Sustainability Movement Builds in Maryland; Five New Sustainable Communities Brings Total to 71

Crownsville, MD - Five neighborhoods in three counties have committed to a revitalization plan to conserve resources and strengthen reinvestment in traditional downtown business districts, bringing the number of Sustainable Communities in Maryland to 71.

Maryland’s Smart Growth Subcabinet approved the new Sustainable Communities during meetings on April 16 and May 21.

Reisterstown is Baltimore County’s sixth Sustainable Community. A national historic district founded in 1758, Reisterstown became an important crossroads for travelers commuting from Baltimore City along Reisterstown Road to Pennsylvania and points further north and west. As with many historic communities, Reisterstown has experienced significant decline in its commercial corridor. Working in conjunction with the community, the county plans to revitalize its main street by seeking a Maryland Main Street designation, capitalizing on its historic building fabric and implementing promotional activities such as, a Buy Local Campaign, Farmers Market and Clean Green 15 (monthly 15 minute clean-ups).

The Town of Union Bridge is the seventh municipality in Carroll County to receive a Sustainable Communities designation. It is a part of the Heart of the Civil War Heritage Area and is home to the Western Maryland Railroad Museum, an asset that attracts over 500 visitors each year. While many historic homes remain and are well kept, the overall economic vitality of the town is not what it once was in its heyday. To reverse the economic downturn, Union Bridge plans to promote and increase the number of businesses on Main Street, enhance the Union Bridge Walking Tour, improve the Union Bridge Community Center, complete the Little Pipe Creek Park & Trail System and increase housing opportunities for low- and moderate-income senior citizens, using the town’s very own Shriner Court as a model.

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