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February 2008
To echo Richard Hackett's words, I am pleased to have the torch passed and will also do my best to continue in the tradition of quality presidents of the past. My vision of the position is to act as the spokesperson of the Executive Committee. They are a terrific bunch and after just one meeting I am impressed with their energy and ideas. We have certain goals for the upcoming year and they are all directed towards our Butchers Hill neighbors: To generally improve our quality of life, to educate, improve communications, and even to entertain on occasion. Of course, we can only accomplish our goals with your input so feel free to accost any of us with your idea of what is good for the 'hood. Senator George Della would like to apologize for not making it to our January meeting. He was delayed due to traffic. He did stay around for about an hour and we had a very informative chat with him. Major Bergeron of the SE Police District will be our speaker for February. We've asked him to provide detailed statistics about incidents in Butchers Hill plus a number of specific questions ranging from do the blue light cameras do any good to what do muggers look for in potential victims. I had the pleasure of sitting down with him recently and found him to be an erudite and dedicated officer. This should be a very informative meeting. At every meeting, next to the sign up sheet, will be a short form asking if you are interesting in serving on a committee and soliciting your ideas for future meetings, events, and projects. It would be a great help to us if you were to take one and give some thought to the questions. Finally, like every past president, I'm going to ask you to be involved, be it monthly meetings, committees, or just sitting on your stoop with neighbors. I truly believe we are Baltimore's Friendliest Neighborhood - find out for yourself! I hope everyone is looking forward to the upcoming year as much as I am! -Barry Glassman HOMEOWNERS TAX CREDIT CHANGES The credit given you on an owner’s principal residence, called the Homestead Tax Credit, is no longer automatic. This year you must apply for it. The Homestead Tax Credit limits the amount of the assessment increase on which a homeowner will pay property taxes in that tax year on the one property that is used as the owner's principal residence. As part of the 2007 regular session, the Legislature passed SB 522 "Homestead Tax Credit- Eligibility Verification- Application" - its purpose is to prevent Maryland property owners from receiving a homestead tax credit on more than one property. The law became effective 10/1/07 and will impact properties transferred after 12/31/07. Current property owners will have to file an application to continue a homestead tax credit when they receive their tri-annual reassessment notice. For properties that transfer after 12/31/07, the new owner will have 180 days to file the application (which will be mailed to the owner by SDAT). https://sdathtc.resiusa.org/homestead/ or call the Department of Assessments and Taxation Homestead Tax Credit Division at 1.866.650.8783 PROPERTY TAX REASSESSMENT Some of you may have already gotten your reassessment. Others will get it this year. Prepare yourself for the appeal process now, it’s easy. Immediately after the general meeting, there will be an informal discussion about filing an appeal of recent reassessments led by neighbors who have been successful in the past. BHA COMMITTEES AND MONTHLY MEETINGS
§ FEBRUARY BUTCHERS HILL GENERAL MEETING, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 6TH § CRIME PREVENTION AND BLOCK REPRESENTATIVE SUMMARY REPORT FOR 2007 While most of us are aware that there is crime in our neighborhood, Butchers Hill continues to improve and is considered relatively safe. Again, this is in part due to many neighbors who watch out for their neighbors and report suspicious activity to the police, and to our good relations with Eastern and Southeast Police District officers. The following is a summary of our activities in 2007: Evan Helfrich continues to coordinate a walk-around with C.O.P. (Citizens On Patrol) twice a month, checking out problem spots, vacant properties, etc. We have written three community impact letters, attended 4 court hearings, and contacted at least 10 property owners about security or criminal activity. We have held meetings for neighbors on blocks tied to problem spots, and we have worked with the Mayor's office to get better lighting and visibility in the school/recreation center playground at Fairmount and Washington. We have a presence at the monthly Police Community Relations meetings of both Eastern and Southeast districts and turn in monthly summary reports of problems. -Carolyn Boitnott BUTCHERS HILL ASSOCIATION - JANUARY GENERAL MEETING NOTES
OUR UNIQUE ARCHITECTURAL DIVERSITY Butchers Hill is blessed with many architectural styles, and in 2008, I’ll revive and revise some of my earlier articles on what we see around us. I want to thank Virgil Bartram, our Land Use chair and an architect who’s contributed his own style to the neighborhood, for help as I prepared these articles. (Any errors are mine, not his.) History, geography, and capitalism are mostly responsible for our architectural diversity. Butchers settled atop the hill when Baltimore was still entirely west of Jones Falls. Consequently, there were lots, barns, workshops, and dwellings to establish land-use patterns here. We never had room for block upon block of row house building, and so we grew in “hopscotch” mode — a single house here, a short row there, a duplex somewhere else. Many of our rows are just four or six units, and our longest rows aren’t that much longer: They are on either side of the 2200 block of Baltimore Street. Geography also contributes to our architectural variety. Victorian architects