Fall 2015 Volume Fifty-Nine ROLAND PARK NEWS This Issue’s The ‘New’ Neighbor across the Street Highlights Revitalizing the Rotunda Civic League Update By Hilary Paska demolition. With the new Rotunda poised to open, it seemed opportune to find Page 10 When a well-known neighbor moves out of the neighborhood Open Space and a new one moves in, Campaign Update the change is often viewed Page 11 with mixed emotions. On one hand, the old friendship Standards for and comfortable familiarity Exterior Changes is missed; on the other, the Page 14 newcomer may prove to be a terrific addition to the Save Money On community. Internet Costs Such is the case with the Page 16 Rotunda, a Hampden landmark sitting on West Hudson’s Corner 40th Street across from Page 17 Roland Park’s southern border. This familiar structure Green Corner with its notable bell tower Page 18 has undergone previous overhauls, but the reincarnation currently underway Jones Falls to make it part of a mixed-use commercial and The new Rotunda campus will be an ambitious mixed-use retail and Trail Map residential campus is the most radical yet. residential development. Illustration courtesy of The Design Collective and Hekemian & Co. Page 19 School News out more about the history and future of this local Page 20 landmark, and what the redeveloped space will offer Home Sales to surrounding neighborhoods. Page 22 The construction of the Rotunda building in 1921 heralded the 20th-century trend of moving offices Centennial Park away from congested urban locations to spacious Weed Warriors suburban business campuses. In 1919, the Maryland Page 24 Casualty Company purchased the Dulin Estate with a view to establishing a 25-acre business complex Don’t Rain outside the densely populated downtown. The on Our Parade original campus offered both business and recreation facilities to employees, featuring a clubhouse, an Page 28 The Rotunda served as the Maryland Casualty Company’s main administrative building. auditorium that seated 1,500 guests, a landscaped Book Nook Photographer unknown. Source: Postcard postmarked 1926, publisher I & M Ottenheimer, Cardcow.com. park, tennis courts and even a baseball diamond. Page 30 The terracotta building that we now think of as the Rotunda was the company’s main administration Rollin’ Reels As the owners of older homes, many Roland Park building, an impressive structure featuring a bell Page 33 residents grapple with the challenges of transforming tower as its centerpiece. a period building into a modern space, while preserving certain features. On a wider scale, By the late 1960s, Maryland Casualty had outgrown underused historic buildings abound in Baltimore its campus and considered replacing the Rotunda City and readapting them is often preferable to Continued on page 23 Editor’s Notes Roland Park News By Hilary Paska Rykiel Associates to create a Strategic Plan for Stony Run. This well-loved stream and trail Volume 59 During tranquil summer days, it’s easy to has undergone substantial improvements in Fall 2015 imagine Roland Park in its earliest years when recent years, and an overarching Plan will the new neighborhood was viewed as a retreat guide future work. Take the opportunity to Table of Contents from the hustle and bustle of downtown share your views at the community kick- Baltimore. Lighter traffic and an air of calm off meeting on September 26, and consider 1 The ‘New’ Neighbor across the Street: prevail as we enjoy the Roland Park pool and Revitalizing the Rotunda supporting the Campaign with a tax- take some well-earned vacations. deductible donation. You can designate a 2 Editor’s Notes The Fourth of July parade stands out as one specific project, for example, Stony Run, on 3 Art Happenings our donation form (P. 35) 8 History and Heritage or online at rolandpark. 9 Natural Selections org/foundation.html. 10 Civic League Update Fall is a great time to 11 Open Space Campaign Update: enjoy the outdoors and A Strategic Plan for Stony Run two more articles share 14 Standards for Exterior Changes some good news for to Properties: An Overview Roland Park’s fresh-air 16 Save Money on the Costs You Pay for Internet, enthusiasts. The Roland TV and Phone Park Repaving project, 17 Hudson’s Corner happily nearing completion, 18 Green Corner: A Design for Shade will now include a cycle 19 2015 Jones Falls Trail Green Map: track on Roland Avenue Promoting Baltimore’s from Northern Parkway to Green Living Resources Cold Spring Lane. Cycle 20 Kid EdCamp: Student-led learning tracks provide additional at its finest protection for cyclists and have proved popular 21 Major Updates Underway in Gilman’s Backyard across the U.S. In addition, Baltimore Green Map has 21 Fall Recipe: Roasted Garlic and Photos: Sally Foster recently published its 2015 Bourbon Glazed Pork Tenderloin Jones Falls Green Map 22 Home Sales (available at the Children’s 24 Centennial Park