Stony Run area of Remington suffered another loss this weekend with the passing of Mr. A. Mouse.  Mr. Mouse, a long time resident at the trash can on the corner of Wyman Park Drive & Remington, leaves behind thousands of relatives.  He was cremated by the Johns Hopkins Auto Repair and Funeral Shop.  He will be greatly missed by many of the neighborhood cats.

 Remington doesn't have the notoriety of  34th Street yet, but it is definitely lighting up for the holidays.  Huntington Avenue is the place to wander for a spectacular display of Christmas decoration.  The lighting is so bright, my camera had a epileptic fit, so if anyone out there can provide me with photos of their holiday cheer, please forward them. 

Seawall Development is beginning its trademark window treatment on the 2800 block of Remington Avenue.  The gaping mouths at the top of the houses are a bit eerie, but light seems to be the requirement in today's real estate market.  These houses have been the property of the City for decades and have gone through a series of renovations.  In the 1970s, Tom Culotta of the Community School, collided with City officials when the Department of Housing made plans to renovate the houses without properly notifying the tenants.



In 1984, the Neighborhood Progress Administration, a super-agency under the Department of Housing and the Mayor's Office of Manpower Resources, had plans to rehabilitate the houses using local unskilled labor. The NPA stated it would provide "job training" for low-income residents of Remington to learn construction. They would be paid a $30 per week stipend during a six-week training course and eventually earn $3.50 per hour. A training program never materialized and the NPA stated they were unable to locate any residents who would qualify for such a program and would look outside the neighborhood for trainees. Tom was outraged, stating he would provide eligible workers if the City would "create a bona fide training program." Once again, I advocate that the vacant buildings on 29th and Remington be allocated for a vocational training school that would allow Remington children to be taught a viable and very lucrative trade. The poor kids are now being bussed off to MERVO, which did have a great history at one time, but it's not Remington. I hope my neighbors will join me in an effort to create an education venue that will not only provide opportunity to our area's youth, but will once again prove that Remington is part of the foundation of Baltimore City. Remember, Remington Rocks!

The Haunting of Remington

 Another great day for the 'hood!  HauntingdonV started with an early clean up and dedication by the JHU Habitat volunteers to make the 2900 block of Huntingdon ready for the big event.  Neighbors were eagerly awaiting the festivities.  All of Remington was prepping for Halloween from the decorations cropping up around the Stony Run section, through Greater Remington and down to Little Italy.

Zombies of all kinds were roaming the streets, as well as lions, tigers and bears, oh my!

 

 

The ubiquitous Mary Pat arrived to give Tom Culotta a hug in front of The Community School.  The GRIA was present handing out some very delicious cake to celebrate our winning the top prize for our efforts to keep Remington clean. 

As a reminder of how big of an influence the 'hood has on the environment, Scary Crab directed traffic to the even scarier haunted "house" where the horror of toxins presided.  Screams could be heard!

 
 Lennon LaRicci and Dad provided the background music for the festivities as well as handing out the prizes for the best costume.  That "satellite" community to the north, what's it called?  Oh, yes, Hampden. They can keep their 2 month rule over Christmas lights, but as for Halloween, Remington rocks!

The Marathon

The Baltimore Marathon is always fun to watch on the corner of Wyman Park Drive and Remington Avenue.  This year, after reading how disappointed runners were about the lack of crowd enthusiasm, I took my "Welcome 2 Remington RUN!" sign down to Stony Run Bridge and screamed for an hour.  Though I'm sure my neighbors did not appreciate it, the runners were happy, even speeding up the hill to JHU.  Many of the onlookers were from "across the bridge" and not Remingtonians. Next year I am passing out annoying flyers to remind fellow Stony Runners to join me in cheering on the folks who dared to make this grueling run through our 'hood.  While the Marathon was formally declared 12 years ago, I have read news articles about "olympiads" that started in 1916 and featured a run through Remington.  I wonder if there were angry drivers jammed up on Remington then, too.

Remington, Saturday Morning

Photo-ops abounded this morning during my daily walk around.  Enormous things occurring in our little habitat!

 First thing I spotted was the gas leak on the corner of 30th & Remington.  I spoke to the workmen, who had dug about 4 feet beneath the street to uncover the gas main.  They reported the main was built around the 1900s!  Everything was under control.

 There's a new Planet Aid box at the Pizza Boli's on 29th & Remington. I hope everyone is aware that this not-for-profit organization is a scam, as researched and stated in a City Paper article.  Please consider donating your textiles through local organizations.

