TCNA February 2020 Newsletter

In this Issue

ALERT: Proposed Historic Tax Credit Legislation for Condominium Associations

Crime and Safety Committee

Streets and Greens Committee

Calvert School

Construction & Improvements Around the Neighborhood

Neighborhood Questions and Comments

Sale Prices of Homes & Condos (December & January)

Neighborhood Restaurants Updates for February & March

Monthly Calendar of Events  (See more events and details at end of E-newsletter)

Save the Dates :

Tuscany Canterbury Neighborhood Association

Proposed Historic Tax Credit Legislation for Condominium Associations

House Bill HB759

Introduced by Delegates Anderson, Boyce, and McIntosh

First Reading on January 31, 2020

Summary of Legislation:

HISTORIC REVITALIZATION TAX CREDIT – EXPANSION –REHABILITATIONS OF COMMON ELEMENTS OF CONDOMINIUMS

Altering the definition of “small commercial project” under the historic revitalization tax credit program to include rehabilitations of structures that are condominiums if the rehabilitations target only common elements of the condominiums; requiring the Director of the Maryland Historical Trust, in consultation with the Smart Growth Subcabinet, to adopt regulations establishing application procedures for governing bodies of condominiums; applying the Act to taxable years beginning after December 31, 2019; etc. EFFECTIVE JULY 1, 2020

SF, § 5A-303(a) and (b)(1)(xi) - amended Assigned to: Ways and Means

Hearing On Legislation :

February 20 at 2PM

House Building, Ways & Means Committee, Annapolis, MD

Click here for the full copy of HB 875

To contact your 43rd District Delegates in Annapolis (email)

For up-to-date information click here

At the TCNA General Meeting on November 6, 2019, Delegate Maggie McIntosh presented the status of her proposed legislation for  Historic Tax Credit for condominium associations. She said the bill is not yet written but is in the formation stage, and she wanted to give the parameters of what is being proposed after doing some research on the present program. The Historic Tax Credit is a popular program which is managed by the MD Historical Trust and is allocated to certain historical structures. Currently, approximately $11 million is appropriated annually through legislative general funds, of which $9 million go to commercial projects and $2 million goes to homeowners. The tax credit may not exceed $50,000 (20% of qualified expenditures) for homeowners (the cap for commercial projects is $3 million).

Delegate McIntosh said that she found out that individual condominium units can get historic tax credits (for things like replacing windows, chimney, etc.) but that right now there are no rights specified for a condominium association. So the conversation she will have while crafting the bill in the coming weeks will include amending the law to define condominium associations as non-commercial entities, defining the boundaries of common spaces which can be applicable, defining specific types of common space improvements eligible, and setting a dollar cap

somewhere between homeowners and commercial. The funding will come from the homeowners’ side of the present funds and will be available to communities around the state which have full ownership status. Delegate McIntosh stated that there will not be a minimum amount that must be spent, and the possibility of accumulating several small projects into one larger application will be explored.

This topic will be discussed at the TCNA Board Meeting on March 4 at 7:00. Everyone is welcome to attend the meeting.

Safety Committee 

Paul and Maria Gallo, Committee Chairs, CrimeSafetyTCNA@gmail.com

The Community Relations Council meeting was held January 15th, at the Northern District. We were informed that there will be changes made to staffing levels, affecting all precincts. Hopefully, this will not result in a net decrease for the Northern District. Aerial surveillance will likely be coming to Baltimore. Details are still being worked out. Mayor Young also was on hand for the second half of the meeting. He made brief comments and took some questions. 

Review the Draft: Community Policing Plan

B PD developed the draft plan based on national best practices and on feedback from community members and officers through surveys, focus groups, and conversations. The goal of the Community Policing Plan is to institutionalize community policing principles throughout the department to improve police-community relations and reduce crime through collaborative problem-solving partnerships with the community.

The draft Community Policing Plan is available for public comment until February 12, 2020 (a second comment period is planned for February 26 – March 28, 2020)! You can read the draft here:  Baltimore Police Department Community Policing Plan

 

Your feedback is extremely important in making sure the community’s vision is reflected in the plan!

