Local Developer Invests in Urban Meadow Community Garden

Down in the Columbia Street Waterfront District, a housing developer has donated $20,000 to the Urban Meadow community garden.

At the urging of Councilmember Brad Lander, Alex Barrett, who is developing apartments at 25 Carroll St., decided to give something back to the community.

Needless to say, the coordinators of the meadow were shocked and pleased with the donation.

"We sell muffins and t-shirts and $20,000 comes along? What?!" said Tamar Smith, a coordinator of the meadow, excitedly.

If Lander weren't such a "bull dog" when it comes to affordable housing and community development, said Smith, the donation might not have come to be.

"When a development comes up, he sees [that] there's an investment in the community," she said.

Indeed, the building on Carroll Street that Barrett was developing needed to be rezoned in order for the development to continue. Lander used this to his advantage. With the donation committment in place, Lander voted to support the rezoning.

“When the City rezones to allow developers to build new, market-rate buildings – even relatively small ones like these – it is important that there be real public benefits,” said Lander. “The Urban Meadow is a great example of how green space can positively contribute to quality of life in a neighborhood.

This "contribution will allow them to do bigger and better things this spring," he added.

The Urban Meadow community garden only formed a few years ago, but already membership has swelled and a popular CSA has formed. The $20,000 donation will help the meadow turn into much more than just a grassy open patch with a few plantings.

"We're so thrilled," said Smith, adding that she and another coordinator had already met with Barrett to discuss plans, even though the news was just announced last week. "People love the meadow so much."

The money will be used for "beautification and landscaping" that will ensure a "sustainable" garden for the future.

Rachel Goodman from Lander's office said donating to the Meadow was Barrett's idea. For Barrett, a nearby resident, it just made sense. 

"The Meadow is a wonderful asset to the Columbia Street waterfront community," he said in a press release. "Supporting it extends our commitment to sustainable design and development."

In addition to being an open space and garden, the Urban Meadow hosts events throughout the year, including Sunday's annual  and the  in June. Coordinators are also hard at work on a composting pilot program.

The Urban Meadow was cleared out and turned over to the community through a partnership with Green Thumb in 2008. Grass and wildflower seeds were planted, and at the same time the . The Meadow differs from because there are no plots; instread the entirety of the large lot can be enjoyed by all.

Meadow coordinators would like work to begin using the donation as soon as possible. Planting season is now, Smith said. Other new elements added could be stone paths, a gazebo or some other shade producing structure and certainly more landscaping.

Whatever the enhancements are, Smith is confident the community will like them.

"They love the way it is, they love the way it could be," she said.