may 2009 federal hillsider

www.federalhillna.org • Federal Hill Neighborhood Association • May 2009

Federal Hillsider

Should I stay … or should I go (if I can afford to)? This is a ques-tion that apparently many of us

have been pondering as we consider the inherent unfairness in the methods that Baltimore applies to collect real property taxes at rates that are more than twice as high as any county rate in Maryland.

Last month this space was devoted to pointing out that the city has thus far con-veniently neglected to collect more than $500,000 in unpaid taxes from the devel-opers and owners of the Ritz-Carlton condos and Harborview pier homes along Key Highway that now deny us the once majestic views of the harbor to the east of Federal Hill Park.

So for starters, to help offset a $65 million shortfall that the city must close in order to balance its 2009-2010 fiscal year operating budget, our elected officials are forcing us to pay 9 percent more for water, and store our stinky garbage for a week between pickups.

A March 18 article in The Sun (“Dixon proposes layoffs, city services cuts”) reported: “There is one bright spot in the city’s budget. Increased assessments in the southern area of Baltimore — including waterfront neighborhoods such as Canton and Federal Hill — mean the city expects to see a 6.2 percent increase in revenue from taxes paid by homeowners.”

Based on the huge amount of feedback I received, not too many of you were pounding your chests about kicking in far more than your fair share to help balance

Continued on page 13

PRESIDENT’S LETTER

Should I stay…or should I go?

Live entertainment bill gets an airing in Federal Hill

Federal Hill Preparatory School on William Street was the setting of a meeting on April 23 about the controversial live entertainment bill that is being considered by the City Council. In top photo, from left, are staff assistant Marguerite Murray, her boss, Councilman James B. Kraft, Council President Stephanie Rawlings-Blake and

Council member Agnes Welch. In photos above, from left, speakers at the meeting included Spencer Horsman of Illusions Magic Bar & Lounge, Lane Berk, a resident of Montgomery Street, and Brian Shupe of the 8X10 nightclub. FHNA President Paul Robinson spoke at the last public City Council meeting held on the matter on Friday, April 30. Read his article on page 3 and a letter opposing the measure from a resident of Riverside Avenue on page 15.

What to do abouttrash and recycling

Federal Hill is in Zone 4 and has trash pickups on Tuesday and Friday mornings. Trash should be set out in sturdy cans with lids.

Single-stream recycling of paper, glass, aluminum and plastic items usually occurs on the second and fourth Friday of each month

Trash and recycling pickups in Zone 4 will occur on Friday, May 8, and Friday, May 22. For problems, call the city at 311.

www.federalhillna.org May 2009

FHNA will elect officers and Board members on May 19

Federal Hill Neighborhood Association2009 Board of Directors

OfficersPresident Paul Robinson 410-332-1928Vice President Tom Gregory 410-727-2555Treasurer Doug McPeters 410-736-5341Secretary John Rehmert 410-752-5399

Members at LargeKeenan Dworak-Fisher 443-925-9003Bob Merbler 410-539-1305Scott Pevenstein 443-570-3665Paul Quinn 443-514-4012Jason Tyler 443-400-8420Meredith Tyler 443-400-8420

Committee ChairsBeautification: open positionBlock Captains: Meredith Tyler Business Affairs (Retail/Hospitality):Keenan Dworak-Fisher Education Liaison: Scott PevensteinFinance: Doug McPeters Interactive Media: Meredith TylerLegislative Affairs: open positionMembership: Paul Quinn Nominations: Tom Gregory Parking: Jason TylerPreservation (Design Review Panel):open positionSafety: John Rehmert Social: open position

•Federal Hillsider is the official publication of the Federal Hill Neighborhood Association, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit orgnization. Mailing address: Federal Hillsider, P.O. Box 27112, Baltimore 21230. E-mail: [email protected].

© 2009 Federal Hillsider All Rights ReservedNewsletter design by Steve Purchase / [email protected]

Nominations for the FHNA president, treasurer and all eight directors-at-large positions were taken from the floor at the April 19 general meeting. An election for those positions will be held during our next general meeting on Tuesday, May 19, in the Center Hall of Christ Lutheran Church at 701 South Charles Street.

The election meeting will begin promptly at 7 p.m. There will be an introduction of candidates, time for questions and answers and then the vote will take place. Only members in good standing as of April 19 are eligible to vote. And you must be present to vote.

The FHNA will publish in the e-Hillsider online a final slate of candidates before the election. However, the official voting ballot will only be distributed on the evening of the election.Questions for the candidates were submitted by FHNA members. The candidates’ answers will be published on the FHNA website prior to the election. Check your e-Hillsider announcements for details.

The current nominations for one-year direc-tors-at-large positions are as follows: Chris Jones, Bob Merbler (incumbent), Michael Moriarity, Wali Mutavammil, Richard Polan, Paul Quinn (incumbent), Scott Pevenstein (incumbent), Daniel Sternklar, Terry Smith and

Jason Tyler (incumbent). The current nomination for the two-year term of treasurer is Meredith Tyler. The current nomi-nation for the two-year term of president is Paul Robinson (incumbent).

All future nominations must be submitted in writing to the president. Write-in nominations must be received by 1 p.m. on May 19. For a ballot and nomination form, see the centerfold of this issue of The Hillsider.

Please advertise in The Hillsider!Contact us at [email protected] please patronize our great advertisers!

May social at Xxxxxxxx?FHNA members xxxxxx\xxxxxxx

Please join your friends and neighbors for a COP walk in the Federal Hill and Federal Hill South neighborhoods on Monday, May 11.

All Citizens on Patrol walks start at 7 p.m. Join old friends or make new ones. Meet at Porter’s Pub at Riverside Avenue and East Cross Street. We always walk with a police officer. Bring a flashlight and dress for the weather.

Next Citizens on Patrol walk is Monday, May 11

Our Block Captains andthe blocks they take care of

100 Warren Avenue and 201 Warren Apartments: Virginia Becker800 William and 100 East Churchill streets: Deb Nelson100 East Montgomery and 700 William streets: Walt Saxon200 East Montgomery Street: Susan Bridges200 East Churchill and 800 Battery streets: Rebekah Bianco 300 and 400 East Hamburg Street: Shirley Summers300 and 400 Warren Avenue: John Rehmert1000 Riverside Avenue: Marianne Freedman400 Grindall Street: Michelle & Michael900 and 1000 East Covington Street: Jayne Haut400 East Cross Street: Zoe Saint Paul200 and 300 East Cross Street: Jill & Doug Forbes1000 William and 200 Grindall streets: Betsy Hayes100 East Cross Street: Dave Dadds900 and 1000 Hanover, unit block of Olive St.: Charles Thomas900 and 1000 South Charles Street: Kurt Kroncke1000 Light and unit block of Hamburg streets: Nancy BaumUnit block of East Wheeling St. and Harden Court: Kelly SheehanPoultney Street: Bob Howard1000 Patapsco Street: Patti SumnerUnit block of East Henrietta and Henrietta Square: Gayle McClureMontgomery Square, 800 South Hanover (both sides and unit blocks of West Henrietta, West Churchill and West Montgomery streets: Robert Benett700 South Charles Street: Betsy SmithUnit block of East Montgomery and 800 South Charles (east side): Bob O’DonoghueGrindall’s Yard and Lanasa Lane: Randee Askiin900 William,100 East Hamburg and 900 Compton: Helen Holden200 Warren Avenue (north side): Sandy Seward700 Light St. and unit block of East Hughes St.: Richard PolanUnit block of East Churchill Street: Andrew Swanston 800 and 900 Light St., Harbor Hill Apartments: Richard Kaminski

May 2009 www.federalhillna.org

Continued on page 4

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On the eve of the final City Council public hearing about the controversial live entertainment bill on Friday,

April 30, Council President Stephanie Rawlings-Blake’s office released a heavily amended version of the bill.

