UIC MCD Plan
Overview
Creating Space is a laboratory for youth-led design. Located on 557 N Central Avenue, a formerly vacant lot, Territory is collaborating with the neighborhood to transform this land into a public gathering space.
Over the past five years, more than 310 Austin youth have participated in Territory programs, with many serving as core stakeholders in shaping Creating Space. Starting in 2020-21, one youth-led design team established a youth quality of life plan with three goals for urban design projects in their neighborhood: public safety, mental wellness, and youth empowerment, and a second team identified vacant lots for youth-led projects, and strategies for those lots.
In 2023-24, Territory collaborated with other youth empowerment organizations in Austin, and our neighbors and stakeholders to envision, design and build Phase 1 of Creating Space.
Phase 1
In Summer 2024, youth led teams designed and built Creating Space Phase 1. The placemaking strategies include:
- Crates for informal sitting and socializing
- Welcoming entrance
- Interactive mural walls
- Pink house commemoration, inspired by “Grandma’s porch”
Phase 2
Due to an unexpected loss of funding in 2025, Territory slowed down the pace of design development and community engagement. With welcoming seating, the site became a hub for unhealthy behaviors. Territory youth began intensive collaboration with the neighbors, Ald. Mitts, CPD 15th District Police, community artists and gardeners, and many others including the Chicago Department of Planning and Development and the UIC College of Urban Planning to find a collective solution.
Territory purchased the lot from the City in November and de-installed the original prototypes to reduce negative activity and prepare for the next phase of development.
Phase 3
With grants from the Chicago Community Trust and the Open Space Impact Fee Fund, Territory is launching the next phase, completing the schematic design of the lot and working on the designs for site elements
