Central Baltimore News
Urban Land Institute honors The Fitzgerald
Congratulations to The Fitzgerald, which was one of only ten developments selected as a winner of the Urban Land Institute's 2011 Awards for Excellence: The Americas competition. Widely recognized as the land use industry's most prestigious honor, ULI's Awards for Excellence program recognizes the full development process of a project, including criteria such as contribution to the community, public/private partnerships, environmental protection and enhancement, response to societal needs, and financial viability. Selected from over 140 projects throughout North and South America, the Fitzgerald will now advance to compete in the ULI Global Awards for Excellence program. In other exciting news from the Fitzgerald, Two Boots Pizza is now open on the ground floor! Stop by and grab a slice (or two) and check out their great interior space, which includes work from local artists and an installation from the American Visionary Art Museum. Find their hours, menu and other info on Two Boots' website.
Baltimore named a top city for college graduates
In a recent report from Kiplinger's, Baltimore was chosen as one of the top ten cities in the country for recent college graduates. The study looked at a variety of factors, including job growth, cost of living, access to public transit, culture and nightlife, accessibilitiy of affordable housing, and each city's percentage of young people. In its review of Baltimore, Kiplinger's specifically noted that "few cities can match Baltimore for its innovative, eclectic art and music scene." We can't be sure, but it sounds like they might be thinking about Station North Arts & Entertainment District!
News from UB: streetscaping, new apartment building and business school recognition
Exciting things are happening at the University of Baltimore! Not only has the university recently completed a major streetscaping project along Mt. Royal between Charles St. and Maryland Ave., but it has also begun construction on a $24 million, 11-story student apartment building at the corner of Biddle St. and Maryland Avenue. The 323-bed building will be owned and operated by Potomac Holdings of Bethesda, and the apartments will be available to students at the Univeresity of Baltimore, Maryland Institute College of Art, and other schools in the area. And there's even more great news - the UB/Towson MBA, which is co-hosted by the University of Baltimore's Merrick School of Business, has been recognized as one of the country's top part-time MBA programs by the 2012 edition of U.S. News & World Report's Best Graduate Schools.
City Arts receives Affordable Housing Vanguard Award
Congratulations to the team at City Arts Apartments, which was selected by the National Affordable Housing Management Association to receive its annual Vanguard Award for new construction of a small property. The Vanguard Award program, now in its second year, celebrates success in the multifamily affordable housing industry by recognizing housing communities that showcase quality design and financing through their development.
New artistic director and new show at Single Carrot Theatre
Single Carrot Theatre has selected Nathan Cooper as their new artistic director! A member of the Single Carrot Ensemble since 2008, Cooper follows in the footsteps of founding artistic director J. Buck Jabaily, who is now executive director of the Greater Baltimore Cultural Alliance. You can watch Cooper (and other members of the wonderful Single Carrot ensemble) perform in their latest production, Linus & Alora, which opened on June 10 and will run through July 10.
Jubilee Baltimore honored by Baltimore Architecture Foundation
The Baltimore Architecture Foundation has awarded its annual Golden Griffen Award to Jubilee Baltimore in recognition of Jubilee's multi-year impact on the architecture and development of Baltimore. The award is given each year to an organization that has demonstrated extraordinary stewardship of the past, present and future of Baltimore's built environment. Congratulations Jubilee!
Greater Baltimore Committee visits central Baltimore for tour and happy hour
On the evening of May 12, the Greater Baltimore Committee's LEADERship program arrived in central Baltimore for a tour of the area, followed by a happy hour at Load of Fun. The happy hour, sponsored by the Charles North Business Committee, featured quite the spread of delicious treats: appetizers from Station North Arts Café, pizza from Joe Squared, brownies from OutTakes Café, coffee from Bohemian Coffee House, and beer and wine from the Windup Space. Local photographer George Skepton was along for the ride and took some great snaps of both the tour and the happy hour - take a look!
Parks & People Foundation accepting applications for Neighborhood Greening Grants
Want to get a little more green into your community? The Parks & People Foundation is now accepting applications for its Neighborhood Greening Grants program, which is open to Baltimore City community groups interested in projects such as tree plantings, community gardens, schoolyard greening, clean-up and restoration of vacant lots, and environmental education. Funds may also be used to purchaes necessary tools, plants, equipment and other supplies. The application deadline is Friday, July 29 at 5:00 pm. Visit Parks & People's website for more information on how to apply.
