I want to take a second to expand a bit on what I was going through towards the end of my last entry. Creating jobs that benefit the community.
Now, let me start by saying that I am not talking about a non-profit, lets help the community type of spot. Not a "where the kids go after to school to get help reading" or a "counseling center" or anything along those lines. We've already got the Stanton Center for that. I'm talking about a business that utilizes the collective strengths within the present community.
See if we can find a way to work with what is present and create opportunity we SOLVE THE PROBLEM. Think about it, we are talking about revitalizing an existing structure, giving it a fresh face, filling it with a business or buisnesses that employ people from the neighborhood thereby giving people more financial freedom (or real freedom, this is a free country only when you can afford it-be real here). When people start earning dollars it changes their outlook. They no longer struggle on a day to day, there becomes a light. Capitalism baby, gotta love it. Follow the thinking get out the rat trap and into the rat race.
So, what are we working with?
For the most part the demographic back here is African American. That much I do know, beyond that the level of education and different skill sets that are present I cannot clearly state but, based upon appearances and reputation there is a good chance that we are working with a lower educated and less discretionary spending group, generally speaking. Don't come at me with any remarks about judgements or racial profiles, I don't want to hear it, especially if you don't live back here with me.
Using this general idea as a basis, what kind of business could both both employ the local residents and serve a greater business interest? Looking deeper here we would want a business that caters to African Americans, requires manpower or womanpower, but does not have a "too time intensive" training to it. What does that give us?
Where do you put it?
On Clay Street of course. There are several commercial properties that are back here that could really stand to be filled with a business that is in line with the aforementioned profile. If you suggest liquor store I will send a resident to punch you in your mouth. Liquor stores are part of the problem back here and further could only employ a few. We need something that employs I'm thinking in the 20-40 people range.
Some ideas to get things moving.
A call center? Perhaps a local company or Maryland based company that has a customer service element to it could work in one or more of the buildings back here. By and large though a lot of these businesses are being outsourced overseas where the labor is cheaper. We have to keep in mind wages and competitive pricing elsewhere. It could work though, we need a niche player.
A manufacturer? Someone who is developing something and scaling it out, a product to be shipped? Something environmentally friendly though, we don't want a big print press coming back here and killing us with their fumes. Got to be green.
Remember we have plenty of parking, there is a garage that is right next to Clay. It can be done.
Okay if you are reading, work with me, submit some ideas in the comment sections below. I know enough people that an idea that is worth its salt could become a reality.
Hollaback (that means get at me in Clay speak)
Sunday, July 29, 2007
Friday, July 27, 2007
Reclaiming Clay
Map link for viewing Clay Street area
http://www.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=51+Clay+St,+Annapolis,+MD+21401,+USA&sll=38.980613,-76.498082&sspn=0.007039,0.014098&ie=UTF8&ll=38.980646,-76.497481&spn=0.007039,0.014098&z=16&om=1
Last night was very interesting. There were several proposals for changing the traffic patterns that for the most part all circled on creating a "choke point", in the words of Lt. Della from the Annapolis Police Department, by decreasing the amount of ways in and out of the Clay Street blocks or the 4th Ward.
To give you some background I have included a link (i also tried to input a physical map but had no luck, please add comments at bottom and help me out with this) to a map above that shows the greater Clay Street area. At present there are 3 ways in to Clay Street (from both sides of Clay on either side and Washington St) and 4 ways out (Northwest St, Clay both ways, and Washington St), by car. If you take a look at the bottom right of the map you will see Northwest Street. This is the street that was pretty much at the center of attention last night. All the proposals included changing the current flow as an exit only to an entrance only.
The proposal that gained the most traction was the closing of the Clay Street entrance and exit on the eastside. Reference the map again and you will see the intersection of Clay and Washington. There would be an extension of the sidewalk there, trees planted, etc and a barrier created, this coupled with the the change in the flow of traffic on Northwest would serve to eliminate the exit on Northwest, the exit on Clay, and create trouble for the buyer and supplier of the cheif marketable product back on Clay Street.
