The BID is turning three!
We’re celebrating some of our achievements
As the York Road Improvement District celebrates its third birthday this month, it’s a good time to look back over some of our accomplishments, preview some high-visibility improvements that are coming later this year and welcome new faces to the organization, while saying good-bye to our founding executive director, Sam Storey.
A whole lot has happened on the York Road Corridor in the short time that YRID has been operating. Some changes have been the direct result of YRID leadership and involvement, and some have come about with YRID serving mostly as a background supporter and cheerleader. Here is a look at those key developments.
Attracting new business and supporting our members
- YRID has worked with two local entrepreneurs to make their longtime dreams a reality: Rita Thomas, of Rasberry Moments, and Derrick Mondowney, of Munchies Cafe. At 4646 York Road and 5911 York Road, respectively, these new businesses will bring light, foot traffic and renewed energy on both ends of the Corridor.
- Our Facade Improvement Program has meant new looks for the 400 block of East Belvedere Avenue and for the 4600 and 4700 blocks of York Road.
- A $100,000 grant has helped the Accelerator Building renovate retail space along York Road that we’ve been able to put to use for pop-markets.
Cleaning and greening and beautification
- In 2024, we launched the York Road Clean & Green Program, providing manual trash collection and landscaping along York Road. This year, we ramped up the program with a new strategy and a new team of ambassadors. Residents and business owners have noticed the difference!
- We’ve sponsored or coordinated or taken responsibility for multiple public arts projects, including:
- The “Belvedere is Baltimore” mural on the side of the old Hochshild-Kohn building.
- The Woodbourne McCabe Safe Streets Mural.
- The “ LortzWave” mural on Lortz Lane.
- The Iron Bird Sculpture site, which we now maintain as a pollinator-friendly public garden.
- In partnership with Tree Baltimore, we planted over 30 trees along the Corridor, getting rid of sidewalk safety hazards while adding some summertime shade.
Improving safety and security
- We’ve added street lighting and installed security cameras at a variety of locations on the Corridor, most notably at the Family Dollar lot at Woodbourne Avenue.
- Our Belvedere Ambassador Program has brought regular foot patrols and regular safety checks to one of the Corridor’s most popular destinations, Belvedere Square.
- Our Street Outreach Program, recently recognized by the Governor’s Office of Crime Prevention and Policy with a second year of funding, has been a way to aid community members, improve sidewalk security, and free up resources for active policing by local law enforcement. Outreach team members take a proactive approach to helping individuals experiencing homelessness, behavioral health challenges, substance use disorders and economic disconnection. The team also responds in crisis situations, including drug overdoses.
Bringing people together
YRID has helped fund or organize (or both) distinctive events designed to activate neighborhood destinations and encourage public trust. These include:
- The Summer Sounds concert series at Belvedere Square.
- The 2024 York Road Music & Arts Festival.
- The 2025 Resilience in Verse Poetry Night at the Senator Theatre.
- The 2025 Baltimore Fermentation Festival at HEX Superette
- The 2025 Heart of the Fourth festival at DeWees Park.
- The 2025 Holiday Pop-up Market at the Accelerator Building.
- The 2025 York Road Colorwave Street Fest.
Doing more with the help of our friends
There’s so much opportunity along the Corridor that there’s no way that YRID could do the work alone. Here are some projects from neighbors and collaborators that have come to fruition, or made major strides forward, in the last three years. Please join us in a round of applause for:
- The Belvedere Improvement Association and its efforts to revitalize the vacant lot across York Road from the Senator.
- Govans-Boundary United Methodist Church for opening a Turnaround Tuesday community hub.
- Govans Presbyterian Church for launching the Govans Community Farm.
- Loyola University Maryland for its success in renovating the old Sherwood Ford dealership into a community center with an operations building to support its neighborhood resilience program.
- My Fathers Plan for its work to convert a graffiti-stained former pizza joint into a breakfast spot and gathering place to be called Helen’s Community Cafe.
Changing the face of York Road–more to come
Look for further changes along the Corridor that will send a strong visual signal about the strength of our community.
- After entering into an easement to control the Bellona Triangle Park, YRID will soon be breaking ground for a new public gathering space at this gateway intersection.
- Major facade improvements at the Homeland Shopping Center will include overall design upgrades, new lighting, and security camera installations.
- Newly designed street banners, with input from virtuoso muralist Iandry Randriamandroso, will soon grace the entire Corridor and help foster a sense of cohesion.
Welcoming new faces to the YRID board
As YRID kicks off its new fiscal year on July 1, we would like to welcome four new members of our board of directors. They are:
- Drew Tildon — Land use attorney, Rosenberg Martin Greenberg; resident of Lake Walker.
- Jim Jones — Owner, Music Workshop, 5810 York Road.
- Rita Thomas — Owner, Rasberry Moments, 4646 York Road.
- Jessie Melara — Middle Neighborhoods Vacants Program Coordinator, Healthy Neighborhoods Inc.
We are very excited about the energy and expertise that these new directors bring to YRID, but we are equally sad to say good-bye to those board members who are leaving, Celeste Hall, of THHAT Design, and Shane Carpenter, of Hex Superette.
Farewell to founding executive director
After nearly three years in his post, YRID’s founding executive director, Sam Storey, has decided to take a new position with a community-based nonprofit in New York State.
“This has been the most meaningful experience of my professional career,” Storey said. “I am grateful for this opportunity and proud of the work we have done together, establishing the organization as a credible management entity on the York Road Corridor with the necessary staffing and administrative capability to continue to move forward.”
Andrew Schuster has agreed to step down from his position as president of the YRID board and assume the duties of interim executive director.