Baltimore Design School approved for Lebow building in Greenmount West
The Baltimore City School Board has approved a $1.7 million annual lease for the Baltimore Design School to occupy the historic Lebow building in Greenmount West starting in 2013. Financed through a combination of tax credits, private bonds and funds from the developer, the redevelopment of the 120,000 square foot building represents a $30 million investment in the Greenmount West community. Spearheaded by Seawall Development Company and Ziger/Snead Architects, the redevelopment will follow Baltimore City's Green Building Standards and take advantage of $3 million in Maryland Sustainable Communities Tax Credits awarded to the project in Feburary. The Baltimore Design School will open this fall at the former Winston Middle School building with 150 students in sixth and seventh grade, and will expand to grades 9 through 12 by 2019. Applications are still being accepted for students who will begin seventh grade in fall 2011; visit the school's website for more information on the application process and the BDS curriculum. Also check out coverage of the Baltimore Design School from WBAL and Bmore Media.
The Reinvestment Fund purchases vacant Oliver St. rowhouses
The Reinvestment Fund, a key partner in the Baltimore Integration Partnership, recently purchased the vacant block of rowhouses along the 400 block of East Oliver Street in Greenmount West. The properties were purchased at a public receiver's auction organized by Baltimore Housing's Land Resources Division. To learn more about the products and lending services offered by TRF as part of the Baltimore Integration Initiative, take a look at this presentation they gave at the most recent meeting of CBP's Housing Task Force.
New construction on tap for Guilford Bike Boulevard & Jones Falls Trail
Just in time for bike month comes news that construction is set to begin on the Guilford Avenue Bicycle Boulevard, which will allow cars and bicycles to share the road at near-equal speeds. The Department of Transportation will be installing improvements such as wayfinding signs, speed humps and mini-circles to the stretch of Guilford Avenue between Mt. Royal and University Parkway. Work is also scheduled to begin soon on Phase 2 of the Jones Falls Trail, which will extend the trail from Penn Station in central Baltimore to the Maryland Science Center downtown.
Community comes together for Spring Clean in Greenmount West and Barclay
On the morning of April 30, over sixty neighbors and supporters in Greenmount West and Barclay took to the streets for a Spring clean organized by the New Greenmount West Community Association and Greater Baltimore AHC. Even though the events had been rescheduled from April 16 due to poor weather forecasts, turnout at the event was great, with a number of City Arts residents, as well as staff and tenants from AHC's Barclay Greenmount apartments, taking time out to lend a hand. Click on the image to the left to see more pictures from the day; thanks to Lowell Larsson for taking such great photos!
Construction to begin on MICA Graduate Studio Center renovation
Work has begun on the first phase of a $19 million, multi-phase renovation of the MICA Graduate Studio Center at 113 W. North Avenue. This first phase, which is set to be completed this summer, will include nearly $260,000 in major façade renovations and the installation of a first floor public café, gallery and outdoor plaza. Click on the image to the right to see a larger rendering of what the Studio Center will look like after the renovations are complete.
Urbanite Magazine features cover story on BMA's Doreen Bolger
If you've seen the cover of the most recent issue of Urbanite magazine, you know that they featured a story on Doreen Bolger, director of the Baltimore Museum of Art and a CBP partner. It's wonderful to see Doreen receive such great recognition for her tireless advocacy of the local arts community, both in the Station North Arts & Entertainment District and the greater Baltimore area.
Community resident successfully 'adopts' vacant lot
Charles North resident Tara Megos has successfully navigated the city's Adopt a Lot program to take stewardship over the lot at the corner of McAllister and North Calvert Streets, just south of North Avenue. We've already seen Tara and a few helpers out working hard to clear the lot - way to go!
Joe Squared profiled in City Paper
The April 20 edition of the City Paper featured a glowing review of Joe Squared, which is rightly refers to as a "North Avenue institution." Read the review here, but if you haven't experience Joe's pizza for yourself - well, what are you waiting for?
AmeriCorps*VISTA opportunities available through Greater Homewood Community Corporation
Greater Homewood Community Corporation is seeking enthusiastic, capable, service-oriented individuals to fill both summer and year-long placements with AmeriCorps*VISTA (Volunteers in Service to America). Summer Associate VISTAs serve alongside year-round AmeriCorps*VISTA members for an intensive 8-week program from June 10 through August 13. For one-year VISTA positions, GHCC will act as an intermediary to support VISTA members at 12 non-profit organizations throughout Baltimore City from July 2011 through July 2012. For more information, visit GHCC's website or contact Glenda Garcia by email or at (410) 261-3618.
Call for Entries: Greenmount West Bulletin Board Project
Calling alll artists, designers and creators! The New Greenmount West Community Association has announced a call for entries for the Greenmount West Bulletin Board Project, in which four uniquely designed bulletin boards will be created and installed throughout the neighborhood to create conversation among neighbors and enhance the area with these sculptural installations. The project is supported by a generous Mobilization Grant from the Baltimore Community Foundation; designers will receive a $250 honorarium for each design that is selected. Design submissions are due by Wednesday, May 4; for additional information, please read the full call for entries.
