I was interviewed briefly by Nicole Young from the Capital last week with regards to some of the greater Clay Street initiatives and I had my picture taken earlier this morning. I didn't want to say anything until I knew for sure things were running. I was informed by the cameraman that the article will appear in this afternoon's edition. Do me a favor, grab a copy and spread the word, the more we have people paying attention and generating ideas the better things will be. Thanks.
Who's with me back here?
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16 comments:
Good luck man. I work around the corner from clay street and will not even drive down there.
PS...Clay Street isnt so bad that you CANT drive through it...I can't stand when people get dramatic.
Good luck with your Clay Street Dream, Timm. To save the city, you have to live in the city.
First, thank you all for the comments, the more dialogue the better.
Kristen I am sure I will see you around the neighborhood at some point! You are right and part of my big push with this blog is to break down the stereotype and let people know that being afraid is part of the problem. No question a lot of that fear is ingrained from years of practice and headlines but, small steps and exposure to new and more positive headlines will see this through.
I know West Washington well, I'll be walking there tonight to meet with Larry at the Stanton Center and for our Neighborhood Association meeting. Taking the step to join the police is a brave one I can do nothing but, bow to your bravery and thank you for your service to our community.
Good article:
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."
I enjoy the blog, and I have linked to it on my blog: www.annapolispolitics.blogspot.com.
My wife and I have been living on Clay Street for the past two years. The neighborhood has its well documented problems, but we are happy here. We are both are public school teachers in the area, which I think has helped us become more accepted in the neighborhood. We may not have the same race or background as the majority of the people in the clay steet area, but having the presence of teachers who actually have students from the neighborhood in their classes will help bring about positive changes.
I have lived in Downtown Annapolis almost my whole life. And I grew up knowing that if you were white, and not "shopping" that you do not go down Clay Street. But through some friends, I developed relationships with people in College Creek Terr and Obery Court. I rarely had any problems walking down Clay Street, even having a few entrepreneurs offer to walk me to my car when it was late at night. There are problems with violence and drugs in that area, as well as in many areas throughout Annapolis, and because of that, so many people have given up. Both within the community and outside of it. Timm, I hope that the blog that you have created and the attention that are receiving will bring some much needed help to the area. As well as breaking down some of the myths. Keep singing it, and hopefully the rest of us will learn the words too.
this a great thing that is happening on clay street in annapolis. it's all too rare that CITIZENS rise up and use their freedom and rights for such common good. THAT is the beauty of America.
For all the BS that gets spread by talking heads, we often forget the POWER that we have as individuals to make such a difference in our own lives ... and it all starts in our COMMUNITY. [think global, act local, ya know].
How's the produce down there? I say y'all get a Farmers Market set up on weekends. That's the perfect street for it. Out of the way so as not to congest downtown, but local enough to interest people who want fresh, local grown produce. go green, nah mean?!
PEACE/LOVE.
Clat street is one of the only places in annapolis that is free of tourists and pretention. Quite frankly, I don't give damn about property values, but I cherish soul.
I just read your article - while I don't live in Annapolis (Southern AA County)I teach at a school with a population like Clay Street. Good for you -- thanks for your desire to change the "at risk" neighborhood!
I am overwhelmed by the response, equally I am appreciative that each of you have taken a moment to comment and add some of your own color.
Brian Gill, once I figure out how to link blogs I will link yours seems to be a logical fit...btw this blog is has a website that is currently being built www.iliveonclaystreet.com you can see the stickers that I have coming as well to begin to add some more pride to the bottom line back here
Kirt keep believing my man and thank you for your contribution and further thank you for putting your life ahead of the community by joining our police department!
Roger Ramjet, I feel you on the soul, that is a big piece of what attracted me to back here. It is a place that is completely different then the rest of the downtown set, there is still some soul back here but, honestly a lot of that has been taken over the years. Nevertheless, that soul is still there and as long as it breathes we can bring it back.
Billy, GREAT idea about the farmers market. If you don't mind I am going to devote a seperate posting to that idea. That is a good one.
Amy the schoolteacher. My brother, my mother, and my father are all schoolteachers. I escaped the web although I think a lot of what they do has rubbed off on me in other ways.
Adam and his wife, my neighbors. What is your house number I am going to walk down and introduce myself. I am guessing you are part of that collective that is living at the opposite end of the block? Let me know, lets build, in fact feel free to call me at 443.857.8775 or email me at timmygrins@gmail.
That goes for anyone, feel free to call me with ideas or email me with thoughts, suggestions, etc.
Thank you all once again. I am starting to see there is quite a bit back here with me.
I love the idea of a farmer's market on the weekend(s). In the city where I live, there are numerous farmer's markets throughout the summer and specifically each Saturday at Union Square. Artists, musicians, local growers and city residents are all in attendance throughout the course of the morning. Interesting art, colorful music and fresh food...I can't say enough.
Go organic, buy local...
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