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| credit: baltimoreonthecheap.com |
The backstory: somewhere between failure to pay back-taxes and dispute among owners.
Thursday, May 26, 2011
It's Official: Pazza Luna for Sale
Long & Foster listing:
Pazza Luna restaurant for sale. Turnkey operation with 7-day liquor license, fixtures, name and real estate. Great Locust Point location awaiting your creative touches...this could be Baltimore's next hot restaurant!! Call for details.
The backstory: somewhere between failure to pay back-taxes and dispute among owners.
The backstory: somewhere between failure to pay back-taxes and dispute among owners.
Tuesday, May 10, 2011
One Long Train
Once again, CSX is on the agenda of the monthly neighborhood association meeting. The focus: what to do with the one long train that circles through Locust Point once a week, usually on Sundays? Resident are still complaining about the incident a couple months back where rail cars blocked both of the crossings that people use to enter and leave the Locust Point. This is particularly concerning since the Fort Avenue Bridge, the third and final way of the neighborhood, will be closed to cars for a full year starting this July. Imagine if your or a loved one were having a heart attack and could not get medical help because freight trains were blocking access to assistance.
CSX "Resident VP" Sharon Daboin told people at the April LPCA meeting that the freight operator is working on a solution. It involves separating the rail cars so that the train will not block Andre Street and Hull Street crossings at the same time. The challenge is getting the workers in the rail yard to unhitch the trains before there's a real problem. "A working yard is not under the control of the CSX dispatch system," Daboin said.
I was curious why there was such a long train in the first place. Daboin says its a reflection of the recovering economy. "There is a bright side to all this," Daboin said. "It means that people are buying again." The train that makes its weekly sojourn through Locust Point originates outside of Buffalo, snaking through cities and towns in New York, Pennsylvania, Baltimore and beyond. What other communities are experiencing what we have? Is this a temporary problem, or will there be more longer trains?
CSX has big freight plans for south Baltimore. With the state's help, it plans to build a cargo transfer station where containers can be double-stacked on railcars headed south and west. With the price of gas, rail is becoming a more attractive alternative to trucks as a way to move freight long distances. Don't worry, the transfer station will be built in either Anne Arundel or Prince George's County, not here. That's because it would cost too much to rebuild the old Howard Street tunnel to accomodate double-decker freight trains. As an aside, the location battle south of us is a big one, according to the Baltimore Sun. But so is the dispute over CSX's one long train snaking through Locust Point.
CSX "Resident VP" Sharon Daboin told people at the April LPCA meeting that the freight operator is working on a solution. It involves separating the rail cars so that the train will not block Andre Street and Hull Street crossings at the same time. The challenge is getting the workers in the rail yard to unhitch the trains before there's a real problem. "A working yard is not under the control of the CSX dispatch system," Daboin said.
I was curious why there was such a long train in the first place. Daboin says its a reflection of the recovering economy. "There is a bright side to all this," Daboin said. "It means that people are buying again." The train that makes its weekly sojourn through Locust Point originates outside of Buffalo, snaking through cities and towns in New York, Pennsylvania, Baltimore and beyond. What other communities are experiencing what we have? Is this a temporary problem, or will there be more longer trains?
CSX has big freight plans for south Baltimore. With the state's help, it plans to build a cargo transfer station where containers can be double-stacked on railcars headed south and west. With the price of gas, rail is becoming a more attractive alternative to trucks as a way to move freight long distances. Don't worry, the transfer station will be built in either Anne Arundel or Prince George's County, not here. That's because it would cost too much to rebuild the old Howard Street tunnel to accomodate double-decker freight trains. As an aside, the location battle south of us is a big one, according to the Baltimore Sun. But so is the dispute over CSX's one long train snaking through Locust Point.
Thursday, August 12, 2010
Plumbing Makeover Planned for Locust Point
Remember Federal Hill last year (and the year before that, and the year before that), when PVC pipes snaked up and down the sidewalks, leaking water as they went? That's what some streets in our neighborhood will look like a year from now.
Baltimore's Department of Public Works made a formal presentation on "Infrastructure Rehabilitation Project WC #1203-E" at the Locust Point Community Association meeting last night. The goal is to replace worn out water lines on Decatur, Beason, Haubert, Hull, Cooksie and Andre Streets starting in "Spring 2011."
