The Walkable City

"City engineers have turned our downtowns into places that are easy to get to but not worth arriving at."...From Jeff Speck's new book "Walkable City: How Downtown Can Save America, One Step at a Time".

Happy Thanksgiving

We continue the Lehman & Lehman tradition of sharing our recipes for the holidays. This year's recipes, as well as those from 2002 - 2012, can be viewed by clicking on Our Recipe Collection above. It is our hope that you find one to share with your friends and family while enjoying your own holiday traditions.

Mishawaka River Center Apartments (Formally named "Mishawaka Main Jr. High Apartments")

Located just west of downtown Mishawaka in the former Mishawaka High School / Main Junior High School, the MRCA provides 32 senior apartments in a completely renovated building. Lehman & Lehman was commissioned by Kil Architecture Planning to assist in the overall conceptual site design and final landscape design. A conceptual west garden design was also provided for future implementation, however, the City of Mishawaka chose to add it to the current project, therefore, full construction documents were also provided. In addition to the site landscape and west garden design, Lehman & Lehman also provided streetscape enhancement design to a new, previously engineered street improvement project adjacent to the Mishawaka River Center Apartments with the intention of creating a tie-in of all the new improvements in this area while highlighting the architecture of the building with a simple, low maintenance landscape.
The Re-dedication of the building and Ribbon Cutting ceremony is scheduled for December 7, 2012.
Photos of the construction process, beginning with pre-construction conditions, are below.

Construction 

11.13.12 Cleared alley and adjacent lot for west garden development

11.13.12 New gateway entry to west garden

11.13.12 Construction of new west garden sidewalks

11.13.12 New sidewalk from parking lot into the west garden

Hill Street Tie-In

10.25.12 Hill Street under construction (engineering design by others) prior to streetscape enhancements

10.25.12 First Street under construction (engineering design by others) prior to streetscape enhancements

10.25.12 New embankment to be stabilized

Pre-Construction

8.24.11 Existing Lincolnway landscape conditions - former main entrance

8.24.11 Existing Hill Street conditions - north side of building

8.24.11 Existing First Street Conditions - north side of building

8.24.11 Existing alley to be vacated for new west garden

8.24.11 Existing adjacent lot acquired for west garden development

8.24.11 Existing adjacent lot acquired for west garden development

8.24.11 Existing west entrance

Mishawaka - Penn Public Library

The Mishawaka-Penn Public Library commissioned Lehman & Lehman to determine the most cost effective solution to restoring their embankment, while preventing future erosion and providing a visual impact. The solution was to remove the existing vegetation and construct a modular block retaining wall to lessen the slope. Flowering shrubs and perennials were then installed to stabilize the bank. Fuerbringer Landscaping & Design was the contractor for the project. The photos below show the construction process.

6.5.13 Embankment Landscape Restoration in bloom

6.5.13 Embankment Landscape Restoration in bloom

6.5.13 Embankment Landscape Restoration in bloom

11.7.12 Project completed late fall

11.7.12 Project completed late fall

10.23.12 Bank stabilized by heavy-duty erosion control fabric - plants installed through fabric

10.23.12 Wall construction complete - landscaping installed

10.23.12 Wall construction complete - landscaping installed

10.10.12 East wall nearing completion

10.10.12 Construction of south wall - installation of 2nd layer of geo-grid reinforcement

10.10.12 Construction of south wall - installation of 2nd layer of geo-grid reinforcement

10.3.12 Construction of east wall - view from top of bank

10.3.12 Stacking block on geo-grid - continuing to increase wall height

10.3.12 Installation of first of two geo-grid reinforcement layers

10.2.12 New wall construction - view from top of bank

10.2.12 New wall construction - view from top of bank

10.2.12 Stacking & leveling block courses

10.2.12 Construction of wall base

10.1.12 Cleared east embankment; excavation for new wall

10.1.12 Cleared south embankment

10.1.12 Base preparation for new wall

9.27.12 Existing south embankment with 1:1 slope

9.27.12 Existing east embankment with 2:1 slope

9.27.12 Existing embankment transition area from 2:1 to 1:1 slope

9.27.12 Existing fence being removed for access

Mishawaka River Center Apartments

Lehman & Lehman is proud to be part of the Team working with Kil Architecture on the Mishawaka River Center Apartments in downtown Mishawaka.  You can read the South Bend Tribune's interesting story of the building's transformation and memories created over the years by clicking here.

