openideo.com/profiles/yenchiang/ )

*POWER OF STORIES: A Brand is only as strong as the stories around it. Wil Kristin, April Deibert, & Meredith Stevenson did an amazing job of articulating some additional things that "Reclaimed in Detroit" can convey. Search for their comments below to see what I mean. To give you a quick preview: from Wil, "Reclaimed in Detroit is about leveraging the city's...core...& tweaking it dramatically for modern times"; from April, "they are creating things that are meant to be marketed and sold around the U.S. and the world as part of history in the making--the rise of the people to rebuild their livelihoods to live the American Dream. This is the type of story my whole family would watch on a show like Extreme Makeover: Home Edition." These comments also point to the potential power of "Reclaimed in Detroit" both internally for the Detroit community & externally for fans around the world.
-Team: Wil Kristin ( http://www.openideo.com/profiles/6107162/ ), April Deibert ( http://www.openideo.com/profiles/latte22/ ), Meredith Stevenson ( http://www.openideo.com/profiles/merest/ )

*INVOLVING LOCAL COMMUNITY AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE FOR MULTIPLIER EFFECTS: Consider local employment for everything from furniture design to carpentry, marketing to web development. Opportunities for apprenticeships/mentorships/training involving youth, skilled adults, & young professionals. Involving & benefiting the local community is naturally important to remain true to the spirit of "Reclaimed IN DETROIT". Could even have design challenges/contests, workshopes, etc. in coordination with nonprofits like Habitat for Humanity or local companies like Steelcase.
-Team: Leila Bozorg ( http://www.openideo.com/profiles/leilabozorg/ ), Wil Kristin ( http://www.openideo.com/profiles/6107162/ ), Shannon Randolph ( http://www.openideo.com/profiles/221616/ ) , Scott Boylston ( http://www.openideo.com/profiles/1311349136/ )

*STEELCASE SOARS TO SUPER SPONSOR: Samuel Hamner had some great suggestions on how Steelcase could really scale their sponsorship to a super level. He put it so well, will just copy-paste his ideas here. I could imagine Steelcase participating in one of three ways: (1) Providing training for local artists and artisans to design and produce their own reclaimed furniture. The program could encourage small businesses and entrepreneurship or it could target low income or at risk youth and provide them with vocational skills. (2) Steelcase could market, sell, and distribute a limited line of reclaimed furniture from Detroit manufactured in it's existing plants, with a portion of the proceeds going back to the community. (3) Steelcase could establish small scale manufacturing in Detroit to employ local workers, and then market, sell, and distribute the furniture through it's existing channels.
-Team: Samuel Hamner ( http://www.openideo.com/profiles/samner/ )

*BRAND STEWARDSHIP: Detroit city government or a trusted nonprofit may be a natural steward for the "Reclaimed in Detroit brand". I.e., the "Reclaimed in Detroit" steward would protect the name (trademark, domain name); ensure it was only used for things that were truly reclaimed in Detroit (i.e. % of reclaimed material, labor, etc. in Detroit); and provide ways for the "Reclaimed in Detroit" community to connect & collaborate on promoting the brand, Detroit, and the concept of Reclaiming (online directory, meetups, etc.).
-Team: OpenIDEO/Steelcase/Advisory Panel

*RECLAIMING TO INFINITY & BEYOND: Old building material can be reclaimed for purposes beyond furniture (for example, Brad Leibin's brilliant build/idea to preserve the beautiful history & materials from buildings in areas relegated for demolition, in the renovation of buildings in other areas selected for revitalization. Or raised gardening beds—nice synergy with Detroit's urban farming—as suggested by Erica Stephan & Paul Reader). Many things can be reclaimed besides building materials ( community heritage, people's experience/knowledge/skills, etc. ). And many places beyond Detroit can benefit and have benefited by Reclaiming, whether disaster struck ( like Katrina Furniture Project , 5200 Dauphine ), in the midst of economic turmoil, undergoing population decline, or simply trying to be more sustainable. And Paul Reader pointed out the possibilities of "Reclaimed in XXX", in terms of category & place extension potential. Also Yen Chiang proposed the possibility for a guidebook that could help anyone reclaim locally, spreading the action, spirit, & values of reclaiming far & wide. So many opportunities to move from "waste to wealth", as Scott Boylston demonstrated with his organization's ( Emergent Structures ) projects.
-Team: Brad Leibin ( http://www.openideo.com/profiles/622880/ ) , Kelly Heyer ( http://www.openideo.com/profiles/25307828/ ), Scott Boylston ( http://www.openideo.com/profiles/1311349136/ ), Mike McDearmon ( http://www.openideo.com/profiles/mickdee/ ), Yahayra Rosario Cora ( http://www.openideo.com/profiles/yrcora/ ), Erica Stephan ( http://www.openideo.com/profiles/estephan/ ), Paul Reader ( http://www.openideo.com/profiles/ubiquity/ ), Wil Kristin ( http://www.openideo.com/profiles/6107162/ ), Yen Chiang ( http://www.openideo.com/profiles/yenchiang/ ), Robert Gradoville ( http://www.openideo.com/profiles/1366452253/ )

Downloads

: gb-ltcr-plan-070924-lowres.pdf

: greensburgcompplan-lowres.pdf

Comments

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Vincent Cheng

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January 31, 2012, 04:04AM

I've just learned (on 1/30/2012) that Dylan Box of the University of Michigan Art & Design School, has already begun making this idea a reality! He plans to move to Detroit and setup a studio/workshop/skillshare to pursue this. Check out what he's done so far (furniture designs, prototypes, strategy development, deconstruction research, etc.) at http://thesis.dylanbox.com/ . And he's seeking collaborators, so I'm sure he'd love to hear from you: http://www.openideo.com/profiles/505472980/ , http://thesis.dylanbox.com/?page_id=60 .

