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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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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