The entrance/exit that is in discussion is already closed some hours because of the parking garage that sits just east of the Clay/Washington intersection. The police department believes that with this concept, which has already been approved by both the fire department and the police department, would reduce crime in the neighborhood by at minimum 5%. I don't expect you to be knocked from your chair but, as was the theme of the evening, its a step in the right direction.
The other proposal which gained zero traction and I think may have been a dummy proposal (get into more on that in a minute), was again the changing of the traffic on Northwest St and the closing of Washington Street at the West Street entrance with a similar barrier to the previous proposal (trees, sidewalk, etc). This proposal was immediately shot down, most vocally by myself, I think that was the desired effect intended to sway more towards the other option.
A third option was, do nothing. However, doing nothing was viewed as insanity. Insanity by definition is the repeating of the same behavior and expecting a different result, there were no insane people at the meeting last night.
There was much debate about what needs to be done on Clay Street and at times we strayed from the original intent of the meeting which was to focus on the changing of traffic patterns. Many members from the community weighed on other ideas like increased foot patrols, a substation placed at the Masonic Temple on Clay, and setting up a table on the corner of Pleasant and Clay. All these while good ideas, only served to distract from what was the focus. This changing of the traffic pattern is to be viewed as ONE STEP towards change. Not the end all, be all but, one step.
Speaking of steps, last night was one in a series that will get to the changing of the patterns. More than likely there will be a meeting in the next few weeks to have a vote to make the change. It will be well advertised, with an ad in the paper, and flyers dispersed in the community. (Maybe this time without the guards?) This could move very quickly.
Another benefit of the meeting last night was that I met quite a few new people from the neighborhood that I hadn't met yet. Some that had lived in the area for 80 years! This is a neighborhood with a tremendous sense of history. I am going to look to be including much about the history with pictures and video as the site develops.
http://www.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=51+Clay+St,+Annapolis,+MD+21401,+USA&sll=38.980613,-76.498082&sspn=0.007039,0.014098&ie=UTF8&ll=38.980646,-76.497481&spn=0.007039,0.014098&z=16&om=1
Last night was very interesting. There were several proposals for changing the traffic patterns that for the most part all circled on creating a "choke point", in the words of Lt. Della from the Annapolis Police Department, by decreasing the amount of ways in and out of the Clay Street blocks or the 4th Ward.
To give you some background I have included a link (i also tried to input a physical map but had no luck, please add comments at bottom and help me out with this) to a map above that shows the greater Clay Street area. At present there are 3 ways in to Clay Street (from both sides of Clay on either side and Washington St) and 4 ways out (Northwest St, Clay both ways, and Washington St), by car. If you take a look at the bottom right of the map you will see Northwest Street. This is the street that was pretty much at the center of attention last night. All the proposals included changing the current flow as an exit only to an entrance only.
The proposal that gained the most traction was the closing of the Clay Street entrance and exit on the eastside. Reference the map again and you will see the intersection of Clay and Washington. There would be an extension of the sidewalk there, trees planted, etc and a barrier created, this coupled with the the change in the flow of traffic on Northwest would serve to eliminate the exit on Northwest, the exit on Clay, and create trouble for the buyer and supplier of the cheif marketable product back on Clay Street.
The entrance/exit that is in discussion is already closed some hours because of the parking garage that sits just east of the Clay/Washington intersection. The police department believes that with this concept, which has already been approved by both the fire department and the police department, would reduce crime in the neighborhood by at minimum 5%. I don't expect you to be knocked from your chair but, as was the theme of the evening, its a step in the right direction.
The other proposal which gained zero traction and I think may have been a dummy proposal (get into more on that in a minute), was again the changing of the traffic on Northwest St and the closing of Washington Street at the West Street entrance with a similar barrier to the previous proposal (trees, sidewalk, etc). This proposal was immediately shot down, most vocally by myself, I think that was the desired effect intended to sway more towards the other option.
A third option was, do nothing. However, doing nothing was viewed as insanity. Insanity by definition is the repeating of the same behavior and expecting a different result, there were no insane people at the meeting last night.
There was much debate about what needs to be done on Clay Street and at times we strayed from the original intent of the meeting which was to focus on the changing of traffic patterns. Many members from the community weighed on other ideas like increased foot patrols, a substation placed at the Masonic Temple on Clay, and setting up a table on the corner of Pleasant and Clay. All these while good ideas, only served to distract from what was the focus. This changing of the traffic pattern is to be viewed as ONE STEP towards change. Not the end all, be all but, one step.
