During the tour of Jonestown with our urban fellow this week (Professor Lindsay Thompson), I was fascinated to learn that Jonestown used to be the waterfront in Baltimore. The Inner Harbor was merely a landfill that was redeveloped to what it is today – a vibrant seaport and tourist attraction. On the Baltimore Police’s website, they have a nice little history of Baltimore and two old maps on elephant folio that I found very interesting (shown below). The maps are from 1732, and show how the city was parceled off into units that were divided up amongst the first settlers. Notice the shoreline is the Jones Falls Canal. Jonestown is a designated historical and architectural preservation by Baltimore City Historic Ordinance 02-0901 07//11/02. The map on the right depicts the areas marked for preservation, and I was able to see several historic landmarks during our neighborhood walkabout. So, what is so special about Jonestown? The ordinance preserves the unique culture garnered by European immigrants who lived in Jonestown during the 18th, 19th, and 20th centuries. Not only were the residents a mix of different classes and religions, but the Jonestown area was home to residential, commercial and industrial living, many of which are still standing as landmarks in Jonestown. The Flag House and the Shot Tower are also national landmarks. While the neighborhood has changed quite a bit over the last three centuries, in 2001 the city decided to demolish the Flag House Courts. Home to low-income families, crime, and poverty, Baltimore followed suit behind other big cities and eradicated skyscraper-like housing for the poor. Similar to the Murphy Towers on the west side of the city that were also demolished, Flag House Courts underwent the same fate. The Flag House Courts were regenerated into mixed-income housing that resonates Baltimore row home architecture. Now called Albemarle Square, the housing consists of both tenants and owners who can enjoy a quick walk to the Inner Harbor and nearby entertainment. Here are before and after pics of the "projects"...
0 Comments
Okay, so where is Jonestown and why should I care?
I drove around the perimeter of Jonestown, then I drove down a few blocks of the north and south ends of Jonestown. This was my first time ever in Jonestown, and I felt that the neighborhood was a mix of vacant buildings, renovated housing, historic landmarks, city services (police and post office), and one Rescue Mission. Some areas felt safer than others. I wonder how safe the residents and business owners find Jonestown? The area near Albemarle Square was renovated and the neighborhood appeared to be kept in good condition (from what I understand an older housing unit was demolished in recent years). However, the businesses in the north area were devoid of life and most of the buildings were boarded up and vacant. I wondered to myself if there are any wellness sites in Jonestown? I didn’t see any fitness, nutrition, or indications of healthy living. S. Central Street seemed to be the hotspot of the area and the most vibrant, although using the word vibrant may be a stretch. I did not interact with any Jonestown locals during my visit, but in the coming weeks I decided that I will seek out stakeholder interviews. Here are some of the pictures I took, mostly are of the vacant buildings. |
Archives |