LAURAVILLE IMPROVEMENT ASSOCIATION

Lauraville News

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Lauraville Business Association Block Party video

Video by: http://www.zinniafilms.com

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Stephanie Rawlings-Blake tells us what she thinks of Lauraville! Video

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Best Old House Neighborhoods 2009: Fixer-Uppers - Lauraville

Lauraville, Baltimore, Maryland

Whether it's Fells Point or Federal Hill, Baltimore has long been known for its great historic neighborhoods. One of the most popular is Lauraville, a hilly, early-20th-century streetcar suburb that was recently added to the National Register of Historic Places. A short drive from downtown, Lauraville is a leafy paradise studded with hefty framed and shingled homes with full-length front porches and large front lots. While downtown is not far, many take care of their shopping needs by walking up to Harford Road, which has enough groceries, restaurants, and coffee shops to make getting in the car unnecessary.

The Houses

Lauraville has a combination of Colonial Revivals, Foursquares, bungalows, and Victorian-era homes, many of which have their original millwork inside and their shingle siding outside. Some single-family homes that were carved up into multifamily units are being returned to their original floor plans. Prices run between $175,000 and $250,000.

Why Buy Now?

Buyers looking to restore homes in Lauraville can take advantage of various tax breaks as well as loan programs provided by Baltimore's Healthy Neighborhoods, Inc. Combined, these incentives can save you thousands on your work. Those looking to restore older buildings in the area to use as small businesses might also qualify for tax breaks.

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Herring Run Park Master Plan Update Highlights from The Department of Planning presentation to the LIA Board on July 15th.:

The greenway trail is approximately a $4million federal grant that will make necessary improvements to the existing trail and add a loop that will connect Morgan State University and Lake Montebello to the trail. Additional woodlands will be added using species native to the area Traffic lights, median and eight street crossings to ease movement across the Park The new Harford Road bridge will include bike lanes and once the bridge is torn down, the Committee will review the possibility of a tunnel Heinz Park will not be used for ongoing permit activities

The Board members expressed their concerns with the proposed parking lot at Argonne and Harford, the security issues of creating a tunnel and the ongoing maintenance of the park.

To help address the concerns of the Neighborhoods an Advisory Committee consisting of all stakeholders, a representative from each neighborhood, Planning, Recreation and Parks, the Police Department and DPW is being established. The Committee will review and assist in determining the priorities within the project, such as building consensus for the plan and reviewing feasibility studies and assisting with making necessary changes based on the result of those studies, and on an ongoing basis, reviewing what is working and what is not working and adjust the plan accordingly.

Lynne Adams, LIA Secretary, will be representing the Association on the Committee. The Advisory Committee will begin meeting over the next few weeks. The Master Plan must be completed by October 1st.

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Jody Landers III,

long-time Lauraville resident, President of the Board of Realtors and former LIA President is being named one of the Daily Record Business Journal's Most Influential Marylanders. This honor is given to Marylanders who have played significant roles in the State's impressive growth in recent years. Mr. Landers is one of 60 honorees for 2008 who have each made truly significant impacts in their field and continue to be leaders in Maryland's ongoing growth.

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Reconstruction of the Argonne Drive Bridge

Reconstruction of the Argonne Drive Bridge will begin in December, and the engineers are looking to the community for input on the components and aesthetics of the bridge. At a preliminary meeting April 9, the engineers presented their plans to community representatives. Residents of Lauraville and neighboring communities will be able to voice their opinions at a later meeting, which will probably take place at the end of April. Its time, date and location will be announced.

The plan is to repair the bridge rather than replacing it. That means that the bridge will be open for car and pedestrian traffic throughout construction. One side of the bridge will be repaired at a time, with the other side providing a two-way roadway with a sidewalk. The roadway and the I-beams that lie beneath the roadway will be replaced and the "piers" (the tall cement structures that support the bridge) will be patched. The water main under the bridge will be replaced, but service will not be interrupted for more than an hour or two because the old water main will be in use until the new one is installed. The ground under the bridge will be regraded where it has eroded, and a better drainage system will minimize future erosion.

The new bridge will have decorative lamp fixtures like the ones installed further west on Argonne Drive, near the intersection with Hillen Road. There will be period-type, ornamental black fencing atop the barriers on the sides of the bridge, and faux brick on the inside of the barriers. These features are subject to change, based on community feedback.

The bridge will have two lanes of traffic in each direction, with parking allowed on both sides, and sidewalks on each side. Community representatives discussed the possibility of a bike lane at the April 9 meeting, and the engineers are considering this possibility and are open to community feedback.

