Josephine Crossing’s Phase II

So what does a builder do when it’s time to kick off the second phase of a Smart Growth Community?  Typically, a builder just kind of executes their own vision for improvements.  We wanted to do things a bit differently.  Instead of telling the neighbors what the next phase of Josephine Crossing will look like, we wanted them to tell US what it will look like.

An invite was issued to neighbors, architects, engineers and city officials to participate in a charrette (an intense and collaborative effort to finish a project within a short, specified time frame).

The only thing less interesting than going to a meeting is reading about one.  But these charrette meetings were COOL.  We were BLOWN AWAY by the participation.  In a day and age of busy schedules where this type of thing might be typically ignored, we saw a substantial percentage of the neighbors at each meeting.  During these meetings, we as builders got to pick the brains of our neighbors to determine what they wanted the second phase of their neighborhood to look like.  There was a lot of laughter, respectful debate and creative ideas heard in the room.  At one meeting, an eight year old resident of Josephine Crossing hopped right up on stage and shared her suggestions!

As the builders we were sure the charrette meetings would last about 5 minutes and go a little something like this:  “Dear Mr. Builder.  We want a pool.  The end.”

We were shocked to learn neighbors were NOT in favor of a pool.  The consensus was that outdoors pools are only in use a couple of months in Montana, they are high maintenance and a liability.

Once we laid out the type of amenities typically found in a Smart Growth community, the neighbors took the menu of items and tailored them for our neighborhood.

We arrived at a plan for a park that includes an amphitheatre/picnic shelter, a wind turbine that will serve as a terminating vista and generate energy for the amphitheater, a splash park, multi-sport courts, horse-shoe pits, swing sets, space for youth soccer and T-ball, multi-family housing, live/work space, a bridge to Norm’s island and a plaza (complete with a skating rink and our very own Rockefeller Center Christmas tree!).  Phew.  That’s a whole-lotta coolness in one place, wouldn’t you say?  Have a gander for yourself- click here to look at the park layout.  There is quite literally no other park like this in Billings, and it will be right in our back yard!