180 replies to this topic

[mweb08]

Parking actually isn't bad where I live, but I can definitely understand why that's a negative overall. 

[Mackus]

What % of the time does looking for a spot make you say/think/feel "godammit!"?

 

Ditto for "Whew, that's lucky!"?

 

It's pretty low.  There is a (now-defunct and empty) school across the street from me so that helps a lot rather than have another full block of houses with residents vying for limited spaces.  I haven't had to park more than about 2 blocks from my house in a long time, even when I work weird hours and get home in the middle of the night.  I'm within half a block of my house probably 90% of the time.

 

A handful of blocks west of me though and it gets pretty terrible.

[DJ MC]

Baltimore Sun - Op/Ed: Light rail fails Baltimore residents

 

Since I moved to Baltimore in July, the light rail has been my lifeline and an opportunity to support public transportation, which I consider my civic duty. I teach at the University of Baltimore (State Center and Mount Royal stops), bought a house in south Baltimore County (Baltimore Highlands stop), consult with medical practitioners downtown (University Center and Centre Street stops) and in Hunt Valley (McCormick Road stop), and avoid train station or airport parking (Penn Station and BWI stops). In spite of the occasional delay or inconvenience of relying on “bus bridges” during shut-downs, the light rail has served me well.

 

That’s because I’m a middle-class white woman.

[NewMarketSean]

Baltimore Sun - Op/Ed: Light rail fails Baltimore residents

 

I think she harps too much on the racist angle. The bottom line is that the MTA is simply inept, regardless of race. Add that the light rail was poorly designed and quickly implemented and we're still feeling that 25 years later.

[The Epic]

I think she harps too much on the racist angle. The bottom line is that the MTA is simply inept, regardless of race. Add that the light rail was poorly designed and quickly implemented and we're still feeling that 25 years later.

 

I agree here. 

[BSLMikeLowe]

Baltimore Sun - Op/Ed: Light rail fails Baltimore residents

 

I think it's more a case of she's just lucky (and not because she's white) that light rail goes just about everywhere she needs to go. While Portland is one of the least racially-diverse cities in the country, as a middle class white guy our public transportation (light rail included) has never really served my needs at all. And this despite the fact that our system is probably 10x better than what Baltimore offers. I'd love to leave my car and ride the rail or bus more often, but it just wouldn't work unless I'm willing to spend as much as an extra hour in the course of a day to get where I need to go.

[DuffMan]

So on WBAL yesterday there were talking about the Preakness and if/when we see some sort of renovation to Pimlico ensuring the long term stability of the race.  This got me thinking and maybe we've discusssed it already but I don't remember.  A Pimlico renovation would likely include some public money.  If that were to happen I doubt we would ever see a new arena.  So my question is if we could only get one which would it be?  For me it would be a new Arena.   That would be tough to because a new Pimlico would likely save the Preakness, but I just think a new Arena could do more for the city.

[The Epic]

So on WBAL yesterday there were talking about the Preakness and if/when we see some sort of renovation to Pimlico ensuring the long term stability of the race.  This got me thinking and maybe we've discusssed it already but I don't remember.  A Pimlico renovation would likely include some public money.  If that were to happen I doubt we would ever see a new arena.  So my question is if we could only get one which would it be?  For me it would be a new Arena.   That would be tough to because a new Pimlico would likely save the Preakness, but I just think a new Arena could do more for the city.

 

The Arena. Not even a question for me. 

[NewMarketSean]

Preakness is moving to Laurel. Book it. Neither a new arena or a renovated Pimlico is ever going to happen. Pimlico will be a senior-living center or affordable housing within ten years.

[Mike in STL]

Preakness is moving to Laurel. Book it. Neither a new arena or a renovated Pimlico is ever going to happen. Pimlico will be a senior-living center or affordable housing within ten years.

Thats how I feel it goes down. 

[Mark Carver]

Preakness is moving to Laurel. Book it. Neither a new arena or a renovated Pimlico is ever going to happen. Pimlico will be a senior-living center or affordable housing within ten years.

 

And the lake in the infield? And the lack of infrastructure getting to the track? No way you get 135k+ in attendance for the last Preakness and despite the rain. I'm not saying Pimilico doesn't have issues, but so does Laurel.

 

[NewMarketSean]

And the lake in the infield? And the lack of infrastructure getting to the track? No way you get 135k+ in attendance for the last Preakness and despite the rain. I'm not saying Pimilico doesn't have issues, but so does Laurel.

 

 

You can infill that pond pretty easily.

 

There's a MARC train station right at the track. It's close to several highways as opposed to a metro stop a mile away and in the middle of a residential neighborhood. There are hotels in BWI, not to mention in downtown Baltimore and DC. It's not like people stay in and hang out in Pimlico as is. They all stay elsewhere and then travel to and from the track for Preakness. The same will happen at Laurel.

 

Also, the actually facility itself is worlds ahead of Pimlico. And listening to the Strobach Group talk, they seem intent to move it to Laurel anyway. The only way it stays in Pimlico is if the city and state shell out $300-500 million dollars and I don't see that happening.

 

It will be in Laurel. Maybe as soon as 2020.

[BSLMikeLowe]

So on WBAL yesterday there were talking about the Preakness and if/when we see some sort of renovation to Pimlico ensuring the long term stability of the race.  This got me thinking and maybe we've discusssed it already but I don't remember.  A Pimlico renovation would likely include some public money.  If that were to happen I doubt we would ever see a new arena.  So my question is if we could only get one which would it be?  For me it would be a new Arena.   That would be tough to because a new Pimlico would likely save the Preakness, but I just think a new Arena could do more for the city.

 

The arena, as it can host a lot more events.

 

It'll suck to see the Preakness leave Pimlico, but I also believe that is a just a question of when, not if. I used to love going to the Preakness, but it seemed like during the 2000's the infield scene gradually devolved into something that I no longer wanted to be a part of, so I think 2005 was the last year I attended. Though I hear it changed a lot after they banned BYOB (surprised that didn't happen a lot sooner). In 2006 I went to the Virgin Music Festival, which was cool. Good lineup for that time, and even saw Richard Branson there. But it seems like other than a couple days a year that place is going to waste.

[BSLChrisStoner]

BBJ: Crane Watch update: Harbor Point's newest building gets underway; $100M Harbor East tower planned
https://www.bizjourn...t-building.html

 

BBJ: Columbia embraces Jetsons-like future as 'Tenable Building' breaks ground
https://www.bizjourn...as-tenable.html

[Nigel Tufnel]

Whatever could this be, I wonder.

 

http://www.baltimore...0628-story.html

[The Epic]

Whatever could this be, I wonder.

 

http://www.baltimore...0628-story.html

 

I was going for a swim, and I farted.

 

Nothing to see here.

[NewMarketSean]

I was going for a swim, and I farted.

 

Nothing to see here.

When was the IH supposed to be swimmable by?

 

They said it would be swimmable when they started putting those floating gardens in the water years ago.

 

Not swimmable today!

[The Epic]

When was the IH supposed to be swimmable by?

 

They said it would be swimmable when they started putting those floating gardens in the water years ago.

 

Not swimmable today!

 

Wasn't there a #swimmableby2020 campaign? Maybe I'm wrong?

[Chris B]

It was 2020.

[BSLChrisStoner]

Shame if this is significant.... the Bay's health has been improving.

Scientists say they're confident Chesapeake Bay health is 'significantly ...