Damn the torpedos, full speed ahead! By now if you have not had a chance to read the article written by Nicole Young in today's Capital, you can drop by my spot on Clay and I will give you a copy of the paper. I was so overwhelmed by the fact the article hit the front page that I went to the Whole Foods Market and copped (purchased) every single one of their copies, did the same thing at the CVS downtown, and Gary's Coffee Bean. You know the address, 51 Clay Street. I got copies for you, the caveat is you have to come back here, knock on my door and ask for them. See you soon?
The block was hot for a moment tonight a lot of entreprenuers but, didn't seem like a lot of customers. Mother Nature though, despite our differences in the past, she came through and washed all the entreprenuers away. Well, all except for one or two of the dedicated hustlers, that were perched under the awning by the Church and over by the Arundel carry out.
Ahhh...the Arundel carry out. I have to trash that place. For real, the current owners of that business are pure leeches. I say current because as it has been told to me the original owners, the mother and father of the current crew, were very friendly in the community. This second generation crew? They could care less about what goes on this neighborhood.
Don't get me wrong, you all know I am all for Capitalism. However, this is different, this is leeching. The people that run that business are no better then the entreprenuers. See they set up shop, sell their shit, and peace out (leave)without giving a damn about all the after effects. They are a major trash contributor, their place of business looks like a crack house, in fact I kid you not but, when I first got back here, I thought it was a liquor store with crack being kicked out the back. I am willing to bet any amount of money that if the FDA slid up in there they would find more than a few violations. They got to go, I am willing to sit with the owner of the business and give him a fair shake but, if he continues with the present manner he's got to go.
See, the image of the neighborhood is a projection of its pride. Think about it for a second. Think how you feel when you slide on those fresh kicks, or a crisp suit, ladies that black dress that fits your figure perfectly, its that feeling we want back here. When you turn the corner off West and travel towards Clay, you should begin to feel that proud soul. Establishments like the Arundel Carry Out destroy that pride. They got to go.
We are going to keep this moving.
Coming soon, a new website centered around the blog, with a community forum for posting events and discussions, some history of Clay Street corridor, updates, pictures, video, etc Plus, we have the CLAY stickers coming. Yes, Maritime Republic of Eastport has its MRE joints well, we are going to have our CLAY stickers. For a glimpse of the stickers to come, check www.iliveonclaystreet.com .
Get off myspace, friendster, and facebook, and get on Clay Street. We are going to build a community back here.
9 comments:
and btw, here is the article in its entirety...
"Reshaping Clay Street"
Resident hopes experience, blog can help turn around troubled area
By NICOLE YOUNG, Staff Writer
Published August 20, 2007
Timm Kostenko is OK with being "the white guy" on Clay Street.
After moving into his row home at 51 Clay St. on Dec. 1, the financial adviser for Morgan Stanley withstood everything from stares to offers from drug dealers.
Nine months later, his presence is catching on and he's documenting it in a blog called "I Live on Clay Street" - and he's wondering why more people haven't done the same thing.
Although the street is home to two public housing communities and is known for open-air drug markets and other often-violent crimes, including a recent murder and numerous shootings, Mr. Kosteko said he sees nothing but opportunity for the struggling neighborhood just out of view of casual passers-by in downtown Annapolis.
The former rapper who grew up in Sussex County, N.J., and spent more than two years touring across the United States, finally decided he wanted to settle down in the Annapolis area, back at his job as a financial adviser.
He started renting out a basement apartment in Eastport before realizing home ownership would be the first part of realizing the American dream. Looking all over the city, he found a bevy of homes he simply couldn't afford.
Enter Clay Street into the equation.
The idea of moving to Clay Street didn't garner the warmest reception from friends and associates, but he continued pursuing it by contacting local police about the neighborhood and walking around the area - and all he saw was opportunity, he said.
After some frustrating attempts at buying a home on Clay Street, Mr. Kostenko met a representative from Homes for America, a nonprofit organization that helps people from low- and moderate-income households buy a home.
"Clay Street is pretty notorious and I'm not the typical person living back here," he said. "But I love downtown and walking everywhere."
About halfway through looking at the two-bedroom row house at 51 Clay, Mr. Kostenko decided to take it.
During his time as a rapper known as Timmy Grins and a party and events promoter, he's seen his share of rough neighborhoods around the nation, so it wasn't much of a culture shock when he was first approached by drug dealers, or as he likes to call them, entrepreneurs.
And the crime escalates from drugs. In February, 23-year-old Terrance Anthony Powell was fatally shot in the same College Creek Terrace community where his brother, 15-year-old Timothy Sembly Jr., was shot to death in September 2001.
Mr. Kostenko said he knows he fits the profile of many of the people who come into the neighborhood looking to buy drugs - young and white.
"When I first moved in, I used to get stopped all the time," he said. " 'Hey man, you need anything? You good?' But it has been about two months since I've been asked."
He keeps his house and outside tidy and neat, hoping to set an example for the neighbors and passersby who often leave trash on the sidewalks and yards. He offers his broom, rake or shovel whenever asked and wants to make sure the neighbors know he's there to help turn things around.
Since he has settled in and started writing about his experiences in the blog, it's been well received and commented on by locals. It even caught the eye of Dennis Conti, former director of the Annapolis Housing Authority and now a public housing advocate.
