Maryland’s Greater Baltimore residents are asked to ‘imagine’
The Imagine 2060 project is an interesting intellectual exercise designed to engage the community in a workshop aimed at developing ideas for future developments in the areas of land use and transport. The project is interesting because ideas are not constrained by a budget and the imagination can therefore take flight.
The project has been undertaken by the Baltimore Metropolitcan council and involves council members going to 9 different libraries around the Greater Baltimore region to host open houses where residents can meet and discuss their ideas.
The project is not mandated by the federal government and has no real-world application, that is to say, it is not a forum for the discussion of grievances, but the findings will be presented to the Baltimore Regional Transportation Board as a form of community guidance for its long-range transportation plan, which is due for an update in 2011. It is updated every-four years and is federally-mandated.
There are four values that will guide the workshops and four options for areas where development would be undertaken.
Values: accessibility, safety, conservation and prosperity.
Options: downtowns, town and village centers, established neighborhoods and expanding suburbs.
There are also four options for future transport plans: urban multimodal transportation, local and regional connections, commuter options and expanding roadways.
The workshops are intended to get a feel for the future that local residents envision for themselves, which provides an opportunity for the sharing of ideas and an area in which one can make their voice heard.
Workshop attendees can examine the merits of a regional commuter rail network and how it might benefit under-developed areas of Greater Baltimore, or discuss the need for more road expansion, upgrading the motorways that connect major towns.
It’s a project that has merit and could be emulated by communities around the Maryland, perhaps even on a statewide level a major workshop that visits libraries across the state to hear what the state as a whole envisions as proper planning for the future.
All too often, major development projects are planned, signed off on and implemented with little community engagement and the community is later told why they should support such a development.
These projects turn that dynamic around.
Comments
More Maryland State News
RSS-
Baltimore Orioles Director Of Pitching Development Rick Peterson Talks About Kevin Gausman
Rick Peterson is the Director of Pitching Development for the Baltimore Orioles, as well as a former pitcher and pitching coach in Major League Baseball. Rick joined Bob & Steve to talk about Orioles pitching prospect Kevin Gausman who will make his MLB debut tonight in Toronto. Rick started by saying he is extremely excited for Kevin Gausman and him getting his first start ...
-
Audit cites Md. schools spending of stimulus money
The U.S. Department of Education audited the way the state spent stimulus money. It found Baltimore City Schools spent $4,352 on a pair of dinner cruises. It also found $1,575 was spent for catering at school events and $1,336 for theater ...
-
Police Need Help Identifying Disguised Maryland Robbery Suspect
QUEENSTOWN, Md. (WUSA9) - Maryland State Police say they need the help to identify an armed robbery suspect who robbed a Queen Anne's County jewelry store last weekend in disguise. The suspect is described by police as a man, about six feet tall possibly weighing 180-200 pounds. Police say the man has a thin build and possibly has short dark hair. The suspect was wearing an ...
-
Ocean City Pier Destroyed By Sandy To Officially Reopen
OCEAN CITY, Md. (WUSA9) -- The Ocean City fishing pier that was heavily damaged during Superstorm Sandy has been reconstructed, and town officials will hold a ceremony on Friday. Mayor Rick Meehan will make the ceremonial first cast at the landmark. The fishing pier was first completed in 1907 and runs 489 feet into the ...
-
Two $1 million Powerball tickets drawn prizes yet to be claimed
Calvert County , and each with a second-tier prize of $1 million - were pulled from Wednesday night's drawing, said the Maryland Lottery and Gaming Control Agency on Thursday. No one has come forward to claim the prizes. The winning tickets were purchased at the Royal Farms in Baltimore on 4834 Hollins Ferry Road and at the Ken Mar Liquors in ...
-
Windy cool Memorial Day weekend forecast for Ocean City
Sunny but breezy and cool weather is in the forecast for the start of beach season in Ocean City, with waters on the chilly side for a dip in the Atlantic. After rainy weather lingers Friday, sunny but cool and windy conditions are expected for the weekend. Highs are forecast in the lower 60s Saturday and Sunday and the upper 60s Monday, with overnight lows in the upper 50s. Winds are expected ...
-
Schmucks Orioles observation deck
Each week of the 2013 baseball season, columnist Peter Schmuck gives his take on four subjects involving the Orioles, then clears the bases with a final ...
-
Hunt Valley Towne Centre signs up new tenants
Hunt Valley Towne Centre is welcoming three new tenants. Calvert Wine and Spirits is expanding into a larger building. The Hunt Valley Towne Centre continues to grow as Calvert Wine and Spirits gears up to move into an upgraded building and three new tenants take its previous spot. Pet Valu, Yolavie, a frozen yogurt place, and Pei Wei, a fast-casual Chinese chain, will occupy the soon-to-be ...
-
Man shot in east Baltimore dies Suspect sought
Police were called around 9:50 p.m. to the 2800 block of Ashland Avenue, where officers found the victim, who they said had been shot several times in the torso. Police said the man died. Police could not provide any information on a shooter or possible motive. Anyone with information on the case is urged to call homicide detectives at ...