might have given a row of six or eight units an integrated façade to make it look like a single structure rather than identical units. This would give a horizontal feeling instead of the narrow, vertical aspect typical of row houses. But when you live on a hill, it’s hard to achieve such “horizontality.” And even if you build identical units side by side, geography may force “stair step” construction that felicitously breaks up long cornices and repetitive facades. The 2200 block of Pratt has examples, and so do all our streets running downhill toward the harbor. Capitalism, exemplified by ground rent, has a large architectural legacy since they improved life for countless residents in the development years. William Patterson, for example, leased much of the area to Jacob Laudenslager without relinquishing ownership. Early butchers subleased from Jacob, and the area was called “Laudenslager’s Hill” for half a century. Yet Patterson’s heirs were still developing their property here during the 20th century. With ground rent providing a long-term revenue stream, developers could invest more in the actual house. Marble steps and detailing, stained-glass transoms and front windows, hand-assembled cornices — they all represent architectural detailing made possible by ground rent. One last aspect of our architectural heritage should be noted: From the earliest of times, Baltimore prohibited wood construction, so as to limit the fire hazard. There’s a reason why everything we see is brick and masonry! -Rick Gilmour COMMUNITY BULLETIN BOARD ª Valentine’s Day in the Neighborhood ª Enjoy Valentine’s Day Close to Home at one of the restaurants located in Butchers Hill: ~SALT~ 2127 E. Pratt St., 410-276-5480, open Monday through Saturday at 5 p.m. Normally reservations are only for parties of 6 or more. However, on Valentine’s Day reservations will be available for all tables. Seating for the Prix-Fixe Menu is at 5:00, 6:00, 7:30 and 8:30 p.m. ~THE LIFE OF REILLY IRISH PUB & RESTAURANT~ 2031 E. Fairmount Ave., 410-327-6425, open Sunday- Thursday 11 a.m. to 11 p.m., Friday & Saturday 11 a.m. to 2 a.m., Sunday Brunch 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Three dining rooms and reservations available. Valentine’s Day, please call in advance. Reservations required for Prix-Fixe Menu. ~MORNING EDITION CAFÉ~ Corner of N. Patterson Park Ave. & Fayette St., open for breakfast, lunch and early dinner only on Friday 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., Saturday 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. and Sunday 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Brunch Specials. Not open on Valentine’s Day, but available for Evening Rentals: call Brian, 410-732-5133. ANNOUNCEMENT: Last year, residents voted in favor of starting the process for expanding our two small CHAP districts to include all of Butchers Hill. Soon we hope to hear when that process will begin. As the first step, CHAP will mail letters to every property owner. We encourage you to become involved in this process and make your feelings known. There will be discussions at future Butchers Hill meetings. The whole process takes several months. Watch for more news on this subject in future newsletters. Butchers Hill Land Use Committee Volunteers Needed at School 27, Chester and Fairmount: During the first two weeks of April, in the mornings, we need volunteers who will serve as proctors for the administration of the Maryland State Assessment tests ( grades 3-7). Usually this requires a committment of 2 hours each day the tests are administered. The tests are spread over four days for each class. Some special education students may need the test to be read to them. Contact Carolyn Boitnott at 410-522-4991 if you can read to a class or help with the testing. Flea Market Committee Report: Mark your calendars for Saturday May 10 (rain date Saturday May 17) for the spring Flea Market and Craft Fair. If you would like to volunteer to distribute posters beginning mid March, please contact Tori Simms 410-675- 4948. Shortly we will have the BHA website updated with all of the new information. A “save the date” email blast will go out to vendors by early February. Lynn Writsel is working to get the information on every calendar in the city we can find. The next meeting is Tuesday Feb. 19 at 7 PM at Tori Simms, 232 So. Patterson Park Ave, 410-675-4948. Education Committee: We received a thank you note from PPCS for the monies to support equipment purchases for the school. They utilized existing funds for locks on closets at Commodore Rodgers. The first meeting of the year is Monday February 11 at 7 PM at Tori Simms 232 S. Patterson Park Ave., 410-675-49498. We will be discussing Adopt-a-Teacher and other ways to support the schools this calendar year. 
FEBRUARY EVENTS IN THE PARK
Wednesday, February 13th, 7-9pm
Saturday, February 23rd, 8-9:30am
Saturday, February 23rd or Tuesday, the 26th, 10-11am Call 410-558-BIRD (2473) or email ppaudubon@gmail.com to register FOR SALE: Lifestep 5500 (stairmaster type machine) $300; Lifecycle $250. $500 for both. 410-342-5912 8am-6pm or email Barbara Gilmour, CPA, Tax Specialist, now offering pick-up and drop off service in Butchers Hill, and is approved by the IRS for e-filing. Phone number: 410-825-0157. FREE Large capacity washing machine. Used, but works fine. Yours to pick up and take home. Call Megin or Don 410-342-9597 Some Final Words about Recycling. All households should have received a flyer about the new Single Stream Recycling. If you have questions, please see the BHA website or call Sandy Sales at 410.371.8346. For recycling or trash issues, please call 311. Finally, if you did not receive the 2008 Department of Public Works Calendar, come to the next General Meeting where we will have extras available.
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PASSING THE TORCH