Neighborhood Notes: August 2021

Ajua Canton
Did you know that earlier this year Portside Tavern became Ajua Canton? Located at 2821 O’Donnell Street neighbors are raving about their authentic Mexican cuisine. Featured dishes include Queso Birria Tacos, Carne de Cerdo Guisada, Seafood Mocajete, and Ceviche. Word is there’s salsa dancing on Friday and Saturday nights, too!

Saturday Fun at The Can Company
The Can Company is hosting an event EVERY SATURDAY in August. Neighbors can expect to shop at a PopUp, watch an outdoor movie, listen to a concert from an awesome local performer and more!

Here’s what’s scheduled so for August (There will be more!)

8/14- Outdoor Movie event starts at 7:30 pm, movie starts 8:45 pm

8/21- Jah Works - outdoor concert 6:30-8:30 pm

For questions or to learn more, visit https://thecancompany.com/events or email Kimberly at kclarke@mcbrealestate.com.

CCA Public Meeting August 17
The CCA will host a Public Meeting on August 17 at 6:30 pm. We’re going to fill you in on CCA news and we’ll field some questions, too. To submit a question in advance, please email info@cantoncommunity.org. Look for more details closer to the date on our FB and IG accounts, and don’t forget to check the bulletin board in O’Donnell Square Park! Note, the meeting may be virtual or it may be in person. Details will be announced as the date approaches. 

Canton Walk & Talk
The CCA continued their Walk & Talk series in July. Previously called “COP Walks”, the event now serves a broader purpose and includes a more social aspect. This month the group met at O’Donnell Square Park. While walking neighbors discussed improvement and safety issues, then ended the night at Cardinal Tavern for some social time. Look for these Walk & Talk events to be held quarterly in 2021. Everyone is invited including residents, business owners, local police, and government officials. Come #GetNeighborly! 

Reporting and Preventing Crime – Tip Line
The Baltimore City Police Department asks neighbors to report crimes via this TIP email: SEDtips@baltimorepolice.org. Security camera footage and photos should be included.

O’Donnell Square Park Clean Up – 2nd Saturdays
The CCA would like to thank all those who came out to O'Donnell Square Park to help mulch and weed the gardens in July. We had Digitiv support as a local business, Kiwanis Club of Canton-Fells Point, Maryland show up as a local organization and some individual neighbors joined in the effort. The CCA would like to thank Volunteer Clean Up Leader Brad Rees and all who came out. Now, this is #GettingNeighborly!

You can join CCA Outreach Chair Torbin Green and the Stewards of O'Donnell Square Park every second Saturday of the month to clean and maintain the Park. Baltimore City Recreation and Parks will provide tools (gloves, rakes, trash bags, and shovels) and personnel support. See you this month on August 14 at 10:00 a.m. For details, email info@CantonCommunity.org. 

Canton Contained Vacation Garden Watering Service
Did you spend the pandemic planting a vegetable garden? Or maybe you have a few containers of flowers on your stoop and plants in your pit? Either way, you didn’t invest in a beautiful garden only to have it die while you’re off enjoying some R&R. Julie Kichline, the founder of Canton Contained a popular FB group for city container gardeners, offers vacation watering services. Email CantonContained@gmail.com or DM for details. 

CCA Economic Development Committee Update
There are 3 major projects pending development in our neighborhood.

• St. Brigid Church - 901 S. Ellwood
Developer Edgemont Builders is looking to convert the site of the former St. Brigid church on Hudson between Ellwood and Robinson into housing. The project would include 9 townhomes with 2 parking spaces in a garage for each unit. The former rectory building will be retained and renovated into 6 one-bedroom apartments. The sale is not yet final. 

• United Evangelical Church School – 900 Block East
Developer Edgemont builders is proposing plans to convert the former school portion of the church building into 14 apartments. The church will remain as is. Due to its historic status, off-street parking is not required for this site. The sale is not yet final. 

• Haven Street. 1201 S. Haven Street. (across the street from the Collective @ Canton)
Developer 28 Walker is planning a multi-use site on Haven Street between Boston and the O'Donnell Street overpass. The site will include retail and commercial. One portion will remain undeveloped for several years.

For more information on any of these projects or to join the committee, please contact the CCA EDC Chair, Doug Kaufman at doug.kaufman@gmail.com. 

Canton Anti-Racism Alliance
The Canton Anti-Racism Alliance is dedicated to affecting long-term, impactful changes in our neighborhood to foster a more diverse, equitable, inclusive, and welcoming community. The Alliance meets the 4th Tuesday of every month via Zoom. To join, email president@cantoncommunity.org for details. Everyone is welcome!  

CCA NEWS 

Community Outreach
The CCA and the Canton Anti-Racism Alliance are committed to fostering communication across our community and we need your help. To make sure we are reaching neighbors beyond social media we are looking for businesses, organizations, schools, churches, senior and rec centers, etc. to serve as points of distribution for information. If your business or organization has a place to post a flyer, distributes a newsletter, has an email list, etc. and you would like to help facilitate outreach to our neighbors, please email info@CantonCommunity.org. 

Block Captains
The CCA is looking for Block Captains to increase communication and help bring about more organization from the ground up. Block Captains also play an important role in the Get Lit Canton project. If you are interested in representing your block, please email info@cantoncommunity.org and put Block Captain in the subject line. 

CCA Committees
CCA committees include Arts, Economic Development, Education, Marketing, Public Safety, Transportation, Social, Membership and Volunteer. The CCA also oversees the Friends of Canton Dog Park and Friends of O’Donnell Square, and partners with Canton Canopy. And, last year the CCA founded a new community committee, the Canton Anti-Racism Alliance. New members are welcomed. Details can be found on our website at https://www.cantoncommunity.org/committees.   

CCA Public Meetings 2021
August 17 and November 16

CCA Community Dumpster Days 2021
September 25 and November 6

CCA Social Media - Follow us!
For the latest information about our neighborhood and other helpful community/city news, please follow our CCA pages on social media. Instagram @CCA_Baltimore and www.facebook.com/CantonCommunityAssociation.