Re: Update on the Margaret Brent Schoolyard improvements

As you may know, there is work underway to develop designs for an improved schoolyard at Margaret Brent Elementary/Middle School. The Neighborhood Design Center and its pro bono designers have graciously donated their design expertise and time. This work began over a year ago and there have been a series of meetings with teachers, students and community to establish priorities, share concepts and get ideas. At a meeting in August, over 40 people participated and gave input on a draft design. Feedback has been incorporated into a new design that will be presented to the community in the form of a plan and simple sketches in January – details below. We feel this design has something for everyone: Margaret Brent students, teachers, parents, neighbors, basketball players, gardeners and neighborhood kids.

Following the presentation, NDC’s volunteer designers will refine the plan and create full color drawings and sketches. These will then be used to raise funds to implement the improvements including items such as an upgraded basketball court, play equipment, safe play surfaces and even some new gardens and outdoor classroom spaces.

And to update you regarding recent improvements – the school was the grateful beneficiary of two wonderful pro-bono projects this fall:

1. The CSX Volunteer Day – CSX Corporation hosted and paid for a set of improvements, primarily to the raised tot area closest to the school.  CSX, City Year, student and community volunteers painted new murals, built an outdoor classroom, benches, raised beds for gardening and planted trees.
2. A Healthy Neighborhoods Greening grant – Greater Homewood Community Corporation and Village Parents won a $2000 grant from Healthy Neighborhoods to purchase plants, bulbs, seeds, a composter and teacher resources so students can do more schoolyard gardening.

Please see if you can make it to the Margaret Brent Schoolyard Concept Design Presentation. Details:

Thursday January 19, 2012, 5:30-7:30pm

Margaret Brent Elementary/Middle (100 E. 26th Street)

Website:

greaterhomewood.org

Flyer (click to enlarge):

http://www.baltimoresun.com/explore/baltimorecounty/news/ph-ms-redevelop-remington-1215-20111213,0,6742942.story

(click to enlarge)

Walmart has spoken very clearly for itself in the media reports, and remains fully committed to the project. Rumors to the contrary are not unexpected, but they are wrong, and we would appreciate anything you can do to quell them.

Finally, to summarize the status of the PUD appeals, both the Armstrong/Hicks and the Ray/Coyne appeals were dismissed by the Circuit Court months ago, but the petitioners appealed the Circuit Court’s dismissal to the Maryland Court of Special Appeals. The cases are at last scheduled to be heard in January, but the appellate court has no obligation to decide the cases by a date certain. These open-ended delays continue to pose the largest risk to the project.

I am sending this to the most comprehensive community leader list we have used in the past. Please feel free to forward to others or to post on your websites or message boards.

Thanks for your continued support and patience. Please feel free to call or email me with any questions.

– Jon

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Jon Laria, Esq.
Ballard Spahr LLP
300 East Lombard Street
18th Floor
Baltimore, Maryland 21202-3268
Direct: 410.528.5506
Fax: 410.528.5650
laria@ballardspahr.com | www.ballardspahr.com

Each year the residents of the 2900 block of Huntingdon Avenue decorate their porches and provide tons of family-friendly games, interactive activities, trick-or-treating and other Halloween fun. This year’s activities include a “haunted house”, face painting, a recording booth to tell ghost stories, a parade of giant puppets, a costume contest, and performances by local musicians Ricky and Lennon La Ricci. The spooky-festive-spectacle features artwork and decorations made by Remington youth created in the community-run Porch Art weekly workshops. It will also feature décor made by adult residents at community craft gatherings. All are welcome to join the festivities and celebrate Halloween in a fun and safe environment.

To learn more and be a part of Hauntingdon 2011 email hauntingdon@gmail.com. Visit the Greater Remington Improvement Association website (www.griaonline.org) for more info and directions.

GRIA is an independent, resident-based group that provides an open forum for the development and discussion of Remington community issues and neighborhood improvement initiatives. GRIA aims to facilitate resident-led projects, promote intergenerational collaboration, provide support, resources, and information to neighbors, and build partnerships to strengthen Remington. Through these efforts, GRIA hopes to make Remington a safer, greener, more vibrant and socially connected community within Baltimore.

Baltimore City Department of Planning would like to hear what you think of the new DRAFT Zoning Code, Version 2.0. This document is the result of review and revisions to the first draft released in 2010, and is the product of almost three years of work and numerous public meetings.

In the next few weeks, several presentations have been scheduled on the new DRAFT Zoning Code, with plenty of time for comments and questions. Residents are encouraged to attend a presentation to discuss the latest zoning proposals, and how they may impact your property or your neighborhood. The presentation will be the same at all meetings, so please attend the most convenient time for you.

Wednesday, October 19, 6-7:30 pm
Department of Planning
417 East Fayette Street, 8th floor

Thursday, October 20, 6-7:30 pm
Recreation and Parks Headquarters in Druid Hill Park, adjacent to the pool
3001 East Drive, Druid Hill Park, Baltimore, MD 21217
Park in front of the building and meeting will be downstairs

Tuesday, October 25, 6-7:30 pm
Morgan State University University Center / Student Center Room 212
Enter garage from Cold Spring Lane, just east of Hillen Road

Wednesday, October 26, 6-7:30 pm
Baltimore Polytechnic High School – Cafeteria
Cold Spring Lane and Falls Road
Enter on West Cold Spring Lane and park in front of school

Wednesday, November 2, NOON-1:30 pm
Department of Planning
417 East Fayette Street, 8th floor

The new DRAFT zoning code and maps are available online at www.rewritebaltimore.org (in the downloadable section); in all branches of the Enoch Pratt Free Library, in the reference sections; and from 8:30 am-4:30 pm Monday-Friday in the Department of Planning offices, at 417 East Fayette Street, on the 8th floor.