The Michigan Times

Issue date: 10/26/09 Section: Local News

Media Credit: Tara Moreno The Urban Alternative House project will restore a house built in the late 1890s in order to find alternative energy systems for sustainable living.

A Flint house built in the late 19th century will be getting a serious makeover. The house, known as the Urban Alternative House, is a project partnership for sustainable living and alternative energy systems between UM-Flint faculty, University Outreach and other partnerships which include the Genesee County Landbank and L.I.S.C or Local Initiative Support Corporation. The house is located at 519 Garland St. in Carriage Town.

Associate professor of Earth and Resource Science Richard Hill-Rowley is heading the project development. The project calls for the restoration of a house that was built in the late 1890s and owned by Genesee County Land Bank. Rowley said, “We were thinking that because of the increased importance of the issues around sustainability and climate change and healthy lifestyles that this would be perfect.” Rowley said, “We talked to the Land Bank about maybe finding a house or a property close to campus that students could walk to, to take classes”

Director of University Outreach Renee Zientek said, “We are figuring out how you can rehabilitate a home in Flint to be energy efficient, to be sustainable and do it in a way that maintains its history character.” Zeintek said, “The end vision, if you will, for the house is it will have off campus classroom space and it will provide an opportunity for students to take a class off campus.” According to Zientek other major universities such as Michigan State University and UM-Ann Arbor participate in this type of project.

Before building can begin for the Urban Alternative House, plans must be made. Rowley said, “We are having a classroom design meeting on Nov. 6.We are having a residential design meeting on the 20.We are going to invite a lot of people from the community from the university”.

The Urban House has also partnered with THA Architect Jim Ananich. Ananich said, “I think it’s going to be a pretty interesting project. There is a lot of potential that could come from it. It is something that we don’t do everyday.” There are many plans for the house. Ananich said, “We are going to try to use wind power to run a generator to get energy.” Zientek said, “There will be an urban garden there for food security issues and beautification issues.”

Rowley said, “The first floor will be class space and the second and third floor will be residential space.” It is undecided whether the space will be apartments or co-op living. All of this will be discussed during the meeting next month.

Although it will be a space for classes, it will also serve as education for the community. Zientek said, “I think it is a good example of how the community and the campus is coming together to solve some of the problems we are facing in Flint, one of those being lots and lots of vacant homes.” Ananich said, “I think the other interesting part about it is you are dealing with a number of community groups where traditionally you do not see this type of cooperation.”

“We are real excited about getting started.”

Tara can be reached at tmoreno@umflint.edu.

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