Board Members Present: Michele Baskin (Secretary), Corey Jennings (President), Matt Williams, Sam Solomon, Pete Morrill (Zoom), Wynn Engle-Pratt (Vice President, Zoom)
Staff member – Amanda Rothschild
Total Attendees
~ 14, ~ 8 Zoom, ~ 2 DPW, 1 States Attorney
Start: 7:06
End: 8:15
Zoom – Recording Passcode: .0N^X5j1
Votes: NA
Agenda
- GRIA Updates
- Chesapeake Bay Trust Urban Trees Grant: $168,000 grant for over 200 trees + $80k in matching funds from JHU; trees are for Harwood, Charles Village, along Greenmount Ave, Maryland Ave, and in-fill in Remington neighborhood; Public form for requesting trees will be live on our website; our area is an area that City Forestry dept is trying to prioritize for stump removal, so do a 311 request for removal!
- Mural Celebration Event: Celebration of Alligator Mural Repair and Conservation, October 5th from 12-3 at Sisson Street Park
- Treasurer request for donations – griaonline.org/donate
- Department of Public Works – presentation slides
- Aaron Holloway, Construction Project Supervisor (aaron.holloway@baltimorecity.gov 443-890-4300)
- Vernon Pumping Station Rehabilitation Project (building originally built in the 1930’s) – designed to restore external historical appearance and replace outdated equipment with increased capacity allowing for future growth of water supply service
- All three pumps will be replaced as well as the motors, the suction, discharge and transmission main pipes, and will see the installation of new transmission pipes under 83 as well as new emergency generators to maintain water supply
- Additional improvements to interior and exterior areas will provide improved security and emergency response preparedness
- A new tunnel under I-83 will house a 48 inch overflow pipe, a 60 inch and a 72 transmission pipe that connect the pump house to the improved water storage system at Druid Park
- Tunneling under I-83 will require some controlled blasting to remove rock. DPW is pushing contractor to work at night as this work will require stoppage of I-83, but DPW is unable to mandate the means and methods of the work and it is more expensive to work at night
- Work is slated to start early this November on the building itself. Contractor has been selected and permits for work are in process for approval. Blasting will probably not occur until early 2025 due to more extensive planning and permitting process.
- Q&A:
- Corey – What area will be used for equipment and construction staging? Construction entrance? Tunnel entrance? A – Tunnel work will be between Wyman Bridge and 29th Bridge necessitating the closure of I-83 right there. People will most likely be shunted off to the 28th St exit and redirected back to I-83 after that. The staging will be at the DOT area along the light rail tracks accessible off Wyman Bridge and North Ave. Command center trailers will be located there and area will house parking and staging for workers and equipment.
- Are there going to be any disruptions to electrical or water service during this work? A – One pump must always be running so only one pump will be replaced at a time, starting with the largest capacity pump to maintain water flow during the rest of the project. So no, there will be no disruptions to electrical or water service during this project.
- Sam – Will we receive updated information about road closures as we get closer? A – Broader notifications are going to be difficult outside of the immediate areas when there are closures in this section of I-83 with information on redirects. We will try our best to coordinate with DOT on social media platforms.
- Elliot – During the rest of the project will there be road disruptions? A – No, only during blasting as the staging area is by the train yard area along Jones Falls. Corey follow-up – No construction traffic will go through community roads? Due to the initial issues with the CSX equipment on our streets, we are really concerned about dump trucks and such using the neighborhood for entrance and exit. A – There should not be any through the neighborhood as the entrances are at North Ave and Wyman Park. We are meeting with the contractors next week to walk the site, please email me about the dump truck loads so we can follow up.
- Pete (Online) – Is DGS Preservation staff or CHAP involved?,Iis contractor historical repair certified? A – Contractor is Whiting and Turner who does specialize in this type of work, the historical exterior nature of the building will stay in place based on input from DGS and CHAP.
- How long do you think this will take? A – Believe it is a 5 year project
- Land Use Updates
- Land Use Board of Directors Applications for the 2024 – 2027 term will be live in about a week
- GRIA Board of Directors is updating process for joining Land Use Committee
- New process ensures that there is a clear way to join Committee over time
- HAUNTingdon 2024
- Saturday October 26th, 5pm – 8pm
- Along 3000 block of Huntingdon Ave
- Kevin Sherry confirmed! Other artists and activities planned
- Volunteer meetings are starting, reach out to Jen if interested, flyer coming soon, FB event is up, please share
- Clean up Updates
- Sat Sept 21st 10 am at Church of the Guardian Angel
- This month’s sponsor is Ottobar
- Location – Sisson Street Park and Alligator Mural in preparation for our celebration on Oct 5th
- We have equipment, treats and coffee from Doppio
Community Announcements
- Mount Royal Night Market, Friday September 20th 5 pm – 9 pm (nd every third Friday of the month!)
- Greater Goods Market Fall Market Sun Sept 22 12pm – 5pm at R House garage
- Fishnet Food Truck September!
- Miracle Church – Oct 19 Praise Pooch Party, 1 pm – 4 pm, click for sign up form, dress up contest and talent show, dog trainers on site
- Anne Rosenthal (presentation slides) – Baltimore City is Not For Sale Coalition
- Vision statement – Our vision for an equitable Baltimore is one in which everyone has democratic representation through their elected officials and essential services like sanitation, libraries, and health care.
- Ballot Question H (city charter amendment) – would reduce the size of the City Council by nearly 50% , reduces the districts from 14 to 8
- Coalition believes this is undemocratic. Double residents from 42k to 70k per district. Mayor would then become responsible for redistricting the city under this plan. The increased staff, infrastructure and funding for each council member would not save taxpayer money as it would offset the perceived savings from eliminating councilmanic districts. Weakens resident access to local government. Decreases the electoral power of black and lower-income residents by concentrating residents into fewer areas.
- This amendment is almost solely funded by David Smith through personal funding streams and his other corporate and nonprofit entities – chairman of Sinclair (Fox 45, Balt Sun), he is not a Baltimore resident
- Other surrounding local counties are actually voting to expand their councils (Montgomery and Baltimore County) to increase resident representation
- Please vote against! (only 1 charter amendment has been voted down in recent history!)