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Save the Date!
Murray Hill Neighborhood Picnic
Sunday, September 13th, 2009
A Message From the President
It is spring! After what seemed to be one of the coldest winters
in recent memory the weather has given way to spring
conditions. So get outside, work in your gardens and say hello
to your neighbors. To get some great tips and hear about ways to
succeed with native plants and bay friendly planting come to the
May 13 MHRA meeting to hear from a local Master Gardner, as
well as other important issues important to the community. I hope
to see you there.
Barbara Neustadt Park Dedication
The park at the end of Monticello Avenue will be dedicated
in honor of the late Barbara Neustadt. In 1973, Mrs.
Neustadt became the first woman to be elected to the City
Council. The former alderman and her husband Herbert, a
professor at the Naval Academy, were long-time residents of
Academy Street. The dedication will be Saturday, May 9 at 11:30
AM. Please attend and come see the wonderful Greenscape project
work done by volunteers.
Benches to Honor Mary and Marion Warren
Marion was a renowned photographer who captured the
city’s personality, its people, and the beauty of its
natural setting. Mary was a leading advocate of historic
preservation and a great Annapolis booster. In retirement they
lived on City Gate Lane and were often seen walking to the water
to enjoy the view. In their memory, two park benches will be
located in the city park at Acton’s Landing overlooking Spa
Creek. A dedication ceremony is scheduled for Saturday, June 13
at 11:00 AM.
We All Can Help to Reduce Crime
Unfortunately, Murray Hill residents recently have seen
more crime occur in our neighborhood. Gratefully, people
have not been hurt, but petty theft and personal incidents
have become more frequent. We all can help to watch out for
each other and report suspicious activity. You can help by doing
the following:
• Turn on your outdoor lights at night — front and back
porches, and other outdoor lights — criminals hate light.
• Call the Annapolis Police Department if you notice
something or someone suspicious — call 410–268–4141
anytime of day or night to report any suspicious activity or
persons. No call is considered unimportant. The information
from these calls is exactly what APD needs to help fight
crime. All calls are confidential. If you dial 911, your call
goes directly to Anne Arundel County, ask them to connect
you to the Annapolis Police Department.
• Lock your car — remove items that can be seen and may
be attractive to thieves.
• Walk with a friend after dark — muggers tend to attack
people who are alone.
There is no reason for fear, but being aware and taking action
to call the ADP when you notice something that does not seem
right can help you and your neighbors. If you would like more
information on becoming a block coordinator, please call Sue
Schanz at 443–223–6736.
Around Town
Annapolis Photography Exhibit — Local photographer Alison
Harbaugh will have her work on display at 49 West in May.
The exhibit will feature photographs from a recent book,
Where Severn Joins the Tide for the USNA Alumni Association,
and others taken around maritime Annapolis. An
opening reception will be held Sunday, May 3 from 5 to 8 PM
at 49 West.
The Annapolis Farmer’s Market — Opens Saturday, May 2 in
the city parking lot across from Fawcett’s. Take a walk into
town and enjoy the areas local produce and other goods.
Rick Cooksey
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CITY COMPREHENSIVE PLAN
By Denise Worthen
The Annapolis Comprehensive Plan—developed once each
decade—serves as a blueprint for many City policies during
the next 10 years. The current draft plan has been reviewed by
the Annapolis Planning Commission and its adoption is now
pending before the City Council. The MHRA Land Use
Committee met in January to discuss the Land Use and
Transportation chapters of the draft plan and presented its
concerns to the Planning Commission in a public hearing on
February 5.
The MHRA Board further discussed the draft plan and Land
Use Committee concerns at the February board meeting. At
that time, it was felt that MHRA should take a strong position
on the plan when City Council holds hearings, based on the
belief that any increase in density on Outer West Street,
above and beyond the current conditions, must only be
allowed if a transportation system that can support increased
density is already in place and functioning. The board
strongly felt that for the City to provide incentives for
development, merely in the hope that transit will result, is
dangerous and will likely result in gridlock in the Outer West
Street neighborhood.
The MHRA Board will invite discussion of the topic,
including the possible adoption of the position by the
membership, at the May 13 general meeting.
PARK PLACE PROPOSALS
By Denise Worthen
Legislation (O–3–09) has been introduced at the City Council
to allow a 100-foot height limit at Park Place, which will
allow construction of a theater fly and a clock tower. The
MHRA Board discussed the issue at its February board
meeting. Among the concerns expressed by the board were
the increase in height from 90 feet to 100 feet, the purpose
and uses of the proposed clock tower, the height of the fly
from Taylor Avenue (the 100 feet would be measured from
the West Street elevation), the need for such a large structure
if the smaller theaters proposed for the space underneath are
accommodated at Maryland Hall, the visibility of the clock
tower relative to the State House or other historic structures
and the appropriateness of a 100-foot-plus structure looming
over a historic National Cemetery.
The MHRA Board also felt that until an understanding has
been reached between Maryland Hall for the Creative Arts
and the backers of the proposed facility at Park Place, it was
premature to consider size, merits or appropriateness of the
proposed theater structure and clock tower at Park Place.
These concerns were discussed by the membership at the
March 11 general meeting. At that time, the membership
voted to support the following position: There is too little
known about the possible design, impact and appropriateness
of the proposed changes at Park Place for the membership to
support the request at this time. MHRA will testify at the
Planning Commission when O–3–09 comes before that board
for a public hearing.
GREENSCAPE 2009
The MHRA-sponsored Greenscape project for 2009 took
place on Saturday, April 18. The MHRA Waterfront and
Environmental Affairs Committee, chaired by Albert Buell,
developed a design, with professional assistance from
Maryland Master Gardener Valerie Pawlewicz, for plantings
at the new Barbara Neustadt Park at the waterfront end of
Monticello Avenue. David Haight served as project
coordinator.
Shown above are volunteers who helped with the 47 plants,
16 shrubs, 15 bags of mulch, and 8 bags of top soil. From left
to right: Kneeling in front —Dirk Geratz, Valerie Pawlewicz,
Maren Schwarz, and Joanna Hanes-Lahr with “Ginny.”
Standing — Jack Brandenburg, Robert Worden, Peter Sheils,
David Haight, Bobbie Carew, Rick Cooksey, and Jack C.
Brandenburg. Missing from the photo are volunteers Sandy
Cohen, Dick Garrity, Jim Scanlon, Jay Schwarz, and Burnell
Vincent.
Announcements
MHRA MEMBERSHIP
The General Membership Meeting on May 13 is an excellent
opportunity to renew your MHRA membership. Annual dues
are only $10 per household.
Dues are used to support the annual picnic and the
publication of this newsletter. MHRA has been involved in
community affairs for twenty-eight years and going strong.
The association appreciates and needs your support, so
whether you own or rent a home or have business in the
Murray Hill/Spa View Heights neighborhoods, please consider
joining MHRA.
MHRA Email Announcement List
If you would like to subscribe to the automated email announcement list for MHRA, send an email to mhra.president@gmail.com with the subject line "subscribe MHRA-Announce".
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