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October 2024 Community Meeting Notes

Board Members Present: Michele Baskin (Secretary), Corey Jennings (President), Chris Billak, Sadie Baker (Treasurer), Matt Williams, Sam Solomon (Zoom), Pete Morrill, Wynn Engle-Pratt (Vice President, Zoom)

Staff member – Jennifer McKenzie, Amanda Rothschild

Total Attendees

~ 24, ~ 11 on Zoom

Start: 7:06 pm

End: 8:06 pm

Votes: NA

Agenda

  • GRIA Updates
    • Tree Planting Update:
      • Since Spring 2023: 158 native trees planted, 6,000 square feet of concrete removed
      • Grants provide for ongoing maintenance of Trees (watering, weeding, mulching)
      • Solidified our connection with Baltimore City Forestry Department – Providing tree stock and expertise (fee waiver for new tree well permits)
      • Urban Trees Grant Award 2024
        • Location: Remington, Charles Village, Harwood
        • Grant Program Name: Chesapeake Bay Trust, Urban Trees: $168,000
        • Johns Hopkins Matching Funds: $84,000
        • Will provide for (224) New Street Trees and (180) new tree pits as well as ongoing maintenance
    • Goldseker Operating grant – Awarded a grant to help fund employees and programs across neighborhood. Ensuring our part time employees continue to stay local
    • Webmaster/Website – We need someone to help work with a graphic designer to update and make www.GRIAonline.org a better resource for the community
    • Fundraiser/Fundraising planner – Immediate need: Help setup a “pledge drive” type of campaign; Long term need: Capital campaign fundraising.
  • Baltimore Comprehensive Plan (GRIA)
    • All jurisdictions in the state must update comprehensive plans every 10 years.
      • Must include land use plan and suggests map is best
      • City kicked off required process in 2021 with focus groups of residents on how to do outreach best
      • Plan was approved by Planning Commission and is at City Council for adoption
    • 2022-2023
      • Community Engagement Leadership Team (15 community based organizations across city) hosted multiple listening sessions, 3 Planning Dept sessions
      • 12 Planning Dept public input workshops across city
      • 2 citywide community conferences, in-person and virtual for further input
    • Fall 2023
      • Draft Land Use Map published for comment
      • Each plan topic released online for input by topic
      • Public meetings for input beyond online option
    • 2024
      • Presentation of Draft Plan to Planning Commission
      • 60 Day Comment Period and 4 more open houses
    • Rumor: Rushed Process with no public input
      • Dozens of meetings held online, geographically across the city, both by Planning Dept and Community Orgs
      • Over 2,000 comments received from residents in 60 day comment period
      • Planning Dept hosted Remington Q&A with GRIA in July
    • Rumor: Plan Rezones to Makes Homes Commercial Only
      • Plan does not rezone anything. Recommendation for future land uses over the next decade
      • Recommendations in plan don’t prohibit existing residential uses, just permits a broader mix of uses
      • Any zoning change would require future legislation
    • Baltimore Comprehensive Plan – https://www.planourbaltimore.com/ 
    • November Land Use Meeting: 11/06/2024 @ 7pm, www.griaonline.org/zoom 
    • Link to July meeting notes of Planning Commission presentation
  • Land Use Updates
    • Land Use committee application for 2024-27  is up on the website!
      • DUE: November 10th, 2024 – A few days after next LandUse Meeting
      • GRIA Board of Directors will review applications
      • New Process ensures that there Is a clear way to join Committee over time
    • Nov 6th meeting is happening and the application and process wlll be discussed there
    • Application will also be sent out on social media
  • Wide Angle Youth Media
    • Outreach Manager – Jake Saltzberg jake@wideanglemedia.org 443-759-6700
    • Presentation slide deck
    • Middle school programs run on location at the schools & High school introductory and advanced workshops are held at the main office with offerings in design, photography, video and animation.
    • Also have summer programming (Media Works) run in partnership with Baltimore City and County Summer Youth Employment Programs
    • Apprenticeships & Internships (Wide Angle Youth Productions) for 18-24 year olds participate in design, social media, or video production tracks and receive paid vocational training.
    • Taking over the first floor at the Service Center
      • Currently located at Millers Court, and this new location will be tripling our space!
      • Includes office space, student work and social space, media lab space, gallery space, etc
      • Goal is to be able to be open up for the community during non-work hours by utilizing the Gallery and other social spaces in the reception area
    • Follow us and sign up for our newsletter!
    • Q&A:
      • Pete: Have you reached out to our local school Margaret Brent about partnering with programming? A: They are on our short list!
      • The high school programs are super popular and run with long waitlists! When is the best time to get in touch for students who are interested? A: Get on the list! We do send out communication to that list when registration is opening, typically in the spring.
  • Jones Falls Gateway project
    • Zac Blanchard – representing Midtown Benefits District
    • Looking for partners to work with for this section of the Jones Falls to solicit engagement on current and future desired usage
    • This project presents a public space opportunity, with a promenade feel, along the Jones Falls. Currently have funding for planning to engage communities and create designs ($1 million), and will need community feedback using two surveys (5 minute survey on current usage of area, closes Oct 27th and second survey through Thanksgiving, presenting options for future)
    • Also involved in arts improvements along the area from the Maryland Ave bridge (new mural!), bridge under lighting, new building murals, etc
    • Q&A:
      • Corey: Street Car Museum area (CSX bridge)  to Penn Station? A: yes. Follow-up: Is there still a plan to close through traffic along Falls Road, including north of this section under discussion? Can we come back to that if it is off the table for this project? A: Please take the survey and communicate those desires on local and through traffic to have all sentiments captured.
      • (From Zoom) Will you flier about the survey? A: We can provide fliers to go through the normal GRIA process and also table at HAUNTingdon to speak to people directly with their questions and concerns.
  • HAUNTingdon 2024
    • Saturday October 26th, 5pm – 8pm
    • Along 3000 block of Huntingdon Ave
    • Kevin Sherry confirmed! Other artists and activities planned
    • FaceBook event is up, please share
    • Looking for volunteers! More bodies (set up tables, decorations, help running activities: maze, face & pumpkin painting, glow stick crossbow, and handing out treats) start set up around 3 pm
  • Community Cleanup
    • This Sat the 19th, 10:00 am
    • Plan is to clean up trash and leaves along Huntingdon Ave and assist with a large scale planting on the 2700 block of Huntingdon
    • Doppio treats sponsored by Spinello!

Community Announcements

  • Hampden Fire links for donations
  • Food Pantry at CGA every Wednesday 9 am, no requirements or restrictions. Volunteers needed Tues and Wed mornings to help organize food organization and distribution.
  • Night Market – this Friday, 5-9