COASTAL COMMUNITY CENTERED

Crisman had been working with the Elizabeth River Project, undertaking various sustainability projects in the Tidewater region, for over 13 years. Much of her work focuses on coastal resilience.

“My background is both in architecture and urban design, and so I’m very interested in not just studying what’s happening, but figuring out what to do about it,” she says.

Crisman’s work also emphasizes including communities in the planning and design process. For her, the ability to produce effective sustainable design is dependent on working closely with the people who are directly impacted, to understand their specific needs. Her longstanding relationship with the Elizabeth River Project and focus on community-centered designs made Crisman and her capstone students a natural choice for the Ingleside Project.

ADAPTIVE DESIGNS

Guided by the concerns expressed by community members, Crisman and her students employed their knowledge of stormwater and tidal flooding management practices to devise solutions. Pinpointing key areas in the neighborhood, they proposed the application of nature-based elements such as rain gardens, bioswales, and living shorelines to address the community’s specific needs.

AN EXIT STRATEGY

One of the community’s major concerns was the flooding of Fontaine Avenue. Over 30 homes in one subdivision of the neighborhood get trapped when the water rises out of Broad Creek and covers the road. In order to solve this problem, the students proposed constructing an emergency exit route, which would allow residents to safely evacuate in the event of a severe storm. The new road could be constructed on a marshy stretch of unused land that had once been a street but has long since lost its pavement. In its current state, this pathway is too soft for cars to drive on without getting stuck. Crisman’s class suggested that the new road be built from permeable pavement to avoid causing yet more flooding issues for the homes nearby.