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Ashley Jablow's reply to Vincent Cheng's comment

Ashley Jablow

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January 31, 2012, 10:52PM

Isn't this terrific news!? We've also been in touch with Dylan and hope to hear all of his great updates as he works toward implementation in Detroit.

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Nathan Waterhouse

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January 19, 2012, 11:16PM

Congratulations Vincent, another great concept - I can't wait to see what this might become!

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Samuel Hamner

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January 14, 2012, 03:52AM

Very cool idea. I dig the imagery of a community rebuilding itself from the abandoned pieces and parts. I also think it's clever to partner with Steelcase, which has strong production network to rapidly scale this idea! And having businesses and corporations make partnerships and investment into local communities that provides income and jobs is truly necessary for a long term solution to economic decline. I could imagine Steelcase participating in one of three ways:

(1) Providing training for local artists and artisans to design and produce their own reclaimed furniture. The program could encourage small businesses and entrepreneurship or it could target low income or at risk youth and provide them with vocational skills.

(2) Steelcase could market, sell, and distribute a limited line of reclaimed furniture from Detroit manufactured in it's existing plants, with a portion of the proceeds going back to the community.

(3) Steelcase could establish small scale manufacturing in Detroit to employ local workers, and then market, sell, and distribute the furniture through it's existing channels.

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Vincent Cheng's reply to Vincent Cheng's comment

Vincent Cheng

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January 14, 2012, 06:51AM

Super suggestions for Steelcase Samuel!

Added your ideas & you to the "My Virtual Team" section of the concept.

Interested to hear what Steelcase thinks.

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Kelly Heyer

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December 07, 2011, 02:16AM

This is similar to a project in New Orleans shortly after Katrina... the Katrina Furniture Project. A difference and an added value to a project like this is that the rubble from the homes that were destroyed still had a sentimental value. The wood was infused with memories of their lives (which you can't buy at home depot) and there was a sense of pride in finding a way to make the rubble something beautiful again.

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Vincent Cheng's reply to Vincent Cheng's comment

Vincent Cheng

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December 07, 2011, 02:33AM

Thanks Kelly for sharing the Katrina Furniture Project! Very cool. Hadn't heard of this before, and you're right about how the rubble still had sentimental value, particularly for its recent inhabitants.

One advantage for reclaiming in Detroit, is that you have more whole intact materials to work with, which may aid in larger scale projects.

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Brad Leibin's reply to Vincent Cheng's comment

Brad Leibin

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January 09, 2012, 06:07AM

Like the others, I think your idea is quite rich, Vincent. I agree that, given the scale of available materials it is possible to for reclaimed materials to be used in projects even large than furniture. In addition to the Katrina Furniture Project which Kelly mentioned (which I never knew about and is wonderful!), there have been organizations and individuals in New Orleans using materials from destroyed buildings to create new ones. One example is a project called 5200 Dauphine (http://americancity.org/buzz/entry/2691/). 5200 Dauphine was once a sandwich shop in the Lower 9th Ward that had a real place in the history of the neighborhood. A preservation group wanted to restore the 5200 Dauphine post-Katrina, but it was determined unsalvageable due to water damage. So, instead of simply demolishing it, they carefully deconstructed the building and will rebuild it out of many of the original materials. Not only are there financial and environmental benefits to rebuilding this way, there are cultural benefits as well. The new building will comprised of many original building components which have meaning to residents in the neighborhood.

There are so many beautiful, abandoned buildings in Detroit. One would like to see them re-habilitated where possible. But if they are in an area designated for “rightsizing,” or if they are in an unsalvageable state of decay, creating new buildings out of old building’s materials can be a great middle ground between preservation and demolition.
In addition to the potential cost savings of building with reused materials, there could be economic benefits for the larger Detroit community. The deconstruction of old buildings requires skilled workers. I can imagine a whole new “green-jobs” market growing out of the deconstruction of buildings which cannot be rehabbed or are in areas designated for “rightsizing.”

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Vincent Cheng's reply to Vincent Cheng's comment

Vincent Cheng

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January 09, 2012, 08:27PM

Thanks Brad, and that's a great point/idea! For the beautiful & meaningful buildings in areas designated for "rightsizing" or in conditions unfeasible for rehabilitation, there may be opportunities to reclaim them through deconstruction and repurposing/rebuilding nearby.

