Gateway Gardens,  2001-2003
This was a large public-private partnership project we did for, and with the City of Oakland.  It was created “from scratch”, on overlooked, vacant land, with a large percentage of donated time, funds, and in-kind donations. It memorializes the Oakland Firestorm victims, and symbolizes new growth and community revitalization. We fitted and emplaced over 350 tons of Sierra Granite in the various sculptural creations and site amenities that form the backbone of the garden. We incorporated a heavy duty water conserving drip irrigation system, utilizing a solar-powered controller. It features a very low maintenance (“no maintenance”) planting plan, making use of donated plants.

The project was done in partnership with Cal Trans, the City of Oakland Fire Department, and Building Department, and with Gordon Piper and the nearby neighborhood association, the North Hills Landscape Committee.  Location: Intersection of Tunnel Road and Caldecott Lane, which is the frontage road above Highway 24.  The project spans the intersection of Caldecott Lane and Hiller Drive, forming one of the entrances to the Hiller Highlands development. We did the complete garden design and construction, and provided volunteer supervision for soil amending and planting phases. We also contributed many hours and resources to the project approval process, fund-raising and in-kind donation support and management/ integration. City of Oakland project manager: Leroy Griffen, Oakland Fire Department.


Hillcrest Elementary School,  1999-2000
This was a public service project we did for and with the Hillcrest Elementary School PTSA, creating an Outdoor Education Center consisting of a stone amphitheater outdoor classroom and nature study center.  We designed the project, and shepherded it through a lengthy approval process with the OUSD, including help with disability compliance, and encouragement, from the Office of the State Architect in Sacramento. The project included a wheelchair-accessible stone amphitheater classroom, access stairs, site drainage designed as a dry creek bed, boulder accents, and a native plants nature study area. The work was accomplished by our crews on a “quarter-shoestring” budget, with PTSA funds, and supervised parent volunteer workdays.


Landslide Mitigation, Oakland, 2006
We worked with the homeowner and Kevin Kashi, project manager and engineer at the Oakland Public Works Agency, to provide and construct a cost-effective slide mitigation and restoration solution for a badly eroded hillside for which City of Oakland had assumed responsibility.  The street drainage and a collapsed city retaining wall had caused, or contributed to the major landslide. Project included a PTDF timber cribbing retention system, drainage system, heavy-duty drip irrigation system, new plantings, and steep slope soil stabilization.


Oakland Technical High School,  2007-2008
Chris is currently working as a volunteer advisor on the Landscape and Beautification Committee, with the Oakland Tech PTSA, and with Gordon Piper, to rehabilitate and renovate the school grounds.  We have targeted rejuvenation of the extensive areas of the street frontage on three sides of the main building, and, in addition, to redesign the main school grounds for greater student access and utility, improved aesthetics, and to reclaim part of the asphalt paved areas in creating a new student outdoor activity center. We are concurrently in the process of fundraising, soliciting in-kind donations, and setting up and coordinating volunteer activities. Although still in the design and conceptual stages for the larger proposed developments, working with the OUSD we’ve already made substantial progress on completion of “in-ground” improvements.