Roots to Rise - A Master Plan for Great Brook Valley

PROJECT SUMMARY
Roots To Rise is a Worcester Housing Authority master planning project being led by Utile, in collaboration with WHA Staff, Ground Landscape Architects, and Nitsch Engineers. Over the next several months, we’ll draw a big picture vision that will guide the future of Great Brook Valley.

Great Brook Valley was developed in 1954 as public housing, with 560 apartments in 91 brick buildings, now housing over 1,000 residents. While officially named “Great Brook Valley Gardens,” the community came to know it simply as “the Bricks” or “the Valley.” This community, and the families that call it home, have forged powerful bonds to this place and to each other through food, music, and mutual support. This plan will develop a concrete path forward for the redevelopment of the Valley, supporting this rich and vibrant community while providing the much-needed physical updates to buildings, infrastructure, open spaces, and transportation.

This project is just getting started, and the whole team looks forward to working closely with the community to forge this path together. Please check back periodically for updates on events, drawings, renderings, and general information on how the project is proceeding.

Why Roots To Rise?
Great Brook Valley has always been a place where families build connections, neighbors support each other, and love and pride persist.
Our project name captures our mission: to honor the deep roots our community has grown over 70 years, while planting seeds for everyone to rise to new possibilities.
We're ready to cultivate an even stronger future together.

What Will Happen During This Process? How Can I get Involved?
Throughout the project, we're hosting a number of opportunities to collaborate with residents, families, and leaders in order to cultivate a deeper understanding of the neighborhood and seed ambitious ideas of what it could become.

Building Foundations: Where we cultivate wisdom. (Sept - Oct)
We will study existing conditions, learn about community assets and aspirations, and explore development opportunities through storytelling, mapping, and site walks.

• Session 1: Project introduction and groundsetting
• Session 2: Stories of and from The Valley
• Session 3: How residents use open spaces and move through the neighborhood
• Session 4: Explore connections beyond The Valley's borders

Dreaming Together: Where we seed vision. (Oct - Dec)
We will work together to imagine what Great Brook Valley could become and turn those dreams into design ideas through drawings, model making, and feedback sessions.

• Session 5: Imagine what a thriving Valley looks and feels like
• Session 6: Design systems that work better for families and improve quality of life
• Session 7: Create spaces that serve individual and community needs
• Session 8: Refine our vision and test design ideas

Weaving Futures: Where we grow forward. (Jan - Mar)
We will finalize the Master Plan by working out details of our shared vision and create a community-supported roadmap for redevelopment.

• Session 9: Plan for businesses and cultural activities we want to see
• Session 10: Decide how we'll make decisions and care for our community
• Session 11: Review and approve our final land use plan
• Session 12: Celebrate our big picture vision and prepare for what's next

Stay Connected!
Join Us for Community Design Studio sessions - come plant some ideas with us!
Share Your Story, tell us what The Valley means to you, and how it's shaped your life.
Spread the Word by talking to your neighbors - what does a thriving community look like?
Have a Question? You can reach out to Jose Cotto (cotto@utiledesign.com) or Patrick Travaglio-Romeo(TravaglioRomeo@worcesterha.org).