Another long-abandoned retail space is being filled. The old Giant supermarket at the Joppa Perring Shopping Center, vacant since 2007, will be filled later this year by Savers, Inc.
Savers, Inc., has more than 200 locations throughout
the United States, Canada, and Australia. It receives its merchandise through
direct donations and by paying cash to nonprofit organizations for donated
clothing and household items. This is the first Savers, Inc., in Maryland.
The store will employ 40 residents, and there will be improvements to the existing structure.
Even in a difficult national economy, we have had a steady stream of announcements about new supermarket and retail openings, from Perry Hall to Towson. I am very happy the long-vacant space at Joppa Perring will be occupied soon.
More than a million people are expected to enjoy the Sailabration events that commemorate Baltimore's role in the War of 1812. Baltimore County, of course, was an important part of the War of 1812. The Battle of North Point, which occurred in September of 1814, delayed the British advance on Baltimore and bought valuable time for those defending the city. Landmarks such as Fort Howard and Todd's Inheritance are part of the heritage of southeastern Baltimore County. Baltimore County provided financial support for Sailabration, and I thank those officials and volunteers who helped staff events over the past week.
In the Fifth District that I represent, some of our communities have important links to the War of 1812. The site that is now Camp Chapel United Methodist Church was the center of the lightly-settled Perry Hall area in 1814. On September 12, 1814, Reverend Henry Smith was preaching at the Camp Meeting Chapel, and he recorded hearing the sounds of the Battle of North Point: "The bombs were heard at Perry Hall, twelve miles from Baltimore, nearly all the night. It was an awful night. Fears were entertained that the enemy would take Baltmore, and overrun and plunder that part of the country...I rode down to Baltimore the day after the British had returned to their ships; and it was in the mouth of almost everyone, saint and sinner. 'The prayers of the good people of Baltimore saved the city.'"
Back then, Joppa Road was an abandoned Susquehannock Indian trail, and at the other end from Perry Hall was Towsontown. Ezekial Towson started the Towson Hotel at York and Joppa Roads in 1768 to serve farmers who brought their produce and livestock to the port of Baltimore. His brother Nathaniel Towson had a distinguished career in the U.S. Army, commanding artillery at the Battles of Fort George, Stoney Creek, Queenston Heights, Chippawa, Lundy's Lane, and Fort Erie.
I believe we should recognize the contributions of Nathaniel Towson to our local history. I have suggested to Towson's civic and business organizations that we dedicate one of our structures in his honor, perhaps the bridge at Dulaney Valley Road leading into Downtown Towson. What do you think?
Ask the average citizen what he or she considers to be among the most important issues facing local government, and parking may be near the bottom of the list. Parking doesn't attract provocative newspaper headlines, but it's an important subject in many jurisdictions, particularly cities. In my nineteen months in office, I've dealt with several parking issues in Downtown Towson, where we have worked to accommodate merchants and where there are numerous parking garages.
One of the most important parking issues concerns shopping centers. Do we really need to build parking lots that can accommodate Black Friday crowds, but sit half-full the rest of the year? Look at many shopping centers, and chances are you'll see a sea of unused parking spaces.
Next month, the County Council will consider Bill 45-12, which is sponsored by Councilmen Olszewski and Oliver. Bill 45-12 would allow the Director of Permits, Inspections, and Approvals to reduce the parking area for a shopping center by up to 40 percent if the proposal meets certain guidelines. Those standards may include open space, pedestrian improvements, and environmental features.
I think this is a good concept, and for several reasons. First, a parking lot is an impervious surface. Reducing the acreage used for parking can curtail runoff into the streams that lead to the Chesapeake Bay.
Second, parking lots cost money. Asphalt is made from petroleum, the cost of which has increased sharply over the past decade.
Third, reducing the area used for parking is not just a recommendation of planning professionals and environmentalists; it's also an element of the Perry Hall Community Plan, which was drafted by my constituents. Here's what the Community Plan says: "Within central Perry Hall, the shopping center at Seven Courts, Super Fresh, Perry Hall Square, White Marsh Mall and the surrounding strip malls are covered in asphalt for cars that are not there."
For all these reasons, I believe Bill 45-12 is legislation worth supporting.
