Elements of Urbanism: Baltimore

[tufsu1]

To echo the comments above, consolidatio has generally been a positrive for Jax.

For example, take a look at Baltimore City's population...at one point (just after 1950 I believe), it was around 1 million people....and in now its barely more than 600,000...and its still going down.

Just imagine the fiscal condition Baltimore would be in without the influx of revenue that is generated by the Inner Harbor!

[tufsu1]

Here's some info. on a potential LRT expansion in B'More

http://www.planetizen.com/node/39938

[Gen7]

In reading the public e-mail boxes on the property tax debate, many people have voiced a willingness to pay more, just not in the form of property tax.  They want it spread around to renters and visitors, etc.  Since it is less efficient and more costly to provide services to the suburbs, perhaps an "Extended Service Fee" could be instituted.  Define the center of the county and create ever widening circles.  Homes, renters (not landlords), businesses (each storefront), non-profits all pay a flat fee depending on how far out they are from the center, 5 to 10 miles, 10 to 15 miles, 15 to 20 miles.  The inner circle, 0 to 5 miles, would be the "Redevelopment Zone" and would not pay the fee.  However, there would be a .01 sales tax in the "Redevelopment Zone" for capital improvements and mass transit (streetcars!).   Add to that permitting penalties or a moratorium on development in the suburbs and property tax incentives in the "Redevelopment Zone" (i.e. freeze property values for a time on new development) and perhaps people and businesses would be incentivized to return downtown. 

[JaxNative68]

the big difference is that baltimore hasn't turned its back on the downtown area.  I would like to see a population census of buisness and residences within the downtown area.  Also there is a lot of cities within a short drive of baltimore (wash dc, philly, fredrick, alexandria, arlington, annapolis, etc.) all of which are very dense/populated cities.

if jax didn't avoid the downtown area and actually promoted business and attractions to move there, jax could be more successful than baltimore.

even though the population of baltimore is declining (due to people moving to the surrounding small towns) the city is still investing in the downtown core due to business and tourism.

[tufsu1]

Jaxnative...I wish your statement that "Jax could be more successful than Baltimore" were true....but there's more at play than just one city vs. the other.

Maryland is a very progressive state and the two most effective Governors of recent time were first the Mayor of Baltimore (Schaeffer and O'Malley)....Baltimore is the big boy in the state (just look at the state seal included on the Orioles and Ravens uniforms) and the metro area has always been given the lion's share of state funds.

I don't see how this could ever happen in Florida, where we have 25+ metropolitan areas....and Jacksonville is # 6 behind Miami, Ft. Lauderdale, West Palm, Orlando, and Tampa....plus all the $ that gets sent to the rural areas.

Even Georgia does it better....they spend tons of money in the rural areas, but its to appease the people who think all the money gets spent in Atlanta!

[hooplady]

To respond to JaxNative, I did find this study which says:
"By the end of 2005, there were more than 37,000 people living in Downtown (an area defined as being within a one-mile radius of Pratt and Light streets)."

http://www.godowntownbaltimore.com/images/upload/8/pdf/outlook_2012.pdf

...and about a quarter of that one-mile radius is water.  I wonder if they counted the marina?

[thelakelander]

Baltimore is no NYC or Chicago, but like DC, you can pack a lot of people into a compact area with rowhouses.

[brainstormer]

I get a little annoyed when people complain about renters not paying property taxes.  You are right, we don't pay them directly to the city, but our rent certainly covers the cost of taxes on the property billed to the landlord.  Why do you think rents are higher in nicer places?  I guarantee you the Strand pays a great deal in property taxes and the owner passes this on to the renters through very expensive rent payments.  

[Gen7]

You know that and I know that, but apparently J. Q. Public doesn't know that.  Read the public e-mail boxes and see how many people are complaining that only homeowners pay property tax!  Renters (in complexes) were also paying solid waste fees long before homeowners got a separate bill and I'm certain that landlords are passing along the stormwater fee.  And yet, a common remark is "I'll sell my house and just rent - there's no advantage to homeownership!" Apparently building equity, $50,000 exemptions, income tax deductions and a set mortgage payment that ends in 20 - 30 years are disadvantages in their world.

[brainstormer]

Sorry Gen7, my rant shouldn't have been directed at you.  I reread what you said and you were merely relaying the ignorance you hear and read.  Since everyone on here is informed and rationale, I guess my rant has little purpose.  So here's to being educated! 

[krazeeboi]

I think Baltimore is an underrated city that definitely has lots to offer, as this tour has shown. They've done a lot right; however, everything there isn't peaches and cream. Any of you guys ever seen the HBO series "The Wire"? There's a level of urban decay in Baltimore that Jacksonville, thankfully, has never known.

[thelakelander]

Very true.  You get outside of the Inner Harbor and the surrounding waterfront urban districts and it goes down real quick.

[JaxNative68]

for a while Baltimore rivaled to be one of the heroin capitals of the US.  which was the leading factor to their urban decay.

[Omarvelous09]

Baltimore? Never been a fan of this city.. Jacksonville is a lot prettier, and cleaner in my opinion. 

[CrysG]

I just wanted to point out that Baltimore does have a performing art's center. France-Merrick Performing Arts Center is only .3 miles farther away from the Inner Harbor than the Metropolitan Park is from the Landing.