John Moore with RK&K Engineering, the consultant hired by DPW to manage the job, said streets were selected based on resident complaints and stress tests done on the water pipes. I will admit bias here and say I live on one of the streets that will be ripped up and I've had no complaints about dirty water of low water pressure, so I'm suspicious of those criteria.
Three main lines of questions came up at the meeting:
1. Is this project being coordinated with BGE, which will be coming through the neighborhood to rip up/replace natural gas lines? Answer: not really, gosh we should look into that.
2. What will DPW do to ensure that proper repairs will be made after the streets are ripped up? One resident who lives on Fort Avenue and lived through a water line rehab there said DPW failed to provide any construction management. Concrete sidewalks were broken and not repaired until politicians were called in.
3. How will DPW keep residents informed about service interruptions? Again, this was a problem with the Federal Hill water line work
Work in Locust Point is scheduled to take six to seven months. The Federal Hill project was supposed to take two years. It ended up taking more than three. Needless to say, lots of questions remain on how to avoid headaches while improving our aging infrastructure.
Baltimore's Department of Public Works made a formal presentation on "Infrastructure Rehabilitation Project WC #1203-E" at the Locust Point Community Association meeting last night. The goal is to replace worn out water lines on Decatur, Beason, Haubert, Hull, Cooksie and Andre Streets starting in "Spring 2011."
John Moore with RK&K Engineering, the consultant hired by DPW to manage the job, said streets were selected based on resident complaints and stress tests done on the water pipes. I will admit bias here and say I live on one of the streets that will be ripped up and I've had no complaints about dirty water of low water pressure, so I'm suspicious of those criteria.
Three main lines of questions came up at the meeting:
1. Is this project being coordinated with BGE, which will be coming through the neighborhood to rip up/replace natural gas lines? Answer: not really, gosh we should look into that.
2. What will DPW do to ensure that proper repairs will be made after the streets are ripped up? One resident who lives on Fort Avenue and lived through a water line rehab there said DPW failed to provide any construction management. Concrete sidewalks were broken and not repaired until politicians were called in.
3. How will DPW keep residents informed about service interruptions? Again, this was a problem with the Federal Hill water line work
Work in Locust Point is scheduled to take six to seven months. The Federal Hill project was supposed to take two years. It ended up taking more than three. Needless to say, lots of questions remain on how to avoid headaches while improving our aging infrastructure.
Thursday, May 20, 2010
I did not know Matthew Martin
By now we all know about the murder of Matthew Martin, who went missing from his home, family and friends in Locust Point in early April. The big question: who did it? My question: why didn't I write about Matt when he was missing? The posters were all over the neighborhood. First, the ones made by family. Then, the ones made by Crimestoppers. My answer is lame: life got in the way. I kept thinking I would get to the story. Would'a, Should'a. Phrases that abound when someone we know dies suddenly.
First, a promise to you:
I signed up to get on the Crimestoppers listserve; if there's a disappearance of someone from 21230 sent out via this org you'll read about it here. As many people have pointed out in online forums, media coverage of Matt's disappearance was spotty. (WBAL was the only local crew to cover it when it was a missing persons case). So, this commitment is my attempt to do better going forward.
Second, share anything you may know with detectives:
Here are a couple ways to pass tips along anonymously:
Clearly, people who grew up here and raised families here are grieving, together. Just look at what's happening on Facebook and you'll see the solidarity of the "Sobo Brotherhood." But then, there's the comment of someone presumed to be a yuppie/newcomer on Peter Hermann's crime blog in the Sun:
If there's anything we can take away from Matt Martin's passing, its the importance of looking out for each other. It's unfortunate the lesson comes at such a high cost.
From the Search for Matt Martin Facebook page:
First, a promise to you:
I signed up to get on the Crimestoppers listserve; if there's a disappearance of someone from 21230 sent out via this org you'll read about it here. As many people have pointed out in online forums, media coverage of Matt's disappearance was spotty. (WBAL was the only local crew to cover it when it was a missing persons case). So, this commitment is my attempt to do better going forward.
