April 2008 Director's Message

It is always encouraging when neighborhoods do lead and the community based organizations follow. There's a lot of that going on these days in Greater Lauraville. The associations are keeping me busy, but good work is getting done and they deserve all the credit. Here are a list of hot topics and ways you can participate:

• Baltimore City Council bill #07-0002, which addresses zoning for State-licensed residential drug treatment facilities, nursing homes, assisted living facilities, and emergency shelters, has been introduced at the request of the Dixon administration in order to correct inconsistencies between the City zoning code and court decisions under federal anti-discrimination law. Lauraville is leading an area wide response to the proposed legislation that would allow group homes with up to eight residents to operate in residential neighborhoods without going through the current Zoning appeal process in place. The current process helps neighborhoods better manage the impact group homes have on the quality of life in our communities. We organized 30 people to attend the Mayor's Night in on this topic last month, and will be organizing turn out for the city Council hearing on this Bill - the date of that hearing is not firm, but currently set for May 7. We will keep you posted.
• The Waltherson Improvement Association, in collaboration with NOGLI (The Neighborhoods Of Greater Lauraville, Inc.), will hold a special event on Wednesday, April 30, to help residents of northeast Baltimore who are at risk of losing their homes due to the mortgage loan crisis.  "Keeping Your Home" will be held on that day in the meeting hall at Grace Lutheran Church at 5205 Harford Road (the corner of Harford Road and Batavia) from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. Information will be provided on what to do when you are at risk of foreclosure - how you can work with your lender, where you can receive legal and financial advice and support, what can the government and the community do for you, what can you do now for yourself?  This event is organized by the leadership of the Waltherson Improvement Association and demonstrates real leadership in addressing a significant threat to the quality of life in our communities. I hope to see you there.
• There's a Home and Garden Tour in the works for June 8! At least seven houses in our neighborhoods will be open for tours. There will be children's activities at each site. More details to follow, but be sure to save the date!

E-mail or call to find out how to be a part of so much positive activity. Read on to see what else is going on!