
In design, you are meant to enter Old Town through a main entry point at the center of the site, the structure called the "Lab Building." This is the structure in which, for many years, Maintenance has been housed.
The design intention is to orient the gaze southward, through the Vaults, to direct it to the view of the mesa situated beyond the basin used in the past as an amphitheatre. It's a stunning impression for anyone, particularly the eye of the first-time beholder. But what must happen to capture this intention?
To begin with, Maintenance must have the space it needs and deserves in order to actualize its enormous potential. All the many commercial development spinoffs that use such tools require space. A framing shop, for artwork. A *real* metal shop, fit for a farrier if need be. A woodshop for luthiers as well as furniture makers. Perhaps Cuyler Page, David deGomez, et al would consent to having room to open an Arcosanti woodshop of their own creation?
It seems to me there are any number of business opportunities for craftsfolk who can contract individually (or as an LLC or as a cooperative) for the development of particular programs or projects. People do better when they're focused on what they like, what they like best to do best and what they do well.
Given the opportunity to review all the designs ever made for Arcosanti, what are some of the options for a new space for housing Maintenance, with room to develop space allocated to (and suitable for) crafty industrial expansion?
Here's what AZ says about co-operatives: http://socialeconomyaz.org/how-to-build-a-cooperative/
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Arizona-Cooperative-Initiative/145932095502330 and here is a historical reference to a cooperative movement that changed the face of a nation: http://www.nationofchange.org/underground-railroad-was-one-america-s-first-co-ops-black-history-tour-cooperative-economics-1397917#comments
What I am suggesting is that an Arcosanti Community Development and Management Cooperative will be able to contract with individuals and groups, to encourage community development and expansion. I'll give some "for examples" of how I see such a coop functioning by providing a initial set of conditional By-Laws, :
- ACDAMCoop may contract with individuals and groups to build and enjoy studio space. Two groups already proposed are Garden2Table, if I understand discussion correctly and CoG (as a subdivision of G2T, to begin with?) in cooperation with Arcosanti BeeWork are determining what each will do to produce food, including and not limited to hiring a full-time garden manager.
- ACDAM Coop will encourage participation in the AAN.
- ACDaMCoop members may join by contributing a member fee.
- ACDaM Coop's Board will be elected by the membership at an AGM to serve a rotational 3-5 year term, place and time of the ACDaM AGM to be determined.
- ACDaM Coop membership may be drawn from the AAN.
- Cosanti Board of Trustees may be ACDAM Coop members and represent a business contracting with ACDaM Coop but no person may simultaneously sit on the ACDaMCoop Board and the Cosanti Foundation Board.
Start Where You Are, Pema Chodron says.