Jeanann Ferguson, Coordinator
410-887-3864
jferguson@co.ba.md.us
The Northeast Sector covers 45.64 square miles between Perring Parkway and Cromwell Bridge Road on the west, the Route 40 corridor on the southeast, and Gunpowder Falls on the north. The major communities in the Northeast Sector are Carney, Parkville, Fullerton, and Perry Hall. Major roads are Harford Road, Belair Road, and JFK Memorial Highway (I-95).
The Northeast Sector experienced the most population growth during the 1980-1990 decade. The 1990 population tended to be the most homogenous in terms of race and income. The Sector's western boundary borders Baltimore City. Most of the communities on both sides of the line are stable with high rates of homeownership. The schools have good reputations and high test scores when compared to the County as a whole. However, infrastructure is becoming older, including the streetscape improvements that were made years ago on Belair Road. Housing is newer, with more single family homes. This sector has the highest homeownership rate and the lowest vacancy rate. There are approximately 11,500 multifamily housing units in the Northeast Sector. The average per unit value of multifamily housing is $30,175, the second highest in the County.
In 1990, the Northeast Sector had a population of 114,721 persons, with an average density of 2,513.6 persons per square mile. The land area, 1990 population, and population density of the sector were similar to those for the Central Sector. The 1990 population for the Northeast Sector was a 15.9% increase over its 1980 population, which is a significantly larger increase than occurred in the other sectors or in all of Baltimore County over the 1980-90 decade.
The breakdown by age group for the sector closely resembled that for the County. However, the breakdown by race had a higher proportion of white persons than in the County (92% vs. 85%, respectively) and a smaller proportion of African-Americans (5% vs. 12%, respectively). The average household size in 1990 in the Northeast Sector was 2.60 persons, which was the second highest for the five sectors.
Income in the Northeast Sector in 1990 tended to be higher than for the County as a whole, although not as high as in the Central Sector. Slightly more than one-quarter (27%) of the sector's 1990 population was classified as low- and moderate-income persons, while the comparable figure countywide was 30%. In addition, the median household income for the sector in 1990 was in the $40,000 to $49,999 range, compared to the median for the County of $38,837. The sector also had less than its proportional share of households with incomes in either the highest or lowest ranges.
There were 43,740 jobs in this sector in 1990, which was the fewest number of jobs for any of the sectors. Major employers are Franklin Square Hospital and Essex Community College.
The proportion of single-family homes in the Northeast Sector (53%) was the highest for the five sectors and also higher than countywide. The sector also had the highest home ownership rate (69%) of the five sectors and the lowest vacancy rate (3.3%).
Housing tended to be newer in this sector than for all of Baltimore County. The median year that units were built in the Northeast Sector was in the 1960's for owner-occupied units and in the 1970's for renter-occupied units. Comparable figures to the County as a whole were 1950's and 1960's, respectively. The median value of the units in the Northeast Sector was in the $75,000-$99,999 range, which is the same as for the County.
The sector can be divided roughly into three sub-areas. Many of the concerns of community groups in the northern communities of Perry Hall, Carney, and Cub Hill are related to the impacts of new development in the White Marsh growth area. A priority for this sub-sector is ensuring that the regional amenities that will be part of the growth area, such as commercial centers, recreational facilities, parkland, and libraries, will serve the Community Conservation areas as well.
The central part of the sector contains the communities of Parkville and Overlea-Fullerton. In these stable but aging communities, strategies should be put in place to ensure that property values and a high-rate of homeownership are maintained. Programs to upgrade playgrounds, alleys, and curbs and gutters, will be put in place as well.
The southern portion of the Northeast Sector encompasses the Rosedale area and the adjacent communities of Chesaco Park to the south, and Nottingham Village, Fontana Village, Kings Court, and Amberly to the northeast. The types of uses that locate and operate along the Pulaski Highway corridor will help to determine the stability of Rosedale in the future. In addition, problems associated with large concentrations of multi-family housing developments are creating pressures on some homeowners to sell their properties, especially in Holland Hill. Programs to strengthen homeownership and to improve infrastructure will be developed in the greater Rosedale area.
Strengthening the major umbrella groups in the area is important to the Community Conservation effort. Finally, it is important for County agencies, private institutions, businesses, and non-profit organizations in this sector to communicate regularly with each other and to work cooperatively with local community associations.