Station North wins Outstanding Achievement Award
Congratulations to the Station North Arts & Entertainment District, which was recently honored with an Outstanding Achievement Award from the Maryland Department of Business and Economic Development! The award was presented to Executive Director David Bielenberg in recognition of Station North's success in promoting events within the district, as well as the contributions that Station North has made to economic and community revitalization in the area. And if this kudos wasn't enough, Station North was featured in Washingtonian magazine's recent "Best of Baltimore" series and made the cut to be included in the "Ultimate Neighborhood Guide" in the most recent issues of Baltimore magazine.
Greenmount West hosts winter community dinner
The Cork Gallery was the place to be in Greenmount West on the evening of March 18, when over 75 neighbors and supporters gathered together for the second in a series of three community dinners. The dinner featured delicious food - including three types of chili - prepared by community members, a presentation of roses to legacy residents, music, a 50/50 raffle, and facepainting for the young and young-at-heart. Click on the picture above to see more photos from the event! The series of community dinners is just one of several projects that have been made possible by a Mobilization Grant from the Baltimore Community Foundation received by the New Greenmount West Community Association.
Outdoor lighting grants available from Midtown Community Benefits District
The Midtown Community Benefits District has grant funding available for District homeowners and businesses who add outdoor lighting. As part of Midtown's public safety program, the "We Want You Lit" project offers a grant of $100 to reimburse expenses for new installations of front entry lighting that operates every night on a dusk-to-dawn switch, timer or photocell. Grants of $50 are also available for installlation of operating motion detector fixtures in the rear of a property. For more information and grant applications, call (410) 528-1512 ext. 215 or visit their website.
Ober|Kaler launches Community Grants program
The law firm of Ober|Kaler recently announced the launch of its annual Community Grants Program, which awards a total of $35,000 to non-profit organizations serving at-risk youth in Baltimore City and Washington, D.C. The firm will award two $10,000 grants and one $15,000 grant to support programs focused on providing education, clothing, food or shelter to disadvantaged children and youth. Organizations may also apply for a supplemental program in which 10-20 Ober|Kaler employees will volunteer their time with a grant recipient. Past grant recipients in Baltimore include St. Vincent de Paul, the University of Baltimore Educational Foundation, and the Village Learning Place. The deadline for applications in August 1; grant guidelines and applications are available here.
Official grand opening and dedication ceremony held at City Arts Apartments
On the morning of March 28, city and state officials, local partners, residents and community members gathered in the lobby of the City Arts Apartments for an official grand opening and dedication ceremony for the building. Secretary of Housing & Community Development Raymond Skinner, Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake and City Council President Jack Young joined representatives from Jubilee Baltimore, Homes for America, The Reinvestment Fund, Enterprise Community Investment, Bank of America and others to recognize the efforts of all those who have made City Arts such a success. If you weren't able to make it to the ceremony, not the fear - we have video from the event up on our YouTube page. Take a look!
Johns Hopkins' Live Near Your Work program tour visits Central Baltimore
The morning of April 2 saw two buses arrive in Greenmount West and Barclay, each carrying about 25 employees of the Johns Hopkins institutions, as part of a tour organized by the JHU Live Near Your Work Program. The tour-goers were welcomed by representatives from each of the communities, and also had the chance to peek inside the home of a fellow colleague who recently purchased a home in Barclay. Both Barclay and Greenmount West are in the highest funding zone for the Live Near Your Work program. The Live Near Your Work folks also made a great video showcasing these two neighborhoods, featuring interviews with CBP Executive Director Joe McNeely and other familiar faces from Central Baltimore and Station North.
D:Center Baltimore fills the Windup Space for Design Conversation #28
The evening of March 1 saw a standing-room only crowd at the Windup Space for the most recent iteration of the Design Conversation series, supported by D:Center Baltimore and the Baltimore Community Foundation. This month's conversation was centered around presentations by three professors from the University of Virginia School of Architecture, each of whom laid out ideas for small- and large-scale public infrastructure improvements in Baltimore City. Perhaps the most radical idea of the evening was presented by Professor Jorg Sieweke, whose work has explored the possibility of "daylighting" the lower Jones Falls by uncovering the part of the river now contained by an underground culvert that begins at the edge of central Baltimore. Keep an eye on the D:Center's Facebook page for announcements about future Design Conversations.
City Arts Apartments fully leased
It's official: the City Arts Apartments at 440 E. Oliver St. in Greenmount West are fully leased! After only three and a half months, each of the 69 units has been rented and is now occupied. The City Arts gallery space has already hosted two exhibitions, both of which featured work created by resident artists. Photos from the first exhibition, Occupied, can be seen here; the current show, titled Love and Risk, opened in February and is up until March 15.
