Workshop at Corona Plaza by Change Administration and DSGN AGNC

/in , /by

 

On On September 8, 2012, architect Quilian Riano (DSGN AGNC) and city planner Aurash Khawarzad (Change Administration) led a structured conversation that began at Immigrant Movement International and ended at Corona Plaza.  Almost twenty community members and a few SPQ students participated in the conversation, which had the goal of providing Quillian and Aurash a better understanding of what challenges and opportunities the people of Corona expect with the creation of this new public space.

Both Quillian and Aurash have been commissioned by QMA under the Corona Studio program to develop programming and temporary installations on the site.  They will use participatory processes to propose and take action on ideas that provide opportunities for recreation, education, commerce, and more.

Here are some images from the workshop:

 

Corona Plaza: A Community Place Rises (Video by Streetfilms)

/in /by

Check out this really exciting video and blog excerpt on Corona Plaza by Streetfilms,  which have the mission of “documenting livable streets worldwide”.

Something special is happening in Corona, Queens.

Last week, Streetfilms visited Corona Plaza — the city’s newest car-free space, next to the 103rd Street stop on the 7 train — and found it already packed with families, children, and shoppers.

This plaza has been in the works for many years, and the local community has taken ownership of it immediately. Volunteers help in locking up the tables and chairs at night and assist in cleaning the space themselves.

The area previously had no public seating whatsoever, which is astonishing considering the dozens of restaurants nearby. Now it is a magnet for people, especially kids, who give the place a vibe that feels different than most other pedestrian plazas. To watch parents sit calmly while their kids play would have been unheard of before the street was reclaimed from traffic and parking.

 

Continue reading Streetfilms’ post here.