City to Fund Community Development with Federal Neighborhood Stabilization Program Funds
In April the Board of Estimates approved the acceptance of a $4.1 million federal Housing and Economic Recovery Act grant for neighborhood stabilization. The Neighborhood Stabilization Program (NSP) was established to assist communities in the redevelopment of abandoned and foreclosed homes. The City will use these funds to acquire and rehabilitate foreclosed properties to be sold to low and moderate-income homeowners and to nonprofit housing organizations.
Properties eligible for acquisition and rehabilitation with NSP funding will be in stable middle-class neighborhoods where property values are threatened by foreclosed properties. The City has identified eight Healthy Neighborhoods as areas where NSP homeownership efforts would be concentrated. They are:
- Belair-Edison
- Waverly/Better Waverly
- Brooklyn/Curtis Bay
- Cylburn
- Edmondson Village
- Garwyn Oaks/Hanlon-Longwood
- Baltimore Linwood
- Reservoir Hill
NSP homeownership efforts will not be limited to these Healthy Neighborhoods areas, but can be undertaken anywhere the directed use of NSP resources will enhance other community development efforts. The City anticipates funding NSP requests from community organizations, citizen groups and CDCs whose neighborhoods have a foreclosed property that could destabilize or undermine the character of the neighborhood.
For more information, please contact the Department of Housing and Community Development’s Office of Strategic Planning and Resources at 410-396-3237.
City Council This Week
Tuesday, April 21
Hearing: Judiciary and Legislative Investigations Committee,
James B. Kraft – Chair
10:00 AM Du Burns Council Chamber, 4th floor, City Hall
08-0053R Informational Hearing - Suspension Practices of City Agency Supervisors
Voting Session: Judiciary and Legislative Investigations Committee,
James B. Kraft – Chair
10:01 AM Du Burns Council Chamber, 4th floor, City Hall
09-0310 Building, Fire, and Related Codes - Service Charges and Permit Fees
Hearing: Judiciary and Legislative Investigations Committee,
James B. Kraft – Chair
10:10 AM
09-0268 City Streets - Naming an Unnamed Alley St. Crispins Lane
10:20 AM
09-0270 City Property - Renaming Benjamin Franklin Middle School #239 to Masonville Cove Community Academy #239
10:30 AM
09-0292 City Streets - Renaming South Hilton Street to Unseld’s Way
Wednesday, April 22
Hearing: Land Use and Transportation Committee, Edward Reisinger – Chair
2:00 PM Du Burns Council Chamber, 4th floor, City Hall
08-0212 Zoning - Parking Lot District - Conditional Use - Parking Lot - 801-833 Madison Avenue
Hearing: Community Development Subcommittee, William Cole – Chair
5:00 PM Du Burns Council Chamber, 4th floor, City Hall
08-0066R Informational Hearing - East Baltimore Development Inc.
This hearing will be broadcast live on TV25.
RESCHEDULED FROM APRIL 6, 2009
Thursday, April 23
Hearing: Community Development Subcommittee, William Cole – Chair
4:00 PM Du Burns Council Chamber, 4th floor, City Hall
09-0106R Outer Harbor Initiative - A Community Redevelopment Strategy
Hearing: Education Committee, Mary Pat Clarke - Chair
5:00 PM Du Burns Council Chamber, 4th floor, City Hall
LO09-0041 High School Assessments and Bridge Program
RESCHEDULED FROM APRIL 9, 2009
Hearing: Judiciary and Legislative Investigations/Land Use and Transportation Committee
6:30 PM
LO09-0035 08-0163 - Live Entertainment - Licensing and Regulation - Hospitality Services -
Promotion and Coordination
FOURTH COMMUNITY WORK SESSION - SOUTHWEST
To be held at: Federal Hill Preparatory School, 1040 William Street, Baltimore, MD 21230
Community Events
For a comprehensive listing of events in Baltimore,
check the City Council's online events calendar.
Friday, April 17
Swashbuckler's Soiree - Privateer Day Weekend
Frederick Douglass-Isaac Myers Museum in Fells Point. Music, 8pm-12am. A silent auction and fun to benefit Fells Point Main Street. Pirate attire or black tie please. $35-$40. http://www.fellspointmainstreet.org/soiree.html
Saturday, April 18
ECOFEST - To Launch Baltimore Green Week: April 18-25
Druid Hill Park, 11-5 pm.
EcoFest kicks off Baltimore Green Week with local sustainable vendors, yoga, bike rides, music and more! baltimoregreenworks.com/events/baltimore-green-week
Faith-Based Leadership Conference hosted by The Reservoir Hill Improvement Council
St. Martin’s Church of Christ, 2118 Madison Ave. 10am-4pm. $2.50-$5.00 fee Daryl Smith dsmith@reservoirhill.net
Edmondson Heights Health Fair
Edmondson Heights SDA Church, 810 Walnut Ave., 10am-2pm. Free health screenings, 410-566-4296.