Speaking of steps, last night was one in a series that will get to the changing of the patterns. More than likely there will be a meeting in the next few weeks to have a vote to make the change. It will be well advertised, with an ad in the paper, and flyers dispersed in the community. (Maybe this time without the guards?) This could move very quickly.
Another benefit of the meeting last night was that I met quite a few new people from the neighborhood that I hadn't met yet. Some that had lived in the area for 80 years! This is a neighborhood with a tremendous sense of history. I am going to look to be including much about the history with pictures and video as the site develops.
Thursday, July 26, 2007
Clay Changes
Tonight at the Stanton Center on Washington Street there is going to be a town hall discussion about changing the traffic patterns on Clay Street. The goal of the meeting is to talk about the pros and cons of making what are currently two way streets into one way streets, this further promotes the idea that the low lying drug dealers need to be removed, to make way for the white people!
I am saying this with a tongue in cheek of course, but I have to tell you how funny it was last Thursday afternoon when there was a knock at my door and low and behold there were two white people at my door, smiling! I viewed them from my second story window but, before I could get to them they were gone! Wisped away in the daylight hours (more often then not unless you are a purchaser of the fine neighborhood goods white people don’t come back at night). Upon a little further investigation I discovered that they were passing out flyers announcing the meeting for what is now tonight. As I glanced down towards Washington Street from my back door I noticed 5 white people accompanied by 4 on duty police! They looked like guards!
Herein lies two problems that when put together create quite a conundrum. The first is that the neighborhood is still fucked up to a degree, it’s not the worst section of town but, it does have its moments. For example, last night we had a car horn beeping at 4am and some yelling about a love gone wrong, lets be honest THIS HAPPENS EVERYWHERE from time to time. The real problem is there are 4 generations, 4 generations; I wanted to repeat that to let it sink in just a second, 4 generations of people living in the public housing back here. Now that’s your Great-Grandma, your Grandma, your Mom, and your sister, who’s 17, pregnant, and running down to the social services office making sure when she turns 18 that she gets a voucher for housing. Please don’t try to tell me that this is okay, I don’t want to hear it from either side of the fence.
So, on one hand you have the impoverished community that is sitting on pretty impressive land, waterfront land. People the world over go ape shit to look at water. There is a certain stripe that is earned when you have a home on the water. The local municipality loves them benefits with a home on the water comes higher home values and higher property taxes which means more money for programs! Now I must confess when it gets to the inner workings of how local government works I am a novice, so what those programs are or how that money is spent I can’t comment. So, the other hand is the desirous waterfront land holder and they have the money.
This brings us to our conundrum. The community is a mess, there are no leaders back here without agendas, and the only way to make the neighborhood nice again is to remove those that are directly contributing to causing the despair. The concern is that usually when it comes to removal there is a pretty big broom that does the sweeping and the problem roots aren’t the only ones pulled up.
What we will more than likely see, since there is some incredible pressure being placed on this neighborhood to change, is a displacement of the people currently living and reconstruction boom for these city blocks. It’ll mean more tax dollars, more jobs, lower crime in the downtown area, and last bit will further stimulate more growth in the downtown. Live, Work, Play! This is a sociological phenomenon and not a new one, for centuries people have been moving from the country to the city, to the suburbs, to the country again, then repeat. Check your local directory of castles for more info.
Now the displacement is the part that concerns me and that’s why I make light and made the white people comments earlier. Nothing against white people really, I’m white myself. It’s just that we are not solving a problem here. We have 4 generations of ‘American people’ (like G Dub says it) that are completely misguided and it’s not going to get better just displacing. Trail of tears anyone? The Native American isn’t doing that sweet, that’s the last group that we swept under the rug. I don’t believe you should just discontinue with the current “programs” but, you need to develop a way to get people involved. We need to ladder out of them over a protracted period of time, starting NOW. Get them out of the rat trap and into the rat race.
