When Glen Schmidt, principal, Schmidt Design Group, Inc. responded to the Southeast Economic Development Corporation?EUR??,,????'???s (SEDC) request-for proposal on the Imperial Avenue urban redevelopment project, it was with an unusual concept. A standard median landscape and irrigation plan was not enough to inspire community pride, so an element of art was added to stimulate a sense of solidarity and unity within the neighborhood.

The Encanto neighborhood in San Diego, California is a culturally diverse community struggling with its identity. The endeavor to improve its image as a neighborhood and a viable business development location lead to a collaboration with a local artist, Eddie Edwards, on the design efforts.

Eddie Edwards, an artist and teacher at Martin Luther King Elementary School, stood out as capable of achieving this goal. Edwards?EUR??,,????'???s connection to the region, his experience as a muralist and his affinity for the project made him a complementary choice for the design team.

Edwards?EUR??,,????'???s artwork for the project incorporates a series of 12 murals depicting images of people working and playing together in the community. One panel features the history of the area by depicting the orange orchards that used to be prevalent in this agrarian community. Another panel shows people of various races pictured in their native dress. In each panel, community pride, history and racial tolerance are depicted in a colorful statement of hope for the future. The murals are displayed on 4' x 8' panels mounted on 20 ft. light standards. Each mural includes a rainbow within the composition, which was selected as a central theme for the project because it represents the new direction of the multi-ethnic community and its small business district toward unity and positive change. The original paintings by Edwards are 30" x 15" size. They have been reproduced by a computer painting system to the panels now installed. The panels are mounted on light standards starting 12 ft. off the ground to discourage vandalism. If, however, the panels are damaged, the original artwork will be available to produce new panels.

The landscape theme for the project compliments the rainbow theme by displaying a variety of flower colors in the rainbow-like pattern. Varieties of lantana produce blossoms of pink, white and orange; lily-of-the-nile, contribute white and blue and day lilies provide yellow for the color scheme. A number of large existing sycamores were retained and about 40 new sycamores were planted.

At the gateway of the community, the first light standard includes a black, wrought iron community identification sign for Encanto. Its artistic simplicity makes it unlike any other City of San Diego neighborhood sign.

The project was not without challenges. This was the first median project of its kind in the City of San Diego to incorporate artwork in a median installation, and required the support of various city departments to make the vision a reality. Low construction budgets, potential vandalism, community skepticism of the bureaucratic process, in addition to internal processing of a ?EUR??,,????'??non-Standard?EUR??,,????'?? Capital Improvement were difficult hurdles to leap.

The artist/landscape collaboration is a noticeable trend within urban design. The artist, as a member of both the community and the design team, creates a project uniquely rooted in the neighborhood where it is located. By incorporating community-based art along with a message of hope and change, it is believed that the project will act as a catalyst for new, more productive directions within the community.

Sue McDevitt, project manager, SEDC, believes the project has achieved its goal. ?EUR??,,????'??Residents and business owners are feeling great about it! They are pleased by the new image of their neighborhood and proud to be working and living in the area,?EUR??,,????'?? she commented. ?EUR??,,????'??Glen and Eddie really listened to the community. Then they interpreted their desires. It?EUR??,,????'???s really worked...the community is supremely delighted with the result!?EUR??,,????'??

On Saturday, August 21,1993 city officials, dignitaries and entertainers officially dedicated the medians on Imperial avenue to the neighborhood of Encanto, ?EUR??,,????'??Land of Enchantment,?EUR??,,????'?? in celebration of a new look and revived community spirit.