Second, share anything you may know with detectives:
Here are a couple ways to pass tips along anonymously:
- Text “MCS plus your message” to CRIMES (274637)
- Click here for a link to a Crimestoppers web tip formFill out this form on the web
Clearly, people who grew up here and raised families here are grieving, together. Just look at what's happening on Facebook and you'll see the solidarity of the "Sobo Brotherhood." But then, there's the comment of someone presumed to be a yuppie/newcomer on Peter Hermann's crime blog in the Sun:
Mr. Brunner.. I agree with what you say about a neighborhood being built around people who care about each other. I am sorry that you feel new people changed that. The reason why people like me moved here was precisely because of the tight-knit nature of Locust Point. I hope you will believe that not all newcomers are focused on property values and money.
If there's anything we can take away from Matt Martin's passing, its the importance of looking out for each other. It's unfortunate the lesson comes at such a high cost.
From the Search for Matt Martin Facebook page:
Services for Matt will be at Steven' s Funeral Home, E. Fort Ave and Hull St in Locust Point on Thurday May 20th and Friday May 21st from 3-5 and 7-9 Funeral Mass on Staurday May 22nd at 10am Our Lady of Good Counsel Church, Locust Point Md 21230
Tuesday, April 27, 2010
Introducing Francis Scott Key Community Garden
New life came to what Locust Point locals know as the "old German church" when dozens of people planted butterfly and vegetable gardens to mark Earth Day and the beginning of new relationships in this little corner of South Baltimore.
The newly dubbed "Francis Scott Key Community Garden" on the grounds of Christ Church on Beason Street is a collaboration among the church, FSK elem/middle school and the Parks & People Foundation. Locust Point residents and students worked side by side this past Earth Day along with some help from Maryland Lieutenant Governor Anthony Brown and his staff.
Pastor Jim Bell says the congregation at Christ Church has dwindled to less than 100. He hopes the garden will become a focal point for the neighborhood and the school and hey, maybe boost the numbers for Sunday services.
Christ Church is having a rededication of its renovated sanctuary on May 2nd. The service and new gardens are open to all. Want to volunteer to maintain the garden? Contact me at cathyduchamp@hotmail.com
Locust Point resident Diane Miceli and Francis Scott Key student Rodney Brooks plant a new cut flower garden
The newly dubbed "Francis Scott Key Community Garden" on the grounds of Christ Church on Beason Street is a collaboration among the church, FSK elem/middle school and the Parks & People Foundation. Locust Point residents and students worked side by side this past Earth Day along with some help from Maryland Lieutenant Governor Anthony Brown and his staff.
Pastor Jim Bell says the congregation at Christ Church has dwindled to less than 100. He hopes the garden will become a focal point for the neighborhood and the school and hey, maybe boost the numbers for Sunday services.
Francis Scott Key Elementary/Middle School students plant what will become a butterfly garden
Christ Church is having a rededication of its renovated sanctuary on May 2nd. The service and new gardens are open to all. Want to volunteer to maintain the garden? Contact me at cathyduchamp@hotmail.com
Thursday, March 25, 2010
Yes, Locust Point, there is a Harris Teeter
The little girl Virgina questioned whether there was a Santa Claus. I've been questioning whether the upscale supermarket Harris Teeter will really be coming to Locust Point. It was originally slated to open last month. But with steel girders now rising 4-stories high on Mark Sapperstein's $120-million dollar McHenry Row development, there's some progress to report.
Girders Rising
First, the building in the photo here is not Harris Teeter. It's an office building slated to open this September. Among the first tenants, the Baltimore Metropolitan Council, which directs transportation policy in the region. One-and-a-half floors out of a total of four floors of office space has been leased, according to Dominic Wiker, who's heading up the project for developer Mark Sapperstein. "People have been waiting a long time," Wiker acknowledges. Construction has started and stopped twice, as we've all seen, because of the national credit crunch. "But now we've got some traction and momentum," Wiker says. "It's a matter of getting the various lenders lined up."
So, what about Harris Teeter?
Wiker wouldn't give a timeline. I got this email from Harris Teeter PR manager Catherine Reuhl:
In the meantime..