Safety tips during winter months

Cold weather is here.  Don’t go out and start your car and then return to your home with it running (even if you lock your car).

Calvert School Liaison Committee

The third of our four required annual committee meetings with Calvert School is on February 12th. Thanks to community members who have kept me up to date with the violations of carpool traffic, I will be able to bring a very specific log of data to the school to present to them the problem at hand. These concerns seem to be mostly be coming from Tuscany Road, Tuscany Court and Ridgemede Road. I'm happy to say things have gotten much better on Canterbury Road, after the school's Director of Facilities cracked down on the families who were parking inappropriately and walking students in, creating a congested and unsafe situation. I promise to keep at the problem, and report back regularly. I welcome your helpful thoughts. 

Conceptual drawing of the proposed Calvert School building in 2018.

I n 2018 the Tuscany-Canterbury Neighborhood Association (TCNA), The Gardens of Guilford (Gardens), Tuscany-Lombardy (T-L) and the Ridgemede-Ridgewood Condominiums (R-R) were signatories to the second amendment to the covenants the neighborhood has with the Calvert School. The amendment focuses on Calvert’s purchase of the wooded property along Tuscany Road and the construction of an education building on it. A copy of the 2018 First Amendment, can be found on the TCNA website .

 

A neighborhood Project Committee has been appointed to work with Calvert as it moves forward with the planning for the construction of its new building. 

 

There are no requirements about the makeup of the Project Committee. It is important, though, to note that this group will be the voice of the neighborhood before and during the construction of Calvert’s new building so the members will be the only ones who communicate with Calvert and the neighborhood about the Project – and vice versa.  

The Project Committee has been appointed and includes 2 residents of the Gardens, 2 residents living on Tuscany Road, 2 from the TCNA Board, two from the T-L and one from R-R.  

The Committee members are: Andy Parsley, Fred Lazarus, Anne Perkins, Mike Travieso, Charles Brenton, Pat Hawthorne, Ned Lewison, Luci Davis and Brian Weeks.  

The covenant amendment is very clear that as long as Calvert stays within the parameters of the amendment, the Committee, and therefore the neighborhood, can advise only. 

The Committee is scheduled to meet with Calvert Headmaster, Andrew Holmgren, in February and will report to the neighborhood in the next E-Newsletter. 

Streets and Greens Committee

Rose Weeks, Chairperson

Greens Subcommittee : Bonnie Boland, Chai r

Priorities for enhancing safety, environmental

friendliness, and livability 

CONSTRUCTION UPDATES

Old Carnegie Building (115 W. University Parkway)

Project Schedule: January-June 2020

Questions or concerns, contact Mike Loester

443-997-4457 or  loester@jhu.edu

Recycling Basics from the Bureau of Public Works

Traffic Alerts

WAYS TO CONTACT BALTIMORE CITY

If the problem is not resolved, Kevin Gillogly is Tuscany-Canterbury's Mayor's Rep in the Office of Neighborhoods. You can email him to follow up to ask for help. kevin.gillogly@baltimorecity.gov

In fall 2015, Johns Hopkins University and Health System launched  HopkinsLocal , making a public commitment alongside our community, civic, and faith leaders to harness our capacity as an economic engine to drive job creation and economic opportunity in our city.

Over the next four years, we hired 1,457 people into targeted positions and welcomed 548 citizens with criminal records into a variety of jobs within our institution. Businesses in the city have been able to grow and hire city residents as we have spent $113 million more—$469 million total—to purchase their goods and services. And we have spent tens of millions of dollars with minority- and women-owned construction businesses that hire skilled workers for projects on our campuses.

Sale Prices of Homes & Condos

December 2019 and January 2020

Thanks to board member and realtor, Julia Frazier, who provides this information for each newsletter.

Address and Sale Price: December 2019 and December 2020



Note:  This data represents real estate activity from December 2019 toJanuary 31, 2020 in the Tuscany-Canterbury neighborhood.  The information is deemed reliable, but not guaranteed.   