Single Carrot Theatre debuts new website and video
Single Carrot Theatre has a new home - on the web, that is. The ensemble debuted their new website, designed by LIFEinaVAN Studios, at the end of February. The new site also features a fantastic video that introduces Single Carrot and highlights the role that they play in the Station North Arts & Entertainment District and the surrounding community. Take a look!
OutTakes Café now open at 1800 N. Charles St.
There is now one more eatery that calls Charles North home! After hosting a grand opening celebration on February 11, OutTakes Café is now open for business on the first floor of the Walbert building at 1800 N. Charles Street. Stop by and try out one of their sandwiches, but don't forget to save room for some ice cream or one of Keith's famous brownies.
Barclay celebrates official launch of Youth Safe Haven
The Barclay Youth Safe Haven has been up and running since this past fall, but the launch of the program was officially announced at a February 14 news conference with Congressman Elijah Cummings and Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake, among others. Made possible through a grant from the Milton S. Eisenhower Foundation, the program provides Barclay youth with after-school homeword assistance, social support, academic enrichment, and the opportunity to participate in a mentoring partnership with Baltimore City police officers. The Youth Safe Haven, which is based at Dallas Nicholas Elementary School, is operated by Greater Homewood Community Corporation in partnership with Baltimore City Schools and Telesis Corporation.
Vacants to Values Summit draws over 600 attendees
On February 10, Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake and Baltimore Housing Commissioner Paul Graziano were joined by over 600 business leaders and community members for the Vacants to Values Summit at the Baltimore Convention Center. Originally launched this past November, the Vacants to Values initiative is a six-part strategy aimed at reducing vacant housing and blight in Baltimore City. The day-long summit gave participants the chance to learn more about the specifics of the initiative directly from city officials, and provided a significant opportunity for public input on the strategy. A number of the presentations from the summit are available to download from Baltimore Housing's website; you can also read a first-hand account of the summit from Millie Hrdina of the St. Ambrose Housing Aid Center, who wrote about her experience at the event for their blog.
Rehabilitation of eight houses underway on N. Calvert St. in Barclay
Have you noticed the construction happening on the 2200 and 2300 blocks on North Calvert St. in Barclay? Workers have begun the rehabilitation of eigh houses intended for homeownership. Partially financed by federal Neighborhood Stabilization Program funds, the units will be available to homeowners earning up to 120% of the area median income. Check out coverage from Greater Homewood Community Corporation in their latest newsletter.
North Baltimore Career Expo opens early for Central Baltimore residents
On January 13, City Councilwoman Belinda Conaway, the Mayor's Office of Employment Development and Walmart sponsored the North Baltimore Career Expo in community partnership with the Old Goucher Community Association, the Charles Village Civic Association and the Greater Remington Improvement Association. The Career Expo not only connected job seekers with local employers, but also offered job training information and workshops on interviewing and writing a résumé. Special early admissiosn passes to the Expo were made availalble for residents of Barclay, Old Goucher, Remington and Charles Village; free shuttle service was also provided to the Expo from several locations in central Baltimore.
Galerie Myrtis and Greenmount West studio space featured in Urbanite
Urbanite continues to highlight the arts community in central Baltimore! First they took a peek in the "creative spaces" of four local artists, including sculptor David Page, who works out fo the basement of his Greenmount Ave. home and a studio space on Oliver St. next to Area 405 in Greenmount West. Next, they featured a story on Old Goucher's Galerie Myrtis and its most recent exhibition, "What is Your Tar Baby?".
CMTA interim Rate Your Ride report released
The Central Maryland Transportation Alliance has released an interim report detailing the results from the first three months of its Rate Your Ride survey, which asks MTA users to rate the quality of their experiences with public transportation via text message or the internet. Find the full report here, or read a summary from the Sun's transportation blog. Do you take public transportation to, from, in or around central Baltimore? If so, rate your ride! The program continues until June, and the survey results are already being used to help improve public transit in the city.
Young Elected Officials Network tours Central Baltimore
Forty elected officials from the People for the American Way Foundation's Young Elected Officials Network toured Baltimore in early December to examine creative ways that residents are working to revitalize city neighborhoods. The latter part of their tour brought them to central Balltimore, where they stopped in at City Arts and Load of Fun.
Miller's Court wins EPA Smart Growth Award
Congratulations to the team behind Miller's Court, which was one of five projects throughout the country to be honored with a 2010 National Award for Smart Growth Achievement from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Once a tin-can factory, the century-old building at Howard & 26th St. in now LEED Gold certified and hosts apartments, offices for several non-profit groups, and the recently opened Charmington's Café.