Baltimore County residents are waging battle against the site for a new Towson University arena they said was deliberately kept secret from them and threatens to disrupt their quiet neighborhood.
Community activists said the university plans to start construction on a $45 million basketball and concert arena this summer on a parking lot on the south end of campus. 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.
“This will literally be spitting distance from a fence in my yard,” said Kevin McGivern. “It’s going to completely disrupt this sleepy little neighborhood.”
University officials, residents and lawmakers plan to meet Wednesday to discuss the matter. A call to Towson University was referred to Marina Cooper, assistant president for external relations and communication, who did not respond by press time.
State Sen. Jim Brochin, a Democrat who represents the area, said university officials have agreed to provide a buffer between the arena and neighborhood.
“They have acknowledged that could have been more open and I wish they had been, and we’re going to deal with it,” Brochin said.
Members of the Rodgers Forge Community Association — many whose property will abut the new arena — are contemplating legal action and public demonstrations, according to a letter association President Janice Moore penned to university President Robet Caret on Thursday.
The university’s original plans were mostly acceptable to the community, Moore said. The changed plans, which appear to have been in place since December 2006, were never communicated to residents, she said.
“Our community is in outrage over this impending project, as it appears that the development plan that we spent so much time contributing to has been unilaterally altered and amended without any input from our community,” Moore wrote.
The association is requesting the university halt all construction and expenses until the parties can reach a consensus, she said.
