| Kelli J. Fields撰
在西北持久社區組織(SCNW)著手為波特蘭東南部郊區的中低收入戶整修翻新一個15戶公寓住宅區的同時，生態上健全的社區發展只是他們夢想的開端。
Rosie Andrade 為共有地的花園移植雛菊，Zulma and Marcos Reyes一旁觀看。 Melissa Medeiros攝
SCNW為致力於提供社區居民長久且能負擔的房舍而成立。除了承辦社區發展的工作外，為了居民的長期教育及權益，SCNW還提供實踐永續生活的相關課程。
SCNW執行長Rosemarie Cordello表示:環境保護只是此(社區)發展的一小部份。(社區的)永續發展也包括:幫助大家實現經濟穩定，與齊力達成共同目標。
2000夏天，波特蘭的義工居民親手在Johnson河共有地的花園施肥。Melissa Medeiros攝
位居波特蘭Johnson河集水區邊，公寓住宅區便取名為Johnson Creek Commons。為使住宅區企劃成真，SCNW與ROSE Community Development一同策劃共有地產的採購、整修翻新、管理。另外，ShoreBank Pacific 及 Portland Development Commission提供貨款及補助金以支持此企劃。
Johnson Creek Commons確實符合己付的要求：15戶中，有10戶專為收入為中等薪資50%的住戶而設計。另外5戶則指定租給收入只為中等薪資30%的住戶。如今，15戶已住滿。
除了使此多(重)家庭的住宅區少受環境衝擊外，具體改良措施使租戶省了些能源水電費。
志工在2000年8月5日波特蘭日親手翻土施肥。Melissa Medeiros攝
當地居民Danielle Audas表示建設後有所回報。革新前早已居住當地，她發現居住品質立即有了變化。
現在的窗戶較好，新暖氣像太陽一樣溫暖。孩子不會再燒傷自己的腳趾與手，電費幾乎是往年的一半。
資源導向
經常，開發新社區意即破壞綠地、居住區過於擴建，水質管理低劣，浪費大量的可回收(利用)物資。人類健康因瓦斯外洩、水土不服而受害。
SCNW盡力避免這些情形。住宅區的整修翻新從加裝"隔熱材料"和"遮縫防雨片"開始。高效能窗戶取代老舊單片窗；壁板暖氣取代了護壁板暖氣。管理人員移走損壞的設備，改為高效能型號。(ps: radiant heating = panel heating 裝在牆壁或天花板比較有效能; baseboard heating 是傳統裝在靠近地板的護壁板內)
工作人員植入省水蓮蓬頭及其他設備以減低浴室水流量，進而省水。更提供居民使用僅需舊機型的四分之一水量及能源的"前部載水式洗衣機"。
天然大理石地板、回收瓶製地毯、可持久型厚壁板外層取代了先前的材質。此整修翻新計畫也使用了高品質、廢物回收的材料置換年久失修的水槽、門、和其他設備。
社區開創
菜圃、果樹、土產植物現在植於室內，周邊還植入新生命。SCNW志工幫忙築花園，並教授有興趣的住戶如何耕種有機物。
即將發生於Johnson Creek Commons的是在現有停車場上建造一個雙層(立體)停車場。這個企劃由Portland Development Commission 及奧勒岡州政府贊助，近期便開工。
雙層停車場將能縮減多餘的柏油路面。身為企劃的一部份，SCNW也將設置生態濕地，使大量水得以流出住宅區及停車場，並滲入地下水層(表層)而非流入城市下水道系統，減低汙染Willamette河的風險。
對租戶而言，永續發展的實踐是有感染力的。
"最近，我們把回收筒全填滿了-我深刻的體驗到---花園很美，這兒現在有家的感覺。"Audas.告訴我們。
"我喜歡住這兒，希望永遠不用搬走。"
全文及圖示詳見: http://www.ecotrust.org/community/
johnson_creek.html
版權歸屬 ECOTRUST 環境信託基金會(李佳家 譯，黃媺雯 審校)
中英對照譯稿請見：http://news.ngo.org.tw/issue/surround/2000/issue-surround00122101.htm
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by Kelli J. Fields
When Sustainable Communities Northwest set out to renovate a 15-unit apartment complex for low- and moderate-income residents of outer Southeast Portland, ecologically sound development was only the beginning of their vision.
