04/14/2013
Comment by Expert #1 A laudable, 10-year effort in city planning and community engagement, to incubate a "regenerative" approach to a sustainable built environment re-use plan the incubates "biomimicry" processes. The number of aspects that Glass Bay wants to incorporate on 400 acres is ambitious. Driving the interest from powerful stakeholders, along with capital, to a location that is physically removed from other infrastructure and learning institutions has been the challenge; along with the mitigation required to conduct the industrial clean-up. The crowd-sourcing hub for creating investment is a start.The mechanisms for equity sales for a property that is partially owned by the City, and partially owned by Georgia Pacific (if I understand this correctly) need more development. Is Georgia Pacific (Koch Brothers, Inc.) pursuing this regenerative idea (doubtful) with the thought leaders in the community? Marianna, you have toured the site and spoken with community leaders. Have they reached out to find out if learning institutions would consider expanding to this location? Transportation is also a big barrier, though a learning institution could become its own city by the bay.
Comment by Expert #2 How do we take this from a list of very good ideas to the next step? Although Fort Bragg is a beautiful area, will start-ups and others be willing to locate there?
Comment by Expert #3 Innovative Solution.
Comment by Expert #4 This project could be a demonstration of restorative techniques for a polluted site and an economically at risk community. With integrated systems for energy, transportation and water, as well as local agriculture and local businesses, this area could thrive economically and could have a restored environment. More work needs to be done on the proposal to get it to the stage of being implementable. Investors, planning and more would be required to build the vision that this proposal contains. This could be a very exciting glimpse into a more sustainable future.
Comment by Expert #5 Could serve as a model approach that could be tailored for application to other locations. Suggest that, as with Sustainable America in the 1990's, that the proponent, if he/she has not already done so, consider creating an association or affiliation group for sharing and outreach. A YouTube video or short documentary would be helpful to capture the oral history.