Building a green city from the ground up
6 May 2009 2 Comments
Greensburg, Kansas, a small plains community of 1,000 people, was leveled by a tornado in 2007.
The town is making the most of the rebuilding opportunity. New structures replacing the tornadic debris are being built in the style of green. “Greensburg GreenTown is a Kansas-based nonprofit organization, providing inspiration and leadership to Kiowa County in order to be a model of sustainable living for the world.”
I’ve hoped for a similar initiative here in Siloam Springs, although I haven’t yet taken the time to propose it to the city. Still, it wouldn’t be the same kind of opportunity that Greensburg has, building from the ground up. Props to Greensburg for making lemonade of the lemon it was dealt two years ago.
Among the new green buildings is the 5.4.7 Arts Center, which is the 1st LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Platinum building in Kansas according to its website.
Image from GreensburgKS.org
Meaning you’ve hoped for a ground-leveling tornado in Siloam Springs?
Heh-heh-heh! You’d be amazed at how many people I’ve heard say, since moving here six years ago, that Siloam won’t be struck with the fury of an F-anything. Funny, though, how we’ve had twisters on the ground both a few miles north and a few miles south of town in the past two years.
Wishful thinking by the townsfolk. Arkansas may not be in Tornado Alley proper, but Siloam does sit on the border with Oklahoma.
Of course, that’s not what I’m wishing for. I don’t think anyway *wink*