Jonestown Vision Plan November 2015
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JONESTOWN VISION PLAN NOVEMBER 2015 JONESTOWN VISION PLAN BALTIMORE, MARYLAND NOVEMBER 24, 2015 Prepared for: Historic Jonestown, Inc. Jewish Museum of Maryland Prepared By: Mahan Rykiel Associates Arnett Muldrow Associates Table of Contents ix | Executive Summary 1 | Introduction 5 | Neighborhood Assessment 25 | Recommendations 81 | Implementation Plan Acknowledgements The McKim Center Patisserie Poupon Funding Provided By Jewish Museum of Maryland Councilwoman Rikki Spector Abell Foundation Councilman Carl Stokes France Merrick Foundation Delegate Peter A. Hammen Delegate Brooke Lierman Participant Organizations Baltimore Housing Jewish Museum of Maryland Housing Authority of Baltimore City (HABC) Historic Jonestown, Inc. Housing and Community Development (HCD) Jonestown Planning Council Baltimore City Department of Recreation and Parks Johns Hopkins University, Carey School of Business, (BCRP) CityLab Baltimore Development Corporation (BDC) Albermarle Square Tenant’s Association Department of Transportation (DOT) Albermarle Square Homeowner’s Association Parking Authority of Baltimore City (PABC) B’nai Israel Baltimore City Police Department (BCPD) Reginald F. Lewis Museum of Maryland African American History & Culture Ofce of Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake Star-Spangled Banner House Baltimore City Department of Planning (DOP) Carroll Museums, Inc. Carrollton Inn/1840’s Ballroom St. Vincent De Paul Church Fairfeld Inn & Suites Helping Up Mission Commercial Development Group Lenny’s Deli Baltimore Heritage Attman’s Deli Baltimore National Heritage Area (BHAA) vi JONESTOWN VISION PLAN Stratford University Morgan State University Stevenson University The Associated Commercial Development Urban Atlantic Ronald McDonald House KoldKiss InterSign National MD Logix Project Consultant Team Mahan Rykiel Associates Arnett Muldrow and Associates, Inc. JONESTOWN VISION PLAN vii EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Executive Summary and opportunities of the Jonestown neighborhood, focusing on programs and operations, community Jonestown, one of Baltimore’s most storied identity, development, and the public realm (with neighborhoods, is on the cusp of change. Anchor an emphasis on open space). institutions, including the Jewish Museum of Maryland, Reginald F. Lewis Museum, Star- These strategic focus areas form the foundation of Spangled Banner Flag House, as well as projects like the vision plan and guide the recommendations the proposed Hendler Creamery redevelopment and implementation priorities in the report. The and Ronald McDonald House, are bringing recommendations are intended to complement renewed energy to the community. The ripple and support each other, ofering an integrated efect of projects in Harbor East and Harbor Point approach to neighborhood revitalization. To help are being felt along President Street and Central streamline and navigate implementation, specifc Avenue. These changes ofer the neighborhood an tools and tactics are outlined, which stakeholders, opportunity to pause and explore how it fts into neighborhood groups, city agencies, and others can the evolving urban fabric and to imagine a catalytic utilize to realize their goals. vision for Jonestown that builds on its rich cultural history, convenient access to public transportation, The energy, enthusiasm, and commitment of and clustering of attractions/institutions. Jonestown’s stakeholders throughout the vision and planning process fueled thoughtful dialogue, In early 2014, a planning and design team, led creative thinking, and pragmatic problem solving. by Mahan Rykiel Associates of Baltimore, MD, The social capital and positive momentum of the and supported by Arnett Muldrow Associates of efort has set the stage and positioned the community Greenville, SC, was retained to facilitate a vision and to realize a catalytic vision for Jonestown, both in planning process for Jonestown. Between March 2014 the near and long-term. and November 2015 the team guided stakeholders in a collaborative four phase efort that brought together more than 44 stakeholders/groups, 100+ individuals, elected ofcials, and public agencies. Through public meetings, focus groups, one-on- one interviews, and an intensive three-day planning charrette, the community explored the challenges JONESTOWN VISION PLAN ix 1 INTRODUCTION The Jonestown neighborhood of Baltimore is rich public meetings, focus groups, one-on-one with history and culture. It is strategically located interviews, and an intensive three-day planning near the heart of Downtown Baltimore, in between charrette, the community explored the challenges developing and growing neighborhoods. Despite and opportunities of the Jonestown neighborhood, its prime