Who is the friendliest face in your neighborhood? Is it the local barber, an educator at the local school, or a retiree who always lends a helping hand?
Encourage your neighbors to apply for the 2020 Census outreach grant!
We are looking for trusted community members to spread the word about the importance of the 2020 Census. In addition to Congressional representation, the Census also determines the allocation of federal funding for transit, housing, child care subsidies and many programs that affect all of us in Baltimore City.
For more information about the critical importance of the Census to various federal programs that affect Baltimore residents, please see this fact sheet.
A "Top 10 Things to Know" info sheet about the Community Grant program is available here.
Every two years, the City of Baltimore must get permission from voters through a ballot referendum to issue General Obligation Bonds (GO Bonds). GO bonds are borrowed funds that are used for capital projects. For the 2020 loan authorization, which will determine the amount of GO bonds that will be issued for the fiscal years 2022 and 2023 budgets, the process starts with Planning Commission on November 14, 2019. The Commission will hear recommendations regarding the following four loan authorization questions:
- Affordable Housing Loan ($12 million over 2 years)
- Schools Loan ($38 million over 2 years)
- Community and Economic Development Loan ($38 million over 2 years)
- Public Infrastructure Loan ($72 million over 2 years)
If you are interested in learning more or commenting, please consider attending the Planning Commission meeting on November 14, or livestream it via this link.
The Lots to Love pilot project wrapped up on Halloween this year.
Over the past six months, the Department of Planning's Green Network Team worked with residents in Upton, Shipley Hill, Boyd-Booth and Carrollton Ridge to care for 47 vacant lots. The project is modeled on Philadelphia's Land Care program.
Residents used several of the lots for community activities, including a parade, a cookout (pictured above) and a movie night.
Neighbors reported a reduction in drug activity on and near the lots. The Baltimore Department of Planning is working with Department of Public Works to see what the next steps will be for the Lots to Love program in the future.
If you have ideas for this program, or questions, please reach out to Kim Knox at Kimberley.Knox@baltimorecity.gov
 Let's congratulate Ms. Doris Minor-Terrell (President, Broadway East Community and Planning Academy alumni!) and Ms. China Boak Terrell (American Communities Trust + Baltimore Food Hub)!
On November 7, the Maryland Planning Commissioners’ Association (MPCA) presented an award of recognition to Broadway East for its hard work on the Last Mile Park Plan.
This neighborhood plan is available on our website:
https://planning.baltimorecity.gov/planning-plans/neighborhood
The Cherry Hill Community Development Corporation (CHDC) is re-engaging the Cherry Hill community to complete the Transform Cherry Hill Plan.
The purpose of the Transform Cherry Hill Plan is to redefine the vision for the Cherry Hill community over the next 20 years.
CHDC will be hosting a series of public meetings for Cherry Hill area neighbors and stakeholders:
- November 12, 2019 from 6pm -8pm at New Era Academy
- November 18, 2019 from 6pm -8pm at Cherry Hill Homes Community Center
- November 20, 2019 (Community Open House) from 5pm -7pm
- November 21, 2019 from 6pm to 8pm at Patapsco Elementary.
Childcare and refreshments will be provided. For more information please contact Malika Jones, Community Organizer for the Cherry Hill Development Corporation at mjones@chdcmd.org.
 During the Frederick Elementary School INSPIRE planning process, community leaders and residents identified signage as a priority for the neighborhoods surrounding the school. With guidance from residents interested in using to signage as a tool to promote their neighborhoods, SW District Planner, Kyle Leggs, worked with the communities surrounding the school to create, repair, and install new signs. The locations of the new signs are:
- Carrollton Ridge: Frederick Avenue & Bentalou Street
- Mill Hill: Frederick Avenue & Brunswick Street
- Shipley Hill: S. Franklintown Road & W. Fayette Street
The Carrollton Ridge site was part of the Lots to Love program - the lot was one of 10 sites cleaned and mowed from April through October. Read more about the Lots to Love pilot, which was managed by the Baltimore City Department of Planning’s Baltimore Green Network.
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