(the latest in a series of posts on Northside 2027 and Neighborhoods)
“There is no reason why good cannot triumph as often as evil. The triumph of anything is a matter of organization.” (Kurt Vonnegut)
Gadfly had to miss the Northside 2027 meeting at Thomas Jefferson Elementary School last Thursday January 24.
But a tip o’ the hat and wave of the wing to follower Kate McVey for attending, participating, and picking up handouts for us.
Kate reports that attendees split into three groups: housing, mobility, and commerce.
Kate went first to the mobility group in which the discussion mostly centered on safety: crossings clearly indicated, how traffic signs were placed, making streets one way and two way, sidewalk work, and grants.
She then went to the housing group and caught the end of discussion about the shelter at United Church of Christ and affordable housing.
Here are handouts from two of the groups.
Each group has a “vision statement” to gradually fill in. The two columns filling up so far are “major concerns” and “potential strategies” to address those concerns. See summaries of concerns below. Take a look at the handouts for proposed strategies.
The Neighborhood Plan Map: shows schools, parks, churches, historical sites, commercial corridors, open spaces, and so forth in the Northside 2027 territory.
northside 2027 neighborhood plan map
Mobility: concerns include unsafe intersections, safety for children walking to school, fast vehicular traffic, minimal access points to the Monocacy Way Trail, traffic signage on alleys, bicycle infrastructure, lack of awareness of “rules of the road.”
northside 2027 mobility 1 jan 24
northside 2027 mobility 2 jan 24
Housing: concerns include conversion of homes into multi-family rental units, code enforcement on quality of life issues, aesthetic upkeep of homes, sidewalks, available resources for both renters and homeowners, lack of neighborliness and community cohesion, ways to keep up with maintenance and improving the look of the neighborhood.
Continued kudos to CM Reynolds for leadership and other reps from the city (Congressman Samuelson’s office was represented) who may have been there (Kate suggests introductions and name-tags next time so that we can know the royalty).