The York Road Partnership

1

The York Road Partnership

Serving the York Road Corridor

Minutes of the Meeting of July 2, 2003

(NEXT MEETING – SEPTEMBER 3, 2003)

Jason Canapp, president of the York Road Partnership, opened the meeting at 6:45 p.m.

Announcements and Updates

Community Legacy

Jason reported on the discussions held about the Community Legacy application. A short overview and summary budget is due this week and the actual proposal is due in September. The Baltimore Development Corporation will apply for the funds and the York Road Partnership will be named as the partner, an arrangement similar to what was done last year with the Belvedere Square proposal. The application will ask for $250,000 for a revolving loan fund. There was some question as to whether funds should be requested as a one-time grant, or as BDC would prefer, they would require payback and as such would be available in the future in case the Community Legacy program loses funding in the future. The area targeted in the proposal is from Cold Spring Lane south to 42nd Street. The funds would be used for major intervention buying and façade improvement. Part of the process will involve holding a charette (an intense planning exercise involving both professionals and neighborhood residents) to look realistically at marketing and design issues in this area. It would be similar to what is being planned at the northern end of the Corridor for the old Superfresh/Drumcastle Center sites. Dunbar Denby strongly suggested the group working on this Community Legacy proposal should contact the neighborhood associations personally in order to engage the residents in the discussions since they are not that involved in the Partnership. As an aside, the work on the lot next to the realtors office just south of Gittings Ave. that is being cleared, is being done by Wallace Campbell Co to make a park for their employees’ use.

Super Fresh Lot:

Nancy Maronick reported from a meeting held by the developer and adjacent neighborhood associations that they would like to develop a retail service village with a drive through Eckerd’s Pharmacy, and possibly a bank. They envision tearing down the existing buildings, coordinating the new buildings with the Well’s Liquor building, removing the fence, and joining up the parking lots. Ordnance will be required for a drive-thru and for their plan to use some of the existing green space as an employee parking lot. If agreements can be reached it could be completed in 1½-2 years.

Exxon Station at Bellona Triangle:

Precision Tune has a contract for this property. They have agreed to preserve the monument triangle and even ‘dress it up’ a bit. Huber Memorial will be allowed to continue to use it for parking on Sundays. A conditional use permit will be required for what they are proposing.

Crown Station (York/Winston):

There is now a contract on this property. They will not say who the buyer is, only that the buyer wants to put a new gas station on the property.

National Night Out:

NNO will be held on Tuesday evening, August 5th. Mid Govans has planned their activities and the ‘Going Away Party at the PAL Center. Jason is working with Terry Sawyer to sponsor a party at the Loyola facility. Pen Lucy has plans for their own celebration.

New Business

Loyola College Master Plan:

Terry Sawyer, Special Assistant to the President of Loyola College, presented a general overview of the entire campus Master Plan with a specific focus on the York Road area. The plan was developed by the consulting firm Ayers/Saint/Gross, which is a national leader in the development of college campuses. Mr. Sawyer explained that the College is committed to the stabilization of the York Road corridor in conjunction with the College’s Mission. To that end; Loyola has supported the DeWees PAL Center for the past three years, has become a stable tenant with its Multidisciplinary Speech/Pathology clinic at the new Belvedere Square, and is continuing to upgrade its 5104 York Road property. One major component of the plan is to generate more green space for the landlocked campus by reconfiguring its paved surfaces. In order to accommodate the College’s parking requirements, the plan calls for constructing two parking garages, one in the campus west village, and the other at 5104 York Road. The current plans show a three-story multi-use office building fronting York Road with a multi-level parking structure attached behind. The offices could be used for non-academic support services and some space could be used as an “incubator” for small local start-up businesses. Additionally, a smaller service building would be constructed on the property’s west end and be designed to visually complement the Gallagher Mansion. The overall timeline for the campus Master Plan is very long-term (possibly over 50 years) and could cost several million dollars, however the York Road piece appears to have some degree priority. In response to comments and questions, Mr. Sawyer pointed out the college is aware this property is currently under a Planned Unit Development (which requires an act of City Council to alter the existing ‘footprint’) and that community input will be crucial part of drafting the new PUD. Additionally, Mr. Sawyer agreed to check into water/flooding problems (which developed while under management of the building’s previous owner) and any additional short-term landscaping improvements. Some improvements planned for this summer include additional signage and resurfacing of the parking lot.

