Student Voices Heard by UDAT LeadersJean Flanagan The Avenue News 10/06/2004 Students from Kenwood High School and Stemmers Run Middle School participated in the second Community Forum held in preparation for the Essex-Middle River Urban Design Assistance Team (UDAT) visit. The forum was held at Kenwood High School Wednesday afternoon. The UDAT team is scheduled to visit Thursday, Oct. 21 through Tuesday, Oct. 26. Team leader Steven Gaddis and UDAT organizer Dr. Peter Batchelor were present at the forum. As with previous community forums, the students were asked to respond to three questions: What would you like to create in your community? What would you like to preserve in your community? What would you like to change in your community? "For change, I'd like to see wider roads and a two-lane bridge over Mohr's Lane," responded Sara **** from Stemmers Run Middle School. "Under create, I'd like more things for teens to do, maybe a skatepark — and more and better schools. Under preserve, I'd like to preserve the waterfront and the Martin State Airport." Sara Hanley, president of the Student Government Association (SGA) at Kenwood High School would like to see a place like The Avenue at White Marsh, for kids to "hang-out." She would also like to preserve the waterfront. "And I'd like to change the attitude about Essex and Kenwood High School," she said. Hanley's remedy for the attitude problem is pride. "Kids need to take pride in their school," she said. Brian Valdivia, a student at Stemmers Run Middle School said he thought the community should honor their commitment to the school by finishing the auditorium and addressing security issues. Brittany, a student at Kenwood, said there should be a recreation building where kids could bring their little brothers and sisters or nieces and nephews. Members of the community also contributed their ideas at the forum. Pat Ovelgone from Wilson Point said she would change the Essex storefronts. "I'd like to see little shops with tables outside," she said. Ovelgone also expressed concern about the strip center located east of the airport on Eastern Boulevard. "There are empty stores there where they could put a coffee shop or bagel shop and perhaps a gourmet grocery store," she said. A resident of Eastgate townhomes said something should be done with the Country Ridge Shopping Center. His idea for downtown Essex include buildings with shops on the first floor, professional offices on the second floor and apartments on the third floor. "When Route 43 comes through, you can expect traffic jams on Eastern Avenue," he said. "We should look at getting the East-West Red [Metro] line."
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