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Brad Leibin's reply to Vincent Cheng's comment

Brad Leibin

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January 13, 2012, 11:45PM

The example I gave is of a building that was deconstructed then reconstructed in the same place and in the same way. But the re-purposing need not occur in this way all the time. Perhaps there is a whole system by which materials and building elements are deconstructed, sorted, and inventoried in central warehouse facilities where they can be resold to individuals, contractors, furniture makers, etc. It could be a revenue and job generating enterprise for the city.

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Vincent Cheng's reply to Vincent Cheng's comment

Vincent Cheng

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January 13, 2012, 11:54PM

Absolutely agreed Brad.

Check out "IT'S ALREADY WORKING IN BUFFALO" section in the "My Virtual Team" section of the main concept body above. Thought you'd be interested in what Buffalo Re-Use/ReUse Action are doing =)

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Brad Leibin's reply to Vincent Cheng's comment

Brad Leibin

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January 14, 2012, 01:45AM

Oh, cool, I'll check that out. Thanks, Vincent.

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Vincent Cheng

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January 11, 2012, 06:44PM

Hi all you creative collaborators =)

Just wanted to let you know that I've updated this concept to try to incorporate all your fabulous insights & builds (some changes throughout the concept, and summary of builds & attributions in the "My Virtual Team" section).

Apologies for the last minute update right at the end of the Refinement phase, as other commitments have been soaking up my time.

Anyways, for anything I missed, feel free to "Reclaim" this concept in the comments ;)

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Ashley Jablow's reply to Vincent Cheng's comment

Ashley Jablow

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January 12, 2012, 09:48PM

Vincent, just a quick note to say how much I like the way you noted your virtual team members and their contributions. It's fun to see the summary of the people who've influenced your thinking and how.

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Vincent Cheng's reply to Vincent Cheng's comment

Vincent Cheng

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January 13, 2012, 02:46PM

Appreciate the appreciation Ashley! So many inspiring ideas, people, & community managers on OpenIDEO ;)

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Anne-Laure Fayard

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January 13, 2012, 02:17AM

Hi,

coming late in the conversation but just wanted to tell you Vincent I really like your concept. You're right it is very "local" and focused on Detroit with the brand "reclaimed in detroit" and what it evokes. However, as you also noted the principle underlying the concept can inspire other cities: sustainable philosophy + using what you have (even if it can seem negative) in resources. Great job!
al

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Vincent Cheng's reply to Vincent Cheng's comment

Vincent Cheng

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January 13, 2012, 02:43PM

Glad you picked up on the point I was trying to make on creating something that's locally unique for Detroit, while also scaling by spreading the philosophy/principles far & wide.

Thanks Anne-Laure =)

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Meredith Stevenson

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January 13, 2012, 02:33AM

Vincent, your ideas are very good.

I wholeheartedly agree that Detroit is a goldmine for agriculture. Local produce and flowers, spices and herbs could easily be channeled through Eastern (Farmer's) Market and/or distributed nationally.

Your idea about 'reclaimed' furniture aligns with a post I made on another page. [Partial Repost: Detroit is a city of the arts -- always has been. Revive the city by reviving the arts. Renovate abandoned buildings to create music, dance, theater, photography, fashion, culinary, film, architectural, concept car design, and paint studios, etc. Stage international conventions, events, competitions around these historic sites. Use Belle Isle, (non-commercial) abandoned fields and parks to plant urban farms collaborating with universities. Use large abandoned commercial buildings to create mega living walls on building interiors. Use the downtown skyline itself as a blank canvas to paint, draw, plaster upon. Cover old downtown buildings with sleek mirrored glass, chrome, huge ceramic tiles, or bright paint.]

There's a reason why Detroit was termed the 'Paris of the West.' Reclaim the things that earned it this descriptive (architecture, the arts, etc.). Detroit is a city that not only manufactures tangible products but most of all CONCEPTS. It is and has been home to inventors who revolutionized the world: Ford, Edison, DeLorean, McCoy, etc. If Detroit reclaims its notoriety for being a city of innovation, ideas, inventions and creativity, then commerce will flow freely and steadily.

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Vincent Cheng's reply to Vincent Cheng's comment

Vincent Cheng

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January 13, 2012, 02:31PM

Thanks for the support Meredith =).

The spirit of your post on this challenge's brief, and things already happening in Detroit like the Eastern (Farmer's) Market, were key in inspiring this concept.

There really is a lot of opportunity!

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Pin Chin Kwok

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January 13, 2012, 09:06AM

Hi Vincent,

I really believe in your vision that abandoned spaces are a blank canvas for re-invention, and I like the suggestions you have made.

I just wanted to refer you to a concept/model I learnt about a year ago called Rubanisation - it is a merger of the two words "Urban" and "Rural". Fundamentally, the architect who developed the model believes that we can re-conceive the spaces we live in such that city and country/nature/agriculture are the same realm. A Ruban dweller can have a sophisticated job and yet enjoy nature, have safe spaces for their children to play in, have an assortment of renewable energy sources, and eat local.