The question that needs to be answered and discussed in my mind is how do you gather the collective energies that are present in these neighborhoods and put them to work? What are the respective qualifications that are present within the people that live here? What resources are available, structures existing that can be utilized, and how do you create a sustainable business? Capitalism baby. Hate it or love it, it’s an answer definitely worth trying.
Somehow though, I think changing the traffic patterns from two ways to one way is very metaphorical for what will become of Clay Street and its residents.
I am saying this with a tongue in cheek of course, but I have to tell you how funny it was last Thursday afternoon when there was a knock at my door and low and behold there were two white people at my door, smiling! I viewed them from my second story window but, before I could get to them they were gone! Wisped away in the daylight hours (more often then not unless you are a purchaser of the fine neighborhood goods white people don’t come back at night). Upon a little further investigation I discovered that they were passing out flyers announcing the meeting for what is now tonight. As I glanced down towards Washington Street from my back door I noticed 5 white people accompanied by 4 on duty police! They looked like guards!
Herein lies two problems that when put together create quite a conundrum. The first is that the neighborhood is still fucked up to a degree, it’s not the worst section of town but, it does have its moments. For example, last night we had a car horn beeping at 4am and some yelling about a love gone wrong, lets be honest THIS HAPPENS EVERYWHERE from time to time. The real problem is there are 4 generations, 4 generations; I wanted to repeat that to let it sink in just a second, 4 generations of people living in the public housing back here. Now that’s your Great-Grandma, your Grandma, your Mom, and your sister, who’s 17, pregnant, and running down to the social services office making sure when she turns 18 that she gets a voucher for housing. Please don’t try to tell me that this is okay, I don’t want to hear it from either side of the fence.
So, on one hand you have the impoverished community that is sitting on pretty impressive land, waterfront land. People the world over go ape shit to look at water. There is a certain stripe that is earned when you have a home on the water. The local municipality loves them benefits with a home on the water comes higher home values and higher property taxes which means more money for programs! Now I must confess when it gets to the inner workings of how local government works I am a novice, so what those programs are or how that money is spent I can’t comment. So, the other hand is the desirous waterfront land holder and they have the money.
This brings us to our conundrum. The community is a mess, there are no leaders back here without agendas, and the only way to make the neighborhood nice again is to remove those that are directly contributing to causing the despair. The concern is that usually when it comes to removal there is a pretty big broom that does the sweeping and the problem roots aren’t the only ones pulled up.
What we will more than likely see, since there is some incredible pressure being placed on this neighborhood to change, is a displacement of the people currently living and reconstruction boom for these city blocks. It’ll mean more tax dollars, more jobs, lower crime in the downtown area, and last bit will further stimulate more growth in the downtown. Live, Work, Play! This is a sociological phenomenon and not a new one, for centuries people have been moving from the country to the city, to the suburbs, to the country again, then repeat. Check your local directory of castles for more info.
Now the displacement is the part that concerns me and that’s why I make light and made the white people comments earlier. Nothing against white people really, I’m white myself. It’s just that we are not solving a problem here. We have 4 generations of ‘American people’ (like G Dub says it) that are completely misguided and it’s not going to get better just displacing. Trail of tears anyone? The Native American isn’t doing that sweet, that’s the last group that we swept under the rug. I don’t believe you should just discontinue with the current “programs” but, you need to develop a way to get people involved. We need to ladder out of them over a protracted period of time, starting NOW. Get them out of the rat trap and into the rat race.
The question that needs to be answered and discussed in my mind is how do you gather the collective energies that are present in these neighborhoods and put them to work? What are the respective qualifications that are present within the people that live here? What resources are available, structures existing that can be utilized, and how do you create a sustainable business? Capitalism baby. Hate it or love it, it’s an answer definitely worth trying.
Somehow though, I think changing the traffic patterns from two ways to one way is very metaphorical for what will become of Clay Street and its residents.
Thursday, July 19, 2007
Maintaining Clay
Holding true as a responsible homeowner upon moving in, I joined the homeowners association. I started attending the monthly get togethers to discuss neighborhood politics and create solutions for the problems plaguing Clay Street and surrounding areas. Most of our focus is on the improvement of quality of life within the confines.
