Keep checking back for updates! We’ll post photos, timelines, fundraising updates and more here as we have them.
4.15.24 This week the footers are being poured! Check out this update with our executive director Jennifer Robinson and our contractor!
4.12.24 We're excited that construction has resumed! The week kicked off with the shut off valve for the water located and the broken pipes repaired. The team filled in the area afterwards to protect it from the anticipated heavy rains, and the masons will be out soon to replace the bricks. We appreciate the patience of our neighbors on Lombard St. who were impacted by the water shut-off as that work happened. The backyard area has been buzzing with preparation for concrete footings that should be poured starting on Monday, April 15th. The archaeology team is back overseeing the digging to make sure nothing exciting emerges. Once we get the footings and foundations set, things should really start moving!
4.2.24 We can see glimpses of hope emerging from a few frustrating weeks of surprises. We have a basic plan with BGE in place that will allow us to continue construction while protecting the electrical lines. As construction continues, plans will be put into place to have the service moved north of the building and reburied. Once this is in place, the old lines will be deactivated. We will be required to wait for the new service to be fully in place and the old service to be decommissioned before we can use the building, so we are working to make sure the design for the new service stays on track. Work is expected to resume on Monday, April 8th, and we hope for smooth sailing ahead. Meanwhile, the water main issue remains while DPW attempts to locate the shut-off valve that will allow it to be repaired. At this time there is no impact to the project from this issue.
3.22.24 After some great early progress we've hit a few snags. The most visible snag involves our water line. The available information on the park’s underground infrastructure is very limited and as a water line valve was being located, a crumbling pipe was uncovered and nicked (see last week’s update). Unfortunately, so far the team at Baltimore City’s Department of Public Works has not been able to locate the shut-off valve that would be necessary to be able to stop the flow and fix the pipe. They're still working on it, and we hope that any impacts to neighborhood water service will be minimal.
In more “underground” news…as we continued to make sure the new building’s foundation is solid, a new soil evaluation recommended that the soil be further compacted to better support the new space. That required digging slightly deeper, which - surprise! - revealed a previously unknown, live power line that is feeding one of the main transformers for the park. This power line is not identified on any BGE or Miss Utility plans for the area. Our team is currently working with BGE to develop a process to move that power line and establish new service to the building. We'll share additional details as we have them…our hope is that these issues can be resolved quickly so we’ll be back on schedule asap!
3.15.24 In today’s edition of “What’s Underground in Patterson Park?”, we’re talking about water. The project hit an “aging infrastructure” snag last week as our contractors uncovered a crumbling water main pipe located in a spot not on utility drawings. We’re working with both Baltimore City Department of Public Works and Baltimore City Recreation and Parks to find the appropriate shut off valves that will allow contractors to install needed pipes. All are hoping for a quick resolution so we can keep going on this part of the project. In other news, we’re preparing to lay the foundation for the new buildings!
View from the back of our offices.
3.1.24 We spoke to the archaeologist who is charged with monitoring ground disturbances as digging to install utilities is underway. Kristen Brown from Applied Archaeology explains what she’s found so far in the video below.
2.23.24 The space has been mostly cleared. Our second storage container, which housed sports-equipment and event supplies, was (permanently) removed. Thick layers of concrete (from sometime in the building’s past) were dug out of the yard, the rotting wood fence has been bull-dozed, and shrubs and trees marked for removal have come out. It’s looking like a blank slate back there. Here in the office, we’re quite enjoying the show from our back windows.
2.16.24 It’s been a busy few weeks! Our final building permits have been secured and the construction trailer has just been delivered. If you’re in the park this weekend, you’ll notice that there are survey markers now located around the white house…these are outlining the “limit of disturbance”, which is defined as “the outermost boundary of the area planned to be disturbed by construction, material storage, grading, grubbing, or landscaping”. The new buildings will not extend to these limits; this is primarily where the construction fencing will be placed (next week) and all the activity will take place inside. Walking paths around the area will all remain open. Most of what will be occurring these first couple months will be demo and utility work.
There are a few trees that must be removed to make way for the new buildings. Part of the planning process has included the creation of a tree remediation plan (in partnership with Baltimore City Recreation & Parks Forestry Division and Baltimore Tree Trust), to balance removal of these few larger trees with the planting of 100+ new trees in various areas of the park this year.
1.15.24 It’s been awhile since we’ve shown you what the new space will look like…to the right is the virtual tour so you can check it out!
10.1.23 We’ve selected a contractor for our next phase of construction…Northpoint Builders will build Phase 2! Looking forward to getting started with these well-qualified partners!
10.15.23 We still have a $300,000 funding gap, that we are fundraising to fill! The Joseph & Harvey Meyerhoff Family Charitable Funds has generously offered to match ($.50/$1) any individual gifts over $1000, and corporate or foundation gifts over $10,000, up to $100,000. This leaves us $200,000 to raise, and we are $165,000 away! We’ve got until May 2024 - help us get there!
11.1.23 Our Groundbreaking Ceremony for Phase 2 took place Wednesday, November 8th! Check out the photos HERE.
12.20.23 We are working with our builders to prep for construction! So far, this has involved clearing our back yard space of things like wheelbarrows and tree stakes, as well as emptying and moving our green storage container from the side of our offices to outside the construction area (closer to Baltimore St.). Eventually, this container (which stored our electric vehicle and volunteer tools and supplies) will be removed from the park altogether, as it will be replaced by a permanent structure to support all of our volunteer activities in the park, as well as a new electric vehicle shed! By the way, this VOLUNTEER SUPPORT CENTER is still available for naming/dedication, if you or someone you know is interested in supporting us!