Essentially, it looks as though all language for “licensing” has been removed from the bill, and there will be no Council or committee for review and approval of applications for live entertainment and dancing venues.

All approvals for live entertainment and dancing venues will remain a part of the existing provisions of the city zoning code.

(Check out the online press release from the Council president’s office at www.baltimorecitycouncil.com/042409LiveEntertainmentAmendment.pdf.)

Here are the highlights of Bill No. 08-0163, which would:

• Add live entertainment and dancing as a conditional use in the zoning code for restaurants in B-1 and B-2 districts. Most of Federal Hill’s commercial properties are

zoned B-2-3.) •Add live entertainment and dancing as a

conditional use in the zoning code for taverns in B-2 districts. A building permit for any proposed conditional use requires approval from the city Board of Municipal Zoning Appeals, known as BMZA.

Before approving an application for live entertainment as a conditional use, the zoning board currently must consider:

• Days and hours of operation.• Use of amplification, noise levels, and

need for noise proofing.• Limits on the size of the establishment

or on the size, location, or configuration of the entertainment or dancing venue within the establishment.

• Number of live entertainers.• Number of seats proposed for proposed

outdoor table service.• Exterior lighting.• Whether to limit the accessory use to

live entertainment only or dancing only.• The establishment and maintenance of:• Traffic and parking management plan,• Indoor and outdoor security plan.

The latest draft of Bill No. 08-0163 also adds to the list of “required considerations” that the BMZA is supposed to make in each instance the following:

• Proximity of residences, schools, religious institutions or parks to the establishment.

• Maximum authorized occupant load of the establishment.

• Volume of vehicular and pedestrian traffic in the area.

• The maintenance of a sanitation plan.The FHNA has consulted with two

prominent zoning attorneys who advise us that the latest draft of Bill 08-0163 also raises the legal issue of whether a non-conforming res-identially zoned property (such as R-7 or R-8, etc.) will be eligible for BMZA approval as a “restaurant with live entertainment and dancing.” One legal opinion says it shouldn’t be, as only the permitted B-1 uses are supposed to be available for non-conforming properties.

But obviously this is legal issue that remains open to “interpretation.” We are all

Council’s live entertainment bill is changed quite a bit in the 11th hour



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painfully aware of how language in zoning bills when left open to interpretation can lead to a defined view corridor from the east face of Federal Hill Park being interpreted to be nothing more than an archway creating an obstructed water view.

It is also worth noting that the city planning department, zoning administration and the BMZA have a policy of disregarding the definitions of tavern and restaurant when granting approvals of variances and issuing building permits. This is a situation that needs to be addressed in any zoning code rewrite and then closely monitored.

So what we have here is a bill that was put into motion last summer with the stated intent to expand and regulate live entertainment in the city that now has been watered down and essentially stripped of most of its original incentives and regulatory protections through a series of significant amendments over the last few months.

From the perspective of existing (“grandfathered”) venues already permitted to offer live entertainment and dancing (such

as the 8X10 club and Mum’s) the news is all good. There are no new fees, no additional regulatory scrutiny. It’s business as usual.

The newly amended version of Bill No. 08-0163 could be considered less welcome news not only for venues that seek approval to offer live entertainment and dancing in the

future, but also for the residents and the other businesses in the surrounding com-munities.

The hurdles would be significant for any venue to obtain a BMZA variance for live entertainment and dancing as a conditional use. How-ever should BMZA grant such a variance, that conditional use becomes permanently attached to the property’s deed. Un-like prior versions of Bill No. 08-0163, neighborhoods would

not be given the opportunity to review and offer feedback and there would be no legal basis for repeal or revocation as is the case with venues licensed to sell and/or serve alcohol who face renewal hearings each year should their operations become problematic

Live entertainment billContinued from page 3

The live entertainment bill meeting at Federal Hill Prep School attracted quite a few people.


Flowers, mothers and horse racing crowd the May calendarFriday, May 2 (11 a.m.) Flower Mart A Baltimore tradition at Mount Vernon Place since 1909 Sunday, May 3 Baltimore Farmers’ Market Market under the JFX downtown open for the year

Tuesday, May 5 Cinco de Mayo Celebrate Mexican independence day, carefully Sunday, May 10 Mother’s Day Honor your mother on this most important holiday

Friday, May 8 Recycling for Zone 4 Place recyclables at your usual trash pickup spot

Tuesday, May 12 (11:30 a.m.) Pee Wee Preakness Children ride wooden horses at Federal Hill Park

Saturday, May 16 Preakness Stakes horse race Baltimore’s largest event; 2nd jewel of Triple Crown

Tuesday, May 19 FHNA membership meeting Election night at Christ Lutheran Church, see pg. 2 Sunday, May 24 Sowebo Arts Festival One of city’s largest arts fests, near Hollins Market

Monday, May 25 Memorial Day Remember our veterans; many offices closed Friday, May 29 Recycling for Zone 4 Place recyclables at your usual trash pickup spot

Coming soon:Thursday, June 4 Benefit Old Otterbein Church Hard Travelers perform; for tickets, 410-637-3996


• American Visionary Art Museum. 800 Key Highway. 410-244-1900. Tuesday through Sunday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. “The Marriage of Art, Science and Philosophy.” Through Sept. 6. • Artists & Framers. 1014 South Charles Street. 410-837-4477. Ongoing exhibit of plein-air paintings of Baltimore rowhouses and street scenes by Crystal Moll.• Baltimore Museum of Industry. 1415 Key Highway. 410-727-4808. Baltimore’s industrial past is featured in many and various exhibits. Open Tuesday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Sunday, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Special exhibit featuring the hit HBO drama, “The Wire,” has been extended through the summer because of popular demand. See original props, wardrobe and set pieces in this exclusive multimedia exhibit. (www.thebmi.org)• Gallery Imperato. 921 East Fort Avenue, Suite 120. 443-257-4166. Tuesday through Saturday, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. • Gallery 211. 211 East Fort Avenue. 410-244-1340. Open Thursday and Friday, 4-8 p.m., Saturday, 2 to 7 p.m. Pastel drawings by Hunter Nesbitt through June 13. • Intercultural Museum Art Gallery, 1118 Light Street, Suite 202. 410-448-2276. “Eclectic Urbanism, Space, Time and Rhythm,” works by the Urban Individualists, an artist collec-tive influeneced by the vision of Helen Ruiz. Through May 16. • Light Street Gallery. 1448 Light Street. 410-234-0047. Open Saturday, noon to 6 p.m. and by appointment. An ongoing exhibit featuring prints by Rob Gonsalves, Stephen James Harlan, Robert Jackson, Mark Lovett and others.• Lucinda Gallery & Boutique. 929 South Charles Street. 410-727-2782. “Miracle on the Deck: Mourning Doves Hatch Twins,” a whimsical spring series of original art by Kenlynn K. Schroeder. Through October 31. Meet the artist at a reception on Sunday, May 3, from 3-6 p.m. Public invited to attend.• School 33 Art Center. 1427 Light Street. 410-396-4641. Open Tuesday, Wednesday & Friday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Thursday, 10-7, and Saturday, noon to 4 p.m. “Masked,” a curated exhibit featuring 12 artists, begins at a reception for the artists on Saturday, May 9, from 6 to 9 p.m.The curator, Joan Weber, will talk about the exhibit on Saturday, May 23, from 1 to 3 p.m. Through May 31. • Maryland State Arts Council. 175 West Ostend Street. 410-767-6555. Open weekdays, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. • Maryland Science Center. 601 Light St. 410-685-2370. IMAX schedule at www.mdsci.org. “Chinasaurs: Dinosaur Dynasty” begins on May 23. See authentic, full-scale Chinese dinosaurs.• Sports Legends at Camden Yards, 301 West Camden Street. 410-727-1539. “The Greatest Game Ever Played” celebrates 50th anniversary of famous Colts’ game in 1958. Through June 30.• Walters Museum. 600 North Charles St. 410-547-9000. Two new volumes of the Saint John’s Bible. Through May 24.