The Northeast sector continues to make a strong showing in the housing market. Older areas such as Parkville and Rosedale offer a wide variety of housing type and price making this sector very desirable for young families and an excellent housing value. The County's Settlement Expense Loan Program (SELP) is being facilitated by HARBEL with great participation. The schools in the area have good reputations and extensive community support. Although the County's overall crime rate in 1997 fell 1.7%, the Parkville/White Marsh precinct reported increases in crime in nearly every category, particularly robberies and burglaries.
Areas of concern for public safety include the commercial corridors (Pulaski Highway, Belair and Harford Road, Perring Parkway, and Philadelphia Road), and the area long the city/county line in Rosedale near the Hollander Ridge housing development. Due to the increase in robberies along the commercial corridors, the Business Patrol Initiative has provided a team of police officers who focus specifically on the business districts.
In an effort to address juvenile crime, the Baltimore County Police Department and the Department of Recreation and Parks will open a new Police Athletic League/Recreation Center on the grounds of the Shady Spring Elementary School. Now in the planning phase, this will replace the center now operating at the former Fullerton Elementary School site on Belair Road.
The redevelopment of Hollander Ridge, a Baltimore City Housing Authority property, is a concern to Rosedale residents. The City Housing Authority hired a mediator to facilitate discussions regarding the redevelopment of this site with city and county residents and political leaders and plans have been generated.
Major infrastructure improvements along Belair Road have been completed by the State Highway Administration (SHA). The County and SHA will partner with the community to create a streetscape along the commercial core of Perry Hall at the intersection of Belair Road and Joppa Road. A gateway sign, landscaping, and street trees are planned for this area. Improvements to Pulaski Highway have been requested as part of the County's Capital Improvement Program (CIP)for FY 2000 and 2002 for the implementation of recommendations that will improve the image and create a sense of identity for the corridor.
A partnership with Garden Village Management and residents, the police department, and this office will be developed further to implement several defensible space recommendations to improve resident safety within this 1400 unit complex along the city/county line. Attempts will be made to engage area churches and other resources to provide services to youth and families in the neighborhood.
Efforts in Fontana Village will continue with the expansion of the Community Outreach Center Board to include Franklin Square Hospital and Essex Community College. This should result in more opportunities for the residents of this low-moderate income community.
Improving the aging infrastructure, building community capacity, and strengthening the homeowner base have been the three main priorities. The County has funded several initiatives that invest in rebuilding the infrastructure where needed, focusing resources that provide first time homebuyers with down payment assistance, and building capacity in neighborhoods, the business community, and community-based institutions. The County has also directed its efforts to improving safety and recreational activities for residents of multifamily housing, particularly in and adjacent to Hollander Ridge, Fontana Village and Garden Village.
Since FY 1996, the County's SELP Program has expanded into the Northeast Sector. Two nonprofit organizations, the Eastern Baltimore Area Chamber of Commerce and Harbel, Inc. have provided homebuyer education and counseling to first time homebuyers. Since FY 1996, Harbel has produced 139 successful SELP applicants through its homebuyer education and counseling programs. Zipcodes 21206, 21236, and 21237 had a total of 84 new first time homebuyers who were assisted through the County's SELP program. The Shelter Group completed the elderly housing project, Parkview at Fullerton (Linover House), in the Linover community in the first half of FY 1996. Rents have been kept affordable and there is presently a waiting list for the units.
Fontana Village and Garden Village are multifamily housing complexes that have experienced problems associated with the concentration of low-income households. The Office of Community Conservation, working in partnership with the Police Department and the Department of Public Works, developed a crime prevention program for these two multifamily communities. The County has funded an outreach worker at Fontana Village whom has developed several strategic partnerships within the public and private sector. Friends Medical Research administers and provides oversight for this site-based program, which is located in two units provided by Partners Management Company. Partnerships with Shady Springs Elementary, Golden Ring Mall, Franklin Square Hospital, Baltimore Community College's Essex campus, and the Department of Recreation and Parks have leveraged additional resources and technical assistance that benefit Fontana Village residents.
The County provided $20,000 in General Obligation Bond funds to provide new lighting at the basketball courts at Golden Ring Park, adjacent to Fontana Village. The Fontana Village Outreach Center and the Police Department will coordinate requests for use of the courts after dark.
Garden Village Townhomes, located near the western boundary of the Northeast Sector has been challenged with a number of public safety concerns. Of particular concern was the lack of adequate lighting which contributed to the perception that the community was not safe. The County worked with the Police Department and other County agencies to plan and implement a lighting plan for Garden Village. Alleys were repaired throughout the area and the County used CDBG funds to build a new playground for the young residents of Garden Village.