This past Monday we debated about the parking situation and are in the process of instituting some new rules geared towards eliminating people from parking in the lot that is reserved for residents. There are only 22 spots in the court and there are 22 row homes in our community. Now, not everyone owns a car in the community but, others own 2, or have frequent guests, or we have some who work in the area (don’t live here) and see our lot as a place to park for free, or the purchasers and suppliers (remember most commute to work here) of the neighborhood’s cheif sellable product (aka illegal drugs) have used our parking lot. This has caused a bottleneck and can result in arguments over parking spaces, anger by residents when they have to park far from their homes.
The solution we have come up with is to give each resident one highly visible parking tag to be displayed in the window of the car. The tag will correspond to the resident’s home address number. This coupled with an aggressive towing policy should serve to reduce the volume of illegal parkers back here. Of course this has some residents uneasy because they are concerned that people who they want to be here will wind up getting towed. My feeling is the responsibility of our visitors well being falls on us as homeowners, if we don’t let the people know who come to visit us that we have an aggressive parking policy and that they could be towed or if we don’t give them our parking pass and we park elsewhere, we are putting out guest at risk. Not to mention there is a sign out front as you pull into our court that states pretty clearly that the lot is not for public parking.
Other issues we are working on right now include: maintenance of the property, trash pick up, paving of the parking lot, landscape changes, tree removal, and exterior renovations to all of the homes.
This past Monday we debated about the parking situation and are in the process of instituting some new rules geared towards eliminating people from parking in the lot that is reserved for residents. There are only 22 spots in the court and there are 22 row homes in our community. Now, not everyone owns a car in the community but, others own 2, or have frequent guests, or we have some who work in the area (don’t live here) and see our lot as a place to park for free, or the purchasers and suppliers (remember most commute to work here) of the neighborhood’s cheif sellable product (aka illegal drugs) have used our parking lot. This has caused a bottleneck and can result in arguments over parking spaces, anger by residents when they have to park far from their homes.
The solution we have come up with is to give each resident one highly visible parking tag to be displayed in the window of the car. The tag will correspond to the resident’s home address number. This coupled with an aggressive towing policy should serve to reduce the volume of illegal parkers back here. Of course this has some residents uneasy because they are concerned that people who they want to be here will wind up getting towed. My feeling is the responsibility of our visitors well being falls on us as homeowners, if we don’t let the people know who come to visit us that we have an aggressive parking policy and that they could be towed or if we don’t give them our parking pass and we park elsewhere, we are putting out guest at risk. Not to mention there is a sign out front as you pull into our court that states pretty clearly that the lot is not for public parking.
Other issues we are working on right now include: maintenance of the property, trash pick up, paving of the parking lot, landscape changes, tree removal, and exterior renovations to all of the homes.
Wednesday, July 11, 2007
Up to speed
Its been nearly 8 months since I've settled into the neighborhood and things for the most part have been calm, quiet, and non eventful. The first few weeks I was here I was occaisonally stopped by the aformentioned white tee'd entreprenuers asking if I needed a piece of the rock. Not Prudential. That has for the most part stopped. Every once in a while there is a new sidewalk pusher that mistakes me for someone looking for a way to escape reality. Easy to think that, especially since 90% of the "traffic" that comes back here that is white is here in search of that high. The other 10%? Well, they are either lost or looking to get into the parking garage or maybe they are coming to visist me!
Truth be told, most of these hustlers are just trying to make a bit get a bite to eat at the local chinese food shop located on the corner of Washington and Clay. I don't get the feeling that many of them are really that successful. There is no blinged out attire, no pimped out rides, except for the occaisonal big rims here and there. This neighborhood is one that has earned a reputation and with that many of these hustlers migrate here. None or very few actually live here, they come here because this is where the crackheads come, demand needs supply. The users are a mixed bag, some come from out of town and others do dwell in the varied housing units.
One day I actually drove 2 of the dealers to the hospital because a friend of theirs had fallen in the heat and was experiencing a siezure. During the ride to the hospital we got to know a bit about one another. Funny but, there was a slight bonding that occured. One of the dealers I had barked on (yelled at) a few months before when they were making a transaction outside my door when I was going to my car. We spoke about that day and the dealer said to me he respected my request and understood it. Its not always Hollywood, while I am not positive I don't think Tony Montana lives back here. This dealer in particular said he got caught up after high school, couldn't find work and fell into dealing as a means to keep food for himself and his fiancee. I'm not condoning the behavior here just reporting what I've learned.