Art for May: Poe, masks and dinosaurs

POE-INSPIRED ART: Andy Cook, left, and Michael Lease work on drawings of Edgar Allan Poe during a recent art workshop at the library. The free workshops continue on Monday, May 4, 11 and 18, from 5:45 to 7:45 p.m., at the Light Street library branch. Photo by Melanie Jacobs

The Friends of the Light Street Branch of the Enoch Pratt Free Library have elected new officers.

They are Michael DeHaemer, president, Rob Jacobs, vice president, Marsha Stein, treasurer, and LizNoel Duncan, secretary. The Friends were holding their spring book sale during the first weekend of May.

Members of the public are encouraged to become part of the Friends of the Light Street Branch, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit support organ-ization that helps the library staff in many different ways. It only costs $10 a year to belong and the group meets only once a month (on the first Monday).

May events at the library include: • Mother Goose on the Loose on Wednesdays, 10 a.m.,

for children up to the age of 3 with their caregivers. This is an extremely popular program featuring nursery rhymes, music and movement.

• Preschool Storytime on Wednesdays, 11 a.m. Stories, songs and fun for preschoolers ages 3 to 5.

• The Friends of the Light Street Branch will meet on Monday, May 11, at 6:15 p.m. Please attend and

become a member!• Art work-

shops for teens and adults continue on Mondays, May 4, 11 and 18, 5:45 to 7:45 p.m. Theme: Poe’s literary legacy. Presented by Art on Purpose.

• Press Play on Tuesday, May 12, from 3 to 5 p.m. Impress your friends and show off your gaming skills with Wii and board games. For teens.

• Library Idol on Thursday, May 14, at 6 p.m. Read a poem, sing a song, perform a dance routine: Show us your talent! Standup comedy is fine, too. You must register and your act must be family-friendly. Call 410-396-1096 for details.

• The Small Business Connection on Monday, May 18, at noon. If you are unemployed, learn how to start your own business. Bring a brown bag lunch and discover ways to launch a new career with

Naomi Hafter of the Enoch Pratt Free Library’s Business Center.

• The Light Street Branch Book Club will meet on Thursday, May 28, at 6:45 p.m. This is an oppor-tunity for adults to choose and discuss interesting fiction and nonfiction books.

• Stitch-n-Knit on Saturday, May 30, at 11 a.m. Calling all needle enthusiasts! Do you knit, crochet or cross-stitch? Come and meet new friends and trade tips and techniques!

Call 410-396-1096 for more library information.


Show off your talent at Library Idol on May 14 at the Light Street branch!

The Light Street library has many new computers for public to use. Photo by Melanie Jacobs


The Baltimore Animal Rescue and Care Shelter is at 301 Stockholm Street, near the Ravens Stadium. Call 410-396-4695 or go to

www.baltimoreanimal shelter.org. Open: Weekdays, 12:30 to 6 p.m. and on Saturday & Sunday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

presentsB Minor Mass (ticket required) featuring:

Kee Sun Kwon, soprano Monica Reinagel, alto

Jason Biggs, tenorPhillip Collister, bass

•Sunday, May 3, at 4 p.m.

Pre-concert lecture at 3 p.m. with Dr. Christoph Wolff, a world renowned Bach scholar.

Christ Lutheran Church701 South Charles Street • 410-752-7179(Across Light Street from the Maryland Science Center)

All free (except a ticket is needed in May) • All are welcome • Details: www.bachinbaltimore.org

A TO Z REPAIRS

For all your home or business repairs, call Del Lair at 410-467-2000Maryland Home Improvement Commission License No. 66090

HOME IMPROVEMENTSExterior and Interior Painting / Drywall / Carpentry

Decks / Gutters / Power Wash / Floors / Bathrooms Tiles / Kitchens / Clubrooms

Residential or Commercial Work

April meeting highlights: A flurry of public hearings on important issues

Music Director: T. Herbert Dimmock

These are highlights of the FHNA’s gen-eral membership meeting on Tuesday, April 21, at Christ Lutheran Church. Submitted by John Rehmert.

The March 17 meeting minutes were adopted without change by the mem-bers. Announcements were made by

FHNA President Paul Robinson about the following events:

• A public hearing for the City Council’s live entertainment bill will be held on April 23 at the Federal Hill Preparatory School.

• A public hearing concerning video lot-tery terminals is set for Monday, April 27, at 7 p.m. at Digital Harbor High School cafeteria.

• The City Council will hold a hearing on Bill No. 09-0322 on April 28. The purpose of the bill is to reduce the fine for a first-time leash law violation, from $1,000 to $250. The fine would then increase to $500 for a second offence and $1,000 for a third offence.

● The Area 9 RPP update was presented by Jason Tyler. He said the neighborhood can expect to see 400 of the anticipated 800 permit parking signs installed in our area. The new Area 9 signs will display no park-ing from 6 p.m. to 7 a.m. Monday through

Sunday morning and no parking 2 p.m. to 7 a.m. Sunday through Monday morning. Frank Murphy, the new acting deputy direc-tor of the Parking Authority, said the balance of the signs will be installed by mid-summer.

As part of the safety report, John Rehmert introduced Officer Kevin Vaught from the Southern District. Officer Vaught, better known as “Officer Butterbean” has recently been assigned to the Neighborhood Services Unit. In his new capacity Officer Vaught has responsibility for community policing and community relations in Federal Hill. His e-mail address is [email protected]. He said he wants to hear from residents regarding violations of the law and community activities that involve the police or need police assistance.

Officer Vaught said the police bike patrol in Federal Hill Area will be returning now that the weather has warmed up. Michael Moriarity requested guidance on when to call 311 versus 911. Officer Vaught said 311 was for things like housing code violations, sidewalks in disrepair or streetlights that need to be fixed.

If you need a police officer to respond,

you should call 911, not 311. Jane Wehrle said that she has witness a marked improve-ment in police response since Sgt. Eric Kowalczyk was put in charge of the NSU. Lane Berk asked if the police enforce the litter laws. Officer Vaught said they do and added that he favors issuing a civil citation because no count appearance is required for that type of citation.

The Key Highway Traffic Impact Study has been completed. Jessica Keller of the city Department of Transportation was on hand to talk about possible solutions to the congested and dangerous intersection at Light Street and Key Highway.

She said that the goal was to make the intersection safer and more appealing as a gateway to Federal Hill. She mentioned two possible solutions. One would enlarge the intersection to improve both traffic safety and pedestrian crossing. There would also be improved landscaping and new traffic lights. The other plan included a roundabout and improved landscaping. She urged residents to make their preference known to the FHNA. Look for drawings soon in The Hillsider or online at the FHNA website.


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The following article was prepared by members of the FHNA Board.

In response to the recent Federal Hillsider articles regarding the reported contami-nation of the 1111 Light Street devel-

opment, Gary Suskauer, director of the Baltimore Development Corporation’s Brownfields Initiative, has written a letter to The Hillsider explaining the BDC’s role in relation to the 1111 Light Street project.

