July 2015

A Message from the Director…

Last November, I shared news regarding the City’s use of Local Impact Aid, generated by gaming revenues, to benefit neighborhoods surrounding Pimlico Race Course and the Horseshoe Casino through community and economic development initiatives. This summer I am pleased to offer an update on how Local Impact Aid is being used to support area master plans, public services, and community projects in these areas.

In the Pimlico area, 40 projects are underway or completed since 2012 in the Park Heights Master Plan neighborhoods. In the summer of 2014, Horseshoe Casino began operations, and already these funds are contributing to south Baltimore neighborhoods. The Planning Department helped lead collaborative processes in both communities, engaging residents, business owners, elected officials, City agencies and other stakeholders in identifying priorities to inform the spending of these funds. The Pimlico Community Development Authority (PCDA) and the Baltimore Casino Local Development Council (LDC) are the two entities charged with advising the Rawlings-Blake administration on spending priorities.

Read on to learn how the City is putting these important Local Impact Aid dollars to work in eligible communities to improve quality of life today and to promote economic and community development for the long-term.

Thomas J. Stosur, Director 

Development Milestones

CHAP Earns Heritage Award

Baltimore City Commission For Historical & Architectural Preservation (CHAP) was presented with the 2015 award for Heritage Preservation.  For the last several years, CHAP has worked closely with Downtown Partnership of Baltimore to designate cherished structures as Baltimore City Landmarks.

Today, there are more than forty landmarks in Downtown Baltimore; ten of these were listed in collaboration with Downtown Partnership of Baltimore.  These new additions capture the breadth and diversity of architecture and history including church halls, industrial warehouses, and bank buildings.  They also include iron-fronts, and buildings of the Moderne, Beaux Arts, Greek Revival, and Gothic Styles. Landmark designation helps protect and celebrate the richness of Downtown Baltimore. 

Pictured below is the Appold-Faust building, one of Baltimore’s surviving cast-iron front buildings, was constructed in 1870 as a “vertical manufactory” and housed many businesses including John Faust who operated a machinated shoe factory.

Click here for more information on CHAP Landmarks

Honorary Scholarship

Salisbury University’s inaugural Gerald A. Elkins Internship is providing a geography student with a summer position at the Baltimore City Planning Department.  Junior Tyler Wilson of Annapolis, MD, was named the first recipient. 

The scholarship honors the late Gerald Elkins who dedicated over four decades to the City of Baltimore as planning and mapping professional.

Click here to read the full article on Salisbury's website.

LOCAL IMPACT AID SUPPORTS AREA MASTER PLANS, PUBLIC SERVICES, AND COMMUNITY PROJECTS

Under the State’s gaming program, video lottery terminals (VLTs) generate Local Impact Grants for the areas around Horseshoe Casino and the greater Pimlico area.   These funds are beginning to produce real benefits in terms of enhanced public services, actions to implement adopted master plans, and programs and capital investment that address community priorities. 

Pimlico Area

Since 2012, over $13 million has been designated to the greater Pimlico area, where 75% of the funds are being used to implement the Park Heights Master Plan.

The primary focus has been the acquisition of properties, relocation of residents, and demolition of nearly 60 acres in the heart of Park Heights to create a development opportunity that will be transformative for this area.  Completion of the acquisition and clearance of this major redevelopment site is expected by summer of 2016. Baltimore Housing plans to issue a Request For Proposals for site redevelopment in Fall 2015.

Other investments in the Park Heights Master Plan area include $1.4 million for programs which are providing a range of services to youth and young adults. Park Heights Renaissance, the City’s agent created to implement the Master Plan, receives operating funds.  New in fiscal 2016, funds will be available for scholarships for residents to enroll in computerized manufacturing and welding training at the Jane Addams Resource Center.

The Northwest Community Planning Forum, communities between Wabash and Liberty Heights Avenues, and Coldspring Newtown are beginning to see the benefits of the remaining 25% of the funds--$3.5 million.  For example, Crews from Chimes are cleaning streets in Fallstaff and Glen; The Dolfield Avenue commercial district is seeing improvements that will create a better shopping environment for the merchants and customers alike; Wooden guardrails and a community sign have been installed in Coldspring Newtown.

These are just a few of the 40 projects currently underway or completed and more projects are funded in fiscal 2016.  For more details, see Pimlico Community Development Authority website.

Casino Area

The Horseshoe Casino began generating impact funds for the South Baltimore area in the summer of 2014. An estimated $6 million is available in fiscal 2015, and $7 to 9 million for fiscal 2016. 

Already, these funds are producing tangible benefits: In April, the South Baltimore Employment Connection Center opened, providing business services, computer/skills training, and case management services; A Workforce Environmental Scan and Needs Assessment for residents was completed; Project Jump-Start has begun a 15-week pre-apprentice training program, which will be followed by job placement services; The communities closest to the casino have begun identifying and preparing for Community Enhancement Projects, such as renovations to a pocket park in Ridgely’s Delight, street tree planting in Carroll-Camden, and public art in Pigtown.

Beyond these initiatives, local impact funds have resulted in enhanced public safety, sanitation, and traffic enforcement services.  For the summer of 2015, these funds will also support 160 summer jobs through YouthWorks and Early Head Start programs for 145 young children.

The Baltimore Local Development Council has been actively engaged in the fine-tuning of the South Baltimore Gateway Master Plan, which should be adopted later this year and will guide investment going forward.

For more information, and to learn how to get involved, see the Local Development Council’s website.