: : LaCasa's The Hattle : :

Rain Garden

LaCasa of Goshen decided to convert the former Lincoln Hotel in downtown Goshen into apartments for individuals and families who had been living in sub-standard conditions.  The organization partnered with DJ Construction, and the building became known as "The Hattle."

To meet conditions for a Green Communities grant through the Great Lakes Capital Fund (a primary source of funding for the Lincoln Ave. Redevelopment project of which The Hattle is a part), LaCasa worked with DJ Construction and other organizations to implement "green" building elements such as a rain garden and permeable concrete into the newly-renovated building.

Rain gardens are placed in cities to imitate water drainage in a forest.  Water flows into the garden and percolates into the ground instead of running off solid pavement into local bodies of water.  Water in the city is thus able to undergo natural filtration, and pollutants are broken down before the water reaches rivers and streams.