Just thought that this might be of interest to you, and might give some ideas to overall the re-design of the city.

http://www.rubanisation.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=147:rubanisation&catid=34:ideas&Itemid=54

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Vincent Cheng's reply to Vincent Cheng's comment

Vincent Cheng

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January 13, 2012, 02:18PM

Thanks! The concept of bringing "urban" & "rural" closer is full of opportunity.

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Gemma Bulos

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January 12, 2012, 07:12AM

Great idea! You should check out ReUse Action in Buffalo.http://reuseaction.com/ The founder is a fellow Echoing Green Fellow. He used the breakdown of buildings as an opportunity to train youth, generate income by selling the materials in a for profit store, getting government contracts that cost them less because they were using training labor AND engaging designers and builders so that they can reuse the materials for design and construction. They have a complete cycle of demolition to design to reuse. Definitely a great model!

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Vincent Cheng's reply to Vincent Cheng's comment

Vincent Cheng

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January 12, 2012, 05:01PM

Awesome, now this is what I'm talking 'bout! Thanks so much Gemma! Great things happening in Buffalo.

If we (OpenIDEO community, Steelcase, and/or really anyone in Detroit) decide to move forward with this in Detroit, we should definitely be getting in touch with your fellow Echoing Green Fellow, Michael Gainer =)

For everyone's reference, here's his Echoing Green profile, and another site ( http://www.echoinggreen.org/fellows/michael-gainer , http://www.buffaloreuse.org/ ), as well as Gemma's Echoing Green profile ( http://www.echoinggreen.org/fellows/gemma-bulos-and-kevin-lee ) ;)

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Gemma Bulos's reply to Vincent Cheng's comment

Gemma Bulos

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January 12, 2012, 05:26PM

Thanks Vincent! Both Michael and I have moved on from our original Echoing Green organizations as they are both thriving, and we both started new orgs to deepen our model - Michael has added much more to his original model integrating the design to make it a complete cycle with ReUse Action, whereas I took a different angle as now I've moved from the Philippines into Africa where women don't have the same opportunities as in the Philippines in their community water decisions. Place and culture will always determine the context of social enterprise and models will always need to be modified for appropriateness. All inspired by what has come before us and what is in front of us. This format is awesome because there are so many rich ideas coming in from so many different perspectives. Kudos for your generous listening and constant flexibility! This is an amazing and timely project! Congrats!

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January 05, 2012, 08:41PM

Vincent, congrats on your shortlisted concept! The advisory panel was especially excited by the "Reclaimed in Detroit" brand and messaging campaign and its potential to become a proud consumer mark for quality and heritage. Let's try to build this out more during Refinement, and focus on both the marketing and business plans for this concept. Also, how might non-government groups get involved in bringing this campaign to life?

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Vincent Cheng's reply to Vincent Cheng's comment

Vincent Cheng

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January 11, 2012, 11:12AM

Thanks OpenIDEO, Steelcase, & advisory panel members! Glad that the brand, and the broader potential for what it can stand for and become, resonates.

In addition to the original concept's mention of the role of nonprofits for skills training, and of government in providing access to building materials & commissioning public works for community benefit, I believe that either the Detroit city government or a trusted nonprofit would be a natural steward for the "Reclaimed in Detroit brand".

I.e., the "Reclaimed in Detroit" steward would protect the name (trademark, domain name); ensure it was only used for things that were truly reclaimed in Detroit (i.e. % of reclaimed material, labor, etc. in Detroit); and provide ways for the "Reclaimed in Detroit" community to connect & collaborate on promoting the brand, Detroit, and the concept of Reclaiming (online directory, meetups, etc.).

For analogous US brands/organizations, take a look at how "Made in USA/Assembled in USA" is regulated by the US Federal Trade Commission (government); "Organic" standards are set by the US Department of Agriculture though certification is handled by states, nonprofit organizations, & businesses; and how "For-Benefit Corporations" began through B Lab (nonprofit) community building & certification of B corporations, and is now supported by various state laws that have created a new corporate class know as "Benefit Corporations".

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Paul Reader's reply to Vincent Cheng's comment

Paul Reader

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January 11, 2012, 02:25PM

As an identified brand the concept can be extended so that "reclaimed" becomes applicable to materials, spaces, ideas, processes, environment, lifestyle and heritage. It can therefore be incorporated as a common thread to bring together many of the other concepts proposed and even bridge philosophical differences.

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Leila Bozorg

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January 05, 2012, 04:55AM

Vincent, you've got a great idea here. In some ways, you're flipping the myth that many distressed cities no longer have a competitive advantage (when, in fact, salvageable material could be considered a competitive advantage given that there is a market for products made with reclaimed materials). Jumping off points raised by April and Shannon, I think the idea of engaging local residents (youth, but also young professionals and adults with skills who can mentor those youth) in the process, and figuring out ways to insure that the local economy benefits from this idea, could create all kinds of multiplier effects. With an idea like this, which as Kara mentioned could easily be a business venture, you essentially create a range of opportunities for training and engaging (and hopefully even hiring) residents. That is, every part of the process of implementing this idea could be another opportunity to train and teach someone really marketable skills -- i.e. everything from furniture design and carpentry, to web design and coding, to business development and marketing, to retail, sales, and finance). One of the biggest challenges I see is how to manage depending on a local government that is stretched well beyond its capacity, for this idea. If this idea goes to the next phase, it would be great to dig into the "resources" question of how you could actually (and of course legally) access the right buildings, materials, land, space etc., and especially in a way that respects and benefits people at the very scale you will be accessing those things from (block, neighborhood, etc.).

