Mayor backs down on Sisson Street dump relocation
Once in a while when citizens make get riled up they make a difference. Consider the Sisson Street dump controversy. The mayor, without public notice, made a deal with a developer friend to sell it and move the recycling and hazardous materials site to 2801 Falls Road, in a flood plain near the Jones Falls.
Amid protests from people concerned that heavy rain would wash pollution from the site into the Jones Falls stream, among other objections, the process was put on hold. Many of those protesting were from Bolton Hill and adjoining neighborhoods. Now “all options are on the table,” the mayor said last week as he announced a task force to reconsider his decision.
City Council Member James Torrence, whose 8th district includes half of Bolton Hill and Reservoir Hill, is on the task force with two other council members. Representatives from eight community groups will make up the rest of the task force including a delegate from our Midtown Community Benefits District and Friends of the Jones Falls, Stonehill Community Association, Hampden Community Association, Greater Remington Improvement Association, Charles Village Civic Association, Reservoir Hill Community Association and Bikemore.
Don’t drive on Saturday, Oct. 18!
The 25th annual Baltimore Running Festival kicks off at 7:30 a.m. from Pratt and Light Streets and they’ll cover much of the city before it is all over around 2 p.m. Information about street closings can be found at https://www.thebaltimoremarathon.com/Race/MD/Baltimore/TheBaltimoreRunningFestival
BHCA creates working group to monitor State Center developments
BHCA President Lee Tawney named a task force to keep an eye on machinations by the state and the city as the office complex known as State Center empties out its remaining occupants and becomes a potential problem until it is redeveloped. He named Charlie Duff to chair and Beth Benner, Davin Hong, Sallye Perrin and himself to serve. Others who are interested may join.
The state’s Department of General Services announced in June that it would hire a consultant who can draw up a vision for the site. The consultant will review all the prior State Center plans and studies – (there have been quite a few,) identify options for building and rebuilding and come up with cost estimates and potential funding sources. That initial effort could cost as much as $2 million.
It has been a quarter century since the state first announced plans to close the decaying complex with lots of political maneuvering by several governors and litigation over what will happen when. The last 2,000+ employees are expected to move out and relocate downtown in 2026.
Brown Memorial to offer afternoon “Tiffany” concert on Nov. 16
Lyric soprano Natanya Sheva Washer and guitarist Sean Brennan will perform a curated program of arrangements for guitar and voice on Sunday, Nov. 16 at 3:00 pm in Brown Memorial Presbyterian Church’s sanctuary. It will feature the work of female and minority composers for an evening that blends the healing power of music with moments of deep meditation.
Each piece has been chosen to evoke harmony with nature, introspection and connection. The program will feature works by Rosephanye Powell, Kaija Saariaho, William Grant Still, and Laura Snowden. The church’s collection of eleven original Tiffany stained-glass windows creates a gorgeous setting for this exciting concert.
About The Bulletin
The Bolton Hill Bulletin is published monthly, except for July and August. It is designed by Elizabeth Peters. Paula Jackson is our proofreader. We invite others to help with writing, editing, photography or work on the business side. Contributors this month were, among others, Kevin Cross, Charlie Duff, John Loggin, Francine Marchese, Ellen Meyer, Sallye Perrin, Lee Tawney and Marci Yankelov. Errors and omissions are the responsibility of the editor, Bill Hamilton. Comments are welcome at bulletin@boltonhillmd.org
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