Children’s Open-Mic Poetry for ages 6-14
Great Blacks in Wax Museum, 1601 E. North Ave., 10am-1pm, $2. 410-563-3404.
Healthy Kids Day
Druid Hill YMCA, 1609 Druid Hill Ave., 11am-2pm. Participate in a variety of youth sports and fitness activities. 410-728-1600. Free.
Meet Curator & Author Leonard Marcus
Enoch Pratt’s Central Library, 400 Cathedral St., 11am. The co-curator of the Golden Legacy exhibition will discuss the Little Golden Books in Children’s Literature. 410-396-5430. Free.
Waverly/Pen Lucy Youth Resource Fair and College Awareness Day
Mullen Park, 3916 Old York Rd., 12pm-3pm. The community’s one-stop source for information on programs including college awareness, high school choice, youth services, and family and senior services. Free. Bob Brinkman bbrinkman@greaterhomewood.org.
CityLit Festival-Celebrating Literacy Arts in Baltimore
Enoch Pratt Central Library, 400 Cathedral St., 10am-5pm. www.citylitproject.org
Baltimore Franchise Opportunities Seminar for Women and Minorities: How to Be in Business for Yourself, But not by Yourself
War Memorial Building, Memorial Hall, 101 N. Gay Street, 9:00 am–1:00 pm. The seminar will promote minority-owned and women-owned business opportunities in franchising, attract attention to the need for franchisees in the minority business community and provide information to those who wish to become franchisees. More information here. Space is limited, so call 443-451-7160 or register online at www.sbrcbaltimore.com
Sunday, April 19
Maryland SPCA March for the Animals
Druid Hill Park, 10:00 am to 2:00 pm. Proceeds benefit the homeless and needy animals in our community. For more information, contact Tami Gosheff at 410-235-8826, ext. 138 or tgosheff@mdspca.org. www.mdspca.org/events/mfa.html
Upcoming/Ongoing
Civic Frame Film Festival, April 24-26, Reginald F. Lewis Museum of Maryland African American History and Culture, 830 E. Pratt Street. The theme of the 2009 Civic Frame Film Festival (CFFF) is “Shades of Freedom” and will be centered around the topics of both racial division and racial unity in the state of Maryland and the country as a whole. The CFFF is a biannual summit of issue-based film exhibition and discourse around socially relevant topics. www.civicframe.org 443-263-1800
Park Heights Teen Summit, Apr. 25, 2pm-6pm, Pimlico Road Arts & Community Center, 4330 Pimlico Rd. Free food and entertainment. 410-664-4890.
Station North Spring Music Festival, April 25th, Station North Arts & Entertainment District, 5 pm-midnight. Festivities will be held at the surface lot at 2 E. North Avenue (the old Bank of America building), Joe Squared, Windup Space, Metro Gallery, Hexagon, I-Bar and The Zodiac. The festival celebrates the continuing revitalization of the North Avenue area, showcasing local music, artists and venues. Music highlights include performances by Big in Japan, Lafayette Gilchrist and Charlie Sayles. www.stationnorthspringfestival.blogspot.com
Shades of Freedom Festival, An Historical and Artistic Exploration of How Slavery, Reconstruction and Jim Crow Shaped the Agency of African Americans from 1619-1954, Apr. 25, 12pm-7pm and Apr. 26, 2pm-5pm, Reginald F. Lewis Museum. Featuring Emmy-winning documentary film director Dante James. Free. http://civicframe.org/cf.html.
Children’s Day & Silent Auction Fundraiser to support The Clarence W. Blount Child Development Center, Apr. 25, 12pm-4pm, BCCC Liberty Campus. Featuring arts and crafts, face painting, music, dance, food and more. 410-462-7460. Free.
Open House for The East Baltimore Community School #368, Apr. 25, 1-3pm, 1731 E. Chase St. The school is still accepting enrollment forms for grades kindergarten, 1st and 5th. 410-319-0238 or 410-234-0660, ext. 262.
ARTcetra 1st Annual Art Auction Fundraiser and Reception, Apr. 25, 5-9pm, Coppin State University Health and Human Services Building, 2601 W. North Ave. www.coppin.edu/artcetra
School 33’s Lotta Art Benefit, Apr. 25, Silo Point, 1700 Beason St., an evening of art, food and fun by more than 125 local artists who have generously donated their work to benefit education programs and exhibitions at School 33 Art Center. www.school33.org
Brooklyn’s Earth Week Activities include a Main Street Market, Apr. 25, 10am-6pm, 3300 S. Hanover St., featuring environmentally friendly vendors, recycling bins for sale and a shuttle bus from the Market to the new Masonville Cove Environmental Center, which officially opens with its new “green” building, Apr. 25-26, 10am-5pm with exciting exhibits. www.masonvillecove.org or www.togetherbrooklyn.org
Kick-off Event for Sharp Leadenhall Heritage Center Campaign, Apr. 26, 3pm-5pm, Leadenhall Baptist Church, 1021 Leadenhall St., lecture and exhibit by Dr. Philip J. Merrill. 443-204-7740.