I've heard gunshots twice in 8 months. There has been 1 murder in 8 months, that murder was back in College Creek Terrace one of the two public housing spots located halfway between Washington and Harwood streets. The murder was drug related, it occured inside of one of the homes. The killer was apprehended a week or so later.
Speaking of the public housing, the two public housing units are actually the oldest on record in the United States. They are a tragedy, they look like they could crumble any day now and you wonder why despair has gripped this neighborhood over the years. Funny but, Obery Ct Houses are located directly on the water back here. They are slated for demolition in the Spring of 2009, rumour is they are not going back up. The other rumour I hear is that College Creek while not slated for demo and instead slated for rehab is not going to make it. Some of the people that live in those houses have lived there for 3 generations. Scary how the cycle plays itself out over and over again in some families.
So 8 months and barely a peep. So far, Clay Street isn't as rough as they make it out to be. Knock on wood.
Truth be told, most of these hustlers are just trying to make a bit get a bite to eat at the local chinese food shop located on the corner of Washington and Clay. I don't get the feeling that many of them are really that successful. There is no blinged out attire, no pimped out rides, except for the occaisonal big rims here and there. This neighborhood is one that has earned a reputation and with that many of these hustlers migrate here. None or very few actually live here, they come here because this is where the crackheads come, demand needs supply. The users are a mixed bag, some come from out of town and others do dwell in the varied housing units.
One day I actually drove 2 of the dealers to the hospital because a friend of theirs had fallen in the heat and was experiencing a siezure. During the ride to the hospital we got to know a bit about one another. Funny but, there was a slight bonding that occured. One of the dealers I had barked on (yelled at) a few months before when they were making a transaction outside my door when I was going to my car. We spoke about that day and the dealer said to me he respected my request and understood it. Its not always Hollywood, while I am not positive I don't think Tony Montana lives back here. This dealer in particular said he got caught up after high school, couldn't find work and fell into dealing as a means to keep food for himself and his fiancee. I'm not condoning the behavior here just reporting what I've learned.
I've heard gunshots twice in 8 months. There has been 1 murder in 8 months, that murder was back in College Creek Terrace one of the two public housing spots located halfway between Washington and Harwood streets. The murder was drug related, it occured inside of one of the homes. The killer was apprehended a week or so later.
Speaking of the public housing, the two public housing units are actually the oldest on record in the United States. They are a tragedy, they look like they could crumble any day now and you wonder why despair has gripped this neighborhood over the years. Funny but, Obery Ct Houses are located directly on the water back here. They are slated for demolition in the Spring of 2009, rumour is they are not going back up. The other rumour I hear is that College Creek while not slated for demo and instead slated for rehab is not going to make it. Some of the people that live in those houses have lived there for 3 generations. Scary how the cycle plays itself out over and over again in some families.
So 8 months and barely a peep. So far, Clay Street isn't as rough as they make it out to be. Knock on wood.
Sunday, July 8, 2007
My name is Timm Kostenko, a native of Sussex County New Jersey, for those that are not geographically inclined I grew up in between the Sopranos and the Orange County Choppers. I am the newest resident of Clay Street, Annapolis and this is my story.
About 12 months ago I was coming off a tumultuous ride as a budding rap star who had spent the better part of the previous 2 years in a 30 foot land yacht (an RV for those that don't know the science) criss crossing north america in promotion of what I thought was the beginning of a long and prosperous music career. One member quitting, one member beating up the DJ, and the one member administering the beating winding up in a mental hospital later, I was alone in that 30 foot dream machine heading nowhere, fast. After some serious soul searching and a deep intake of reality I decided that it was time to head back to corporate America. With that it was back to Annapolis, MD and the career that I had left as a financial advisor for Morgan Stanley.
Now, at first I was still somewhat hopeful that all would work itself out., so I rented a basement apartment Eastport. For the next 6 months I clung to somehow ego bruisings from physical bruisings would subside, bandmates who sought love would find their way back into the mix, that mental illnesses were not permanent, and that we would wind up back in the yacht and back in the pursuit of the glamour that being a rap star would deliver. However, as time carried its ugly load it became more and more apparent that the days of the touring rap artist were closed and that I should look to focus on the padding the 401(k). Enter the home buying part of my life cycle.