Weed Warriors of this summer’s memorable events, because it Bookstore and the Roland Park Library), 25 Welcome New Neighbors almost didn’t happen! A torrential downpour made for a shaky start 26 Save Our Songbirds! but once the rain eased, many 27 Fall Recipe: Pumpkin Dip hardy residents turned out to 28 Don’t Rain on Our Parade celebrate the holiday in their 30 Book Nook red, white and blue. Spot your 33 Rollin’ Reels friends and neighbors in our photo 35 Donor Pledge Form montage on P. 28-29. Come September, everyone’s back to their hectic schedules. Traffic increases, time becomes precious Editorial Board: Lloyd Burdette, and local amenities seem more Henry “Chip” Mortimer and Hilary Paska. valuable and convenient than ever. Advertising Coordinator: Elena Kirkpatrick Mills This issue’s lead article focuses on Roland Park News is published quarterly by the the redevelopment of a Hampden Roland Park Community Foundation, landmark, the Rotunda mall. This P.O. Box 16214, Baltimore, MD 21210 example of urban redevelopment The Rotunda served as the Maryland Casualty Company’s main administrative building. Telephone: (410) 464-2533 sits on Roland Park’s southern Photographer unknown. Source: Undated postcard, Kilduffs.com. FAX (410) 464-2528 [email protected] boundary, so I wanted to find out Chair, Mary Page Michel; more. Having spent a decade planning and detailing nature-oriented activities and Treasurer, Paul Anderson; Secretary, Helen Montag redeveloping the Rotunda, Hekemian and Co. “green-living” resources along the Jones Falls Graphic Production: DesignConcept.com share their hopes for the nearly-completed Watershed. Printer: Swanson Graphics project, and what we can expect as the site If your outdoor interests lie closer to home, Deadlines for copy, including announcements and calendar items, are opens over the coming months. Peter Biernan of Green Fields Nursery shares February 1 for spring issue (March-May), May 1 for summer issue (June-August), August 1 for fall issue (September-November), and In other neighborhood news, the Roland his gardening expertise with some ideas for November 1 for winter issue (December-February). Park Community Foundation, as part of shade-loving plants. Let’s enjoy the season the Open Space Campaign, is partnering before the cold weather begins! � with the Friends of Stony Run and Mahan 2 got green space? [email protected]. All Art Happenings events are free unless otherwise noted. All are located at The Ivy Upcoming events sponsored by Community Concerts at Second unless otherwise noted. include: Upcoming events include: n September 20, 7:30 p.m., Chamber Music by Candlelight. Join n Friday, September 18, 4 p.m., us in a candlelit setting as Drew Daywalt: The Day the Crayons Came Home. Drew members of the Baltimore Daywalt’s The Day the Crayons Quit was dubbed one of “The Symphony Orchestra 100 Best Children’s Books of All Time” by TIME magazine. In perform some of their The Day the Crayons Came Home, protagonist Duncan faces a favorite chamber works. whole new group of crayons asking to be rescued! Plan to stay for a post- concert reception, hosted n Tuesday, September 29, 7 p.m., The Baltimore Sun (501 N. by the BSO, to mingle with Calvert Street), Charles Todd: the musicians and fellow A Pattern of Lies. As part of the audience members. Baltimore Sun Book Club, Charles Todd discusses the new novel in the n September 27, 3:30 p.m., Boris Slutsky & Friends, sponsored Bess Crawford mystery series. Single by M&T Bank. Join us as three internationally-acclaimed virtuosi event tickets are $15 and can be come together for an intimate concert experience. Long-time purchased at the door or by calling friends, pianist Boris Slutsky, violinist Dmitri Berlinsky and cellist 410-332-6431. Suren Bagratuni are sure to impress in this unforgettable concert of works by Schumann and Shostakovich. n Wednesday, September 30, 7 p.m., An Evening of Poetry: Joseph n October 11, 3:30 p.m., Barbara Dever & Phillip Collister, Harrison, James Arthur, Dora sponsored by Len & Cindy Levering. Since her debut as Amneris Malech. Three award-winning poets in Aida at the Metropolitan Opera, Barbara Dever has been in read from their work. Joseph Harrison, author of Shakespeare’s demand throughout the world for the dramatic mezzo-soprano Horse, is the senior American editor for Waywiser Press. James operatic and concert repertoire. An extensive bass-baritone soloist in opera, oratorio and in recital, Phillip Collister maintains Continued on page 4 an active performing and directing career. Watch the two in a breathtaking program, “Music for a While,” also featuring pianists Elena Ryepkina and R. Timothy McReynolds, and cellist Gozde Tiknaz. n November 1, 7:30 p.m., Chamber Music by Candlelight. Join us in a candlelit setting as members of the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra perform some of their favorite chamber works.