Roland Park Area Master Plan Update

On May 19, the Roland Park Area master plan was updated By the Greater Roland Park group.

The goal of the master plan is to reduce speeding, help with traffic flow, keep the area mostly residential, preserve the architectural beauty, all while having the area updated with newer pipes, walkways, and repair the deteriorating infrastructure.

This includes areas that are right now in question, like the Baltimore Country Club land that is no longer in use by the club, where hopefully some recreational facilities could be created. There is Stony Run Park where parking interrupts the path, so they plan to reconnect and move the parking area. The water tower is in disrepair, and they plan to fix that as well as build a park around it.

There are also plans to spruce up the shopping areas.

This is great news for the Roland Park neighborhood in Baltimore, because it should make it a more walkable, greener, even nicer place to live. I am looking forward to seeing the improvements as they happen!

Johns Hopkins to Buy Former Zurich Site Near Keswick and Hampden in Baltimore

The Johns Hopkins University has entered into a contract to buy the former 11.4 acre Zurich Insurance Co. site at the corner of Keswick Road and 40th Street just south of Roland Park and north of Hampden in northern Baltimore City.

Located adjacent to the Rotunda, this is a great location not too far from JHU’s Homewood Campus.

More details on the sale can be found in the Baltimore Sun article by Edward Gunts. He writes that:

The departments that will move to the site have not all been identified. Hopkins spokesman Dennis O’Shea said the buildings will be filled with Johns Hopkins employees over time, as leases elsewhere expire and as other business considerations dictate. The first workers are expected to move in during the second half of 2010. He said employees likely will come from a variety of Hopkins locations, including the former Eastern High School property on 33rd Street, the former USF&G campus in Mount Washington and East Baltimore.

About 1,100 employees are going to be working at this North Baltimore site, which could mean more home sales in the Roland Park, Keswick, and Hampden neighborhoods, if people want to live close to work.

This is great news for this neighborhood since Zurich vacated earlier this year to move to Baltimore County. With the Rotunda redevelopment in the works with townhomes, condos, and offices in the plans, and the Keswick Multi-Care center right there, this sale is wonderful to continue to build on this neat area of Baltimore.

Radisson Cross Keys Offers Wine Wednesdays at its Crossroads Restaurant

Wednesday nights have gotten a bit more interesting in Cross Keys in the Roland Park area of Baltimore.

The Radisson Cross Keys, a hotel that has changed names, but continued great service throughout the years, and its’ restaurant, Crossroads, held their first Wine Wednesdays on December 2, 2009 to an excited group.

The Radisson Cross Keys is committed to offering local specialties, and recently also announced a Farm-to-Table menu using local farms & vendors to create a fresh new taste.

The Crossroads Restaurant has been located in the Cross Keys hotel since 1973, and Executive Chef Don Crowther is the one behind many of these new ideas.

Wine Wednesdays will be featuring wine tastings from local wineries, the first, on December 2, was Basignani Winery.

This Wednesday, December 16, 2009, will feature Woodhall Wine Cellars.

Wine Wednesdays are free, and offer appetizers prepared by Chef Crowther to specifically complement the wines.

 

The Radisson Hotel Cross Keys and its Crossroads Restaurant and Crossroads Lounge is located at 100 Village Square, 5100 Falls Road, Baltimore, MD 21210.