Reclaiming Houtz

2009

In 2008 the Pennsylvania State University purchased a parcel of land in the West end of State College, PA with the intent to expand the university campus, but without any specific architectural plans.

On this parcel was a beloved local institution, Houtz department store, an eclectic and inexpensive local business known for their unusual meats and discontinued lamp parts.

On .... I hosted a neighborhood block party to open up the Houtz parking lot, physically and conceptually, to the community. Activities included:

-model building: using cardboard, paper, and wood, residents built small models of businesses and buildings they would like to see occupy the site.