Mr. Suskauer’s letter details how the BDC administers the city’s Brownfields Initiative, through which developers who are working with “contaminated and blight-ed” properties are often eligible to receive assistance for conducting environmental site assessments. The letter is printed here for the consideration of FHNA members..

The letter raises a number of questions regarding the process and how it applies to the 1111 Light Street development. As explained by Mr. Suskauer, one of the funding criteria placed upon developers requesting such funds is the provision that the development must create permanent

jobs within Baltimore City. It is unclear how many permanent jobs will be created by this project.

Given that the BDC provides assis-tance for conducting the environmental site assessments, what is the selection pro-cess for engaging contractors to conduct such an assessment? As noted in previous issues of The Hillsider, the Limited Phase II Environmental Assessment conducted by Geo-Technology Associates in respect of this development stated that it was carried out at the request of the BDC.

Obviously, in order to protect the inter-ests of the adjacent property owners, it is hoped that the Baltimore Development Corporation would contract with an inde-pendent contractor to do the work, but it is not clear from the letter if this is the case.

Also, the fact that the project would be subjected to federal Environmental Protection Agency oversight as well as at the state level had not been discussed prior to Mr. Suskauer’s communication.

The letter states that there is to be quar-terly oversight from EPA’s Philadelphia

office, yet this appears to be the first men-tion of this extra tier of oversight. It would be helpful to know how much oversight the EPA exercises in this case.

Finally, it is somewhat disturbing to read that until he read the recent article in The Hillsider, Gary Suskauer was unaware that Arsh Mirmiran was the vice president of Federal Hill Main Street. As stated previ-ously, the BDC serves as the parent agency for the Baltimore Main Street programs.

Why Mr. Mirmiran’s position was not a matter of prior disclosure is unclear as doing so would have eliminated even the appearance of a conflict of interest. That the director of the BDC’s Brownfield Initiative would have to read about such a potential conflict in a neighborhood newsletter raises awkward questions regarding the process as a whole.

•This is the letter sent to The Hillsider

by Gary Suskauer of the BDC. The letter is dated April 6, 2009:



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Official explains BCD role in the 1111 Light Street development

“I recently became aware of an article in the March issue of the Federal Hillsider titled “Toxicologist to discuss arsenic issue at FHNA meeting,” which discusses sever-al aspects of the proposed development at 1111 Light Street. I would like to take this opportunity to clarify several points about the City’s brownfields program.

“The Baltimore Development Corporation (BCD) is the administrator of the City’s Brownfields Initiative, and has a variety of incentives available to help with the redevelopment of sites where environ-mental issues may exist. Most commonly, the Initiative provides assistance for con-ducting environmental site assessments to projects that will address contamination issues and thereby provide increased prop-erty tax revenue for the City. Without the Brownfields Initiative, many of these prop-erties would simply remain contaminated and a blight on our City.

“This assistance is available on a first-come, first-served basis through the BDC. Any developer with a project that will

provide for permanent jobs in the City is eligible to receive funding.

“Until I read your article, I was unaware of Mr. Mirmiran’s involvement with the Federal Hill Main Streets program. Prior to funding the Phase II study, Mirmiran Atlantic was required to commit to enrolling the properties in the Maryland Voluntary Cleanup Program (VCP), which you note is administered by the Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE), whose toxicologist spoke at your recent meeting.

“By requiring a developer to enroll a

property in the VCP, the City is able to safeguard its investment in the commu-nity by ensuring that the public health and safety are protected through the oversight of MDE’s scientists.

“Further oversight is provided by the fact that this site assessment was fund-ed through a grant received from the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). EPA maintains the right to over-see any projects using these funds and each requires an approval from the EPA’s regional headquarters in Philadelphia, with updates provide quarterly so that progress can be monitored. Thus, while developers are integral to this program, each site is subject to extensive federal, state and local oversight.

“The city’s Brownfields Initiative is one of the most successful of its kind in the country. Baltimore is a leader in redeveloping contaminated properties and is proud of its track record of success in increasing the quality of life for its citizens through improvements in public health and safety, neighborhood stability as well as the generation of increased property tax revenues.”


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for neighbors. Given all this, it does seem a bit curious

that the City Council is wasting time, energy and precious resources even considering a bill that proposes what now amount to a few minor changes to the existing zoning code?. The Council president even admits that these changes would best be part of the ongoing comprehensive rewrite of the code, referred to as “TransForm Baltimore.”

The answer may be found in the city Board of Estimates recent approval of a deal to bring a Video Lottery Terminal (a.k.a. slot machines) to our neighborhood. Apparently, the Ray Lewis/Cormony Development deal is dead with the recent expiration of an option to purchase a bunch of city-owned waterfront properties collectively known as Gateway South. (Go to www.cormonydevelopment.com/favicon.ico.)

Now with support from the Baltimore Development Corporation, the only company (owned by Canadians) that bid on the slots license for the city is proposing to replace Ray-Ray and Cormony as the developer of

the entire area. Conveniently, now that a licensed slots

vendor will control all of this prime property, allowing live entertainment to be “zoned in” provides a simple way to include live entertainment without the hassle and expense of being subjected to annual renewal scrutiny. Note that construction of the slots parlor will require Council approval for the entire area to be rezoned. That bill is scheduled for introduction sometime in May.

Live entertainment done responsibly could ultimately either be a good thing that will encourage development with public access (like RiverWalk in San Antonio) to an entirely new stretch of waterfront properties. Or it may pave the way for large concert venues, which ultimately create more traffic, parking, noise, and crime with little recourse available for the residents of Federal Hill, Sharp-Leadenhall, South Baltimore and Pigtown.

It is well worth your time to communicate your thoughts on all this clearly to business and community association leaders. Hold them responsible for keeping you informed.

Be mindful that gambling and live entertainment are a combination with the potential to throw off big bucks. If currying favor with a few influential individuals and politicians in the area are all it takes to get to the Promised Land, it certainly merits you asking tough questions to ensure that your interests are being considered and protected. (See a map of the location for slot machines near M&T Stadium on the facing page.)

Big changes are on the horizon. Don’t get blinded by the sun. Follow the money.

FHNA President Paul Robinson at the school meeting.


the budget.On May 1 The Sun reported (“Council

spars with finance director over $53M in extra money”) that the city has somehow found $53 million stashed away for over a decade in some heretofore unknown account, but the finance director says the funds can-not be used to reduce property taxes or in any other way toward closing the budget gap. What?

But wait, there’s more (whatever calms your nerves; you might want have it close at hand before reading on)!

Fewer and fewer people are reading The Sun, but virtually nobody I know bothers to read the Saturday edition. Presumably this is the reason they started delivering it free to Sunday-only subscribers.

Could it have been simply a matter of convenient timing then that the city public notice that follows appeared on Page 3 of the May 2 edition of The Sun?

In plain English the notice says that because the assessable tax base increased (in Federal Hill’s case assessed values were up on average 6.2 percent), the city could reduce the tax rate by 17.5 cents and get the same income as last year. But City Hall apparently wants to leave the tax rate where it is, and thus be in a position to increase tax

collections by more than $50 million. The constant yield rate law requires the

city to set property tax rates each year so that as property assessments change, the tax rate is adjusted in order to yield the same revenue as the prior year.

Let’s see now: • 2009-2010 budget shortfall: $63 million. • Long-lost revenue found: $53 million. • And $50 million in higher property

taxes from overburdened city homeowners — Priceless!

Budget shortfall problem solved! Have a nice summer. Don’t you wish you could solve your personal budget problems so easily?

