Congestion. Unaffordable housing. Pollution. A lost identity.
Towson residents, students and business leaders this week will attempt to tackle the pressing community ailments that take lawmakers and development experts careers to resolve. With the support of Baltimore County, they?re bringing in a team of architects, civil engineers and planners ? known as an urban design assistance team, or UDAT ? to help them make their dreams come true.
The process starts tonight with a public forum at Towson University, led by North Carolina-based architect Steve Gaddis.
“This is the primary opportunity for people to say what they want to preserve, create and change in Towson,” said Cynthia Bledsoe, executive director of the Greater Towson Committee Inc.
But a group of Towson residents said they worry implementation could mean the revival of the eminent domain debate. County residents voted against the government seizing private property for public good in a ballot referendum in 2000, and on Tuesday both Gaddis and County Executive Jim Smith said the redevelopment of Towson will not involve the practice.
“The voters in Baltimore County have spoken loud and clear on the issue of eminent domain,” Smith said. “The county executive has spoken loud and clear: Baltimore County does not use eminent domain for private economic development.”
The public is invited to attend panel discussions Thursday and Friday. The process will culminate Tuesday with a final presentation inside the studio.
IF YOU GO
» What: Towson urban design assistance team public forum
» When: 7 to 9 p.m. today
» Where: Towson University, Center for the Arts
