Baltimore County Executive Jim Smith Wednesday called for community involvement in discussions over a controversial basketball and concert arena at Towson University.
Smith sent a letter to Towson University President Robert Caret, requesting the school heed input from members of the neighboring Rodgers Forge community who will be “directly affected” by the $45 million projects. University and community leaders were scheduled to meet to discuss the proposal Wednesday evening.
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“The State Board of Public Works encouraged the university to work closely with the surrounding communities on the location and scope of the proposed facility,” Smith wrote. “I strongly urge Towson University officials to engage the neighborhoods of Towson in a meaningful dialogue in relation to plans for a new arena and Towson’s master plan.”
Community activists said the university plans to start construction this summer on a parking lot on the south end of campus near their property lines. That comes as an unpleasant surprise, they said, after university officials initially told them the arena would be built pursuant to its 2003 master plan on the northeast side of campus.