Everyone always tells you that owning a home is the first part of the American dream and that once you are ready to (gulp) settle down, buying a home is a mandatory part of the equation. No more throwing good money at rent, it was time to stand on my own and own. Unfortunately, during my time on the road the housing market had been enjoying its finest few years in history and home prices were well off the reasonable charts. Everywhere I looked for a home it was well beyond not only what I could afford but, beyond what I considered appropriate. The country was in the thros of the real estate frenzy and it was definitely not the time to buy but, I was sick of renting.
So one Friday night, I made a right off West Street onto Washington Street and took a left off Washington onto Clay Street and parked my car. I got out and took a walk. I walked up and down Clay Street from the corner of Washington to Harwood at the far end of Clay and all I saw was opportunity.
Backing up a bit let me establish a bit further who I am exactly. In my world of Hip Hop I am known as Timmy Grins, lead "singer" for Arcane, promoter of the uber successful "Elements Party" in Baltimore, co founder of ItsHipHop.tv, and manager of several fledging Hip Hop artists. Suffice to say that Clay Street was a neighborhood that I have seen many times before from Vancouver, British Columbia, to Bedstuy Brooklyn, NYC, to Compton, California, to closer demographically Baltimore, Maryland. It wasn't as great a shock for me as it may be for others to see enterprenuers in long white tees working street corners or to see the twisted effect that the chief sellable product that neighborhoods like this has was having on the local community.
Clay Street is not North Avenue. Clay Street is not 125th and Lennox, but, it is to be respected. While it is not the deathbed that the South Bronx once was it does have a penchant for and a history of violence like either of the previous mentioned streets. It has not earned its reputation purely on fantasy there is a very poor and generationally difficult group of people in these streets. Despair is well travelled up and down this corridor. Drugs are here, guns are here, prostitutes are here, and beggars are here.
Getting back to the original program though, I started checking out all the homes for sale. My agent Brad Luke up at Caldwell Banker on Church Circle met me in front of every one, he helped me research the neighborhood, the crime, and did all he could to find the best situation for me. We looked in no fewer than 10 homes for sale on Clay Street, every single one of them priced under 250,000 and every single one of them less then a 10 minute walk to City Dock in one direction and less then 10 minute walk to Naval Stadium in the other direction and every single one of them a block from the water of College Creek. Closing my eyes and using my own internal Google maps, I could not picture a better situated neighborhood in all of Annapolis. There is nowhere else that you are more centrally located with the 3 amenities that I mentioned then Clay Street.
I started putting in offers, all below market value. The scorching housing market knows no boundries even the homes relatively speaking on Clay were priced at a premium I thought to be too generous. Brad and I had a few nibbles but, nothing got serious. Nothing got serious until during one of the greater Clay Street meetings that I was becoming a frequent fixture I was introduced to Cathy Ebner from Homes for America. Cathy told me she had a few homes that were going to be made available if I were serious about my desire to live on Clay Street. Of course my answer was yes.
She showed me one off Northwest Street but, the view of the graveyard was a turn-off. I don't care how historically significant that graveyard is it is still dead people there and I saw way too many horror flicks growing up. Then she showed me #51 Clay Street, I wasn't even halfway through looking at it when I told her I would take it. It was perfect. The quaint 2 bedroom rowhome type had been internally restored with a new kitchen and bathroom, new washer and dryer, new carpet, and all it needed was someone who wanted to make it home. I volunteered for the job and in December of 2006, nearly 6 months after the demise of my rap career I was settling (still scared) into my new home on Clay Street.
About 12 months ago I was coming off a tumultuous ride as a budding rap star who had spent the better part of the previous 2 years in a 30 foot land yacht (an RV for those that don't know the science) criss crossing north america in promotion of what I thought was the beginning of a long and prosperous music career. One member quitting, one member beating up the DJ, and the one member administering the beating winding up in a mental hospital later, I was alone in that 30 foot dream machine heading nowhere, fast. After some serious soul searching and a deep intake of reality I decided that it was time to head back to corporate America. With that it was back to Annapolis, MD and the career that I had left as a financial advisor for Morgan Stanley.
