July 2020 Community Meeting Recap

Over 30 people joined in for our fourth virtual community meeting (via Zoom).

If you missed the meeting, you can watch it here.

Guest Speaker

Johns Hopkins, Executive Director of Baltimore Heritage, Inc. (BHI) discussed zoning, historic tax credits and the National Register of Historic Places. He also mentioned how BHI works to preserve and promote Baltimore’s historic buildings/neighborhoods, and their 5-minute histories of historic places in Baltimore.

Voting

Motion to change our Meeting Policy to delete specific meeting locations for our Association and Board meetings, to hold them at a convenient location, preferably in UFPIA’s neighborhood boundaries, and to add holding them virtually in times when a physical location is not feasible; motion passed.

Committee reports

Accounting

Taxes have been filed and return is posted on our website.

Beautification

Moved the work station.
A Little Library was added to the 200 block of S Durham.
Sidewalk planters are on hold until the fall.

Community Garden

Part of the mosaic walkway is damaged and is undergoing repair.
The annual August Honey Happy Hour has been cancelled but a virtual garden ramble tour as a fundraiser for mid-September is being planned. Volunteers are needed to video garden spaces of their front, back or deck areas (1-5 minutes) with a focus on what you can do to beautify small spaces. To volunteer/video, contact fundraising@upperfellspoint.org.

Education

Baltimore City schools will start as 100% virtual and reevaluate in mid-October; private schools have varied plans.
40% of students do not have internet access; legislation was created to close the digital divide.

Land Use

In process to rewrite the UFPIA’s land use guidelines; there will be two more meetings (dates TBA).
New operator of the former Canela Café (1801 E Lombard) has a liquor board hearing on July 30th to transfer the liquor license.

Pan Canteen permanently closed due to Covid-19.

Safety

Will hold 3 stoop sits on Aug. 6th, Sept. 3rd and National Night Out (NNO) on Oct. 6th; volunteers are needed.
Also, need volunteers to help with the camera registry spreadsheet and for block liaisons; contact Matt at safety@upperfellspoint.org on both.

Traffic & Parking

Discussed T&P survey responses (120 participated; includes 112 in UFP); 85% want traffic calming on S Wolfe and S Washington; data sent to Dept. of Transportation.

New Business

MD Delegate Luke Clippinger gave a judiciary committee update; also, if you need help with your unemployment, contact him at luke.clippinger@house.state.md.us.
Shakira Smiler, imentor baltimore, stated that they need 170 mentors to work with students; more at https://form.jotform.com/202026876524152.

Click here to see the full meeting notes.