location and proximity to signifcant focusing on programs and operations, community Baltimore amenities, the growth and fourishing of identity, development, and the public realm (with the Jonestown neighborhood has been restrained an emphasis on open space). in recent years by a collection of challenges—from vacant lots to declining businesses. Even as nearby neighborhoods like Harbor East and the Johns Hopkins Medical Campus have prospered and grown, Jonestown’s revitalization has been gradual and less intense. Nevertheless, there remains considerable potential. In early 2014, a planning and design team, led by Mahan Rykiel Associates of Baltimore, MD, and supported by Arnett Muldrow Associates of Greenville, SC, was retained by the Jewish Museum of Maryland at the Herbert Bearman Campus to facilitate a vision and planning process for the Jonestown neighborhood of Baltimore. Between March 2014 and November 2015 the team guided stakeholders in a collaborative four phase efort that brought together more than 44 stakeholders and interest groups, over 100 individuals, numerous elected ofcials, and representatives from public agencies. Through Jonestown is one of Baltimore’s first neighborhoods JONESTOWN VISION PLAN 1 Plan Purpose and Process Summary The purpose of this plan is to create a vision As an exciting and diverse neighborhood, with an for the development of a heritage district in the equally animated history, Jonestown is poised to Jonestown neighborhood. With a collection of be re-energized and enter into a new chapter of anchor institutions in the community, there is an richness and growth. This report intends to illustrate opportunity to leverage a synergy among these strategic actions and steps to help direct Jonestown uses and to seize this moment of opportunity for to this path. collaboration among neighbors and local partners in the Jewish community. In facilitating this process, this vision plan aims to give direction to the community and create a future for Jonestown that is as compelling as its storied past. Key stakeholders were identifed and invited to participate in one-on-one meetings to discuss and determine Jonestown’s strengths and challenges, as well as opportunities and threats. As recommendations were developed, they were vetted with community interests, and expanded further as important players and resources were also identifed as tools for implementing each recommendation. Through site assessments and a review of market conditions—in addition to the identifed recommendations and the implementation strategy—this plan provides a preliminary analysis that will serve as a framework for community development. 2 JONESTOWN VISION PLAN ST. FAYETTE BALTIMORE ST. I-83 FAYETTE ST. LOMBARD ST. BALTIMORE ST. PRATT ST. CENTRAL L LOYD ST. E LOMBARD XETER HIG AV S PRESIDENT A T. LBERMARLE E. H S T. S PRATT ST. T. S T. S T. Figure 1. Jonestown’s Urban Fabric JONESTOWN VISION PLAN 3 2 NEIGHBORHOOD ASSESSMENT This section of the report provides an assessment from Ireland, Italy, Germany, and Russia, bringing of the Jonestown neighborhood—in terms of its with them their unique cultural and religious history and the physical and market conditions that heritages from across the ocean. Houses of worship defne it. built during the late 18th and 19th centuries—such as the Friends Meeting House (1781), St. Vincent de Following an overview of Jonestown’s history, Paul Church (1841), and the Lloyd Street Synagogue location, and growth, this assessment will review (1845)—stand as neighborhood landmarks, a the neighborhood’s physical character, community testament to the enduring legacy of these early identity, and market conditions, and serves as a immigrants. foundation for the recommendations outlined in Chapter 3 of this plan. Among the immigrant communities of Jonestown, the German and Russian Jewish population grew most rapidly, with more than 1,500 people by 1847. Background Most of these residents were employed in the textile and garment industry, helping to stimulate that Industry, Immigrants, and sector of Baltimore’s economy by supplying larger Urbanization factories with goods created in workshops and In 1732, two years after Baltimore Town, Jonestown sweatshops built adjacent to, and at times within the was established on the east bank of the Jones Falls homes of Jonestown’s Jewish residents. In support River, and was later incorporated into Baltimore of this large Jewish community, Lombard Street Town on September 28, 1745. Jonestown is Baltimore’s evolved into a thriving market district (later known oldest neighborhood. Its proximity to the harbor, as Corned Beef Row) with merchants, butchers, and inland waterways, and, thus, to mill power enabled other vendors supplying essential goods for Jewish Jonestown to grow alongside Baltimore Town into a life (kosher meats, religious