What's Happening in Catonsville, MD…

Residents of the Winters Lane neighborhood of Catonsville, a historic African-American community, are working to find a way to update older homes while still preserving their history.

Locals attended a meeting last month, to discuss options for preserving historic properties. A neighborhood community group, the Concerned Citizens of Catonsville, hosted the meeting, as part of an ongoing revitalization effort.

Also attending was Liz Glenn of the Baltimore County Department of Planning. Glenn said the county wants to work with residents, but it can only help those who are willing to accept assistance. One such property, at 52 Winters Lane, is already being renovated, according to Baltimore County planner Donnell Ziegler, who anticipates a successful project.

Community members realize that homes must come up to today's standards, which means that some structures that cannot be brought up to code will have to be torn down and rebuilt, even if they have historic value. However, historian Louis Diggs, argues that it is better to ask for structures in need of major repairs to be designated as historic, which then qualifies them for various grants.

All agreed that rehabilitation is necessary, whether the structure is historic or not, and Glenn reiterated the county's desire to work with residents in improving their neighborhood.

The community could work with brochure printers to create a booklet about the project and asking for support.