Maybe the City Council doesn’t care if hiking taxes might, in fact, ultimately serve only to reduce the city’s fragile tax base? This could well happen if a bunch of us resolve to relocate rather than fight.

A public hearing on this proposal, which is required by law, is scheduled for Monday, May 11, before the Council’s Budget and Appropriations/Committee of the Whole. Councilman Bernard C. “Jack” Young ([email protected]) of the 12th District is the chair. Our 10th District Councilman Ed Reisinger ([email protected]) is also a member.

I can’t tell you how many people respond-ed to last month’s President’s Letter by ask-ing, “What can we do?”

Here’s what: Let Chairman Young, Ed

Reisinger, Councilman Bill Cole ([email protected]) from the 11th District, Mayor Sheila Dixon, Council President Stephanie Rawlings-Blake and the rest of the City Council know how you feel! Organize your neighbors and attend this hearing!

•This is the public notice, just as it was

published in The Sun on Saturday, May 2, when no one would see it:

BALTIMORE CITY NOTICE OF PROPOSED

REAL PROPERTY TAX INCREASEThe City Council of Baltimore City

proposes to increase real property taxes. 1. For the tax year beginning July 1, 2009, the estimated real property assessable base will increase by 8.3% from $26,620,006,375 to $28,840,751,965.

2. If Baltimore City maintains the current tax rate of $2.268 per $100 of assessment, real property tax revenues will increase by 8.3% resulting in $50,366,510 of new real property tax revenues.

3. In order to fully offset the effect of increasing assessments, the real property tax rate should be reduced to $2.093, the con-stant yield tax rate.

4. The City is considering not reducing its real .property tax rate enough to fully offset increasing assessments. The City proposes to adopt a real property tax rate of $2.268 per $100 of assessment. This tax rate is 8.4% higher than the constant yield tax rate and will generate $50,366,510 in additional prop-erty tax revenues.

A public hearing on the proposed real property tax rate increase will be held at 6:00 PM on Monday, May 11, 2009, City Hall-Council Chambers, 4th Floor, and 100 North Holliday Street, Baltimore, Maryland 21202.

The hearing is open to the pub-lic, and public testimony is encouraged. Persons with questions regarding this hearing may call 443-984-3485 for further informa-tion.

President’s LetterContinued from page 1

SLOTS ARE COMING: The old warehouse area east of Russell Street and south of the M&T Stadium is going to be transformed into a development that includes one of the state’s five Video Lottery Terminals, with thousands of slots machines. The FHNA will continue to monitor this project, which is not within FHNA boundaries, but will certainly impact the Federal Hill neighborhood and business district. The FHNA acquired this drawing and other information from the Baltimore Development Corporation.

By Julie Helms

John Sauers, a Maryland Institute College of Art graduate, worked as a graphic designer for BGE for 35 years, from 1955 to 1990.

His office was located in downtown Baltimore at Lexington and Liberty streets, close enough to explore the city’s unique neighborhoods during his lunch hour.

With his sketchbook and charcoals in hand, he would arrive at his destination — the harbor, Pier 6, Otterbein, Federal Hill, even Fells Point — and quickly sketch the urban scene, like the drawing at right. Many of the sites that he rendered no longer exist or have been significantly altered.

The result of his whirlwind lunchtime ven-tures is a historical collection of drawings that document the city as it looked prior to its renaissance and redevelopment. His subjects include houses and churches on Montgomery, Hanover, Hamburg, Hughes and Peach streets and Welcome Alley; Federal Hill Park, the Tall Ships, Port Welcome, the Nobska, and all sorts of other boats in the harbo.

He also sketched “street people,” the home-

less, alcoholics and community characters. His forays into South Baltimore extended to just south of the Cross Street Market.

After leaving BGE, he was employed by The Sun as an artist. Today, Mr. Sauers lives in Harford County and he is 76 years old. John Sauers’s collection will be on display and offered for sale on Saturday, May 16, exclu-sively at Light Street Presbyterian Church during the church’s annual flea market and silent auction. (See the ad on page 22 for details.)

•

Don’t miss the Downtown Baltimore Family Alliance’s first annual tour of kids’ spaces on Saturday, May 9, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. in Federal Hill. The house tour is a self-paced, self-guided walking tour with volunteer guides stationed at each house. It will feature eight to 10 houses over several city blocks or so to complete, rain or shine. To purchase tickets, go to www.dbfam.org/housetour. The cost of the tour is $25 per per-son. Programs and a limited number of tickets for $30 each will be available the day of the event at Spoons at 24 East Cross Street.

•A Philadelphia-based charity, Back on My

Feet, has started two new chapters in Baltimore and some residents and FHNA Board members have signed up to participate. Back on My Feet works with two homeless shelters to get the homeless and recovering addicts interested in running as a means to build confidence, fitness and self-esteem. If you are interested in run-ning, donating to the organization, or finding out more information, go to www.backonmy-feet.org. — Submitted by Jason Tyler


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May Hillsider 2009:Urbanite Jan 2008 4/24/2009 4:48 PM Page 1

FHNA Election News www.federalhillna.org May 2009

2009 FHNA Annual Officers & Directors ElectionTuesday, May 19, 2009 • Preliminary Official Ballot • Slate of Candidates

FHNA OfficersNOMINEE OFFICE TERMPaul W. Robinson (incument) President Two yearsMeredith Tyler Treasurer Two years

At-Large Board Members (11 seats)NOMINEE TERMChris Jones One yearBob Merbler (incumbent) One yearMichael Moriarity One yearWali Mutavammil One yearRichard Polan One yearPaul Quinn (incumbent) One yearScott Pevenstein (incumbent) One yearDaniel Sternklar One year Terry Smith One year Jason Tyler (incumbent) One year

SIX QUESTIONS FOR THE CANDIDATESThe candidates were asked to respond to the following list of questions about the Federal Hill neighborhood.

Their replies can be read on the FHNA’s website at www.federalhillna.org.1. What are the three biggest issues facing Federal Hill residents in the coming year or two?2. As a Board members or officer how would youi propose to address these issues?3. Do you have any business interest in the neighborhood that might represent even the appearance of a conflict?4. How long have you been a resident of Federal Hill?5. What do you like about the Federal Hill Neighborhood Association?6. What improvements do you think are needed at the FHNA?

May 2009 www.federalhillna.org FHNA Election News

Letter of NominationI, (Member’s First and last Name) residing at (House Number) and (Street) Baltimore, Maryland 21230 hereby nominate the following individual:

(Nominee’s First and Last Name) residing at (House Number) and (Street Address) , Baltimore, Maryland 21230 for the Office of (Choose one: President/ Treasurer/ At large Member) of the Federal Hill Neighborhood Association (“FHNA”) Board of Directors.

It is understood that the name of (Nominee’s First and Last Name) will be added to the Official 2009 FHNA Election Ballot. Said Election is scheduled to take place on May 19, 2009.

This letter also serves as a statement confirming my current status as a member-in-good-standing of the Federal Hill Neighborhood Association.

___________________________________ ___________________Nominating Party’s Signature Date

SecondI, (First and Last Name of Member) residing at (House Number) and (Street Address) Baltimore, Maryland 21230 hereby Second the above referenced nomination.

I, too confirm my current status as a member-in-good-standing of the Federal Hill Neighborhood Association.

___________________________________ ___________________Second Party’s Signature Date

AFTER FILLING OUT THIS FORM, PLEASE MAIL IT TO:Federal Hill Neighborhood Association, P.O. Box 27112, Baltimore 21230

FHNA Election News www.federalhillna.org May 2009

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This letter was written by Terri Goldberg of Riverside Avenue and sent to City Council President Stephanie Rawlings-Blake on April 15.

