(rshsdepot) Lansdowne, MD

[Bernie Wagenblast <brwagenblast_@_comcast.net>]

Link:
http://news.mywebpal.com/partners/805/images/news/ACF2B7.jpg  (architect's
rendering)

Railroad is theme for streetscape
Lansdowne residents support 'rail stop' motif
Lansdowne project embraces train theme

05/01/02
By Marcia Ames - Arbutus Times

Lansdowne residents gave Baltimore County the go-ahead last week for
transforming their downtown into a tourist destination, using a railroad
theme for a draw.In a meeting hosted April 25 by First District Councilman
Sam Moxley's office, residents voiced their support for a streetscape
concept plan that would upgrade the infrastructure as well as aesthetics of
Hammonds Ferry Road, between Hollins Ferry and Lansdowne roads.In addition
to new benches, trash receptacles, lighting, brick-covered concrete pavers
and landscaping along that corridor, aesthetic improvements would include a
faux roof and elevated decking for Jake Miller's five antique railroad
cars.Total cost of the project has not yet been determined."The idea is to
make it look like a rail stop," said Bob Capalongo of Whitney, Bailey, Cox
and Magnani, the engineering firm serving as design consultants for the
concept phase.Capalongo said the cars would be clustered in a row, with
benches and plantings at either end. Each car would have a commercial use
for attracting tourist as well as local traffic.A railroad-theme welcome
sign is proposed for the east side of the corridor, just north of Hollins
Ferry Road. The existing welcome sign across the street would carry a
"leaving Lansdowne" message.To support pedestrian traffic and improve
safety, the concept plan also proposes improvements to the existing sidewalk
running from Lansdowne Road to Fifth Avenue, and a sidewalk addition from
Fifth Avenue to Hollins Ferry Road, on the east side of Hammonds Ferry
Road.Addressing roadway traffic concerns, the plan also calls for widening
Hammonds Ferry Road between Clyde and Fifth avenues, to allow new traffic
medians and parallel parking.A number of people voiced concern about
drainage and flooding in the area, which streetscape projects do not
address. Bryan Sheppard, Moxley's senior legislative aide, said the
councilman was working with officials from the Department of Public Works
and the Office of Community Conservation to address those issues.Bristling
at suggestions that he would be favored by the streetscape project, Miller,
who is president of the Lansdowne Improvement Association and a member of
the streetscape advisory committee, noted that he would fund any
improvements to his property.Anyone else having property along the
streetscape corridor and wishing to make improvements would also pay an
as-yet-to-be-determined price, he added.Said Miller, "If we don't have the
full cooperation of everyone in Lansdowne, Lansdowne won't get improved."He
contended that his critics should take more interest in LIA activities, to
support the community and know what's going on."I've lived here all my
life," commented Edna May Merson, who retired in 1986 as principal of
Lansdowne Elementary School. "I think it's wonderful that the county is
fixing up Lansdowne - it's long overdue."Moxley and Ray Heil, streetscape
program manager for the public works department, stressed that the concept
plan is only a beginning, with a number of phases to follow.The concept
planning phase began in October of last year, with a meeting between the
community and representatives of the county agencies involved - public
works, traffic engineering, economic development, planning, and community
conservation. Hosted by Moxley's office, that meeting gave local residents
an opportunity to suggest needed improvements and, if interested, to
volunteer for the advisory committee.After meeting periodically with agency
reps and the design consultants for about three months, to hammer out a
concept, on March 7 the advisory committee voted to support the resulting
plan.Last Thursday's meeting gave the general public an opportunity to
scrutinize it, and to go on record with any comments or questions.According
to Sheppard, if the county's fiscal year 2003 budget includes adequate
funding for Lansdowne streetscape, the project would move next into a full
engineering and design phase to produce a final plan. As before, the public
would be given an opportunity for final approval. The construction phase
would begin next, requiring additional funding.The fiscal 2002 budget
included $10,000 to support the concept plan phase. Sheppard anticipates
that the streetscape plan would need to be incorporated into the county's
budget for at least another three years.Contact Marcia Ames via e-mail at
mames_@_patuxent.com.

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The Railroad Station Historical Society maintains a database of existing
railroad structures at: http://www.rrshs.org

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