 

 

Trainspotting on Sisson Street bridge.  The railways of Remington have a long history and I like this bridge the best for capturing the moment.  CSX workers were installing new equipment and I spoke to them regarding the debris around the Remington bridges.  Though they admit it's CSX property, they believe it to be a City problem and wouldn't comment on the cleaning of the litter.  Time for community involvement!

 Shocker!  Still no Walmart!

 The 2800 block of Huntingdon has a healthy competition going with beautification projects.  Inspired by a neighbor, this family was out early planning a project.  I'll keep developments posted.







 

The Dizz is showing its purple!  They have their Sunday Brunch back and special pricing for football season, so for those of us without TV, this is the place to be!



Which leads me to, once again, implore the community to support local commercial entrepreneurship and vehemently oppose development that does not have a positive impact on our neighborhood.  Royal Farms is interested in developing the corner of 29th and Remington for a store and gas station.  The only people who will benefit from this development is Royal Farms, non-resident 29th Street commuters and the inevitable drug dealers/users who will have another place to congregate.  Remington has plenty of corner stores and gas stations to serve its residents.  While I'm all for having that vacant lot developed, I would like to see a community-based vocational training center or even residential housing.  The neighborhood has always been victimized with commercial development and it's time to stop thinking about profit and start thinking about legacy.

The Lost Trees of Charles Street

Charles Street reconstruction is heating up.

 The first victims seem to be the trees (sigh). It's sorta reminiscent of the Joni Mitchell plaint, but  the new lyrics are "they paved parking lot to put up a parking lot."

More trees are slated for demolition, but saplings are supposed to appear towards the completion of the three phases.

More from Around the 'Hood

As I was once again the crazy chick with a camera, scouring "Greater" Remington, I managed to witness a drug delivery; something I preferred not to see.  Obviously, other homeowners also prefer not to see this type of activity!

Another amazing sight was the roadwork on Huntingdon.  I passed men digging up this patch (reason unknown) about 8:00a.m. and everyone on the crew was actually working!  When I re-passed the area about 10:00a.m. the work was completed.  How often does that occur?!

It's nice, after a hard day of photography and running from drug dealers, to return to my sanctuary and listen to the soothing sounds of Caleb Stine and friends practicing on the front porch.  Caleb is a boon to the Stony Run area of Remington; long may he play!

The Remington Swimming Pool

Below Hollingsworth Dam, the Jones Falls, 1979

Yes, fellow Remingtonians, we once had a swimming pool, located near 29th and Remington.  In July 1899, the Playground Association opened the pool for boys only.  The entry fee was one cent, but the penniless were allowed in anyway.  Over 200 boys used the pool from July to September of that year and it was estimated over 2,000 swims were taken.  It cost the Association $65 in expenses. (Baltimore Sun, 11 Sep 1899).  It was the better alternative to the round falls, where the Remington and Hampden boys oft engaged in fisticuffs!

Around the Neighborhood

 

 Remington Ave & Wyman Park Drive got their first storm-drain stenciled last week.  Unfortunately, some residents did not heed the message.  Not only has this mattress been lying on the sidewalk for the past month, it now bears the tag of the local misguided youth.

The Mt. Vernon Mill No. 1 is slowly being renovated. According  to the developer, Terra Nova Ventures, the  Mt. Vernon Mill No. 1, a concrete warehouse building, the "Picker Building" and the "Store House," will be  restored to their historic architecture and character.  The interiors will include apartments, offices, a restaurant, and parking. Supposedly, the Jones Falls stream and the vegetation along the third-mile stretch will be returned to its "natural" state.

 

This part of  The Jones Falls Valley lies within the purview of Hampden/Woodberry, close  to the Wyman Park Bridge.  I assume the developers realize how many times this mill has been flooded.








While rambling around Chestnut Avenue, I found the only block of houses on West 32d Street.  They are situated across from the now defunct Florence Crittenton Services Center. The Crittenton Foundation has a very interesting history, starting out as a home for unwed mothers. The house was sold to 3110 FC LLC for $756,000 this year, so there may be more development looming around Chestnut.

 

Remington Clean Up/JHU Habitat for Humanity

 The JHU freshmen got their initiation to the Remington Community when they participated in the Neighborhood Cleanup.  Particular attention was paid to the storm drains on Atkinson, Sisson, Huntingdon and 27th Streets.

The volunteers have lunch at Kromer Hall before returning to work.

 The Village Green Garden cleanup.

Several storm drains were stenciled with environmentally-friendly messages..