GRIA Community Meeting 6/18/2025
Board Members Present: Chris Billak (President), Corey Jennings, Mauricio Lainez, Pete Morrill, Michele Baskin
Staff member- Jennifer McKenzie
Councilman Jermaine Jones
Total Attendees
~20 in person
6 on Zoom
Zoom Recording: Passcode: Yrfy8MU*
Agenda
- ArtsCentric- Co-Founder Cedric Lyles
- ArtsCentric is a performing arts services organization at 2600 N. Howard Street (entrance on 26th)
- Black organization founded with the mission to create opportunities for the Black community. They have partnered with many larger theaters in Baltimore including Everyman and Baltimore Center Stage
- Upcoming performances include The Color Purple August 9-31st, tickets starting at $40; 7/18 speakeasy style event at ClubCar; Town Hall on Menopause “Reclaiming the Change”
- BGE Overhead Power Lines Update
- GRIA has formally requested that the city ‘kill’ the project. GRIA President Chris Billak has met with the Mayor’s office on Community Affairs, and GRIA Board is continuing to meet with BGE to help the community.
- Jermaine Jones- Was pushing BGE to meet with the neighborhood, tried to pass legislation that would prevent the power lines but that didn’t work; met with DOT to express that he and the neighborhood do not approve. Has made his position clear to the Mayor’s office.
- BGE first stated that it was ‘impossible’ to do the conduit option.
- BGE told JJ that GRIA is not within the distance that requires engagement and notification
- GRIA hopes to encourage BGE to make investments in the community because they will be saving significant funds in choosing the overhead transmission line plan. BGE notified Chris that the neighborhood’s new gas lines project is a major community investment, and encouraged GRIA to apply for a $10k grant. This is not the magnitude that we’re hoping for and will continue to ask for more
- Johns Hopkins DSAI Building Project
- GRIA has sent a letter to JHU requesting that they keep the oak trees intact and modify construction plans. Call with the architect and JHU community affairs is getting scheduled
- Announced the community picnic to save the trees held on Saturday, 6/21/25
- Sisson Street Bridge
- After 3 years of silence, GRIA received notification that the bridge is scheduled for demolition this summer while CSX has the rail line down.
- DOT has been invited to July GRIA Meeting to provide more information
- GRIA requests a pedestrian/bicycle bridge for replacement
- Councilman Jones states that the demolition of the bridge is ‘new news’ and that he found out at the same time as GRIA
Community Announcements
- Volunteer call out for flyer distribution! Please reach out to Jen at volunteers@griaonline.org to take a flyering route next month. Routes are ~2 blocks and a great way to meet your neighbors
- Barbara at Church of the Guardian Angel- Alley Between Church and Homes on 27th will be torn up and replaced with a permeable stormwater mitigation garden and community area space,
- Church of the Guardian Angel thrift shop, runs 1st & 2nd Sat of the month, 10am – 2 pm, bring donations during open hours only, also seeking volunteers; Food Pantry, every Wednesday from 9 am – 10 am, need volunteers for delivery drivers and some muscle on Tuesday mornings to unload trucks (9:30 – 10:15ish)
- Remington Brunch Club – Every Saturday, 9:30 am to 2 pm, in front of Mount Royal, food and local makers every week
- Mount Royal Soaps Night Markets – Every 3rd Friday from 5 pm to 9 pm (April through November), includes food, vendors, free drinks!
- RemFest Merchandise will be for sale at Mount Royal Soaps- proceeds will benefit GRIA
- Councilman Jermaine Jones- Baltimore City Council Budget passed.
- Closed 85 million deficit; increased some fees. Highlights include: Fees increased for littering, parking, and speeding. Rideshare tax fee increase, and landfill “tipping fees” to match other jurisdictions;
- city will borrow $125 million for capital investments for affordable housing, school construction, and parks.
- Investments include $1 million for traffic calming and improvement. Housing and community development funds to address vacants; trash, recycling and additional crews to sanitation; 36.7 invested in neighborhoods from the opioid restitution funds.
- Staff member requested that residents share 311 requests for traffic calming with Jones’ office
- Question – Corey asked are there concerns about more illegal dumping in the community due to the higher fee for increasing the landfill fee? How can we make community dumpsters more accessible to prevent the dumping? Could the city provide regular mobile dumpster opps? Answer: New DPW system allows anyone to request a dumpster for community purposes, regardless if there is an organization involved. This has driven up demand for community uses (such as GRIA’s dumpster days) and made it more challenging.
- Q from Zoom- requested info to be considered a ‘worksite’ for youth employee programs- Answer: Mayor’s office of employment and development should have info on becoming an employer
- Community Cleanups- Summer cleanups sponsored by Clipper City Crossfit. Coffee provided! July Cleanup 7/12 to partner with Sisson Street Park and Volunteering Untapped
- Love Your Block Grants open 6/23/25