The Town of North Beach is one of several Maryland jurisdictions that will receive state money for a community enhancing program.
According to a press release late last week from the office of Maryland Lt. Governor Anthony G. Brown [D], the projects, including the North Beach plan to address the need for parking, will benefit from a total of $5.5 million in Community Legacy program awards. Brown announced the awards at a ceremony in Baltimore. The lieutenant governor was joined by Secretary Raymond A. Skinner of the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD), the state agency which manages the program, along with local officials and several representatives of nonprofit and community development organizations around Maryland.
The allocation to North Beach totals $250,000. “We had not been notified,” said North Beach Mayor Mark Frazer, when contacted about the award. The local project is entitled “Municipal Parking Lot Acquisition.” Frazer stated the parcel to be purchased from RAR Associates has been previously identified as a location for municipal parking. During the town council’s September meeting, the mayor said the tract could be purchased for approximately $394,000. The council recently acted on Frazer’s recommendation to issue $2.5 million in general obligation bonds to purchase the RAR property and three other parcels.
“The town has always had a parking problem,” said Frazer, who added the situation needed to be addressed since North Beach is a town “that places a great deal of emphasis on special events and tourism.”
Frazer stated it is the town’s intention to have the parcel graded, paved, striped and equipped with access and exit points on Bay Avenue and 7th Street. “It [parking lot] will serve the commercial district of town,” said Frazer.
“These awards will go a long way to promoting economic growth,
