Attendees

Arlisa Anderson Carrie Baniszewski Cecilia Gonzalez Nathan Tarter Leonard Dockins Anthony Scott Christopher Earley Cynthia Newman Briana Ciccarino Elisa Flores Thorton Mary Claire Davis Kerina Spencer tatiana dakonyemba Diana Geis Loriane Arikat Thomas Freeman Charisse Lue Laura Dykes Chris Firehock Leila Kohler-Frueh Serena Waters Sonia Eaddy

Intro (7:00-7:15pm, ~10-15 min)

  • Introductions: name, affiliation
    • What is a favorite community-building activity?
  • Review and approval of June Minutes
    • First by Diana G., seconded by Tony – Minutes passed/approved

Progress Updates (7:15-8:00pm, ~45-50 min)

  • Committee Meetings
    • Hybrid meetings starting September
      • Discussion of venue options (BioPark, Allen AME Church)
      • Going to CEC would require changing committee time
      • Diana suggests using SWP Office (Carrie could serve as staff person for entry)
      • Suggestion of the SWP office and potentially some location rotation
      • Question:  change to 2 hour long meeting? Cecilia noted that core team, which includes co-chair, the policy person, and the staff supporting the committee, work with the chair to set the agenda.  Perhaps this question could be brought to a vote the next time.

Nathan noted that 1.5 hours works well for hybrid, but some continuing convo will likely occur if in person.

Laura does not want to limit conversation in order to cut off at 1.5 hrs.

Tony says that 2 hours is too long, but if the goal of the meeting is conversations then we should focus on those.  It might require shorter or reworked agendas. 

Tom agreed with Tony via chat.

Cecilia asked that members put preference for length of time, whether they’d go in person and where, into the chat. 

  • Taking August off
    • Reminder that we do at least 10 meetings a year, and can take 1-2 months off.
  • Housing Plan July Engagement
    • July 19, 6-8pm, B&O Railroad Museum
      • Community-wide event; open house-style event. No other committees are scheduled that night, so no excuse not to attend!  You will have opportunity to comment on the plan.
      • Flyer was shared in the chat, and please spread the news with your neighbors! 
    • Outreach to specific groups
    • Flyering/canvassing (sign up sheet) 
      • Saturday, July 15, 2-4pm, Cecilia, Franklin Square
      • Sunday, July 16, 1-3pm, Meghan, Hollins Roundhouse
      • Monday, July 17, 6-7:30pm, Meghan & Cecilia, Mount Clare
  • Code Enforcement/311
    • Google Form
    • Had an event in April where met with 311 and reps, and this is what resulted in the Google form to track 311 requests. Please enter your 311 requests on the form.
    • Cecilia shared her screen of the form to walk through the short questions to fill out on it. 

Question:  how will the information be used?

Cecilia:  There was already a spot on the SWP website re: boarding needs which this was based on.  Info. will be discussed with the core team.

Question:  is there a way to be anonymous on the form?

Carrie–it would be a good idea to have an option for anonymity.

Question:  why do you need our email address?  You just need the number (the ticket number from 311).

Potential to partner w/Porter and Bullock offices to coordinate 311 lists.  Community layer of reporting is a key piece in getting more attention, focus and action on issues.

Seeking institutional changes.

Perhaps meet quarterly, but current plan is to:

  • Meet with reps in the Fall
  • Inclusionary Housing Bill/Coalition
    • Loraine–will be sending an email with a fact sheet regarding what inclusionary housing is. 
    • Current status:  there is currently not an active inclusionary housing law, and what it does is require that developers designate a specific percentage of apts., etc. be for lower income residents. 
    • There are two bills–one asks that 10% of apts. Be set aside at an affordable rent.  The second gives a 15% tax credit to developers who follow the policy (create affordable units).
    • Coalition is now into one year of fighting for this law. 
    • Currently pushing to have another hearing for these bills. Next steps for the coalition:  public teach-in on July 17 at 4-5pm at the steps near City Hall, and then head to the Council meeting. 
    • A link to a Twitter ad about the action on Monday was put in the chat.

Project Updates (Carrie, 8:00-8:10pm, ~10 min)

  • Downpayment Assistance Program
    • Have funds for this program (which goes up to 100% AMI and provides 10K).  It was originally set up to be a loan (via NHS) and that has not worked citywide. Only 5 awards were made across the city through all orgs with this assistance. Shifting strategy to administering in-house and offering it as a grant.  MD DHCD is 100% behind those changes.  Tomorrow have our first homebuyer closing on her house, with the support of this award.  
    • There will be information on this put on the website, a flyer created, etc. soon (perhaps post housing plan event next week).
    • Example for people at 80% AMI and below:  Can stack SWP 10, CDBG 10, and Impact Investment 10K, as well as anything that a bank or other group might provide.
    • Carrie would like to know if we want to offer anything to these homeowners, like a swag bag. Energy saving items, gift cards to local businesses were mentioned. 
    • Leila would like to be part of gift basket group.
  • Other
    • Diana, Tony, and Loraine have been working on updating the residents’ guide. Aiming to have one online and develop a postcard that enables people to access the website. This, too, could be part of the new resident package for the SWP grantee homeowners.

