Lanvale residents complete tree planting project after 8-month effort
After eight months of planning and hard work, residents of the 100 Block of W. Lanvale Street celebrated the completion of their tree planting and tree well expansion project on May 14. With financial help from the Bolton Hill Garden Club, BHCA, MICA and block residents, six new trees were planted, and seven tree wells were expanded. Tree varieties included zelkova, willow oak, sweet birch, Kentucky coffee and Washington hawthorn.
The need for the replanting project dates back four decades when the city used Chlordane to eradicate a termite infestation. While the termites were eradicated, so were the trees.
Midtown Community Benefits District provided guidance and supplied the trees and mulch for free. A contractor was hired to cut new or expand existing tree wells, and Lanvale resident volunteers prepared the tree wells with topsoil, dug the holes and planted the trees. Midtown will provide watering services for the next two years.
While overall the work was fun, residents encountered problems with coordination among the city agencies involved. A case study of the project has been written to assist others who might undertake a similar project. The entire task cost $4,316. It was led by John Leith-Tetrault and Paul Pitman, co-chairs of the Lanvale Greening Committee. For a copy of the case study send requests to bulletin@boltonhillmd.org or contact the committee chairs.
“Gray Panthers” to meet at Linden Park senior apartments
As part of their continuing survey of resources available to older residents, the BHCA Older Residents Task Force – last month renamed the BHCA Gray Panthers – will hold their fourth meeting on Saturday, June 25 from 10 a.m. to noon at Linden Park Apartments, 301 McMechen Street, with a potluck luncheon afterward. If you wish to attend, contact olderresidents@boltonhillmd.org . The task force was created to explore ways to make it easier to age in place in the neighborhood, for those who choose to do so.
Memorial dedication for COVID victim Dr. Joe Costa
The Friends of Lanvale Triangle Park (at Lanvale and Rutter Streets) on Saturday, June 25 from 4 – 6 p.m., will be dedicating the new decorative fence around the central garden in the park and presenting a plaque to honor their neighbor, the late Dr. Joseph J. Costa. Chief of Critical Care at Mercy Hospital, Dr. Costa died on July 25, 2020 after treating patients with COVID-19.
BHCA Crab Feast is back
After a hiatus caused by the COVID shutdown, BHCA will hold its annual summer crab feast on Thursday, Aug. 25, from 5 to 8 p.m. All neighbors are invited. The event honors police and firefighters whose units protect the neighborhood as well as the Midtown Community Benefits District and trash collection crews. Watch the BHCA calendar for more details.
City seeks ideas and help for park tree plantings
Are you a friend or fancier of a neighborhood park? The City Department of Recreation and Parks (BCRP) is inviting proposals for park tree plantings, with a June 22 deadline. Those who submit are expected to plant and help maintain the trees. Interested parties should submit a map showing the placement of each large overstory-shade or smaller-understory tree species and a written description of the watering and young-tree-maintenance plan. Send your material or questions to Ted Martello, TMartello@baltimorecity.gov.
Another Dumpster Day scheduled for July 9
Midtown Community Benefits District has arranged for the City to deposit a dumpster in Bolton Hill on Saturday, July 9, for bulk trash disposal, estimated from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Please do not use the dumpster for recycling or trash deposits. It’s for old furniture, broken equipment, building materials and other items not likely to be picked up in regularly scheduled trash and recycling pick-ups.
The dumpster will be dropped in the 100 block of Wilson Street at Park Avenue between the medians. This opportunity is the second such pick-up in 2022. Another is scheduled for Oct. 15, at the same times and location. Bulk trash can be taken on any non-holiday Monday thru Saturday to DPW’s Sisson Street Station in Remington, a short drive from Bolton Hill.
Eutaw Place apartment building up for sale
A 25-unit apartment building, St. James Court, at 1312 Eutaw Place is for sale at an asking price of $4.5 million. The property is comprised of two, three-story brownstone buildings and two residential carriage houses.
Goodbye for the summer
The Bulletin will not appear again until September. It has been a pleasure assembling these past 10 issues, with lots of community input. We’re especially grateful to Laura McConnell for leading design and production each month, and for Zhee Chatmon’s photo of the month contributions. For this issue we’ve had help from Ed Gunts, David Nyweide, Paula Jackson, John Leith-Tetrault, John McLucas, Lee Tawney and others. We welcome your feedback and suggestions at bulletin@boltonhillmd.org. Any errors and omissions are mine.
– Bill Hamilton
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