The GrowHaus - Our Building

Our Building

The GrowHaus is based in a 20,000 square foot greenhouse on 47th and York that was originally used as a processing facility for cut flowers. Though the building is structurally sound, it had not been updated for decades when we acquired it, and much of it remains too dark and poorly-ventilated to adequately grow food or host programming. Since purchasing the building in late 2009, The GrowHaus has developed a Master Development Plan (PDF) to guide a multi-year capital renovation process. Once complete, these renovations will provide clean, comfortable spaces for a variety of activities centered around food distribution, production and education.

Proposed Building Plan

The Hydrofarm is a 5,000 square foot commercial hydroponic farm. It was the first space in our building to be renovated and was completed in November 2011. The Hydrofarm will focus on growing leafy greens for distribution to local restaurants and markets, as well as for residents of Elyria-Swansea.

The southern section of the building will hold Growasis, a hands-on demonstration farm where we will conduct most of our educational programming. It will include plots for community members, a "living classroom" with demonstration kitchen, and a variety of energy- and water-saving features.

The eastern section of the GrowHaus will be transformed into a multipurpose space for community events and food distribution. Initial renovations on this space were performed in summer 2011 to allow for a weekly farmstand.

The west side of the facility, meanwhile, will house a commercial aquaponics system, raising fish and plants together in a highly efficient recirculating setup.

Finally, improved landscaping will be installed around the building itself to improve access, aesthetics, safety and sustainability. The space along 47th will hold an entry plaza, and nearby community terraces will allow residents and workers to mingle in a comfortable environment. Meanwhile, a permaculture community garden will be placed outside the north wall to brighten up an existing pedestrian path.