 The Neighborhoods of Greater Lauraville, Inc. |
The Greater Lauraville Gazette |
Happy New Year!
With the passing of the holidays and the settling in of winter rhythms it is hard not to notice the stresses on our communities, and the families and businesses that comprise them. With the entrance of 2009 we acknowledge the sad loss of both Rock Candy and Alabama BBQ. These businesses brought their own version of sweetness and spice to Greater Lauraville and they will be dearly missed. On the homeownership front, we brace ourselves for the various ways the housing and foreclosure crises will impact our friends and neighbors.
In 2008, the staff and board members of the Neighborhoods of Greater Lauraville sought resources that can assist families and business owners in their efforts to remain strong and viable members of this green, funky, and family friendly community. I'm proud to announce the following resources available to you through NOGLI:
- Healthy Neighborhoods home renovation loans, refinance and rehab loans, and acquisition and rehab loans with $10,000 matching grant funds toward renovations for qualified borrowers. Loan rates are currently between 2.25% and 3.48% depending on the product used. Please visit www.greaterlauraville.com or call 410-444-9188 for more information.
- Thanks to funding from Maryland's Community Legacy Program and a partnership with The Reinvestment Fund in Philadelphia we will be offering commercial construction loans to Harford Road businesses and property owners in late-winter or early spring of 2009. This $200,000 loan fund will be available to qualified borrowers looking to make physical improvements to commercial properties in Lauraville, Hamilton and Mayfield. Call 410-444-9188 for more information.
- Foreclosure Prevention and Housing Counseling in partnership with Belair Edison Neighborhoods, Inc. for Greater Lauraville is now available to residents in our member neighborhoods at risk of losing their homes. We are also conducting active outreach to households at risk of foreclosure as a pro-active measure to stabilize our communities during this unstable time for the real estate market. Please call 410-444-9188 for more information.
Andrea Smid, our wonderful University of Maryland Fellow has pulled together a number of other resources available to local residents seeking affordable ways to invest in their properties. As above, feel free to contact the office at 410-444-9188 or lorrie@greaterlauraville.com for information on the programs and products described in this newsletter.
Peace to all,
Lorrie
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Historic Tax Credit Technical Assistance ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ It is reported that the historic tax credits in the Greater Lauraville area are the most underutilized in the city. The Neighborhoods of Greater Lauraville, Inc. is offering free step-by-step technical assistance on how to apply for and receive the local and state historic preservation tax credits to residents in Arcadia, Beverly Hills, Lauraville, and Mayfield. Call the office at 410-444-9188 to schedule an appointment!
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| Free Lead Testing Resources and Grants In Baltimore City
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Lead is one of the most significant and widespread environmental hazards for children in Maryland. Children are at greatest risk from birth to age six while their neurological systems are developing. Sustained exposure to lead can cause long-lasting neurological damage or death. Effects of sustained exposure include learning disabilities, shortened attention span, irritability, and lowered IQ. 
Resources for Assistance: LEAP is a matching grant program, so no direct cash assistance is available. If your property is accepted into the program, we will develop a scope of work. Property owners are responsible for conducting risk reduction work such as paint stabilization and making floors smooth and cleanable. Once this work is completed, the Coalition will install free replacement windows, conduct a lead safe home clean, and ensure that the unit passes lead clearance testing.
To Qualify Your Unit Must Be: -Located in Baltimore City -Constructed prior to 1978 -Occupied by a child under 6 and/or a pregnant woman -Have at least one bedroom For more information: Email: intake@leadsafe.org or call 410-534-6447 - Baltimore City Lead Abatement Action Project (LAAP)
The Lead Abatement Action Project provides money to property owners to renovate residential or rental properties in Baltimore City to make these units lead safe. The program is specifically interested in creating lead-safe housing opportunities for low-income families with young children.
For homeowners, up to 100% of the cost of making your home lead safe may be covered.
For landlords, up to 80% of the cost of making a unit lead safe may be covered, with a maximum of $5,000 per unit.
The LAAP will develop a scope of work that is appropriate to the condition of the house. The scope will include window, floor, door, trim, wall, paint, exterior, and cleaning treatments.
For more information: Please call Baltimore City Health Department directly about this program at (443) 984-3934 - MD Lead Hazard Reduction Grant and Loan Program
The Lead Hazard Reduction Grant and Loan Program is sponsored by the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development. It is a special program that provides funds to assist homeowners and landlords reduce the risk of lead poisoning and preserve the housing stock by reducing or eliminating lead-based paint hazards. The program is funded with State and federal funds.
Who is eligible?
- Home owners who are Maryland residents and whose principal residence is the dwelling that will be repaired
- Property owners of residential rental property
Up to $15,000 per unit (home or apartment) is available.
