Thursday, July 31, 2008

Falling Behind

My goal is to post once a day. Unfortunately time is short today so I'll just throw out a couple news links I have in my back pocket:


Did I mention I hate Columbia? Not so much for the actual place itself but, for its "I'm the center of the world" inhabitants. It doesn't take much for them to start complaining about something and its always nice to see it when one falls up short. 


Its nice to see main local story in the Baltimore Sun not be about violence, death, or a violent death.

Anyway, I'm will be away tomorrow - so if anyone is reading out there, I'll try to have another (better) update this weekend.

Wednesday, July 30, 2008

Baltimore + Mass Transit = ABOUT TIME!

The Baltimore sun is reporting
that elected officials in the Baltimore region are pumping $340 million into mass transit projects. I say this is about damn time! Baltimore's current mass transit is at-best 'poor' and at worst 'dangerous'. 
In a shift away from highways-first transportation policies, top elected officials in the Baltimore region have decided to direct about $340 million in previously unallocated revenue over 20 years entirely toward mass transit projects...

...In a vote last week, the board determined that all of the added funds should go to short- and long-term transit projects, a shift in priorities that officials said reflects concerns about air pollution, gasoline prices and dependence on fossil fuels.

"People are really interested in taking mass transit," said Howard County Executive Ken Ulman, the board's chairman. Jack Cahalan, a spokesman for the state Transportation Department, said its representatives on the board supported the move at the direction of O'Malley and Secretary John D. Porcari.

Although the story didn't go into too much detail on if this will help any one thing in particular, speculation includes a motion proving to the world that the myth of a subway line within Baltimore exists and we might actually be expanding it, MARC improvements, more park-n-ride lots, and something involving Columbia (screw Columbia). 

Talk also included some long-range plans, which to my bitter-skeptic within means, our local representatives will pocket whatever isn't spent in the first year, oh and to pay for our fair-mayor's defensive council

Though, in all seriousness, this is great news! If the city is able to focus and get the ball rolling, this could be a great improvement to the city and its reputation.  To all of the city citizens out there, don't let your representatives screw this one up! Take up arms and show your support! A public comment forum has been setup at the Baltimore Metropolitian Council in Canton of August 12 (3-6pm). Go if you can!!!


Tuesday, July 29, 2008

Dr. Sketchy's Anti-Art School

To all you artist in Baltimore, this looks like awesome wrapped in a big bag of kick-ass!

...but if you go, you better tips the models (and well).

East Baltimore Strikes Back!


The first new homes to be built in a half-century in East Baltimore's Oliver neighborhood were dedicated yesterday, a sign of progress, officials said, in a blighted swath of the city once notorious for drug dealing...

..But the community was galvanized after seven members of the Dawson family were killed in a 2002 fire set by drug dealers they had been battling. Churches in Oliver, organized by the social action group Baltimoreans United in Leadership Development, raised $1.2 million to rebuild their community. Residents turned out in force yesterday, crowding the street for the ribbon-cutting and then swarming into the new homes.

This gives new meaning to the term "Fire Sale". They are practically giving houses away. I'm not opposed to the idea either, lord knows we need to give the middle class some incentive to move back into the inner city (and an interest free closing cost loan for a crappy FHA loan isn't enough).

East Baltimore, just south of North Avenue has never been a good area of the city. The tragedy of 2002 seemed to be the final nail in the coffin for the neighborhood. So I do have to commend the citizens of the neighborhood for all the energy they have put into this and I only wish them the best...

...Saying that, there is NO WAY I'm moving into that war zone! If for no other reason, I say this for financial reasons. Buying into the Oliver community is an insanely high-risk venture. 150k might be a steal for for a rowhouse that could double in value in a few years, but if the criminals fight back for turf again you truly would not be able to give that pile of wood away, unless you physically demolished it yourself and sold it as fire wood on a cold winter's night. As a gut reaction, I would only buy once of those houses if they came with a free concealed weapons permit.

However, don't let my foolish negativity stop anyone else. If you would like to play russian roulette yourself (For Fabulous Prizes!!!) you can check out these bad boys yourself. They do look quite nice...

Monday, July 28, 2008

Weekly Housing Update

As a anon currently looking to purchase a home in our fair city - I read A LOT of housing print. Housing stats, housing reports, housing options, housing bitching, housing bickering,etc. 

SO! Once a week (or so) I will round up everything I found interesting a lump it into one big mess of a post! Excited?!?!? Yeah...me neither, but here we go anyway!

 1)

First up, the Real Estate Wonk Brawl-For-All! Poor Jamie Smith Hopkins, she only wanted to run a little Baltimore Metro Area blog, instead she is center stage for the biggest-little slap-fest since the Jets battled the Sharks. Whether intentionally or not, Jamie discovered the easiest way for bloggers to put their heart on their sleeve, (right, wrong, or indifferent) by bringing up the touchy subject of current house prices. The battle of wills and name-calling got so fierce, one professional agent threw in the towel and went home. 

The moral of the story to all you jerks out there. Be nice, or you will lose all the people you like arguing with! 

2) 

A city as F-bombed as Baltimore needs a lot of continual attention or THIS could happen! Urban Renewal seems like a pretty important thing for an over taxed, poorly lead city like Baltimore. We can't let a little thing like the potential collapse like US banking practices disrupt the house of cards our fair city is built on! Oh wait...crap.  Also to expand on this story is the cover of 'Duh!' Magazine...


3) 


This is easily my favorite house-trolling website. 


Welcome

Welcome! Please be aware of a few things:

1) Due to my overall inability to write - this will be a collecting ground of published stories, links, and opinions mainly revolving around Baltimore.

2) I will refrain from attacking individuals and instead, if the need arises, challenge ideas and issues. Those things don't have feelings.

3) Try not to take anything too seriously, I'm just doing this for fun.

--Baltimore Anon