I am a 17-year resident of Baltimore City. I strongly oppose the live entertainment bill (City Council

Bill No. 06-0163) with respect to Federal Hill.

Federal Hill is primarily a residential neighborhood. Over the past many years, the number of bars has greatly increased. With the bars came noise, vandalism, car damage, public drunkenness, trash, traffic and parking headaches for residents.

I have personally observed drunks urinating on the street. Another night, all of the flower pots for several streets were broken. On yet another night, men fought in the street and damaged a car as I called 911.

Live entertainment in Federal Hill

may bring more people to the bars, but only at the expense of the residents, as we endure more noise, crime and inconvenience.

Having bar owners develop sanitation and traffic plans sounds nice, but parking, noise, trash [problems] already are out of hand and are not being addressed. The current problems should be resolved first.

Every Saturday night, drunken people wander our neighborhood, causing property damage and

incredible noise. There is no place for residents to

park. Until the current state of affairs can be made livable for city residents, adding live entertainment is in-appropriate.

The bill is not supported by Federal Hill residents and neighborhood committees. It is supported by bar owners who do not live in Baltimore, do not pay our taxes and do not vote in the city.

The owner of Crazy Lil’s lives in Clarksville, the owner of Pub Dog lives in Columbia, the owner of Mugsy’s [on Light Street] lives in Hunt Valley, and so on. (I enclose copies of official records to confirm this.)

The interests of city residents should have priority. I appreciate your efforts to help the business community, but I ask that you focus on the residents first. Thank you for your con-sideration.

May 2009 www.federalhillna.org Page 15

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I am incredulous that responsible, respectful dog owners are being fined $1,000 for allowing their dogs to play

Frisbee and have healthy exercise with other dogs in the park when there are so, so many other important issues with which the city should be concerned!

How about taking a look at panhandlers who force me to cross the street in the early morning hours on my way to the gym. Better yet, let’s spend some time looking at the Inner Harbor panhandlers who only get told to move on or wake up when the tourists are

in town. Then, again, perhaps we could find the means to deal with those who sleep, eat, and, yes the other, in the bus stop shelters or on the stoops of businesses or even homes.

Maybe the city could put some effort into dealing with the trail of litter — soda

cans, bottles, potato chip bags, chicken bones — left by students on their way to and from Digital High School on a daily basis.

I would be grateful, indeed, if someone

would find a way to quiet the drunks leaving the bars in my beloved Federal Hill community and prevent them from urinating in public! Here’s a thought: why are we not devoting more attention to the drug dealers and gangs that thrive in the city? Maybe our efforts would be better placed in hiring more police officers or paying them better!

Is it possible that having a concealed weapon carries a fine of equal value as walking one’s dog unleashed. Huh? How could this make sense to anyone? What is wrong with officials that they would impose a ludicrous “doggie” fine such as this while not enforcing more meaningful laws already of the books that would provide our city with the help it so desperately needs? I hope the “unleashed dog fine” is reconsidered by reasonable people who will give it some serious, sober thought. — Patricia May

•Mr. Robinson, I read your most recent

President’s Letter in The Hillsider. As one who fought with you for a while during that

Page 16 www.federalhillna.org May 2009

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Letter writers unleash on dog fines, Harborview, recyling and “riffraff

LETTERS TO THE HILLSIDER

battle, I applaud your efforts and your well drafted commentary. I remember all those promises and delusions of grandeur.

I now find it hard to discuss [Richard] Swirnow [of Harborview] and company without being reminded how the peninsula residents were told outright lies and falsehoods. The developers “ robbed ” the city, state and its citizens with the $5 million state grant and the $5 million TIF, all in hopes of lining their pockets even further.

The TIF funds were acquired on the premise that the average sales price of a house would be about $450,000. They haven’t paid nor generated the promised taxes, they built taller units than promised and permitted by law, built in view corridors, destroyed water views and enjoyment forever! How ironic that the wall of private homes now encapsulating our side of the harbor stand substantially vacant! And not to mention the defiance of the “stop work” order issued by the city that Swirnow disregarded fearing no consequences for doing so. Work hours of 7

a.m. to 7 p.m. were frequently ignored. Thus, that city-sponsored sham of a hearing regarding the height of the Harborview homes was the proverbial straw for me.

I could only walk away in disgust and disbelief. I’m also reminded how previous FHNA presidents used their positions of power to aid and abet developers and disregard promises to adjacent neighbors.

Thanks for not letting the community and hopefully others forget how these devel-opers use power, money and influence to do what is in their own best interest while convincing us they are looking out for our best interests. — T.P.

•I read your Federal Hillsider article about

development and tax revenue and found it very compelling. I agree it is a shame or even a crime what happened to the waterfront (I moved here just before the construction).

However, I was a bit confused by your statement about the proposed reduction of trash service; isn’t the proposal to, yes, reduce trash collection to once per week but at the same time increase recycling collection to once a week?

One would think that in our small rowhouses if the problem has been no place to store recyclables, that should be alleviated with more frequent pickups and things that would otherwise have been thrown away for lack of space can now be recycled.

On a related note, perhaps you could send a message to [your] e-mail list about next weekend’s compost bin sale in Baltimore County (residence not necessary)? Com-posting also could help eliminate the “smelly” parts of some trash. For details, go to www.baltimorecountymd.gov/Agencies/publicworks/recycling/composting/binsale. — Katie Stofer

Ms. Stofer: Thanks for your comments. My understanding of the proposed “One-plus-One” collection program is consistent with yours. And yes, a forced program of “behavioral modification” will no doubt increase recycling efforts among city residents. It might also bring more money to the city’s general fund, which may further serve to partially offset the $61 million budget deficit currently forecast for FY 2010. However, there are likely to be some



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By Paul Robinson

If it wasn’t for real bad luck… Virtually my entire life has been lived in a sort of intra-generational no-man’s land.

Examples: My older pals favored Elvis; I was a Beatles fan. I turned 18 and the drink-ing age gets raised to 21 where I attended college. Post graduation, I became eligible

for the Selective Service draft. That same year D.C. politicians came up with the lot-tery. I pulled number 66. “Good Morning, Vietnam.”

So again I find myself “stuck” between two generations with widely divergent musi-cal tastes. There are my Geritol generation pals (actually more prone to sucking down Cialis and Condoitan) and those good friends who are more concerned with rock-hard abs.Hmm. Upon further reflection, both groups actually seem to agree on one thing — their inexplicable disdain for BIG guitars!

Even Big “God” Eric “Slowhand” Clap-ton mellowed out considerably post-rehab.

But back in the day....Lately I have been obsessing trying to

identify the tipping point at which big guitar

became anathema. I checked the web for old pix of the latter day guitar idols and I believe I stumbled on the seminal moment. No matter that Eddie Van Halen is as bril-liant a technician as the greats that inspired him (you instinctively know when you are listening to his work).

Big guitar’s currency was devalued the minute David Lee Roth convinced Eddie to abandon the frayed denim and introduce the spandex element as de rigueur rock star stage garb. About the only thing notable about the tsunami of utterly forgettable gui-tar bands that came in Van Halen’s wake is that they all had the same sway at the knees and big hair tossing around in unison act.

Ah, but then there was always the sub-lime Jeff Beck, who was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame on April 4 by fellow former Yardbird Jimmy Page.