Now, at first I was still somewhat hopeful that all would work itself out., so I rented a basement apartment Eastport. For the next 6 months I clung to somehow ego bruisings from physical bruisings would subside, bandmates who sought love would find their way back into the mix, that mental illnesses were not permanent, and that we would wind up back in the yacht and back in the pursuit of the glamour that being a rap star would deliver. However, as time carried its ugly load it became more and more apparent that the days of the touring rap artist were closed and that I should look to focus on the padding the 401(k). Enter the home buying part of my life cycle.
Everyone always tells you that owning a home is the first part of the American dream and that once you are ready to (gulp) settle down, buying a home is a mandatory part of the equation. No more throwing good money at rent, it was time to stand on my own and own. Unfortunately, during my time on the road the housing market had been enjoying its finest few years in history and home prices were well off the reasonable charts. Everywhere I looked for a home it was well beyond not only what I could afford but, beyond what I considered appropriate. The country was in the thros of the real estate frenzy and it was definitely not the time to buy but, I was sick of renting.
So one Friday night, I made a right off West Street onto Washington Street and took a left off Washington onto Clay Street and parked my car. I got out and took a walk. I walked up and down Clay Street from the corner of Washington to Harwood at the far end of Clay and all I saw was opportunity.
Backing up a bit let me establish a bit further who I am exactly. In my world of Hip Hop I am known as Timmy Grins, lead "singer" for Arcane, promoter of the uber successful "Elements Party" in Baltimore, co founder of ItsHipHop.tv, and manager of several fledging Hip Hop artists. Suffice to say that Clay Street was a neighborhood that I have seen many times before from Vancouver, British Columbia, to Bedstuy Brooklyn, NYC, to Compton, California, to closer demographically Baltimore, Maryland. It wasn't as great a shock for me as it may be for others to see enterprenuers in long white tees working street corners or to see the twisted effect that the chief sellable product that neighborhoods like this has was having on the local community.
Clay Street is not North Avenue. Clay Street is not 125th and Lennox, but, it is to be respected. While it is not the deathbed that the South Bronx once was it does have a penchant for and a history of violence like either of the previous mentioned streets. It has not earned its reputation purely on fantasy there is a very poor and generationally difficult group of people in these streets. Despair is well travelled up and down this corridor. Drugs are here, guns are here, prostitutes are here, and beggars are here.
Getting back to the original program though, I started checking out all the homes for sale. My agent Brad Luke up at Caldwell Banker on Church Circle met me in front of every one, he helped me research the neighborhood, the crime, and did all he could to find the best situation for me. We looked in no fewer than 10 homes for sale on Clay Street, every single one of them priced under 250,000 and every single one of them less then a 10 minute walk to City Dock in one direction and less then 10 minute walk to Naval Stadium in the other direction and every single one of them a block from the water of College Creek. Closing my eyes and using my own internal Google maps, I could not picture a better situated neighborhood in all of Annapolis. There is nowhere else that you are more centrally located with the 3 amenities that I mentioned then Clay Street.
I started putting in offers, all below market value. The scorching housing market knows no boundries even the homes relatively speaking on Clay were priced at a premium I thought to be too generous. Brad and I had a few nibbles but, nothing got serious. Nothing got serious until during one of the greater Clay Street meetings that I was becoming a frequent fixture I was introduced to Cathy Ebner from Homes for America. Cathy told me she had a few homes that were going to be made available if I were serious about my desire to live on Clay Street. Of course my answer was yes.
She showed me one off Northwest Street but, the view of the graveyard was a turn-off. I don't care how historically significant that graveyard is it is still dead people there and I saw way too many horror flicks growing up. Then she showed me #51 Clay Street, I wasn't even halfway through looking at it when I told her I would take it. It was perfect. The quaint 2 bedroom rowhome type had been internally restored with a new kitchen and bathroom, new washer and dryer, new carpet, and all it needed was someone who wanted to make it home. I volunteered for the job and in December of 2006, nearly 6 months after the demise of my rap career I was settling (still scared) into my new home on Clay Street.
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