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Vincent Cheng's reply to Vincent Cheng's comment

Vincent Cheng

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January 05, 2012, 02:41PM

Thanks Leila for your support and great builds! Absolutely agree about the involvement of local residents & economy for multiplier effects.

I do see social mission business potential for this, meaning that most of this can be self-generated & income sustaining for locals. Thus hopefully minimizing the burden on local government beyond providing building material access. Given that you clearly have expertise in this area, would certainly appreciate your thoughts on how to structure this to be efficient and equitable ;)

In terms of training & engaging for skill development, this may also be a place where challenge sponsor Steelcase could step in through its community support programs of employee volunteering, cash/in-kind donations, etc. ( http://www.steelcase.com/en/company/who/in-the-community/pages/initiatives.aspx ). This could be a great fit, given Steelcase's contribution focus on programs that: "encourage community growth, promote life-long learning, harbor cultural acceptance, advance arts and cultural heritage, and create positive environmental contributions. In fact, Steelcase is currently a community partner for the "West Michigan Center for Arts & Technology" which provides art education and technical skill development for youth & adults.

Thanks again! During the refinement phase, will update the concept to incorporate everyone's inputs and attribute them as part of the virtual team.

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Susannah Ware

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January 01, 2012, 04:36PM

Vincent, great idea using branding and reusable materials to revitalize Detroit. I have been hearing more and more lately about Straw Bale Construction: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Straw-bale_construction being used by those looking for sustainable building solutions and how many of these houses fit well with furnishings made by reclaimed wood. This could be a way to combine affordable housing in any city with revitalizing Detroit.

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Vincent Cheng's reply to Vincent Cheng's comment

Vincent Cheng

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January 01, 2012, 07:32PM

Thanks Susannah. It certainly makes sense (aesthetically & ethically) for sustainably built housing to be sustainably furnished as well ;)

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Mike McDearmon

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December 22, 2011, 07:21AM

Vincent - you might really dig this urban farming project going on in Phoenix... which also has more vacant land than it knows what to do with. I posted an inspiration about it a couple months ago, but since then the project has moved from planting to sunflower seed harvest!

Terrific work - thank you for sharing so many resources!

http://www.facebook.com/phxVOS

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Vincent Cheng's reply to Vincent Cheng's comment

Vincent Cheng

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December 22, 2011, 07:19PM

Thanks Mike. Your Valley of the Sunflowers post was indeed inspiration for me, and is linked to on the right in the "Inspirations this built upon" section, and now here as well ;) : http://www.openideo.com/open/vibrant-cities/inspiration/valley-of-the-sunflowers/

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Mike McDearmon's reply to Vincent Cheng's comment

Mike McDearmon

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December 24, 2011, 11:45PM

Groovy! I also really like how this concept gets speaks to the unique history and heritage of Detroit, as it's hard to revitalize a city without finding the ways to stress what makes it unique and special.

I'd like to recommend a book by Prof. Nan Ellin called "Integral Urbanism". Nan has been a huge mover and shaker in Phoenix (though sadly for us she's now living/working in SLC) and certainly practices what she preaches in her book which is all about how understanding the unique "DNA" of a city is critical to making successful interventions.

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Scott Boylston

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December 21, 2011, 06:35PM

Yahayra--thanks for mentioning Emergent Structures! Vincent, I also think your idea is strong, and it has systemic implications. We think that such an idea can, in fact, be applied to any city…as long as the local context is engaged and respected. In Savannah we are developing a comprehensive “waste to wealth” model based upon innovative reclamation and re-purposing. It began with a large-scale redevelopment project that provided us with the opportunity to work directly with city planners, developers and contractors. And we’ve found that partnering with a diverse array of expected and unexpected partners can make the issue of material reclamation more accessible and meaningful to a broader audience.

A comprehensive and concerted effort to reclaim building materials for local wealth generation is a sure-fire tool for community empowerment. Local craft, green jobs, public school partnerships, and, yes, even re-purposing old building materials into new buildings—the sky is the limit, providing you have a committed organization or group of people to steward the materials into their new existence.

A few examples:
Hire and train at-risk youth while preparing discarded building materials for an educational garden in a disadvantaged neighborhood:
http://www.emergentstructures.org/?page_id=362

Coordinate awards competitions with organizations such as Habitat for Humanity:
http://www.repurposejunk.com/

and even Humane Society:
http://charissebennett.com/2011/11/09/creative-prize-winner-dog/

And provide support to the C&D industry, who are dealing with these materials on a daily basis--transform THEIR way of thinking and you move mountains worth of materials...from waste to wealth:

http://www.emergentstructures.org/?page_id=291

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Vincent Cheng's reply to Vincent Cheng's comment

Vincent Cheng

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December 22, 2011, 07:10PM

Thanks so much Scott! There's so much we can learn from your organization's (Emergent Structures) wealth of experiences. Really exciting what you're leading up!

