Month: October 2020

Thank you again to all of our presenters and attendees for our October 7th webinar.  For those with questions, the Q&A can be found here.     As a reminder – you may also view the webinar and meeting on demand here.

This project is kick-starting Silva Cells installation along the San Pedro waterfront as part of the Port O’ Call Promenade Project. These Silva Cells provide vertical and horizontal rooting areas to promote the Promenade tree’s long-term health and viability. This has been a cooperative and effective effort between green and grey Infrastructure involving Silva Cells, Lightweight Cellulose Concrete, and the Seawall.  More information from each cooperator:  Griffith Company Robert Sales Jr Saeid Dehnad, PMP Carol Lee DeepRoot Green Infrastructure, LLC Port of Los Angeles

Invitations are extended for meeting on-site to view live installation of Silva Cells.  Contact pavitra@deeproot.com  Pavitra Rammohan to schedule for these dates: 

1. Friday/Oct 16^th – After 11 am
2. Tuesday/Oct 20^th– After 10 am
3. Wednesday/Oct 21^st – After 11 am
4. Thursday/Oct 22^nd –After 10 am

The October 7, 2020 meeting explored  Green Infrastructure Solutions to build Sustainable Urban Spaces.    archived video

Our local agencies and communities are envisioning the implementation of “Complete Streets” with real trees that turn inhospitable environments into pleasant places for pedestrians who are walking in the afternoon summer sun and heading to bus/train stations or local grocery stores. Urban street-lined trees hold the potential to transform an industrial stretch lined by warehouses and empty lots into a more livable, greener alleys and streets that captures, treats, and infiltrates runoff and thereby employing innovation into the streetscape design while maximizing land use efficiency and achieving full storm water compliance.

Panel Speakers:

• Panel Topic Introductions (Pavitra Rammohan, Panel Organizer)
• Brian Widener, City Forester, The City of San Diego. Role of Agencies in Reimagining Urban Streets; Value of effective planning, policymaking and enforcement, and implementation. Effective ways to navigate deep challenges such as economic impacts caused due to COVID, recent riots, while keeping the focus on goals of promoting healthy trees.
• Alvin Papa, City Engineer, The City of Long Beach. Channeling perspectives, lessons learned, and benefits accomplished in building Green Streets from our neighbors in the Region. Recent experiences from past and ongoing Streetscape enhancement/ Green Street Projects involving LID/BMP Solutions including trees and its positive influence in growing economic activity within the City communities
• Kevin Ham, Economic Development Director, The City of Vista. Sharing recent experiences with Paseo Santa Fe Streetscape Enhancement projects enhanced in value through trees and Green Infrastructure solutions.
• Suzie Wiest with Village Nursery. Review of suitable urban street trees. Navigating O&M Challenges. Success Stories.
• Sean O’Malley, Landscape Architect. Managing Principal SWA Group, Laguna Beach. Experiences of collaborating with progressive agencies with a Green Infrastructure vision as a Landscape Architect Leader. Sharing recent work with the City of Laguna Beach with the Downtown Action Plan project in enhancing the downtown area with trees and streetscape enhancement.
• Pavitra Rammohan, Region Manager, DeepRoot Green Infrastructure. Role of technology in promoting healthy tree growth and employing innovation into the streetscape design while maximizing land use efficiency and achieving full storm water compliance.