Volume 53 • Number 10
This year, the sidewalk in front of 225 Lafayette Avenue presents a spectacular display of twinkling lights, layers of greenery, a lighted Christmas Tree, and garlands of colorful glass baubles tucked under a new black and white striped awning. Through the front windows, you can see more lights, sumptuous bronze and silver garlands, beautiful flower arrangements, sculpted tabletops, and candles galore.
Once the fountains were turned off in October, the Friends of the Park Avenue Medians (FOPAM) missed the lights and the community First Friday gathering that has become a popular neighborhood-wide monthly event. So, this December neighbors installed a lit “tree” in each of the two median fountains and hosted the first holiday tree lighting – with hot drinks for all.
There’s been much discussion in the BHCA about the Housing Options and Opportunities Act (SB 25-0066), under consideration by the city council. The bill would effectively end single-family zoning across Baltimore, allowing duplexes and other multi-family homes everywhere in Baltimore. While the full impact of this change is still unknown, I believe the bill would help address the significant quality-housing shortage we have in Baltimore by removing restrictions that have prevented densification and construction of new housing in the places where people want to live.
Efforts to encourage owners of neglected Bolton Hill properties to fix them up or sell them to new owners have reached a stable point, with no new recent additions to the list. “We are continuing to track 25 mismanaged properties,” Jeff Thompson, who chairs BHCA’s Neglected and Mismanaged Properties Committee, told the December association meeting. Ten of these properties are in legal proceedings: 5 are in foreclosure (or in court to determine ownership) and 5 are in receivership, he said. Four of these have cases this month, so some progress is underway.
It was November 2024, when the fine art exhibition Return of the Light was being organized for a newly renovated space at Memorial Episcopal Church. Curator John Seeley realized that the show was short on sculptures. With necessity being the mother of invention, Seeley went to work on a large piece of walnut wood, with an idea and a chain saw.
MCB Real Estate, the developer of Reservoir Square at 700 W. North Avenue with 120 townhouses so far, is asking for community support to allow it to build 52 more single-family units where once they had planned a mixed-use office/residential/retail building. MCB Managing Partner David Bramble and several others from the firm met with Reservoir Hill and Bolton Hill community members on Dec. 1.
It’s a time to reflect on our good fortune in Bolton Hill. We live in a real community that provides a web of friendship and support to its residents. Each year at this time, the neighborhood Social Action Task Force (SATF) circulates BHCA’s online Volunteer and Giving Guide.
🤝BHCA Block Captains organized; more needed🤝
🎨 Two MICA artists win $15,000 in national student art judging 🎨
🌮 Guadado Mexican grill is coming, still 🌮
❄️ City parks agency is holding winter camp for children and teens ❄️