Beck replaced Eric Clapton as lead guitarist for the Yardbirds in 1965. Beck, Clapton and Page were previously inducted for their work with the group. Beck and Page collaborated that night on Led Zeppelin’s

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“Immigrant Song” and “Beck’s Bolero.” Two days later in Scranton, Pa., the Hall

of Fame guitarist embarked on a limited U.S. tour that hit nine cities before wrap-ping up in Oakland, Calif., on April 23. On April 22, Rod Stewart joined his for-mer Jeff Beck Group (Truth and Beckola) bandmate on stage for a performance at the El Rey Theater in L.A. You can see the performance online at www.youtube.com/watch?v=re4ut7EI4wc.

The same touring band backing Beck on this tour is also featured in a newly released live performance DVD called “Jeff Beck Performing This Week…Live at Ronnie Scott’s.” The DVD features a compilation of material spanning Beck’s genre-jumping career. His band includes Tal Wilkenfeld (bass), Vinnie Colaiuta (drums) and Jason Rebello (keyboards).

Joss Stone, Imogen Heap and Eric Clapton are also featured performers, complement-ing Beck’s unique combination of fingertip, whammy bar, and volume control guitar

work with their diverse vocal approaches. The intimate performance space at

Ronnie Scott’s plays as much a part in all this as anything. Beck and the band were forced to custom tailor the sound to the 250-person capacity room. Stadium sound just wouldn’t cut it.

The genre hopping set features covers of Charlie Mingus (“Goodbye Pork Pie Hat”) John McLaughlin (“Eternity”), Billy Cobham (“Stratus”), Stevie Wonder (“Cause We’ve Ended as Lovers”) and Lennon/McCartney (“A Day in the Life”) along with a slew of Beck standards. The result is noth-ing short of jaw-dropping.

As macho as this all might sound, it is intriguing to note that this show’s highlights all belong to the (relatively) young ladies involved. Twenty-two-year-old Australian bass prodigy Tal Wilkenfeld’s solo on “Cause

We’ve Ended as Lovers” is unlike anything you have ever seen or heard.

Imogen Heap goes where no woman (let alone a 32-year-old) has ever dared go before with her vocal on the wildly sugges-tive Muddy Waters’s chestnut “Rollin’ and Tumblin.’ ”

Then there is Joss Stone; another 22-year old. She has the soul pipes, but has always performed in a way that at least to me comes off as self-consciously derivative. Until now. Curtis Mayfield and the Impressions intro-duced us all to Philly Soul with “People Get Ready.” Two years before Stone was even born, Jeff Beck and Rod Stewart made the song over into their own.

The bar may have already been set so high that Joss Stone had to dig much deeper than she has ever done before, and, man she nails it. The look on Beck’s face says it all. In five years Joss Stone will find herself and define her own unique style. Think Joplin.

There’s no denying that a good home entertainment system will enhance the expe-rience for you, but this DVD is just so good, even my friends who eschew big guitar were blown away.

Page 20 www.federalhillna.org May 2009

Music that might matterContinued from page 18

2009 FHNA Membership Application — Please Join Today!

Member No. 1Last name__________________________First name______________________ Amount paid $15 ___ (Over 65___)Member No. 2Last name__________________________First name______________________ Amount paid $15 ___ (Over 65___)Street address_____________________________Apartment/unit No._________Phone number (please include area code)_______________________________E-mail address_____________________________________________________ Total paid $_____ (Please make your check out to: Federal Hill Neighborhood Association and give it to a FHNA Board member or mail it to FHNA, P.O. Box 27112, Baltimore 21230. Your new membership card will be sent to you promptly.)All information will be kept confidential. E-mail address will be used only to communicate FHNA issues and events of importance to residents. No information will be shared with a third party.

Annual dues are only $15 per person; Federal Hill residents over 65 can join free!

Check out Jeff Beck playing with his old bandmate,Rod Stewart, in L.A.on a YouTube video.


You can build a low-maintenance ‘outdoor room’ to really enjoy spring weatherBy Ken Andrew, Jr.

I recently had the opportunity to see the transformation of a rather bland backyard into a remarkable addition to a home’s

living space (a.k.a. “an outdoor room.”) The transformation into an outdoor room resulted from the design and execution of landscape architect Mark A. Willard of Baltimore.

I contacted Mark to discuss his process and was impressed with his approach that utilizes every bit of space, without a detail unturned. Since warm weather is here, I thought the information would be useful for anyone plan-ning a new garden or changing the appearance or functionality of an existing one.

Just like a room in your house, think of your garden, outdoor terrace or rooftop deck, as a “room,” It has a floor, walls and a ceil-ing. It has electrical, plumbing and drainage infrastructure within its floors and walls. It also has a function related to how you live just like the other rooms in your house.

Unlike the controlled environment of interior rooms, an outdoor room’s climate changes with the seasons. A well planned outdoor room extends your living area out-side comfortably and conveniently.

The first and most often overlooked issue in creating a low-maintenance outdoor room is the proper planning of the infrastructure. Lighting, electrical outlets, drainage, irriga-tion lines and/or a water supply all must be planned for. Prior to preparing a plan, be sure to note of any special restrictions or opportu-nities related to infrastructure. Here are some questions to ask:

• How does the drainage work? • Are there downspouts that dump roof

water into the space? • Is there access to a water faucet? • Is there an adequate source for electrical

supply? Secondly, establish how you want your

outdoor room to function: • Will it be a space to simply sit and read

with a cup of coffee? • Do you plan to entertain guests? How

many? • Where do you place the grill so it can

function easily and safely? Are there any undesirable views that you want to be sure to screen? Make note of any particular security issues and how can you access the area for

maintenance. In addition, consider a soil test. Amendments to your soil may be necessary to adjust the ph, level of organic matter, or drainage characteristics.

Take a moment to review you community association design guidelines or covenants (if any) as well as the local zoning code for any restrictions on things like outdoor structures, walls, awnings, decks and fences. Often there are specific things required to be shown on a plan to be submitted for approval.

Prepare a plan. Measure the area and note any existing plants, trees or structures to remain. You may consider the services of a certified arborist to evaluate the condition of a specimen or very large tree prior to going to great lengths to save it. It may also be less expensive to prune or remove the tree now before all the work is done. Be sure to note any critical infrastructure issues.

Plot your measurements on a sheet of graph paper to scale. Now you are ready to layout the furniture in your outdoor room. Maximize views, balance exposure to sun and shade, and, maximize comfort and con-versation along with the placement of major plantings. Locating the optimum place for furniture and trees will begin to determine the basic design and structural framework for your outdoor room.

Don’t be afraid to demolish something if it significantly enables you to maximize design opportunities of your outdoor room. Let go of those old hang-ups and think big.

Remember, once the project is built, this is how you will spend most of your time in the space. Consider a focal point. A focal

point could be a view, a “hardscape” element such as a water fea-ture built into a wall, a container garden, sculpture or fire pit. A focal point could also be a “softscape” ele-ment such as an uplit multi-stem tree with a grouping of shrubs around it.

Be sure to consider views from adjacent inside rooms as well.

Place light fixtures. Do not light up every-thing. Be sure to light steps or changes in

grades for safety. Use down light to create a sense of security and up light to create drama. Make the space inviting with light. Be sure to hide the source of the light or glare from primary view points.

Establish the “corridors” for infrastruc-ture. Once the light fixtures are generally located, determine how and where to control them. Make it easy to maintain. Consider an automatic timer for both the lighting and irrigation system.

Also consider a drip irrigation system for reliable and consistent automatic watering in the garden. Utilize a qualified electrician to make electrical connections to your power supply and a certified plumber for connec-tions to your water supply.