Community Updates (8:10-8:30pm, ~20 min)

HABC, Transform Poe

  • Background:
    • Mary Claire Davis (AHC) presenting w/Poe Homes Redevelopment Update
    • Michaels Org and AHC were selected to develop
    • Shared area map 
    • Transformation plan was focused not only on the housing, but on how the whole neighborhood functions. There were more than 250 meetings and calls through the whole process, involving the residents of Poe Homes themselves in many of them. Plan goals aimed to create an environment for _thriving_.
    • HABC has maintained a still-existing website with all of the information from the meetings, etc., over the years.
    • Goal to replace all existing units, create a mixed-income community, provide diversity of housing…
    • There was a very robust design charette.
    • PIVOTED with plan (due to X,Y)
    • It is now 578 units instead of 616.
    • Will need a change in zoning for 2 out of the 3 sites.
    • Goals for 1:1 replacement and mixed income.  Re: mixed income; it will help the policy for the area, but will also make the project eligible for a certain federal grant.
    • Right now, in community engagement phase, bringing the plan to various groups. Others scheduled, too.  Can make other meeting times available by request, too. 
    • Aiming to complete zoning and application for federal grant (Choice Implementation grant) in 2024.
    • Can email the presentation to everyone, and all contact info. is available on it. 
  • Q & A:
    • Diana asked if she could attend a Barre Circle meeting (3rd Monday at 7pm)
      • Cynthia noted that since this group is one of the first to see this, to please not share the recorded meeting until AHC has had the chance to meet with all/most? neighborhood groups. Poe residents meeting(s) aren’t set yet, but will hopefully be in July.
    • How will residents be addressed for returning?
      • All will have the right to return, but they will have the choice to to return, or take voucher to a different location, or to pursue homeownership. 
    • Are you going to put homeownership units within the Poe Homes footprint?
      • As it stands today–doing mixed income for market sale, etc. Homeownership addressed through home improvements for current homeowners in the area.  As of now, no homeownership within the plan.  There is an intention to preserve other homeownership in the general area. If we get the implementation grant, there will be more done in the area than Poe Homes alone. Poe Homes residents do have access to homeownership education, and other resources for exploring potential to purchase a home. 
      • Further explained that typically a city gets the planning grant first, and then applies for an implementation grant. Can’t change info. from the first to the second because it could adversely effect the implementation grant. Goal is to get the 50 million grant. 
    • Is there sufficient economic development to support this?  Clarification of question:  if conditions surrounding Poe Homes improve, that would be most successful.  Can’t do it in isolation. 
      • With the Implemention Grant, it will cause more than housing. There would be more detail, things to consider in terms of other work to do in the area. Housing doesn’t happen in a vacuum.  It’s a stimulus for more things to happen
    • Question for the Michael Corporation about similar projects you’ve done that were successful, and why. 
      • We have done one in Tulsa and NJ most recently. Team has done CNI projects before.  The main thing that HUD wants is that once it’s started that it continues smoothly.
    • Question for HABC, related to process with residents:  who do they work with regarding relocation?  
      • Our VP for relocation is Bridget Hooper. There are 285 units, so will have a relocation company come in to work this us.
    • Contact person for anyone in the community with questions? Arlisa.Anderson@habc.org   410-361-9014
  • Venue: Memorial Baptist Church, 1311 N Caroline St, Baltimore, MD 21213

Other Updates

Diana: This Friday free community day at the B&O, free entrance to the museum at     4pm,  and Wordsmith performing

Serena: Abundant housing bill; focused on increasing density in communities via the number of units allowed in one dwelling. One concern: parking.

Encourage everyone to look at it through your own lens/community lens to consider what it would mean in your neighborhood.  Also, Main Street areas are allowed even higher levels of density. 

Read it through, see how it might impact you, and then write a letter about.

Laura: Last night at Hollins Roundhouse meeting, a presentation was given and the Hollins R. group voted against supporting the bill. They will be sending a letter of opposition. 

Sonia:  Holding a meeting July 20 at 6:30pm at Morning Star Baptist Church regarding the development of Poe Homes, because the HABC had not met with Poppleton and Hollins. Requesting updates and submitting questions in order to make sure that the final draft of the grant sent in August reflects what a broad range of people in Poppleton support. We do not want any more highrise units. 

Cecilia mentioned that the developer and HABC just visited this meeting, and that meetings with them can be requested (i.e. Diana’s request for Barre Circle).

Sonia:  Problem is we have not met with them since 2021.

Charisse:  Back to the bill, last year they tried to introduce it, too (abundant housing).  Problem I have with it is that there is no framework, etc. re: codes to make sure they are remodeled safely. 

I think there is one district in the country that did this–possibly St. Paul, but there was no data that demonstrated that it was a positive impact.

Right now, with lack of housing inspection and rental inspection does not seem like the time to do this. 

Cecilia spoke to how we have an affordable housing crisis and the need for more housing units as well as opportunities for homeowners to be able to stay in a large house while having income generating opportunities.

Meeting ended at 8:54pm

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