There are no income limits for this program. The financial assistance provided (grant or loan) will be based on the applicant's ability to repay.
For more information: Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development
Special Loans Programs
100 Community Place
Crownsville, Maryland 21032
(410) 514-7565 or (800) 492-7127 Free Services available to help with indoor allergens, lead paint, and to prevent childhood injuries in the home! To qualify the property must be occupied by a child with asthma between 2-14 years old. For more information: Call 410-534-6447 or 1-800-370-5323 |
Holiday Lights Contest Winner!~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~  The winner of the contest is the Carter family of 4025 Woodlea Avenue! Congratulations and thanks to all who participated!
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| The Business of Being Born Movie ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~  We are very pleased to announce that Bediboo and Rock Candy will be hosting a weekend of viewings of The Business of Being Born in January.
The Business of Being Born is a documentary by Ricki Lake and Abby Epstein. We are having four showings of The Business of Being Born. You can purchase tickets online here. Tickets are $8 if you purchase them in the store and $9 if you buy them online. If you purchase them through the site please select use the code FSBOBB for free shipping on your tickets, or choose "in store pick up" to have them held for you at the store.
A portion of the proceeds will be donated to the American College of Nurse Midwives.
Movie Show Times
Friday, January 23, 1:00 PM
Friday, January 23, 7:00 PM
Saturday, January 23, 6:30 PM (with reception to follow in the Rock Candy Theater)
Sunday, January 24, 1:00 PM
Rock Candy Theater 4321 Harford Road, 2nd floor
Baltimore, Maryland 21214
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| Inauguration Celebration on Harford Road ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~  Tuesday January 20, 2009
Join us at participating Restaurants, Pubs, Caf�s, and Carryouts along Harford Road in Lauraville and Hamilton to watch televised
Inauguration events throughout the day.
Special Raffle for Inauguration Memorabilia
Grand Prize: U.S. Flag Flown over the Capitol on Inauguration Day
2nd Prize: Original T Shirt by local artist Michael Clark
3rd Prize: Pop up book America the Beautiful
Raffle Tickets: $1 each
Winners picked on President's Day February 16, 2009
For raffle tickets sales locations, donations to HLMS, and
information on Inauguration Day events in Hamilton and Lauraville,
please visit:
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| The Donovan Fund Film ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~  The Awful Truth (1937) A Romantic Comedy Classic in honor of Cary Grant's Birthday-one of Film's "essentials" and great fun for a good cause.
Saturday, January 17, 2009
7:00 pm
5440 Harford Road
Suggested Donation $10 per person
The film is part of a series to benefit The Donovan Fund.
Monies raised help subsidize material needs of medically fragile seniors of fixed income in Baltimore City.
The Fund helps seniors pay BG&E bills and purchase supplies such as
mattresses, air conditioners, hearing aids, and medical equipment.
Call Chris Muldowney 410366-1980x271 or 410/426-2529 cmuldowney@fcsmd.org
Discounts at local businesses with this film, call to reserve.
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Free Downspout Disconnection Program ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 
Baltimore gets an average of 42 inches of rain a year. This means that in the course of a normal year, about 35,000 gallons of water will drain from an average-sized roof (1300 ft2) In many urban areas, rooftop runoff flows directly into storm sewer pipes, and then into local streams. Why not put it to better use? You can disconnect your downspouts to redirect water to your yard or garden. Redirecting rainwater to permeable surfaces on your property also reduces demand on the sewer system and protects the health of our rivers, streams, and groundwater. Think of it as free water to help your landscape grow.
WHO IS ELIGIBLE?
To participate you must be located in the Herring Run Watershed.
HOW MUCH WILL THIS COST?
This is a FREE program through a partnership between the Herring Run Watershed Association, Jones Falls Watershed Association, Baltimore City, and Center for Watershed Protection.
If you would like to be considered, please contact us and request a site visit. We will come out and survey your property to determine which of your downspouts can be safely disconnected. Then, after we discuss your options with you, we will come out and disconnect your downspouts, providing the parts and labor for free!
WHAT IS INVOLVED IN DISCONNECTING MY DOWNSPOUTS?
Disconnecting your downspouts involves the simple and safe process of capping your standpipe and redirecting your downspout to flow over landscaped areas or lawns. Disconnection can be a low-maintenance option to help move water away from building foundations and allow it to soak into the ground. Disconnecting includes cutting the downspout; attaching elbows, extensions, and splash blocks to direct the water to flow away from the house; plugging the standpipe; and securing the materials to existing structures.
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| | Contact Information ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Thanks to all of you who have volunteered your time to help us here at the Neighborhoods of Greater Lauraville! We appreciate what you do for us! Sincerely, phone: 410-444-9188 
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Neighborhoods of Greater Lauraville | 3009 Montebello Terrace | Baltimore | MD | 21214 |
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