Open Letter to Baltimore
Dear Baltimore,
The end of April was a very tumultuous time for the City of
Baltimore. Following the death of Freddie Gray, a resident from the
Sandtown-Winchester neighborhood in West Baltimore, there were many days of
peaceful protests. But on April 27th, following his funeral, the
City experienced civil unrest in several neighborhoods, causing serious
property damage. This video footage was
seen the world over. It was a moment of
crisis and collective despair the likes of which this city has not experienced
in over a generation.
The very next day, on April 28th, a wonderful
thing happened. Baltimoreans from all
backgrounds and walks of life banded together to clean-up and volunteer to help
those impacted from the destruction the day before. What followed were several
more days of peaceful protests and community solidarity. In these few days we
experienced many facets of Baltimore in a remarkably short span of time. It’s
been a period so filled with events and emotions that undoubtedly it marks a shift
in our City. We pledge to work in partnership with our residents and community
stakeholders to build upon and capture your positive momentum, starting now, at
this crucial moment.
As events were unfolding, the City of Baltimore Department
of Planning staff experienced a variety of intense emotions. Given our unique
function to create and provide guidance on policy and planning to improve
neighborhoods and build the City, we asked ourselves many questions. We asked ourselves how do WE respond, how do
WE show the citizens of Baltimore that we do hear you and will continue to
listen to you. We share not only in the
successes of the City, but also in the hurt that the City experiences. We hear those that feel disenfranchised and
we are committed to do what is within our power to make sure that the table we
sit at is the people’s table. The
policies, plans and projects that we work on will reflect a Baltimore where
everyone feels that they are an important and equal part of this great City --
One Baltimore.
Our role is to help direct resources to invest not only in
places, but in people. We are committed
to harnessing the dialogue that is happening in our City and using that to
reflect upon and revisit the work we have done and are doing, as well as to
help guide our future policymaking, planning and decision making. Our goal and desire is to be a partner in the
physical redevelopment of neighborhoods, as a building block to empowering the
current residents-- and future generations-- of the communities we serve.
Moving forward we are committed to continuing our work with
the Administration, our sister agencies, and a host of public and private
stakeholders--at local, state and national levels-- to create a truly healthy
and sustainable Baltimore. In particular,
we are eager to work with our non-profit and community partners to build
neighborhood capacity through assistance with community organizing, leadership
development and youth engagement.
Sincerely,
The Department of Planning
On the afternoon of Friday, May 8th, 2015, the staff of the
Planning Department joined forces with Blue Water Baltimore and the students of
Collington Square Elementary/Middle School to plant 22 trees around the
school’s campus in east Baltimore.
 
 On April 30, 2015 the staff for the Baltimore City
Commission for Historical and Architectural Preservation (CHAP) won first prize
for deserts in the American Institute of Architects Baltimore Chapter first
annual celebrity chef event. Upon much deliberation, and upon
recommendation of preservation planner Lauren Schiszik and renowned baker
(winner of the 2011 Department of Planning bake-off spatula), CHAP staff chose
to bake a Pear and Earl Grey Upside Down Cake served with Lavender Fleur de
Sel Caramel Sauce.
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 A new twist of having your tea with desert, the combination
of sweet, lavender, and a hint of Fleur de sel (sea salt) won over the judges
and many of the participants.
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