Baltimore Sun - Letters to the Editor, July 22, 2006

Planning is key to city's renewal

The Sun's coverage of the community around the American Brewery has painted a very real picture of the condition of that community ("Finding a Way," July 16, and "A Neighborhood Abandoned," June 25-26). But these conditions are hardly unique to that area. There are similar areas throughout the city, where many once-inhabited houses stand vacant.

While this may seem to be a problem, it could also be an opportunity for the city.

Maryland is projected to continue growing for the foreseeable future in both population and jobs. Many of the jurisdictions outside the city have used up most of their open land for new development, unless they allow uncontrolled sprawl to become the rule.

Yet in the city, we have not only land that could be redeveloped but also the whole infrastructure of roads, sewers, water, etc., that is needed to support a larger population.

To turn around many of our most blighted areas will take years of dedication, planning and determination.  Planning will be the most important as we will need to look at each area to determine its strengths and build on them.  We will need to invest not only in bricks and mortar but also in our people, to rebuild parks and create new ones, such as bike trails that connect all areas of the city.  We should be planning around transit and using it as a tool for growth and development.  And we have to ensure that as our communities begin to grow and appreciate in value, our citizens are not priced out of them.

Serving on the Baltimore City Task Force on Inclusionary Zoning and Housing as part of the process of developing the city's master plan drove home to me how important the planning process will be in creating a Baltimore that all can enjoy.

Yet even this master plan will not work if we as a city lack the dedication to implement it over the many years to come.

Bernard C. Young
Baltimore
The writer is a member of the City Council.