Part 1 – My Public Places

A Happy Place

Downtown Annapolis, Maryland

Downtown Annapolis is vibrant, effervescent, and full of spirit.  It is the capital of Maryland, and the legal stronghold of the state.  Important policy meetings take place, and legislative and judicial buildings are located here as well.  The Chesapeake Bay Foundation was founded in Annapolis Maryland in 1967. As a member, I have had the opportunity to sit in on discussions with the Governor regarding legislation about the Chesapeake Bay.

I attended St. Mary’s High School in Annapolis, located next to the beautiful St. Mary’s Church.  I attended the Naval Academy, also located in Annapolis, where I learned Arabic during the summer. While taking summer Arabic I also volunteered at the Annapolis Maritime Museum located in Eastport.

Downtown, Annapolis is great example of a place that just feels right to be in! There are ample shops, small boutiques, ice cream parlors, crab shacks, bars, restaurants, and more.  As you walk downtown, you can see people interacting , playing instruments, colorful buildings and memorials rich in history.  There are regular boat shows by the water, bike paths, basketball courts, along with several other amenities.

A Sad Place

Silver Hill Road – Suitland, Maryland

Suitland is located in Prince George’s County, Maryland. I have chosen to narrow down my project to the portion of Suitland located on Silver Hill road, more specifically across from the the Census Bureau. I will begin by providing some background information. The Suitland area was previously known as having one of the highest crime rates in Prince George’s County. The Suitland Manor neighborhood, located at the intersections of Maryland Route 218 (Suitland Road) and Maryland Route 458 (Silver Hill Road) was targeted for demolition by the county because of the frequent occurrence of violent crime and drug trafficking in the area. As of late 2005, Prince George’s County was in the process of purchasing all of the apartment buildings on the three roads that make up the neighborhood (Homer Avenue, Hudson Avenue, and Huron Avenue), so that they could be demolished and replaced with mixed commercial and residential properties. In 2005, seven people were shot and killed in this three-block area, and another was killed in a hit and run. Suitland Manor is directly across Suitland Road from the Suitland Federal Center, which houses the national headquarters of the United States Census Bureau, among other government agencies.

Outside of the crime rate being a major issue, the current visual and physical vibes from this particular area on Silver Hill Road in Suitland are unsettling. Many of my closest family have lived in Suitland Manor and the surrounding region since before I was born which is why I travel through the area often. I have witnessed more enough over the past two decades to understand just how badly placemaking is needed here. The lack of a sense of community is evident here. There are no parks or areas that invite people to come and interact. The Census Bureau located across the street would seem to give hope to this distressed area but even they put up a fence, furthering the sense of separation and abandonment of the surrounding area. There are no rich historical references here. It does not “just feel good” to be here. It is uncomfortable, it is home.

Reflection

Placemaking is an extremely important concept that directly correlates to the public place I chose as “My Happy Place”, Downtown, Annapolis.  The importance of location and creating desirable areas within communities is apparent in Downtown, Annapolis. It is obvious that careful and intricate planning within the community has taken place. That concepts of history, environment , equality and equity are in the works here. According to a landscape architect, James Corner, the shared spaces in a city are what truly make it a great place.  Mr. Corner stated that his work is more about restructuring the identity of the place, which would in turn transform how the citizens in that area viewed themselves and their lives.  I found this to be very intriguing.  The idea resonated with me as I imagined how Silver Hill Road would feel if time and resources were allocated to bettering it. I think it is important for the citizens of Suitland to recognize and appreciate the land on which their lineage has grown, and commemorate it.

Reflecting on the statement that citizens bear a responsibility to recognize the potential in their surrounding areas, the second concept prevalent to Silver Hill Road surfaces: the development process, the citizens’ role in the process, and the cooperation between other key players in the progression of a community. The City Council, planning commission, the developers, along with additional staff must all work together to bring a project to life.  If a redevelopment project were to be undertaken in Suitland, the aforementioned parties would play their roles and interact with each other as well. Moreover, they would have to follow specific zoning laws that exist in the town.  Any additions made to the commercial or residential buildings would have to be compatible with the structures that already exist in the area.  For example, parts of Silver Hill Road may belong to residential areas, where commercial development is not permitted and vice versa.