Monday, July 26, 2010

Green Streets Victoria BC

I am currently working on a project with a scope of work that extends beyond the boundaries of the site. The idea is to work with the city of Victoria to include a Green Streets concept to the development's adjoining streets.
What is a Green Street? Well it includes but is not limited to a sustainable stormwater strategy that meets regulatory compliance and resource protection goals by using a natural systems approach to manage stormwater, reduce flows, improve water quality and enhance watershed health.

The project brief looks something like this:
- Traffic calming
- Improving pedestrian and bicycle safety
- Reducing the demand on the city’s sewer collection system and the cost of constructing expensive infrastructure / pipe systems
- Diverting stormwater from the sewer system
- Reduction of impervious surfaces so stormwater can infiltrate to recharge groundwater and surface water
- Increasing urban greenspace
- Enhancing community and neighborhood livability.

Can't tell you much more about the project at this point but I have included similar projects in the Portland and greater Victoria area to get you thinking.


A new way of managing stormwater run off.
NE Siskiyou Green Street, Portland, Oregon. Photo by Kevin Robert Perry.


Checkdams made from packed earth and river rock are used in each curb extension to slow and retain stormwater runoff.
NE Siskiyou Green Street, Portland, Oregon. Photo by Kevin Robert Perry. NE Siskiyou Green Street, Portland, Oregon. Photo by Kevin Robert Perry.


NE Siskiyou Green Street, Portland, Oregon. Photo by Kevin Robert Perry.


NE Siskiyou Green Street, Portland, Oregon. Photo by Kevin Robert Perry.


Trent Street Rain Garden Victoria BC.
A great local project by the forward thinking minds over at Murdoch de Greefe Inc.


(SW 12th Avenue Green Street Project, Portland, Oregon. Photos by Kevin Robert Perry.)


(SW 12th Avenue Green Street Project, Portland, Oregon. Photos by Kevin Robert Perry.)


(SW 12th Avenue Green Street Project, Portland, Oregon. Photos by Kevin Robert Perry.)


(SW 12th Avenue Green Street Project, Portland, Oregon. Photos by Kevin Robert Perry.)

For all things Portland, Landscape and Urbanism based, check out Jason Kings Blog here.

6 comments:

  1. Makes so much sense to deal with the plantings, weather and unique cylces of OUR part of the world...you are engaging all of our senses Christian...lovely concepts.

    Best,
    Michelle

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  2. Hi christian, nice post & good blog, i think u must try this site to increase traffic. have a nice day & keep blogging!!!

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  3. Christian,
    Love the direction your blog represents!
    I'm putting together a catalog of green elements using compost for municipalities. I'd like to talk with you about what you are doing in Victoria, and to include you in our resources section. Would you contact me please? [tnthomas-at-terre-source-dot-com]

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  4. Dear Christian,
    My name is Fernanda Dias Radesca and I'm an environmental engineer working for a consulting company in São Paulo - Brazil called "Fundação Centro Tecnológico de Hidráulica" (Tecnological Centre of Hydraulics).
    We are developing a project that involves a brief presentation of Green Infrastructure successful Programs. Portland's Programs are going to be presented and we would like to use some images - displayed in your blog to ilustrate our work.
    That said, I'am writing to enquire about a request of image copyrigth for 2 or 3 photos. Is it possible to use those images? If yes, what would be the procedures to do so?
    If you have any questions or concerns, don't hesitate to let me know.
    Sincerely,

    Fernanda Dias Radesca
    ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Engenheira Ambiental Júnior
    Environmental Engineer

    FCTH - Fundação Centro Tecnológico de Hidráulica

    Drenagem
    Stormwater Management Department
    ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    +55 (11) 3039-3169
    fernanda.radesca@fcth.br

    ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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  5. Hi Christian!

    Awesome stuff! This is exciting to see :).

    I'm from Victoria and am diving deep into the realm of rainwater harvesting and system restoration.

    I'm currently in New Mexico and Arizona for a month exploring stream restoration, rainwater harvesting (including a tour of Brad Lancaster's home in Tucson and exploring some other projects happening around there), and permaculture strategies - when I get back though, I'd love to hear more details about this project and explore how I could participate!

    Neil J.
    goldlion@me.com

    ReplyDelete