Action Team Reports

Commercial Revitalization:

The activities of this team are at present tied into the Community Legacy planning process.

Public Safety:

Dunbar reported receiving a letter from the manager of the Towers Lounge. She was told by the Liquor Board at the license renal hearing to have a mediation meeting with neighborhood associations concerning issues raised by the associations. Lisa Stancil agreed to organize this meeting. Unfortunately she has not been able to get any response to setting up such a meeting as is frustrated by how to proceed. It was commented that with an owner who is apparently willing to work with the neighborhoods the Partnership should encourage this dialog to take place. There was a suggestion that such a dialog should also involve Tyrones and the Sunoco Station, since they contribute to the neighborhood’s perceived problems. While this may be useful in the long run, the Sunoco manager is very reluctant to meet neighborhood representatives and it was the feeling of the group that we need to follow up ASAP on the Towers meeting since it is mandated by the Liquor Board; hopefully other dialogs could follow.

Housing and Neighborhood Revitalization:

Bill Henry announced that this group would hold its organizational meeting on Friday, July 11th at 6 p.m. at the Neighborhood Service Center meeting room, 5225 York Road (old Mayors Station)

Corridor Appearance:

Louis Perkins reported that the post office grounds are much improved. In other activities student volunteers from the Gilman school worked on some streetscape projects around the Bellona Triangle, and at least one group has already painted 4 or 5 fireplugs on the Corridor.

He also announced that this group would expand its scope of discussions to include items brought to the Neighborhood Appearance table at the Community Forum. He is looking for interested people to join. The first meeting of this re-organized group will be Tuesday, July 29th at the Neighborhood Service Center meeting room at 6 p.m.

Other Business

Trolley Tours:

Helene Perry suggested that one way to begin to address the increased number of houses vacant and for in the neighborhoods would be to advertise them and the neighborhoods to prospective buyers. As we saw from the Community Forum, there are many attractive features about our neighborhoods and it may well be that prospective homebuyers just are not aware of them. The Live Baltimore Fair and Trolley Tour on September 13th is an opportunity for neighborhoods to ‘advertise’ themselves. A display table at the Fair is one way, listing available houses in the neighborhood or having one be a tour stop is another. In addition, volunteers can be used to go on the tour busses as well as staff the display table. Some of our neighborhoods, especially the Belvedere Improvement Association have participated for several years and find it a good tool to recruit new homebuyers.

Since the fee for a display table is $120, it was suggested that several associations within the Partnership may like to go together and share the cost and the Partnership could help develop a uniform table display. Associations may also like to canvas their neighborhoods towards the middle and end of August to see what properties are for sale and develop a list of ‘showcase houses’ that we can submit to Live Baltimore to be considered for the tour. Decisions to participate in either or both of these activities must be made by the next Partnership meeting (September 3rd) in order to meet the Live Baltimore deadline.

SNAP:

There will be a citywide meeting to address general landscape and appearance issues on Tuesday July 22 at 6 p.m. at the Planning Department, 417 E. Fayette St. It will feature sharing ideas and information on how to get things done. If anyone is interested in attending, please contact Louis Perkins for details.

Operation Crime Watch:

Kristin noted we should congratulate the Cedarcroft Association who has just set up a Citizens On Patrol program this week. She also introduced Kevin Cleary, Mayors Office of Neighborhoods, who will be working to assist neighborhoods in this regard.

Free Concert in Evesham Park:

On Sunday afternoon July 13th, Evesham Park will hold its second annual concert from 2 to 5 in Evesham Park (park at Belvedere Square and use the bridge over Northern Parkway.) It will feature Jim Cline and the Recliners. All are invited to come.

The meeting was adjourned at 8:00pm.

Have a great summer!

Please send any corrections or additions to these minutes to Helene Perry at 410-617-2521 or

York Road Partnership Minutes of the Meeting of July 2, 2003