Also, btw, am loving the creativity of the "Garden House" (Dog House with a Green Roof Planter) =)

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Yahayra Rosario Cora

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December 21, 2011, 04:02AM

Change the lenses is good idea... waste = food

I work as volunteer for Emergent Structure in Savannah, GA
a non-profit organization that has the mission of "increase the value and accessibility of building material waste streams through facilitation, collaboration, education and advocacy." http://www.emergentstructures.org/?page_id=40

This effort is parallel to your idea of Reclaimed in Detroit

Following is link with a project Refreshing opportunities for Whitemarsh Plaza. The project was realized by graduate students form Savannah College of Art Design Savannah, GA during the summer 2010. Here the students proposed an outdoor eating area using reclaimed material, but before designed it they had to made the idea meaningful for the tenants/users. For this the they did ethnographic research in order to understand users social perceptions, behaviors and values.
http://www.emergentstructures.org/?p=762

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Vincent Cheng's reply to Vincent Cheng's comment

Vincent Cheng

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December 21, 2011, 01:49PM

Thanks Yahayra for sharing these inspirational related efforts that you're actually volunteering for...awesome!

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OpenIDEO

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December 19, 2011, 08:00PM

Congrats on this post being today's Featured Concept!

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Szilvia Varga

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December 10, 2011, 09:12PM

How would you go about the urban farming part? Say you got the yes from the local government to do that, what would be your next step?

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Paul Reader's reply to Vincent Cheng's comment

Paul Reader

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December 10, 2011, 11:02PM

Good question Szilvia - this is where I believe we can be integrating and mapping concepts. There have been a number of concepts for urban farming: which of them is relevant depends on a number of factors including need - so in the context it is appropriate to integrate Paul Goodman's Connecting Abandoned Spaces with Community Needs concept. Perhaps this is usurping the role of the OpenIDEO Team, although I see it as a natural part of the collaborative process.- fitting concepts into a comprehensive and flexible solution.

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Szilvia Varga's reply to Vincent Cheng's comment

Szilvia Varga

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December 10, 2011, 11:13PM

I like the idea. Would be interesting to see how many people actually would like to grow their own vegetables, etc. I really have absolutely no idea if there are a lot of people or not so many...

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Vincent Cheng's reply to Vincent Cheng's comment

Vincent Cheng

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December 10, 2011, 11:47PM

Hi Szilvia. In relation to urban farming, the exciting thing is it's already organically springing up in Detroit from individuals, social enterprises, and even big business.

Here's some posts on this from the inspiration phase (also linked to on the right in the "Inspirations this built upon" section): http://www.openideo.com/open/vibrant-cities/inspiration/detroit-the-green-city-documentary , http://www.openideo.com/open/vibrant-cities/inspiration/grassroots-detroit-gardeners , http://www.openideo.com/open/vibrant-cities/inspiration/mark-covington-georgia-street-community-garden-detroit , http://www.openideo.com/open/vibrant-cities/inspiration/earthworks-urban-farm-detroit , http://www.openideo.com/open/vibrant-cities/inspiration/the-importance-of-community-engagement-hantz-farms-detroit

We can contribute in thinking how to help support these efforts (like government zoning for mixed use) and considering the broader system (like reclaiming the materials that are cleared away to make room for these urban farms).

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Erica Stephan's reply to Vincent Cheng's comment

Erica Stephan

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December 12, 2011, 09:20PM

One point of synchronicity with urban farming (which would also take the materials reclaiming beyond the art world) would be turning "uglier" timber into raised beds for gardening. Raised beds make gardening a lot easier: there will be significantly fewer weeds and pests, they can be filled with soil that is known to be uncontaminated by heavy metals, and they organize the garden nicely so it is easier to walk through. The only requirement is that the timber be free of chemical pesticides and other treatments.

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Vincent Cheng's reply to Vincent Cheng's comment

Vincent Cheng

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December 13, 2011, 02:43AM

Great cross-pollination Erica! Love the idea of raised beds from reclaimed timber.

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Paul Reader's reply to Vincent Cheng's comment

Paul Reader

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December 13, 2011, 03:33AM

Yes great thinking - happens with railway sleepers here and reclaimed roofing iron too.

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Wil Kristin

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December 11, 2011, 11:42PM

This is a potentially very powerful concept. Nice thinking, Vincent!

For me, the "Reclaimed in Detroit" message is powerful on a few levels. Detroit is all about energy, so it's only natural that people will think about how to make environmentally conscious choices when thinking about what upgrading Detroit might look like. "Reclaimed in Detroit" makes sense to me as an overall umbrella from which there could be initiatives in building/construction, food/farming, transportation, etc. "Reclaimed in Detroit" also sends poignant message about who exactly will lead the new Detroit. It's like saying the old Detroit was run by a very powerful few with a lot of help, but in today's Detroit, you don't have to be an automobile executive to shape the city's future. It presents both an opportunity and a responsibility for those who remain in Detroit to reclaim and improve it. To me, "Reclaimed in Detroit" is about leveraging the city's old core competency and tweaking it dramatically for modern times. In Detroit 2.0, empathy joins work ethic as the city's most recognized qualities. Looking forward to seeing how this develops!