Sign up for Team Baltimore for the Greater Baltimore March of Dimes March for Babies, May 3, Camden Yards, registration at 8am; walk at 9am, Camden Yards, 410-752-7990. Register at 410-396-6128. www.marchforbabies.org/teams/554285
Volunteers Needed to Help Rebuild the Playground at Stadium Place. The project will take place May 5-10. Also need help with office work, publicity, recruiting volunteers, etc. Contact the Greater Homewood Community Corporation at 443-756-6198 or friendsofourplayground@gmail.com.
Maryland Film Festival, May 7-10, Charles Theatre (and other locations), 1711 North Charles Street.
The Maryland Film Festival is truly a world class film festival centered in Baltimore that brings filmmakers to Maryland as a way to encourage future production. www.md-filmfest.com
Ride for the Feast 2009, May 16-17, a 140-mile bike ride from Rehoboth Beach to Baltimore City to raise funds and awareness for Moveable Feast, the area's sole provider of meals and groceries for people living with HIV/AIDS and other life-challenging conditions. www.rideforthefeast.org or call 410-327-3420, ext. 33.
Enoch Pratt’s Light Street Branch Goes Wireless and additional computers have been installed. Other Wi-Fi Pratt branches are Central, Northwood, Orleans, Roland Park, Southeast Anchor and Waverly.
Get a Free Orioles Ticket for your birthday. Any fan can get a free ticket to a game during the month of his or her birthday--unless the Orioles are playing the Yankees or Red Sox. Register online at www.orioles.com/birthdays and receive a voucher for a free birthday ticket.
MD HOPE (Home Owners Preserving Equity) State Hotline 1-877-462-7555. For assessment and possible referral to a housing counseling agency or a volunteer attorney for assistance in your foreclosure matter. www.mdhope.org
Neighborhood Housing Services of Baltimore’s Foreclosure Prevention Program offers emergency bridge loans to victims of predatory or exotic lending, or homeowners hit with emergencies such as illness or unemployment. Eligible low- to moderate-income homeowners can receive up to $5,000 in deferred loans. 410-327-1200.
Community Greening Resource Network (CGRN), sponsored by Parks and People Foundation, is accepting new members. The CGRN is an annual membership program to support community gardens throughout Baltimore City. It provides community-based groups access to material resources (tool, seeds, plants, mulch, and compost) training opportunities (green space planning, organization, and fundraising), and networking opportunities for sharing skills and experience among community greeners. Sarah Krones 410-448-5663.
New Conversations/Conversaciones Nuevas, Enoch Pratt’s Southeast Anchor Library, 3601 Eastern Ave., Tuesdays at 11am. Practice casual conversation for beginning English and Spanish speakers, 410-396-1580.
Open Minds is Creative Alliance's free book-based after school program. New visual and performing arts courses, including mural painting, photography, music production and breakdancing are beginning at Wolfe Street Academy, Hampstead Hill, Collington Square and with EBLO-Mi Segunda Casa at John Ruhrah. Call Karen Summerville at 410-276-1651.
Conserve energy, save money and protect the environment with BGE’s PeakRewards program. If you have central air conditioning or an electric heat pump, you could save up to 15% year round in energy costs. www.bgesmartenergy.com/peakrewards
Power of Parents and Partners in School (P.O.P.S. Program) is a new program to encourage and address the needs of students who are expecting or parenting teens who have dropped out and want to return to school. Developed by the Laurence G. Paquin School. 410-396-9398/9399.
On Wednesday, the Baltimore City Board of Estimates approved a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Baltimore City Entertainment Group for a voter-approved Video Lottery Terminal Facility. In November's historic election, by a margin of nearly 20 percentage points, City voters overwhelmingly approved the constitutional amendment to allow slot machines at five designated locations across the state, including one in South Baltimore.
Based on independent projections, by the fifth year the facility will generate an estimated $25.4 million annually in new City revenue, which would enable an 8-cent reduction of the property tax rate. The construction of the facility will account for about 1800 jobs, and once operational, the facility will contain 700 full-time jobs and 450 part-time jobs with average wages of $41,000. The facility will also help to provide $250 million to the Maryland Education Trust Fund, of which Baltimore City Schools receive approximately $44 million. Local impact grants totaling $28 million by year five will be available. And, the Park Heights Redevelopment initiative will receive an estimated $12 million by 2012, growing to $18 million annually.
Donald Hicken, Theater Department Director of the Baltimore School for the Arts, is a recipient of the Broadway League’s 2009 League Educator Apple Award. Hicken is being honored for bringing Broadway to the classroom. The Broadway League, which is the national trade organization for the commercial theatre industry, announced the recipients earlier this month. They acknowledge the efforts of local schools and community groups that support programs relating to Broadway or touring Broadway shows, promoting further development of theatre education.