Rosie Andrade transplants daisies for the Commons garden while Zulma and Marcos Reyes look on. Photo by Melissa Medeiros.
The organization formed to provide sustainable affordable housing with a commitment to community. In addition to undertaking the development, Sustainable Communities Northwest (SCNW) implemented programs for the long-term education and benefit of residents regarding sustainable living practices.
"Environmental protection is just one aspect of this development," said SCNW executive director Rosemarie Cordello. "Developing sustainability also means empowering people to achieve economic stability and helping people work together to achieve common goals."
Hands on Portland volunteers spread compost in the Johnson Creek Commons garden, summer 2000. Photo by Melissa Medeiros.
Located near Portland's Johnson Creek watershed, the apartment complex was named Johnson Creek Commons. To make the project a reality, Sustainable Communities Northwest teamed with ROSE Community Development to propose the purchase, renovation and management of the property. ShoreBank Pacific and the Portland Development Commission provided loans and grants to fund the project.
Johnson Creek Commons fills a very real affordable-housing need: Ten of the project's fifteen units are targeted for households that earn 50 percent of median income and five of the units rent to households earning only 30 percent of median income. All fifteen units are currently occupied.
In addition to providing a multi-family residence with low environmental impact, the physical improvements made to the complex save tenants money in energy and water bills.
Volunteers dig in on Hands on Portland Day, August 5, 2000. Photo by Melissa Medeiros.
Resident Danielle Audas said she's reaping the rewards of the alterations. Having lived in the complex prior to the renovation, she noticed an immediate difference in comfort.
"There are better windows now, and a new kind of heat that feels like the sun," said Audas. "The kids can't burn their toes or hands on the heat like they did before, and my electric bill is almost half of what it used to be."
Resourceful Initiatives
Too often, the development of new housing means the destruction of greenspaces, over-sized dwellings, poor water management, and the waste of tremendous amounts of salvageable materials. Human health also suffers from off-gassing of toxic finishes and inadequate weatherization.
Sustainable Communities Northwest looked at the Johnson Creek Commons project holistically to avoid these impacts. The renovation began by increasing all insulation and weather stripping. High-energy-efficiency windows replaced old single-pane windows and radiant heat was selected instead of baseboard heat. Managers removed broken appliances and replaced them with energy-efficient models.
Crews installed water-saving showerheads and devices to reduce water flow in toilets to conserve water. Front-loading washing machines that use one-quarter of the water and energy of the former models now serve residents.
Natural marmoleum flooring, carpet made from recycled pop bottles, and durable Hardi-plank exterior siding was selected for other repairs. The renovation also located high quality, salvaged materials to replace sinks, doors, and other fixtures in disrepair.
Creating Community
Vegetable beds, fruit trees, and native plants now fill an interior courtyard and perimeter with new life. Sustainable Communities Northwest volunteers helped to create the gardens and mentored interested tenants in organic gardening.
Next on the horizon at Johnson Creek Commons is the construction of a duplex in the existing parking lot. The project has received funding from the Portland Development Commission and the State of Oregon, and will soon get underway.
This duplex will reduce the amount of vacant paved space on the site. As part of this phase of the project, Sustainable Communities Northwest will also create a bioswale allowing stormwater runoff from the complex and parking lot to percolate into the water table instead of entering the city's storm sewer system, reducing the risk of contamination to the Willamette River.
For tenants, the commitment to sustainability is infectious.
"Lately, we've been filling up the recycle bins - I feel very strongly about that - and the garden is wonderful. I like how it feels like home here now," said Audas.
"I love living here. I hope I never have to move out."
Kelli J. Fields is a Portland writer and board member of Sustainable Communities Northwest.
http://www.ecotrust.org/community/
johnson_creek.html
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