Source;  This information is gathered from BRIGHT MLS, Inc and is provided courtesy of Julia Martin Frazier of Monument Sotheby's International Realty, 4800 Roland Ave, Baltimore, MD 21210 Cell: (410) 908-1760; Office: (443)708-7074 email:  julia@monumentsothebysrealty.com

Neighborhood Restaurants:

February & March Updates 

Thanks to Ann Bond who updates restaurant information monthly

EAT LOCALLY

 

One of the great things about living in Tuscany Canterbury is that we have five multi-starred places to eat within easy walking distance. What’s not to like about being able to choose between Greek/Mediterranean (Cypriana) or Indian (The Ambassador Restaurant) for dinner or a vegetarian brunch (One World Café) or just ordering pizza and salad delivered (The Hopkins Deli).

Alizee  is an American bistro and bar located in The Inn at The Colonnade, 4 W. University Parkway.  Alizee opens every day at 7 am for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Street or paid on-site parking is available.

The Ambassador Dining Room  is located in the Ambassador Apartment building at 3811 Canterbury Road and serves delicious Indian food for lunch and dinner. It is opens Tuesday – Sunday at 11:30 am. There is valet parking. Delivery is available.

Cypriana  is a bar and restaurant located at 105 W. 39 ^th  Street. It serves Greek/Mediterranean cuisine and opens at 5 pm every night except Monday. The restaurant has dinner and happy hour menus. There is free parking on the other side of 39 ^th   Street.

The Hopkins Deli  is located in the Hopkins House at 110 W. 39 ^th  Street. You can order pizza, pasta, salad and more - online for pick up and delivery. It is open every day from 11 am – 10 pm. The Deli also sells groceries and spirits. There are some parking spaces in the back of the building.

One World Café  is a popular, friendly vegetarian/vegan café, bar and dining room located at 100 West University Parkway. It is open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner every day.  Walk, bike or use street parking. 

 

Hope you will try one of our local restaurant this month.

Anne Perkins

Events Happening In and Around

Tuscany-Canterbury

February 22 12:00-3:00

Launch of the Fair Development Plan for Zero Waste

25 W Redwood Street, Baltimore MD 21201 at the University of Maryland School of Social Work Auditorium

National experts and advocates from around the world will discuss the strategies they are using to tackle these critical issues, the same we are experiencing here in the City. RSVP or more information

February 23 3:30

Mainstreet Brass

4200 St. Paul Street

Described by the International Trumpet Guild Journal as “a unique and talented quintet that is willing to take risks,” Mainstreet Brass has performed for enthusiastic crowds at concert series throughout the U.S. and in the United Kingdom. This is an upbeat, family-friendly concert your children and grandchildren

Website for more information.

March 1 5:00

Performance at the BMA

Catherine Russell, jazz vocalist

Russell is a rare talent, a genuine jazz and blues vocalist who can sing virtually anything. Her voice is full-blown femininity incarnate: a dusky, stalwart and soulful instrument that radiates interpretive power yet remains touchingly vulnerable.

More information and costs

March 4 7:00-8:30PM    

Tuscany Canterbury Board Meeting

Broadview Apartments, 105 W 39 ^th Street, Lower Level Game Room

March 15 7:30PM

Chamber Music by Candlelight

4200 St. Paul Street

P rogrammed performed by Baltimore Symphony musicians.

Website for more information

If you know of other events that you think should be included in the Tuscany-Canterbury E-newsletter, please send them to the Newsletter Coordinator by January 15 for the February newsletter. PresidentTCNA@gmail.com

Tuscany-Canterbury Neighborhood Association        

T uscany-Canterbury is a treasure of a neighborhood. If you are not a member of the TCNA, we hope you will join. If you know someone who is not a member, send them this newsletter and ask them to join.

Co-Presidents:   Andrew and Luciene Parsley  (Tuscany Road)

Vice President:   Garth Thompson  (Ridgemede Road)

Past Presidents:   Anne Perkins and Linda Eberhart (Tuscany Road)

Treasurer:  Bill Bass (Cloverhill Road)

Secretary:  Alison Moliterno   (Cloverhill Road)

Board Members :

Find out more about Tuscany-Canterbury Neighborhood