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WSP USA
Lead Planner
December 8, 2017
a) Some anchor institutions in Baltimore City are Under Armor, financing revitalization
efforts, Johns Hopkins University and UMD Medical Center, the Inner Harbor, Morgan
State University, UMB, and local private institutions like MDHS, which is where your
- “You should look more into anchor institutions in other cities and look at how
a) Yes, if you look online you should find a list of major institutions in the city.
3) How strong is demand for living in downtown and midtown Baltimore? Are there stats
a) Demand is rising, especially downtown and surrounding suburbs as more jobs are being
you’re trying to help bring the wealth to those areas. As for stats, you will
2016. Has there been any economic improvements since then and how has it affected the influx
a) The site is fairly new, so there is not much publicity nor information on it.
b) However, there are small start-ups appearing in those areas, which helps bring jobs to
- “The site has tons of potential to bring jobs and wealth to the inner-city. But,
much of the attention has been on the downtown areas and not much revitalization
has occurred in the impoverished areas, particularly because of the high crime and
undesirable living conditions. Because this deters many professionals from the
5) Is there any correlation between an innovation district and lower rates of poverty and crime.
a) Generally speaking, innovation districts have planned layouts to them. So, they are
walkable. As for poverty and crime, not so because the purported benefits of lower crime
are negated because so few businesses have actually invested in those areas. Therefore,
not much foot traffic and still high levels of crime and poverty.
b) Transportation systems usually are situated near these areas. However, most of lines do
not frequently service the inner-city and many people cannot afford the fee on a long-
c) Also, the Red Line, which was supposed to be extended to service these areas failed to be
realized, despite evidence of the economic benefits it would have. Gov. Hogan decided to
opt in favor of the Purple Line, which would connect the wealthier areas such as Silver
Spring, College Park, and Bethesda. Many people and organizations such as the NAACP
- “Hogan has argued that the Purple Line would be more beneficial than the Red
Line in terms of economic impact and sustainability. But, due to the ongoing
6) Are there any private-public partnerships between the many universities, corporations, and
civic leaders that are motivated to improve and invest in Baltimore’s transit, innovation districts,
a) There is one major partnership between UA and the city government. There are also
coalitions sponsored by UMD and JHU which aims to revitalize and redevelop areas
around their respective campuses. Also, many smaller interest groups and organizations
b) Primarily, most of the lobbying has brought reurbanization to the downtown and
waterfront areas, at the expense of the inner-city residents and many programs that relied
on tax money and state funding to operate. Fields such as education and infrastructure
have taken a huge hit because most of the funding has been used to rebuild downtown.
palpable benefits reaped from downtown revitalization. This is what the city
government ought to not have done. They should've focused on making the city
look more attractive by adding more services and businesses, not tourist
attractions. The Inner Harbor, as ambitious as that was, failed to truly unlock the
7) Are there any more innovation districts planned and if so, where?
a) Not right now, only one is west Baltimore, being established in 2016.
- “There are sure to be more in the works, but not any that I am aware of at this
time.”
8) Has the vacancy rate in Baltimore dropped in recent years or is the situation still declining?
- “All In All, Baltimore continues to see a net decrease in population, although the
rate has been steadily decreasing, but still, more people leaving, which leaves
9) From your experience, what do you think Baltimore is lacking or needs the most in terms of
a) Red Line system would’ve been highly beneficial to the city and provided inner-city
b) Streets definitely need to be safer/more appealing. First, have to get rid of stigma of being
crime-infested city.
c) Population would definitely desire more businesses in a wider radius, instead of majority
d) Recreational centers and more accessible sidewalks and bike lanes would also help
e) However, need to consult more experienced individuals, I am just an urban planner. But,
are gained when a city is walkable. More specifically, how can a city become a true walkable
place?
b) Each city is unique, different criteria have to be considered. In Baltimore’s case, safety
and accessibility to opportunity for inner-city is key to truly advancing city as a whole.
11) Any additional advice or information is appreciated as I am not a true professional in this
a) I do know a good organization that may help you, the Baltimore Regional Transportation
Board.
- “They have many individuals who specialize in urban policy, economics, and
application.”
b) Other than that, I will be more than happy to provide help when needed. It was a pleasure
getting to know you, Daniel. I wish you luck on your future endeavors.
Reflection:
Despite majority of conversation through email, Ms. Darrell thoroughly answered all of
yet to be acknowledged by her, as she has a very busy schedule, unfortunately. The next time I
talk to her, it will definitely be face-to-face. But, for an email interview Q/A, it actually went
better than expected. Ms. Darrell was very forgiving and kind. She also seemed very
knowledgeable and passionate about what she was talking about, I could almost feel her
enthusiasm. I will make sure to continue to contact my mentors on a weekly basis and also
continue to seek new ones as well. However, I feel that instead of individuals talking face-to-face
or email, participating in a group forum with many people will be most beneficial, as the
exchange of ideas can lead to new and exciting insights. That is my goal with the PAC Ms.
Darrell referred me to. I hope to use this platform as a medium to diffuse my ideas and improve
upon them. Maybe one of the people there will become a true advisor. Anyway, I look forward to
meeting Ms. Darrell again, in real-time, not online, and getting more knowledge and information
on my topic. This research is actually much more interesting than I thought it was.