Don’t hesitate to consult an engineer or landscape architect. Keep the shape of you paved areas simple and only pave or deck what is necessary for furniture and circula-tion through the garden. If your budget allows, consider stone or brick walls for a strong sense of permanence and security. Consider fences with vines, hedges or even simple rows of trees for the walls of the room.

Ceilings are often overlooked in the plan-ning of an outdoor room but make a big difference in establishing a human scale. Ceilings are also important in controlling the climate of the space. Consider retract-able awnings, pergolas or even something as simple as a tree canopy.

To contact Mark Willard & Associates, go to www.mwa-us.com.

An outdoor living space can be a quiet retreat for meditation or a place to have garden parties.


29th Annual Flea Market

and Silent Auction

Light Street Presbyterian Church 809 Light Street

May 16, 8:30 am to 3:30 pm

Antiques, Merchant Donations, Books, Housewares, Furniture, Flowers, Jewelry, Collectibles, Appliances, Baked Goods

Exclusive Showing Long-Time Baltimore

Artist John Sauers Sketched the City for

Decades. Sketches for Sale

Sign of the times: Some Area 9 parking signs finally arrive in Federal Hill

Some of our more observant residents might have noticed the installation of new Area 9 parking signs around

Federal Hill Park on a recent Thursday afternoon. This is great news and it’s just in time for summer when Federal Hill Park normally sees an upswing in traffic and, sometimes, crime.

Major Scott Bloodsworth, commander of the Southern District, reports that there has recently been a steady increase in park curfew violations and the new signs will aid

his officers in policing the park at night. The long-awaited signs will be placed on the blocks surrounding the park before being posted throughout the neighborhood.

However, City Council members William Cole and Ed Reisinger have informed FHNA that, despite their best efforts, the city Department of Transportation now has only enough metal to produce 300 to 400 signs, which is about half the number of signs required to fully take care of Area 9. So despite petitioning city officials almost a

year ago, some residents will have to wait until the summer until their block is reposted with the new hours.

Still, given these very difficult economic times, this is a step in the right direction and I’m sure most of us would agree that it doesn’t come a minute too soon. — Submitted by Jason Tyler

New, easy to understand parking signs for Area 9 have been installed in some parts of Federal Hill.

unintended consequences that were discussed in depth at a public City Council hearing [on April 27]. The Sun summed up the issues in a recent article. In the final analysis, the point of our opinion piece was not that recycling is a bad idea, it was that while facing reductions in key city services (such as twice-weekly trash collection) Federal Hill residential property owners are going to be paying 6.4 percent higher taxes on average.

Meanwhile politically well-connected developers are cavalierly ignoring their responsibilities to pay their property taxes in timely fashion. Even more galling is that these same developers are beneficiaries of all sorts of local tax breaks (Tax Incremental Financing, a new construction tax credit, and grants for PILOTS, and for construction of the public waterfront promenade).

In the case of the Harborview pier homes, the developer entered into a partnership with the city that has generated no return on the taxpayers’ investment because those returns were based on a sales quota being met by a certain date. Of course, the economy helped the developer come up woefully short of hitting that minimum within the timeframe stipulated.

•It’s too bad that this organization of ours

and [Federal Hill] Main Street has been so far off the money as to how to stop this riffraff. We have seen support for virtually nothing that pertains to the residents of Federal Hill and everything that supports more profit for the businesses.

It’s too bad that your president has been such an ineffective person for the masses of Federal Hill but a champion for those who safely live on streets that are not affected by the “goings-on” of Cross Street.

You have failed with parking, drinking and disrespectful behavior, lewd comments, loud yelling and cars blaring horns well into the night, lines forming on Light Street at the new hookah bar, trash spilled all over Federal Hill with total disregard from the establishments that sell [alcohol], no recycle [sic] bins, few, if any trash receptacles, police standing around ignoring these behaviors....

Want to add more? And you wonder why the same people come to your meetings and most of the others find ways to get

out! Clean up Federal Hill. Take action. Be responsible. Make noise, loud noise. Tell our government to “Take a hike.’ Be strong. Stand up to these idiots!

You are and always have been an ineffective body. However, good news. You don’t need to be. Do not allow any of the existing members of the board to continue in office. Find people who will take a stand and take action. This would be not only a welcome action but one that would create change for our neighborhood. — Thomas Falcone

Mr. Falcone: Thanks for your thoughtful comments. I intend to share them with the attendees at [the April] general membership meeting. Please join us if you can. I see you are not currently a Federal Hill Neigh-borhood Association member.

Hopefully, you will take this opportunity to join. You can become involved and step up with all of your passion and channel it in meaningful ways that do make a difference. I can assure you the experience will provide an epiphany for you. It has for me.


Letters to The HillsiderContinued from page 17


Federal Hill 410.727.0606Baltimore Metro 410.583.0400

Phoenix 410.667.0801Bel Air 410.420.6778Canton 410.732.3030

Come visit us at 1113 Light Street or on the web at ywgcrealty.com

337 Warren Ave. Bright 4 BR, 3 1/2 BAhome across from Federal Hill Park offers aversatile floor plan& theperfect blendofup-dates & original detail. Enjoy direct views ofthe park, city skyline and Inner Harbor.Two-tiered rooftopdeck, floor to ceilingwin-dows, built-ins and large landscaped patio.$1,100,000 Cindy Conklin & Andrea Griffin

647 Ponte Villas S. Harborview pier homeoffering 5 stories of luxurious living. Formermodel with elevator, gourmet kitchen w/is-land, SS appl package, wood flrs, 2 FP’s, 3rdstorymaster BR escapew/2walk-in closets,decadent BA, 4th flr FR& sweeping views ofthe water from each of the 3 verandas.$1,345,000CindyConklin&HeatherPerkins

New strategies for extraordinary times.

117 E. Montgomery St. 3BR, 2.5BA homeoffers abundant sunlight thru the large pic-ture windows, transoms & multiple sky-lights. Exposed beams, ornate mantels,columns&exquisite inlaid hrdwd&originalpine floors convey the historic integrity ofthishome,while the spacious fully equippedkitchen&BA’sprovidemodernconvenience.$599,000 Randee Askin & Cindy Conklin

327 G Warren Ave. Sun-drenched 2BR,2.5BA condo overlooking Federal Hill Park.Gracious floor plan incl large foyer, spaciousliving room w/FP, separate dining room,large master BR suite with walk-in closet, &updatedwhitekitchen.Threebalconies, 11 ftceilings, parquet floors, custom built-ins &tons of storage space. One deeded garageparking space. $595,000Cindy Conklin & BobMerbler

623 S. Sharp St. Beautifully updated andmaintained Otterbein home. 2-3 BR, 2.5baths. This one has it all: parking, patio, FP,hdwds, granite,stainless,trex decks,gorgeousen-suite baths, freshpaint, finbasementwithsep entrance& large 3rd floor family roomwviews over Camden Yards and dwntown.Sliding door leads to deck perfect for enter-taining. $585,000James Baldwin & Andrea Griffin

218 E.Montgomery St. This home hasbeen totally renovated from the top down,including the finest in cabinetry and tiles.Three bedrooms, 2.5 baths, third floor fam-ily room. Spectacular Inner Harbor viewsand parking pad! $889,950

Cindy Conklin & BobMerbler

Spring has sprung in Federal Hill and OtterbeinNow is the time to takeadvantage of the Spring market.Stop by and see all that we have to offer.

May Hillsider 2009:Urbanite Jan 2008 4/24/2009 4:49 PM Page 2

may 2009 federal hillsider

Documents

public city council

federal hillsidershould

east of federal hill

recyclingfederal hill

city services cuts

recycling pickups

trash pickups

fhna president paul