Wiker says after the office building is complete, and loans are secured, construction will start on apartments and retail/restaurant space. This will be two "mixed use" buildings, that will rise on two sides of a plaza behind the fire station. Remember the banner that proclaimed the apartments would open in Fall 2009? Here's the new banner, which says "Coming 2011."
The list of restaurants/retailers going in remains the same: Green Turtle, Dunkin' Donuts, a nail salon, dry cleaner, and two banks: PNC and M&T [which btw will close its Fort Ave office on April 9].
Parking For Sale
We've been staring at two big parking structures for the past couple years. Developer Sapperstein tells the Baltimore Business Journal he's trying to work a deal to free up some cash for the project by selling the garages to the city, which would then lease the garages back to Sapperstein. Hmm. Its evidence the city is trying to do what it can to boost economic development in our neighborhood. Whether that's good for Baltimore taxpapers is another issue. We've had a lull in growth, but it looks like 2011 may change that.
Girders Rising
First, the building in the photo here is not Harris Teeter. It's an office building slated to open this September. Among the first tenants, the Baltimore Metropolitan Council, which directs transportation policy in the region. One-and-a-half floors out of a total of four floors of office space has been leased, according to Dominic Wiker, who's heading up the project for developer Mark Sapperstein. "People have been waiting a long time," Wiker acknowledges. Construction has started and stopped twice, as we've all seen, because of the national credit crunch. "But now we've got some traction and momentum," Wiker says. "It's a matter of getting the various lenders lined up."
So, what about Harris Teeter?
Wiker wouldn't give a timeline. I got this email from Harris Teeter PR manager Catherine Reuhl:
"That store is currently scheduled to open in our third quarter 2011
but I can not offer a specific opening date this far out."
That means July 2011 at the earliest.
In the meantime..
Wiker says after the office building is complete, and loans are secured, construction will start on apartments and retail/restaurant space. This will be two "mixed use" buildings, that will rise on two sides of a plaza behind the fire station. Remember the banner that proclaimed the apartments would open in Fall 2009? Here's the new banner, which says "Coming 2011."
The list of restaurants/retailers going in remains the same: Green Turtle, Dunkin' Donuts, a nail salon, dry cleaner, and two banks: PNC and M&T [which btw will close its Fort Ave office on April 9].
Parking For Sale
We've been staring at two big parking structures for the past couple years. Developer Sapperstein tells the Baltimore Business Journal he's trying to work a deal to free up some cash for the project by selling the garages to the city, which would then lease the garages back to Sapperstein. Hmm. Its evidence the city is trying to do what it can to boost economic development in our neighborhood. Whether that's good for Baltimore taxpapers is another issue. We've had a lull in growth, but it looks like 2011 may change that.
Tuesday, March 9, 2010
Fire Sparks Change at Christ Church
(United Church of Christ church)
Like a lot of things in Baltimore, it started with artificial flowers. In this case, a fire, fueled by a flaming bouquet at Christ Church UCC, also known as the "Little German Church" at Beason and Decatur Streets in Locust Point. The flowers were a little too close to lit candles on the altar, recalls Pastor Jim Bell. Within a minute the second-floor sanctuary of the 125 year old church filled up with smoke. That was in December. Now, the church is preparing to reopen its sanctuary, an experience that represents new hope for a congregation that's struggling to survive.
(Lit candles and artificial flowers don't mix, but they remain in the sanctuary during rennovation)
Carpet has been replaced around the altar. The sanctuary has a fresh coat of paint. New hardwood floors will soon replace linoleum tiles. And a painting of Jesus at the Sea of Galilee that hovers above the altar is being professionally restored. Think Sistine Chapel, Locust Point style.
(Church members will be surprised at how much lighter the refurbished mural is)
Bell would like to see young couples come out for the events, and heck, even come to church, though he admits it can be intimidating. That's in part because the sanctuary is on the second floor of the old brick church.. you really can't just sneak in unnoticed. It might also be because of the traditions: old hymns sung aloud, and a recitation of the Apostle's Creed. Bell says he's trying to find a balance: long-time parishoners need to feel its still their church; newcomers need a less doctrinal style to services.
Churches can be stabilizing forces in neighborhoods. Pastor Jim Bell wants you to know you're welcome to visit anytime. And, hey, maybe Christ Church can try out this version of the Apostle's Creed. [click on the link]
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