-
SECU nears naming-rights deal for new Towson arena
Towson University's new $68 million arena is set to open in June. SECU credit union is finalizing a deal for the naming rights of Towson Universitys new 5,200-seat arena, according to several sources. The pact between the Linthicum-based credit union and Towson to rename Tiger Arena is expected to be announced with the next few months, sources said. The deal is not yet complete, the sources ...
-
Thursday May 23 2013
You are using Internet Explorer 6. Internet Explorer 6 is unsupported by this site and you may experience layout and functionality issues. It is recommended that you upgrade to a newer version of Internet Explorer or switch to another browser. ...
-
Shooting That Injured Teen In Md. May Have Been Gang Related
SILVER SPRING, Md. (WUSA9) -- Police say the shooting a 16-year-old boy on May 10 in Silver Spring may be related to gang activity. According to police, after receiving multiple calls that night about the sound of gunshots and people running and yelling in the 8700 block of Piney Branch Road officer found a 16-year-old boy shot in the leg. He was transported to a local hospital with ...
-
Man Found Dead In Water Near Boat In Md.
EDGEWATER, Md. (WUSA9) -- Maryland Natural Resource police say they are investigating the death of a man who was found dead in the water at the Holiday Hill Marina. According to police, officers responded to the marina in Edgewater at 9 p.m. Wednesday after receiving a call. Police say a family friend went to check on 70-year-old William Eckert of Hyattsville, M.d and found him in the water ...
-
Price of Phillips house drops to $28.8 million
The Friary on the SevernThe Friary on the Severn, the palatial Annapolis home of members of the Phillips Seafood family, has dropped in price after a year on the market, according to the property's listing ...
-
Source London attacker was British-born of Nigerian descent
Police clashed with protesters, including supporters of the far-right English Defence League, following the brutal hacking death of a man in London on Wednesday. (May ...
-
Rocky Gap Marylands fourth casino opens for business
Gambling started Wednesday afternoon at the Rocky Gap Casino Resort right after the state approved the opening of its fourth casino, one that Western Maryland leaders hope will lure not only gamblers but also their families to a region eager for more tourist dollars."It's open and jamming," said Scott Just, the general manager of the resort ...
-
Columbia family hopes daughters legacy lives on through scholarship
Mary-Kathryn Abernathy never realized her dream of becoming a history teacher. The Columbia native was killed by a drunken driver while watching a drag race in the early morning hours of June 21, 2009, along westbound Interstate 70 near Security Boulevard in Woodlawn. She was 21. Now, nearly four years later, her father and stepmother want to help other graduates of Abernathy's former high ...
-
Former Balto. Co. exec Smith in talks for transportation job
Former Baltimore County Executive James T. Smith is one of the final candidates in talks to become Gov. Martin O'Malley's new transportation secretary, according to several people familiar with the situation. The job has been vacant for more than a year, but an appointment to the post will likely be made soon, an administration source said. Smith, who left office in 2010 under term ...
-
Fire breaks out at pizza shop
BROOKLYN PARK, Md. - A fire broke out in a small pizza shop in Brooklyn Park early Thursday morning. Officials started getting calls about the fire shortly before 5:45 am and found the fire at Pizza City on Belle Grove Road in the area of Thomas Ave. Crews quickly got the fire under control, but Belle Grove Road is expected to be closed in the area until around 7 ...
-
Banned US Swim Coach To Be Sentenced For Sex Abuse
ROCKVILLE, Md. (AP) - A Virginia man who was once one of the nation's most prominent swimming coaches is scheduled to be sentenced for sexually abusing one of the girls he instructed. Richard J. Curl, who pleaded guilty in February, is scheduled to be sentenced Thursday afternoon in Montgomery County Circuit Court. He faces up to 15 years in prison. Curl, of Vienna, Va., was banned for ...
-
Trooper Hit Dragged By Car In Md.
DENTON, Md. (WUSA9) - Maryland State Police say an off-duty state trooper apparently confronted some vandalism suspects in a car and was dragged by the car when the driver fled the scene in Caroline County on Wednesday night. Police have only identified him as an eight-year veteran of the Maryland State Police assigned to the Easton Barrack. They say the trooper is being treated at the ...
-
Nonprofit to offer financial group therapy in Baltimore
Sometimes it helps to share your goals and setbacks with others in similar straits. That's sort of the theory behind the Maryland CASH Campaign's financial coaching program that will start in June. The program will be open to 10 to 15 Baltimore-area residents who will set a goal and meet weekly for six weeks for group coaching so they can reach their target. Just as some people ...
Maryland Digest
-
Maryland’s Greater Baltimore residents are asked to ‘imagine’
Imagine what the world, and more specifically your local community, might be like 50 years from now, in 2060 to be exact. How will our lives have changed? How will transport have changed? Urban planning? City amenities? These are some of the questions residents of Greater Baltimore are being asked to think about.
The Imagine 2060 project is an interesting intellectual exercise designed to engage the community in a workshop aimed at developing ideas for future developments in the areas of land use and transport. The project is interesting because ideas are not constrained by a budget and the imagination can therefore take flight. Read more
News from around our Network
