Committee discussed the timing of the Committee elections and whether the Committee meeting link was accurate on the calendar.
Franklin Square sign: not much of an update, still waiting to be installed, waiting for permission from the City.
Bruce St Stable project: has been completed. Maybe in the spring the Committee can take a site visit to the stable.
Letters to HABC: HABC will not honor a request for a moratorium on demolition in Poppleton in order to honor the Poe Homes Choice planning process. Due to the SWP not taking on new actions in Poppleton, the Committee will not respond to the letter.
Lord Baltimore Theater: Scott and some volunteers had started work on the exterior of the Lord Baltimore Theater–there will be a subcommittee of the Vibrant Streets Committee working on that project.
CHAP District: not a project of the Committee, but interested in the work. Held last public meeting, CHAP will be sending letters to the property owners (Eaddy family and Sarah Ann Street/DHCD) update: https://docs.google.com/document/d/19HsHPzbeIPtuR0jLYlzFzFFhVrndpP694-dNjjCEQZs/edit?usp=sharing
Research has found that some of the earliest property owners were Black women.
Elections: Jane M nominated Scott, who accepted. Patty nominated Sonia, who declined.
Scott: provided an update on the goals for accountability. In 2021 the Committee agreed to focus on the renovation of the Malachi Mills House, the creation of an online portal to celebrate and share the Black history of the neighborhoods, and celebrating the history of the Poppleton neighborhood, stabilization of the Bruce St stables, and the preservation of key buildings on W Baltimore St. Would like to review the list in detail at the next meeting. Would like to add more participation in the Committee by the B&O and the Mount Clare Museum House. Also wants to talk to the City on how to save vacant buildings by being proactive about saving them.
Scott was unanimously re-elected.
Malachi Mills update–at last month’s meeting had a great report by Courtney providing information on the research that she found and straightening out a lot of the confusion around 1504 W Baltimore St. Malachi Mills only lived in the house briefly.
Laura–particularly excited about something like the Museum of Industry with hands on activities–could be a partnership with the Museum of Industry (her main thing) Scott also likes this idea.
Jane: one of the questions is comparing what was developed with the development of the squares and the surrounding neighborhoods.
Talked about combining recommendation 2 and 4–space for people to do the trades and for the tradespeople to sell the things that they make.
Betsey likes the idea of the trades–maybe partnering together in a way that has to do with the building of the row homes.
Thomas could be a counterpoint for the Museum of Industry–most activities would take place at the building next door (1506).
Patty confused about why trying to preserve the building if we didn’t start with the true story? Would people actually come to a museum on W Baltimore St. Laura thinks a hands on experience would bring people to W Baltimore St.
Nicole–is really interesting and distinct in the City showing the layers of history–is architecturally significant
Betsey–not every house is going to have a story, true or false tied to it. Goal was to use preservation as a draw to the neighborhood.
Bif–how do we generate revenue from it? Important to have space and mixed uses that can generate income so that it’s not just serving as a museum.
Committee discussed the history of the project.
Thomas suggested sprucing up the house so it looks cute and is stable, and then figuring out a use of the house that produces revenue.
Scott will look into the history of the story of Malachi being Black and how it got started. Will also reach out to the Museum of Industry to see what they think of a partnership.
Scott will forward the report to people who haven’t seen it yet.
