Law Center Staff Receive the Golden Phoenix Award from

Druid Heights Community Development Corporation

Staff Attorney Alan Sun and Paralegal Nadya Hosein-Morgan were honored by their client, Druid Heights Community Development Corporation, for their dedicated, hard and creative work as the community's legal team. The award was presented on May 21, 1999 at the Druid Heights annual celebration. The phoenix is a mythical bird in Egyptian and Greek mythology which rises from the ashes to be re-born. Druid Heights has adopted the phoenix as its symbol. Alan and Nadya are assisting them in realizing their goals.

The Law Center Helps Communities Reclaim Vacant Lots

As the City is demolishing more and more abandoned properties, the Law Center is working with its' community based clients to put those vacant lots to good use. In most urban neighborhoods, an abandoned lot is not much better than an abandoned building. If the demolition of abandoned buildings is to have any positive impact, there must be plans, resources and legal assistance to reclaim those lots.

In Park Heights, the Law Center staff are working on two distinct projects. The first is a collaborative effort of community organizations, the City and the Law Center to create the Park Heights Community Golf Range and Family Sports Park. The first step in development is to put together the entire parcel for the project. Currently, the land is owned by the City and private owners. The Law Center is also working to incorporate the organization and do the necessary legal work for it to obtain charitable status.

The other project in Park Heights involves a community church which initially sought to have three abandoned houses, adjacent to the church, demolished. With assistance from the Law Center, this was accomplished. The church would like to use the land for development of a youth center. The Law Center is representing the church in negotiations for the donation of the vacant lots to the church.

In west and southwest Baltimore, our clients are taking a somewhat different approach. In Franklin Square, with assistance from the Law Center, is examining the feasibility of acquiring a total of 18 vacant lots for the development of a new and larger facility in the neighborhood. Again, some of the lots are owned by the City and some are privately owned.

In Harlem Park, the Law Center Legal Team of Steven Buvel and Bryan Alston are working with the Harlem Park Neighborhood Council to acquire two vacant lots in the 1800 block of Edmondson Avenue for development into a recreation area, possibly a tennis court.

In addition, we are working with a number of community residents to acquire vacant lots adjacent to their properties for expansion of their houses or their gardens.

Vacants lots can be a great potential for the community. However, they are usually a drain and liability for the current owner in their 'as is' condition. Working with the current owners for donation of the lots to the community is always worth pursuing.

Congratulations to the Lucille, Beaufort Beehler and Manchester Neighborhood Association

With the assistance of Law Center Staff Attorney Erika White and Paralegal Yolanda Jiggetts, the neighborhood association has been able to acquire a building to house community activities. In May, 1999, they purchased 4701 Beaufort Avenue for a nominal price. The building will be used for all neighborhood meetings and activities and as a police sub-station. It is centrally located in the neighborhood and accessible to all residents, including those who do not have cars.

The seller was willing to take back a no interest mortgage suited to what the organization was able to pay. All work in preparation for settlement was done on a pro bono basis by Daniel Higham, who is legal counsel to Susquehanna Bank. In addition, Susquehanna contributed all settlement costs.

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Last Updated: September 25, 2006 © 2006 Community Law Center, Inc. Baltimore, Maryland