The County has also provided $35,000 in CDBG funds to make improvements to Garden Village Park. The improvements included a pavilion, a bike path, upgrades to the basketball court and picnic areas. These improvements expand the recreational opportunities for the residents of Garden Village.
The communities of Perry Hall and Villa Cresta, working in conjunction with the State Highway Administration, private sector businesses, and the County Council, completed the design, construction, and implementation of community identification signs. The Office of Community Conservation provided $17,000 in funding to support these projects. The signs were placed in the State right-of-way on Belair Road or the main entrance to the communities.
The County, in conjunction with Baltimore City, has worked to increase public safety for residents living on Summit Avenue adjacent to the Hollander Ridge multifamily community. Cooperatively, both jurisdictions have worked to implement recommendations from a Federal report to improve on-site security at Hollander Ridge. The County provided more than $250,000 that was matched by State and Federal funds to improve perimeter fencing and enhance site lighting in the neighborhood.
The County provided $300,000 in General Obligation Bond funds to make infrastructure improvements to two blocks of Alberta Avenue. These two blocks did not have sidewalks, and children in the community were forced to walk in the street to and from school. Improvements made include new sidewalks, curbs and gutters. This was a collaborative effort of the County Council, the Department of Public Works, and the Office of Community Conservation.
The Neighborhood Design Center conducted an inventory and assessment of the corridor between Golden Ring Road and the Baltimore City Line. The assessment was presented to the community, the County, and business leaders and a plan outlining a course of action has been developed. The plan is now in the implementation process and will focus on developing a sense of identity for the corridor.
The Overlea-Fullerton Development Corporation (OFDC), which was founded decades ago, is now an active and viable entity working on behalf of the community. It has joined the County's Commercial Revitalization Group and is now eligible for County resources. The reactivation of OFDC has helped strengthen the Overlea Community Association and has spurred greater community participation. The group will work with the County Councilman's office and other business groups on cooperative marketing issues and to work with other business groups.
The State Mass Transit Administration, in conjunction with the Overlea Community Association and the Overlea-Fullerton Development Corporation, restored the historic bus turnaround on Belair Road. The Office of Community Conservation provided $250,000 in General Obligation Bond funds to assist the effort. The bus turnaround complements the Overlea Streetscape Project and has enhanced the Overlea community.
Housing
Parkview at Taylor - Senior apartments are being developed by Parkview, Limited Liabiilty Partnership (LLP), an affiliate of Shelter Development, Limited Liability Company (LLC). The project will consist of 100 units, reserved for elderly persons whose incomes do not exceed 60% of the area median income, that is $25,087 for an individual and $28,687 for a couple. Rent levels are expected to range from $440 per month for a one bedroom unit to $510 per month for a two bedroom unit. In addition, a number of the units will be targeted to lower income seniors at rents as low as $300. Project completion is expected by the fall of 2001. The County is expected to provide a local contribution to the Project in the form of an agreement for payments of stipulated amounts in lieu of real property taxes (PILOT), to help facilitate its development.
Non-housing Community Development Projects
Fontana Village Outreach Center - CDBG funds will continue to support part-time staff at this outreach center through Epoch Counseling Center. After-school programs, parenting skills training and other community services are facilitated through this center donated by the property management company. Shady Spring Elementary School has also begun to work with staff and community residents from Fontana Village. Additional resources should be identified to serve the needs of this community. Police have indicated that crime in this rental community has declined over the last two years.
Pulaski Highway - The Office of Planning in cooperation with the Office of Community Conservation and the Eastern Baltimore Area Chamber of Commerce will establish a working group of business and community leaders to develop strategies for implementing the recommendations made by Neighborhood Design Center in the 1997 study of this commercial corridor. State funding has been identified in Fiscal Year 2000 in the amount of $200,000 and the County has proposed an additional $600,000 in Fiscal Year 2002 for improvements to this roadway.
Perry Hall Streetscape - County funds have been allocated in this fiscal year to enhance the road-widening project completed by the State Highway Administration. Staff from the Office of Planning has designed this gateway to the Perry Hall Community at Belair and Joppa Roads. The project includes street trees and other landscaping to beautify this busy commercial corridor.
Shady Spring Police Athletic League Center - A new PAL/Recreation center opened in February 2000 at the Shady Spring Elementary School property located off Kenwood Avenue west of I-95. The center will replace the current Center at the former Fullerton Elementary School. Staff from this office will continue to work with police, Recreation and Parks, parents, and the school to ensure quality programming at this new center.
Rosedale Community Council - Working with the Office of Planning and the Councilman efforts will be made to strengthen this umbrella group in the Rosedale area.
Revised May 21, 2003
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