ical environment has a direct impact on the health and prosperity of all people. In simple terms, Pocket Neighborhoods consist of eight to 16 household units organized around a shared space. Chapin published Pocket Neighborhoods: Creating Small Scale Community in a Large Scale World, in 2011 which has been influential to planners, designers, developers, and policy makers across the country and executed in a variety of contexts: urban, suburban, small town, and rural. “Small-scale communities can be building blocks for a more resilient society,” Chapin says. The Pocket Neighborhood Development model was determined to be the perfect fit for the initial phase of the Antioch College Village project which will consist of a cluster of eight highly sustainable cottages. There will be four two-bedroom units and four attached one-bedroom units with front porches facing a shared green space with gathering areas and community garden space. The construction will exemplify stateof-the-art sustainable design features, including energy efficient forms, rooftop arrays of photovoltaic panels, tight thermal enclosures, efficient equipment, and ample natural light. Options for green water and material solutions are also possible. This test project will be built on North College Street, across from the planned 34-unit project which will include ad-
ditional cottage units along with other building types. “For the College, this is in alignment of our prioritizing sustainability,” says McGruder. “Beyond that, we have talked about how to make better use of our underutilized assets. So we have this land, how do we make use of it without just selling it? The structure for this will be a 99year lease to the homeowners, and the College will get monthly lease fees. And, when homes are sold, we’ll share in the appreciation. This will allow the College to generate revenue over time.” The College has made significant progress to date on the Pocket Neighborhood project having successfully navigated a rezoning process, completed construction drawings which have been sent out to bid, and secured deposits from seven buyers. One unit will be donated to the College and designated as an affordable rental unit for persons who earn 80% of median income or less. As of this writing, the College is working to select a builder, confirm financing, and begin the construction permitting process. The project is designed by McLennan Design, led by Jason F. McLennan—considered one of the most influential individuals in the green building movement today, and who provided conceptual design work pro bono. “Our team is thrilled to help envision a new way of living and being at Antioch that is better for people,
Yellow Springs Community Foundation Established in 1974, the Yellow Springs Community Foundation is a public charitable foundation established to benefit the community of Yellow Springs and Miami Township in Ohio. Here is how the Foundation describes its mission and vision: “Entrusted with the responsibility of enhancing community life, we are a catalyst and resource for local charitable giving and grant making. Our mission is to enhance community life by supporting a broad array of activities. These include helping the elderly,
the young, the sick, and the socially disadvantaged; promoting the arts and other cultural activities; promoting scientific research; providing scholarships; supporting public recreation, conservation, and environmental improvement.” The Foundation is an important suporter and partner of Antioch College. In addition to the impact investment loan in support of the Antioch College Village project, the Foundation provides funding for student Miller Fellowships, the new Encore Fellows program (see page 15), and funding of the Main Building stabilization project (see page 7), as well as a variety of special programs.
for community and for the environment for generations to come,” says McLennan. “We are excited that the aesthetic and environmental aspects of the Antioch College Village footprint will be leading edge,” says President Tom Manley. “Our work in higher education and in the wider community should be focused on developing new and better ways of living and learning, and the Antioch College Village project is integral to our efforts.” Conceived as an environmentally sustainable, multi-generational, mixed-income community on the campus of Antioch College, the Village represents much more than just a housing project. It is the manifestation of the College’s dedication to the practice of environmental sustainability, as well as the practice of work, world, and resilient community. The Village will be a neighborhood that promotes community values, fosters equity and inclusivity, employs sustainability strategies, and is rooted in the principles of cohousing. Potential future development include a variety of residential units ranging from studios and apartments to three-bedroom townhomes as well as a mixed-use building to house academic programs and commercial space. The project is important to the wider community for a variety of reasons, and has received support from the Yellow Springs Community Foundation in the form of an impact investment loan for the production of construction documents. McGruder says, “This project will help to affirm the town’s belief that the Pocket Neighborhood Development is one tool to promote more dense development. And, to encourage people that there are other ways of living that can be very attractive.” Malte Von Matthiessen ’66, representing the Board of Trustees on the project team, says, “Antioch College and the Village of Yellow Springs have shared an historic collaborative relationship for over a century. It’s my hope that the Pocket Neighborhood Development initiative will be the first of many new initiatives as we move forward together.” Learn more: antiochcollege.edu/village THE ANTIOCHIAN FALL, 2018 17