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Paul Reader's reply to Vincent Cheng's comment

Paul Reader

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December 12, 2011, 01:52AM

Agreed!
The power of the word "reclaimed" is the key and can be applied world-wide. Wherever it may be applied it needs impetus which concepts like Charlotte Fliegner's TedX Local Govt and Amanda Drescher's Infographics to Inspire Change could assist. Similarly using Paul Goodman's Connecting Abandoned Spaces with Community Needs (again anywhere) supplies valuable focus to apply some of the other concepts that satisfy identified need

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Vincent Cheng's reply to Vincent Cheng's comment

Vincent Cheng

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December 12, 2011, 05:08PM

Thanks and loving your expansive thinking and how you put it Will! "Reclaimed in Detroit" is about "leveraging the city's core & tweaking it dramatically for modern times"!

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April Deibert

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December 09, 2011, 06:07AM

What a wonderful project to read about. You know, one of the most heart-wrenching photos that I've seen of Detroit recently was a snapshot of a huge shipping yard with miles of empty shipping containers waiting to be filled and exported. The severe decline in production and mass exodus of the working class has left the city with dismal production and export value. I come from the middle class--my father is a hydraulic and diesel mechanic and my mother is a homemaker. The men and women in the construction and manufacturing fields work harder than most people will ever be able to understand. I fully support your desire to take back these buildings and restore them into usable and uplifting facilities. I must include the strong recommendation that the spaces not all cater to "artsy-fartsy" things (so to speak) since a large percentage of people who still live there are certainly not like people who live in San Francisco or New York. The world can only handle so many art museums! That being said, everyone (no matter their age, race, or gender) can benefit from visually stimulating, comfortable, and useful spaces. People only need so many reclaimed and redesigned coffee tables in Detroit, so I would suggest that the labor force that is hired is told that they are creating things that are meant to be marketed and sold around the U.S. and the world as part of history in the making--the rise of the people to rebuild their livelihoods to live the American Dream. Hopefully the jobs that are created make the people feel like part of a supportive community, hopefully the jobs pay a decent wage so that debts can begin to be paid off and people can keep their homes, and hopefully there can be a strong guerrilla marketing campaign to communicate the level of excitement and redevelopment that is happening in a depressed region. This is the type of story my whole family would watch on a show like Extreme Makeover: Home Edition. Again, great job and I can't wait to hear how this progresses!

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Vincent Cheng's reply to Vincent Cheng's comment

Vincent Cheng

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December 09, 2011, 07:30AM

Thanks so much April! Really appreciate your willingness to share your thoughts & feelings, which are very resonant with my own (hardworking dignity of manual labor, needing to consider beyond the art crowd, "Reclaimed in Detroit" representing history past & in the making, etc.) . Will be excited to update this concept based on your great comment & attribute you, when the refinement phase rolls around =)

Also, in relation to "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition", check this out: http://www.openideo.com/open/vibrant-cities/inspiration/building-together/#c-3dbc8fb89c823e75d137aa071ff33a46

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Paul Reader's reply to Vincent Cheng's comment

Paul Reader

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December 11, 2011, 12:28AM

Great personal perspective April! Sounds too as if you might be in favour of Connecting Abandoned Spaces with Community Needs (Paul Goodman)
http://www.openideo.com/open/vibrant-cities/concepting/connecting-abandoned-spaces-with-community-needs/
- this might mean a mix of reclamation workshops (yes with tourist and export potential), urban farming, parks and public open space together with new small business to support new and reclaimed residential areas, arts and entertainment - a sustainable city.

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Paul Reader

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December 10, 2011, 03:30AM

Brilliant branding concept Vincent!
Would see this extended anywhere "Reclaimed in xxx"
I can see this as complementary to Mai Noman's "Upcycling spaces for local brands" using slogans like Reclaimed in xxx by yyy community with help from zzz (local brand) or Reclaimed in xxx by yyy community (if the initiative is self-supported. This could be applied in promoting initiatives suggested in other concepts like Avi Soloman's SIP Veggie Farms or Ken Thomas' Recycle Detroit and the other excellent proposals in many other concepts.
Additionally I see Charlotte Fliegner's TedX Local Govt as a vehicle to launch such a brand and sloganing with Amanda Drescher's Infographics to Inspire Change to highlight the extent of issues to be addressed in an understandable way.

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Vincent Cheng's reply to Vincent Cheng's comment

Vincent Cheng

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December 10, 2011, 09:00PM

Thanks Paul!

Agreed that this open source naming/brand platform has significant category & line extension potential. It's really about the underlying spirit behind specific implementations.

And nice job pointing out how this platform could complement other concepts.

Excited to see what other complementary ideas emerge!

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Shannon Randolph

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December 10, 2011, 12:44AM

Beautiful furniture and idea. Perhaps there is a way to employ unemployed at-risk youth in this project. You could also host a Reclaimed in Detroit building design challenge with different awards for the most interesting, utilitarian, etc. pieces. I envision a shop eventually where people can come to work together on ideas, a sort of safe home and training ground for people in need of work and community.

