The Parking Expansion Project Moving Into Phase One — Tearing Down the Wall and Concrete Abutment of the “Highway to Nowhere”

The West Baltimore MARC TOD/Transportaion Committee is pleased that the city and the state are moving into the first phase of project to expand parking at the West Baltimore MARC station. With an eye on the long-term plans for the area, the committee views the demolition of the end of the “highway to nowhere” as the first step in the right direction toward revitilizing the area. John Hailey, northern co-chair of the committee and president of Midtown Edmonson Avenue Improvement Association, believes that, “the city and state making the upfront investment in our area is a good sign to potential developers.” Since 1979, the “Highway to Nowhere” has been a road block for rebuilding the communities of West Baltimore. “After years of waiting and four years of active involvement, something is finally happening in West Baltimore that we can all be excited about,” says Joyce Smith, southern co-chair of the committee and executive director of Operation ReachOut SouthWest.

As we did in the Fall of 2008, the committee will be hosting a series of community discussions about the first phase of the parking expansion project and the demolition of the wall. These discussion will take place at your local neighborhood/community association meeting place. Please check the list (to the right) of upcoming meetings to join a discussion happening near you.

Since March, the committee has also been surveying residents to see how they feel about demolishing the wall and also what they would like to see happen with the mural on the retaining wall. A mural steering committee will be formed that will decide what should happen to the mural. If you would like to participate, please call the steering committee chair, John Hailey at 443-703-9310, or email westbaltimoremarc[at]gmail.com. The steering committee will be holding its first meeting in mid-May.

West Baltimore Community-Center Transit Development Strategy Report Adopted by Baltimore City Planning as Area Master Plan

The Baltimore City Department of Planning adopted the West Baltimore Community-Centered Transit Development Strategy Report as an area master plan in November 2008. To review the West Baltimore MARC station master plan you can find digital files on the Baltimore City Planning website or hard copies are available for review at Bon Secours Community Center, 26 N. Fulton Avenue and Edmondson Community Organizations building, 2114 Edmondson Avenue.