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Early Summer Interlude

8:30am, Fourth of July morning, 2007: Riding my bicycle into Herring Run Park, the air fresh and the ground wet from last night's unexpected rain. I pass other early risers walking, jogging, a few other bike riders, lots of dog walkers. I ride down the trail along the north bank of the Herring Run, most of the trail shaded by trees in full leaf. A breeze blows showering me with raindrops caught in the branches. As I emerge onto Belair Road I spot some pinkish-red, fuzzy ripe thimbleberries along the side of the trail. I stop and pick as many as I can without touching any poison ivy, popping the deliciously tart-sweet morsels into my mouth.

Only a few weeks ago, the mulberries were ripe, white and purple ones. I stopped many times to snack on them over the several weeks they were in season. Soon there will be blackberries and even apples.

As I ride back down the south bank of the stream, I notice a flash of white swooping low along the water. It is a magnificent large, white heron following the stream s course as if it were a runway, creating a streak of bright wings among the shadows. The peacefulness and lushness of this oasis of green recalls something I had just read about Frederick Law Olmsted s landscape design philosophy. He wanted his designs to create, 'a feeling of relief from the cramped, confined, and controlling circumstances of the street and the town.'

As many people know, Olmstead's son's architecture firm had a hand in the design of many of Baltimore's green spaces. I don't know if they helped create Herring Run Park but their philosophy spread far and wide and certainly has that effect here in our neighborhood. I am filled with gratitude to be able to enjoy their legacy.

This park, and the amazing amount of green space here in Northeast Baltimore, are some of the main reasons I moved to Lauraville. What a gift to be surrounded with so much green and to share it with so many other appreciative residents. As I rode that morning, I realized how much the appreciation of our natural environment is a bond we all share, despite the seeming diversity in our backgrounds and appearances.

By Julia Hammid

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Successful Outcome of Cameo Liquor Board Hearing

The Lauraville Improvement Association would like to thank all of our members and surrounding community associations, HARBEL (Mike Hilliard, Naomi Benyowitz), NOGLI (Lorrie Schoettler) who took their time to come to today's Liquor Board hearing in protest of the license held by the Cameo operator.

Special thanks goes to attorney Frank Costanzo who volunteered his considerable talents in support of the community's case. Happily the result was immediate revocation of the right to sell liquor at the Cameo.

In addition to dedicated neighbors and community activists, the following elected officials supported the community's effort in this repeal: State Senator Nathaniel McFadden, Delegates Branch and Glenn, Council VIce President Robert Curran with support from Council President Stephanie Rawlings Blake. Major Rodriguez, commander of Northeast district testified successfully on our behalf.

As a result of the effort of all, community peace may be restored in the immediate area surrounding the Cameo. Full details of the liquor board's ruling will be forwarded as they become available.

Dawna McGLynn

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Lauraville and Hamilton Hills Chosen for Program 'Maps on Purpose'

With the support of the Lauraville Improvement Association, the Hamilton Hills Neighborhood Association and Neighborhoods of Greater Lauraville Incorporated, a proposal was submitted and accepted for the Lauraville and Hamilton Hills neighborhoods to be included, together, as part of a City wide Community Arts program, Maps on Purpose.

In the coming months, questionnaires will be developed and distributed to residents and business owners in these neighborhoods (with the possibility of participation by residents in other neighborhoods that border Harford Road) to elicit information on (for instance) what is valued by our community, what are the treasures in our community, what are our concerns for our community? Beginning in fall 2007, a series of “mapping” workshops will be held at Faith Community Methodist Church for 10-20 participants. From those workshops a single Community Map will be created that will “map out” those values, treasures and concerns (or other topics of importance to our community) and that Community Map will be exhibited, along with those of other communities, at the Walters Art Museum, the Eubie Blake Center and other locations.

What follows is some of the information from the Maps on Purpose Press Release:

Maps on Purpose, is a project inspired by and in partnership with The Walters Art Museum’s Maps: Finding Our Way in the World, exhibition coming to the museum in spring 2008. The stated goal is to establish partnerships in as many as 24 Baltimore neighborhoods to carry out "mapping" workshops in fall 2007. Each workshop will use maps from the upcoming Walters Art Museum exhibit as models upon which residents of diverse ages will base their own maps.

The maps will be used for exhibits, celebrations, and issue-oriented events. Between January and May 2008, Maps on Purpose exhibits and events will be held at various sites, including Eubie Blake Center and The Walters Art Museum.