Public Art and the Landscape

In comparison with big-name gallery shows, public art is often "under appreciated" much like landscape architecture is. But there is a lot to applaud: It's free. There are no tickets. People don't have to dress up. You can view it alone or in groups. It's open to everyone.
Read more about "Why Public Art Is Important" by clicking here. 
Then, go see how public art is displayed in your community!

Parks Are Part of Our Healthcare System

An article published by the American Society of Landscape Architects reveals a study suggesting the more time someone spends outdoors, the less likely they are to suffer from mental or physical disorders.
"Green spaces are crucial to solving hypertension, anxiety, depression, diabetes – the diseases of indoor living", and that outdoor exercise equipment, or "fitness zones", within a park lead to increases in moderate, vigorous activity. The complete article can be read by clicking here.

One of these "Fitness Zones" can be found in South Bend, IN. With the award of a grant from the W.K. Kellogg Foundation, the Community Foundation of St. Joseph County contracted Lehman & Lehman to design a new outdoor exercise area / fitness zone at Potawatomi Park. The exercise area, with four pieces of outdoor exercise equipment was designed with the goal of engaging adults while providing a range of fitness options, encouraging interaction among different age groups and different levels of ability. It has been a popular asset to the park and is situated adjacent to the children's play area.

Indiana Community Asset Inventory and Rankings 2012

Ball State University has provided a detailed look at the factors that affect the reputation of Indiana's communities, both large and small. The purpose of this report is to provide policy makers and residents within Indiana's counties with an objective, data-focused assessment of the factors that influence the quality of life and the economic conditions within each county. You can see what grade your county received by clicking here.

Hansel Center

As an historical icon on South Bend’s west side, the Hansel Center will soon be transformed into the University of Notre Dame’s Center for Arts and Culture.  Through a partnership involving the University of Notre Dame and the Institute for Latino Studies, South Bend Heritage Foundation and the City of South Bend, the historic structure and site will undergo an adaptive reuse including exterior building renovation and restoration, interior demolition and reconstruction, new roofing and waterproofing, new mechanical and electrical systems, parking, site and landscape improvements.  Construction by Gibson-Lewis, LLC will begin in mid-April under the management of South Bend Heritage Foundation, the South Bend Board of Public Works and the Vanir Construction Management, Inc., and is expected to be completed in late 2012.

 Lehman and Lehman has been commissioned by Kil Architecture Planning to provide Site Survey, Site Design and Construction Document Development for the Project, as well as Construction Administration.

  Construction Photos

6.5.13 Finished Entry Walk and Foundation Landscaping

6.5.13 Revitalized front yard

6.5.13 New Parking Lot

11.15.12 Renovated front yard

11.15.12 Renovated back yard with stormwater retention area and new lawn

11.15.12 Stormwater retention area

11.9.12 Cleaning and preparation of front yard

11.9.12 Cleaning and preparation of front yard

11.9.12 New ADA accessible route

11.9.12 New landscaping - former west walk and ramp area

11.9.12 New grading and sodding of back yard

10.12.12 New parking lot ready for asphalt

10.12.12 Back yard construction access and retention area

10.12.12 Forming of new columns at new parking lot entrance

10.12.12 New sidewalk as part of ADA accessible route

9.18.12 New sidewalk and ramp from new building entrance

9.18.12 New sidewalk and ramp

9.18.12 Forming of new sidewalk and curb

9.5.12 Preparation of new ramp and stairs

9.5.12 Excavation and preparation for new access drive and walk

9.5.12 New driveway off West Washington Street

9.5.12 New city sidewalk after installation of new utilities

7.30.12 Existing west walk and ramp prior to removal

7.30.12 Excavation of front yard for new water and sanitary sewer

7.30.12 Excavation of street for new water and sanitary sewer

6.6.12 Existing wall cut for new driveway access

6.6.12 Salvaged brick from wall demolition to be used for column reconstruction

6.6.12 Clearing of site for new parking lot

6.6.12 Clearing of site for new parking lot

6.6.12 Demolition of existing pavement in area of new building entrance and parking

6.6.12 New drywell for stormwater retention

 Before Renovation Photos

3.19.12 Existing Conditions of Hansel Center prior to renovation activities

3.19.12 Existing parking area

3.19.12 Existing driveway leading to parking area

3.19.12 Existing perimeter wall to be cut for new driveway

3.19.12 Existing lawn area to be transformed into a new parking lot

3.19.12 Existing site features; wrought iron fence and brick wall

3.19.12 Driveway access off of Washington Street

3.19.12 Existing access ramp

3.19.12 Existing backyard