Mr. Conti said he learned of the blog when someone mentioned it to him. And although he has never met Mr. Kostenko, he said he's a perfect example of why home ownership is important.
"He's an example of the kind of person who is coming to the neighborhood because they have a vested interest in making the community better," he said. "I'm just so happy that he's doing what he can."
Mr. Kostenko uses humor and past experiences when handling the everyday problems he encounters on Clay Street, and presents them to readers with a fresh, straightforward approach.
Perhaps the most amusing tale in the blog, iliveonclaystreet.blogspot.com, involves a small electric utility box outside his home in Town Pines Court where the "entrepreneurs" like to gather and leave trash - the sign he looks for that people are gathering while he's away.
The quick fix? Turn it into a sticky situation.
"Now it was 3:30 a.m. and I needed to be in the office by 8 a.m. but, I didn't care," he wrote in the Aug. 2 blog entry. "I got back in my car and drove to the 7-11 and bought some good old Aunt Jemima's syrup, brought it back and emptied it all over the box. You know what? Nobody has sat there all week."
In his revitalization efforts, Mr. Kostenko also walked several blocks over to visit Don Lamb-Minor, who, along with his neighbors just off Clay Street, is working to clean up the area. Mr. Kostenko is seeking any and all ideas to reshape the area, from street performances and movie nights to small festivals and getting local businesses involved in the action.
Many believe Clay Street is improving.
Several businesses have invested in the Stanton Community Center, revitalizing the athletic and educational programs, and the city's economic development office has been reaching out to investors and businesses in hopes of sparking growth in the community.
Sylvia's, a famous soul food restaurant in Harlem is moving to a vacant Clay Street storefront. The Business Corridor Investment Loan Program offers up to $35,000 in interest-free loans for business improvements.
"For the most part, this is my space and I know I can control my space," Mr. Kostenko said. "But outside there is despair and the (community) is deeply neglected. The opportunity for it to be a much better place is there. Let me just keep doing good things."
You seemed to want to gentrify Clay Street. In this city of UN-affordaable housing you are a threat to an area with affordable housing.
I believe you are in this as a investor looking for a return not a benevolent activist. Sure main stream annapolitians applaud your efforts, they are looking for a down town annex.
Been DownTown lately ? It is nothing more than a disney land loaded with cuteness and lacking character.
The malling of America need not continue.
I completely agree with Zackariah Smith. Clay Street has a heart and soul-the people that have lived there for years.
What do they want ? Do you even care ?
Power to the People
First off top, I appreciate your comments. That is ultimately what I want to do here, get people talking amongst one another. Break down these walls that seperate the "two cities" of Annapolis.
Next I will say that you both are wrong. It is apparent that your deductions of who I am are based on stereotype (white guy in a suit) and the fact you havn't done your homework with respect to who I am, what I have done, and where I come from.
I do understand the stereotype though, because without a history of evidence pointing to your concerns you wouldn't have raised the issue. You are correct in airing your concern, it is a valid one. I don't want take anything away from your opinion, because you are completely entitled. I recognize that there is a certain stigma with that me being the white guy in a historically black neighborhood must deal. I knew that coming in here. Peep (check) my background and you will see that I am not the guy you worry about, in fact I am someone who is exactly the opposite of the one you are concerned.
Lets flip the script (take a look from the opposite angle) a minute, what if I was a black person in a white neighborhood? In that situation wouldn't I then as a black person be faced with the similar set of stereotypes that would have to be overcome? Of course we don't want to think that these stereotypes still exist but, they do and more than likely we are about 3 or 4 generations away from the total removal of those pre conceived notions that are associated with skin color.
Only time will tell right? In the meantime though, take a second and read the rest of my blog entries, get more familiar with my thoughts and vision.
This is my first time one here. I am a little iunfamiliar with blogs. I think Zackariah and Tyemeesha make a good point, BUT I also think that is part of a fear that a lot of us have. We don't want to lose things. We want to be embraced by our community. Deep down we are worried that we may lose. Timm it takes a long time to build trust.
So, Power to the People, yes I agree Tyemeesha, but I think maybe Timm is one of those people and I think he ius doing some nice things. I think more of us should help him. Only by getting involved we can have more say in what happens to us and around us.
I think it is nice that someone cares about what is happening on Clay.
I do believe that really all four of us, our new friend included, are all on the same page. All four of us want to see what is right. That common thread albeit our initial misconceptions of one another is going to be the tie that binds us...lets keep it moving.
Timm,
Umm, so I wanted to talk with you...still making my way around here (this blog thing) but any ways, I posted a blog to let you know where I'm coming from and I'm on myspace (Jenny Herb). Any ways, seeing as we might soon be neighbors wanted to drop a note and see if we could chat.
Jenny,
Not a problem. You can give me a call at 443.857.8775 or email me at timmygrins@gmail.com or of course you can knock on the door, as most know I live at 51 Clay Street, I'd be more than happy to answer any questions that you may have.
From my office, I see all.
As for Arundel Carry Out, when Asbury UMC gets food, produce especially, the owner of the carry out can be found shopping.
Yes lettuce, tomatoes, and god knows what else he is serving down there, comes from Asbury Churches donations.
Remember "power to the people" means all people, white, black asian, hispanic, whatever.
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