There will be a public meeting for residents of the East Sector of the proposed South Baltimore Gateway Community Benefits District (Federal Hill, Otterbein, Port Covington, Riverside, Sharp-Leadenhall, South Baltimore, Spring Garden Industrial Area)
The purpose is for residents, businesses and institutions to provide input and feedback on plans for creating the district:
Monday, April 11, 2016
6:00 – 8:30 PM
6:00 – 6:30 Registration, Refreshments
6:30 – 8:15 Program
8:15 – 8:30 Wrap-up
Location: Digital Harbor High School
1100 Covington St, Baltimore, MD 21230
All residents, businesses & institutions are encouraged to attend the meeting for your sector and set the vision and work plan for a South Baltimore Gateway Community Benefits District!
Please register/RSVP to Ethan Cohen at 410-545-3107 or ethan.cohen@baltimorecity.gov
Background
The Mayor’s Office of Economic & Neighborhood Development is working with the Baltimore Local Development Council (LDC), various City agencies and our State Representatives to create a South Baltimore Gateway Community Benefits District (CBD), which will oversee enhanced services to neighborhoods within South Baltimore’s “Casino Impact Area” (CIA).
Funding for the district will come from “Local Impact Grant” (LIG) funds – a portion of casino revenues that the State of Maryland directs to improve communities in the CIA, also known as the “South Baltimore Gateway.”
Sector Meetings
In order to gather input on priorities, the City and LDC will hold three meetings for community residents in April 2016, to engage residents from each of three “sectors” below”:
East – Federal Hill, Otterbein, Port Covington, Riverside, Sharp-Leadenhall, South Baltimore, Spring Garden Industrial Area (April 11, 2016, 6-8:30 PM Digital Harbor HS)
West – Barre Circle, Carroll-Camden Industrial Area, Carroll Park, Casino Area, Ridgely’s Delight, Pigtown, Stadium Area (April 18, 2016, 6-8:30 PM Southwest Baltimore Charter School)
South – Cherry Hill, Lakeland, Mount Winans, Saint Paul, Westport (April 9, 2016, 9:30AM-12:00PM, Arundel Elementary & Middle School)
Key Principles:
- The Benefits District will be guided by input from residents, businesses and institutions.
- Funding for the Benefits District will come from Casino “LIG” funds, NOT from new taxes.
- The City and LDC seek your input on the needs and priorities in your community.
- Public input for the “South Baltimore Gateway Master Plan,” issued in October 2015, will inform this process.
(www.southbaltimoregatewaymasterplan.com)
- Now is the chance to get more specific on basic services, such as sanitation, policing and beautification, and long-term challenges like school performance, housing and jobs.
Agenda
Consultants Joe Cronyn and Davin Hong, who are tasked with advising on the CBD’s key goals and operations will run the meetings and cover the following topics:
- Progress to Date – needs and goals identified in the South Baltimore Gateway Master Plan and the Local Impact Grant (LIG) Spending Plans
- What is a Community Benefits District?
- Summary of City/baseline services and comparison to the Master Plan
- Breakout Sessions to prioritize action items from the Master Plan
- Setting priorities for the CBD.
For more information and to register/RSVP, contact Ethan Cohen at 410-545-3107 or ethan.cohen@baltimorecity.gov