PRESIDENT’S COLUMN - Winter 2013

The Tuscany-Canterbury Neighborhood Association will hold its general meeting on Thursday, February 28^th in the Calvert School atrium at 7:30 pm. The speaker is Jill Jonnes, founder of the Baltimore Tree Trust, who will talk about how to improve our neighborhood tree canopy and what trees are available to City residents. Please come to this meeting to hear about the possibilities for more trees in our neighborhood. 

I would like to discuss possible spring improvements in our neighborhood, including walkability and sidewalk safety. A common complaint among pedestrians is that too many sidewalks are broken, uneven, or have tree branches blocking them. The Association plans to meet with City officials following the general meeting to provide a list of areas needing sidewalk replacement. 

Many of us have chosen to live in Tuscany-Canterbury because of its architecture, pedestrian-friendly streets, schools, parks, safety, local food sources, transportation, and job locations. Let’s not forget that improving outside areas makes many of these advantages that much more available and enjoyable. Our alleys are also important streetscape. They can benefit from a cleanup campaign. Clearing debris in alleys and enclosing trashcans not only reduces rats but also markedly improves appearance. Often there is a need to clean up after the trash truck. Alley house numbers should be highly visible to police and fire vehicles. 

The general meeting will also include updates on the activities of the various TCNA committees. Most of our TCNA committees work monthly on improving life in our community. For example, the Traffic and Parking Committee aims at improving pedestrian safety and reducing out-of-neighborhood vehicle traffic. Its committee members spent many hours negotiating with the City’s Transportation Department for 39^th Street traffic improvements, including the planned roundabout at 39^th and Canterbury, the left turn signals at Charles and 39^th Streets, and slowing speeding along the 39^th St. median strip. University Parkway is also a major concern. Changes are planned along University Parkway from Charles Street to beyond the Carlyle Apartments. I invite all residents to follow the progress of these plans and to urge the City to make our walkways a more dominant traffic question. 

What do we want for the 39^th Street median? A committee currently made up of Rob Snow, Michael Matunis, and Sharyn Frederick will be leading a charette to plan future landscaping. We know that many residents along 39^th Street want the median to be an active urban park with benches and other people-oriented facilities. Many of us remember playing croquet and bocce ball near the Broadview. Apartment residents count on nearby outdoor space for a place where they can chat with neighbors and friends. I encourage all TCNA members to be part of this planning process for the median.

The State of Maryland recently transferred funds to Baltimore City’s Parks and Recreation Dept. to improve Stony Run Park. Two pedestrian bridges will be built over the stream along Linkwood Road to make for easy access to both sides of the park. Engineering work has begun, although progress may be slow. 

On October 31, Sue Talbot resigned as president of the association. As the by-laws dictate, I assumed the office. We are very lucky to have had Sue as president for several years. On behalf of the entire community, I extend our thanks to Sue for her faithful service. She plans to remain on the Board and will work to promote neighborhood email communication. 

In closing, I invite all Tuscany-Canterbury residents to think of ways to improve walkability in our community. Please send suggestions for what the association and its members can do to improve our public areas.

AJ O'Brien

President, TCNA 

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