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Vincent Cheng's reply to Vincent Cheng's comment

Vincent Cheng

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December 10, 2011, 08:48PM

Thanks Shannon!

And absolutely agreed about the potential for youth employment & development, and design challenges.

I did briefly mention youth apprenticeships in the original concept, but would love your help on building out what this could mean =).

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ken thomas

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December 09, 2011, 08:14PM

Right On Vincent - Detroit has a proud manufacturing heritage and a skilled workforce. Re-manufacturing reclaimed materials into needed products embodying the "Spirit of Detroit" seems like a winning proposition. Particularly when you think about the aging US demographic - there are a lot of folks that enjoyed the baby boom, have disposable income, and an affinity in particular for the cars and music that made Detroit famous. I had another zany idea for re-using the megatons of un-needed brick, concrete, gravel that would be generated from right-sizing Detroit - what do you think?

http://www.openideo.com/open/vibrant-cities/concepting/mt-michigan-play-hard/

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Vincent Cheng's reply to Vincent Cheng's comment

Vincent Cheng

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December 09, 2011, 09:20PM

Thanks Ken! Great insight on how the proud manufacturing heritage and "Spirit of Detroit" can appeal to baby boomers.

And, as you know from my comments on your Mt. Michigan concept, I'm intrigued ;)

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Vincent Cheng

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December 08, 2011, 02:24PM

Thanks everyone for the support & great comments so far!

I'll be building on, incorporating, & attributing your awesome ideas once we reach the refinement phase (if this concepts get to that point).

Keep 'em (your comments) coming! I'll be doing my best to reply & build on them =)

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Kara Pecknold

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December 07, 2011, 06:52AM

Love this, Vincent. It reads as a social enterprise/entrepreneur option that enables a business opportunity while also offering new design ideas that are unique to a city (by virtue of the materials).

The farming almost seems to be another concept that could easily be built out separately beyond the reclaimed idea? Love to see each be separate builds as both hold great potential!

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Vincent Cheng's reply to Vincent Cheng's comment

Vincent Cheng

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December 07, 2011, 01:30PM

Thanks Kara! We're thinking along the same wavelength ;)

And you're right about the farming. I was mulling it around as a separate concept, as I find it quite intriguing =P. But as there are already ongoing grassroots and large-scale initiatives cropping up in Detroit, I'm still pondering ways to meaningfully add value/support what's already being done. I'd love to see others take a stab at it though!

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Meena Kadri

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December 06, 2011, 11:58PM

Nice one, Vincent. Took me a while to grasp the core of your idea as I got side tracked by your intro – but I think you're really onto something here. We're looking forward to onwards community discussion and updates on this.

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Vincent Cheng's reply to Vincent Cheng's comment

Vincent Cheng

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December 07, 2011, 12:21AM

Thanks Meena.

Yeah, sorry 'bout the intro.

Sort of long, as I got carried away with providing more context--also, may have squeezed some other developing ideas in there in case anyone wants to build into their own concepts =P.

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Yen Chiang

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December 06, 2011, 10:59PM

Love the idea, Vincent!

"Reclaimed in Detroit" is especially instantly powerful and in line with what I think many value these days - sustainable, local, unique. With respect to scalability, could a program be established to help cities and towns worldwide "reclaim" their city and its goods? A set of guidelines, mandates, etc. that helps anyone establish a local good from reclaimed materials? That lets everyone recognize the purpose and goals of the program and the value of the products and services that come out of it?

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Vincent Cheng's reply to Vincent Cheng's comment

Vincent Cheng

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December 06, 2011, 11:13PM

Thanks Yen!

That's a great idea in terms of scaling this.

I think there's potential in creating guidelines to help areas around the world to "reclaim". Of course, what gets reclaimed, what its reclaimed into, and ultimately what reclaim means (the surrounding emotional context) will be community specific.

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Robert Gradoville's reply to Vincent Cheng's comment

Robert Gradoville

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December 06, 2011, 11:20PM

This is right in line with what I was thinking as well. What is reclaimed will vary form location to location, but vacant lots, overgrown areas, and empty buildings are probably common across the board.

How is this for reclaiming empty space?! A famous "Church-Bar" in Pittsburgh, PA. (They have great micro's too)

http://www.churchbrew.com/

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Yen Chiang's reply to Vincent Cheng's comment

Yen Chiang

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December 06, 2011, 11:34PM

Definitely agree with you both there; guidelines cannot be applied across the board. My thinking was that a program could be an impetus for encouraging locals to invest in their cities, something to belong to, to draw from, to be encouraged by.

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Vincent Cheng's reply to Vincent Cheng's comment

Vincent Cheng

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December 06, 2011, 11:44PM

Thanks Robert, we're definitely thinking along similar lines! You're right in identifying those commonalities.

The Pittsburgh Church-Bar reminds me of a church-bar I had dinner at in Dublin, Ireland as well as a church-apartment I considered renting in Boston, MA =)

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