The Walters Art Museum Maps on Purpose exhibit will feature maps created during the neighborhood workshops. Each week, maps representing different neighborhoods will rotate in a series of installations designed by Art on Purpose’s Artist/Director Peter Bruun. Friday evening neighborhood celebrations will be held each week at The Walters Art Museum, with transportation provided to participating neighborhoods. The exhibits at Eubie Blake Center and an additional site will include multiple maps created by the neighborhoods, and serve as sites for a series of events addressing neighborhood issues.

Art on Purpose is dedicated to the notion that art has an intrinsic value that is best revealed when it connects and engages with real life concerns and is, at the same time, presented professionally. We view artists’ expressions and community interests as equally important, and believe each can enhance the other through innovative and informative art workshops and exhibitions. Art on Purpose provides an educational, guided process, so that individuals and groups whose concerns really need to be seen, and should be heard, will be understood through a high-level of artistic presentation.

Art on Purpose fills a unique role, making connections between artists, educators, and community service institutions in ways that serve the interests of all parties.

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Animal Control – LIA Campaign Success!

After a long campaign to increase funding for the Bureau of Animal Control we can now report that the City has agreed to 2 new animal control officer positions (we asked for 3) which will be incorporated into the 2008 City Budget. This follows the Association giving testimony to the Budget and Appropriations Committee on May 31^st. thanks all those people who made the trip on a hot day to City Hall to support the resolution. Doug Sandhaus and LIA President Kenneth Lockie gave testimony supporting the resolution - thank you gentlemen. Special recognition to Chris Muldowney for her tenacity in working this issue with all interested parties and Councilman Curran for his work on this matter on City Council. Thanks to all who called and emailed city officials in support. LIA President, Kenneth Lockie has written to the Health Commissioner to ask what the plan is to fill the 3 current vacancies plus the 2 new positions.

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A Day At The Fair

You can see pictures of the Fair and parade here

The morning of Saturday, September 16, 2006 dawned a bit drizzly and overcast, contrary to weather predictions. But the determined Lauraville Fair team went ahead setting up, confident that the day would be wonderful, no matter the weather!

The layout had been mapped, the stages and booths set up the day before. Porto-pots were delivered and the sound system and generators connected and fired up. Flea market and craft vendors unloaded cars and vans, slowly turning the grassy area between Harford Road and Parkside Drive into a festive collection of color and activity.

Community groups assembled their displays and decorated their booths, ready to provide valuable information about their services to one and all. Food and beverages began being served, adding to the spirit of celebration: steaming hot coffee, frosty beer (for adults) & smoothies, plump hot dogs, juicy barbeque, crunchy veggie kebabs and an array of homemade goodies at the Lauraville Bake Table.

11 o'clock arrived and the Fair was officially open. Anticipation of the Lauraville Parade built to a fever pitch as spectators gathered and traffic was rerouted. Suddenly, the shouts arose, 'The parade is coming! The parade is coming!' Marching right down the center of Harford Road, the crowd of costumed children and adults sang and danced and played all kinds of instruments, led by a 'broom-major,' a drummer and trumpeter who helped set the tone and pace. Applause welcomed the scores of participants including (costumed) bugs, butterflies, clowns, princesses and monsters.

By early afternoon the field was full of Moms and Dads, friends and lovers, the young, the old and, best of all, a whole parade full of children. Vendors sold their wares, service providers educated and the bands played on.

Puppeteers entertained with stories and scarecrows appeared where there had only been bales of straw and heaps of old clothes just minutes before. Demonstrations showed how to live more gently on the earth and appreciate its wonders, especially those with beaks and wings. Citizens on Patrol encouraged citizens to join up to help keep this vibrant, beautiful, energetic community safer.

Towards the end of the day, treasures bought, games played and food consumed, folks sat down on the lawn to listen to the music, watch the dancing, gossip, and enjoy the ending of a wonderful (sunny!) day at the annual Lauraville Fair. Such a good time, in such a good place, and with such really good people, is certainly worth celebrating. May the day be an inspiration to share this spirit all year long! You can see pictures of the Fair and parade here

The Annual Fair is produced by the Lauraville Improvement Association. The primary goal of the Fair is to celebrate community with a fun and neighborly event offering music, food, craft vendors, non-profit participation and activities for children of all ages. The Fair helps build community spirit throughout Northeast Baltimore and showcases our wonderful neighborhood's cultural, recreational & environmental resources.

Last year, the Lauraville Business Association added a Children's Puppet Parade which was an instant hit with all and promises to become a traditional centerpiece of Fairs in the future. The Fair also generates funds which augment membership dues to pay for newsletter mailings, incorporation & website fees, neighborhood clean-ups, social events for community building, supporting commercial development and have been used, on occasion, to assist neighbors experiencing hardship (such as fire, etc.).

Anna Brown, Chris Muldowny & Julia Hammid contributed to this article.

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