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June 16, 2014

Cambridge Gateways Report

Cambridge Gateways was designed to initiate a conversation among community leaders, City of Cambridge officials, residents and visitors about the impression the environment on U.S. Route 50 gives those who pass through Cambridge, the effect the physical conditions have on the local economy and culture, and how best to embody the character of a charming Eastern Shore waterfront city through gateway revitalization. The goal of the Cambridge Gateways engagement and design process was to develop strategies that would communicate to travelers that Downtown Waterfront Redevelopment District destinations exist and this Eastern Shore town is not to be missed. The City and Eastern Shore Land Conservancy identified the intersection of Route 50 and Maryland Avenue as the primary gateway to Cambridge in need of revitalization. The Maryland Avenue Gateway encompasses the area beginning on the corner of Route 50 and Byrn Street, running to the intersection of Route 50 and Maryland Avenue, and then turning west down Maryland Avenue and extending to Cambridge Creek Bridge. The City and ESLC worked in partnership to manage the community engagement and design process for gateway revitalization of the streets and potential greyfield properties in the Maryland Avenue Gateway. The City and ESLC developed schematic visions for Maryland Avenue Gateway, aiming to make this major entryway into the City more welcoming, to treat stormwater issues with green street improvements and reduced impervious surfaces, to create more effective and attractive directional signage, and to make the gateway area more accessible for the whole community along this major entryway into downtown Cambridge. The Cambridge Gateways Report is a first step in the community process toward green and revitalized Gateways for Cambridge. There is much opportunity ahead for feedback and suggestions in the community as the Cambridge Gateways project moves forward. Please peruse a presentation of our report: THE CAMBRIDGE GATEWAYS POWERPOINT

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May 30, 2014

Oxford Stormwater

ESLC helped with the community mapping, diagnosis, and planning for the town’s increasing flooding/sea level rise challenges. Effort was led by the UMD Environmental Finance Center and Chesapeake Bay Foundation (2012). Via community conversations and convening experts, a strategy for funding and stormwater management is completed. Cheryl Lewis, Town Manager for Oxford, developed the following presentation for Maryland Municipal League. ESLC - Sustainable Oxford MML 093013 A Fact Sheet on Oxford Stormwater. Oxford_Fact_Sheet_Small

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May 20, 2014

Oxford starts stormwater management fund

"OXFORD — With support from residents in Oxford, commissioners unanimously passed ordinances creating a fund for stormwater management and shoreline protection, after a public hearing held at the Tuesday, May 13 town meeting. The residents who spoke at the meeting supported the ordinances." - in the Tuesday, May 20, 2014 edition of The Star Democrat. Read more at stardem.com.

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April 24, 2014

Party to Preserve!

Register now for the Turnout on the Tuckahoe! Owners John and Karen Jaeger lovingly restored Daffin House, the oldest home in Caroline County, to its original character. This farm was preserved forever in 2002 with a conservation easement held by ESLC. The post-and-beam barn is the heart of the farm and our party. Warm yourself by the stone fireplace, enjoy the bluegrass band, and bid on fabulous auction items. Tour the house and stroll the grounds to fully appreciate the importance of this historic property’s preservation.

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April 23, 2014

Workforce Housing Goes Up in St. Michaels

Photo courtesy of Grimm + Parker Architects Affordable housing in our region is a challenging issue. In this blog article, we offer the story of one of our towns trying to address it. The Riverwoods at St. Michaels, a workforce housing development, will be completed in May. The development is slated to provide needed accommodation for some of the workforce population in our region. Given the town’s appeal to tourists and its plethora of high-value properties, affordable housing previously has been minimal. With the introduction of the Riverwoods development, the town hopes more workers will live downtown. Housing prices and rental rates throughout the country have risen in the past decade, making it a challenge for lower-wage workers to live close to their area of employment or to afford owning a home.[1] An increased distance between workers and work has a negative effect on the community. According to a report produced by the Joint Center for Housing Studies (JCHS) and the Center for Workforce Preparation (CWP), reducing workers’ commuting times contributes to their efficiency and productivity at work.[3] It also poses a critical question: “Are high housing costs undermining the type of competitive business environment that is essential to strong, vibrant communities? Should the increasing cost of housing therefore be added to the list of traditional business concerns?”[4] In recent years, housing prices have risen faster than most incomes, making it difficult for workers to reconcile their cost of living with their distance/commute from work.[5] According to the JCHS and CWP report, “In Houston, Texas … the median price of a for-sale home in 2003 was $137,000, beyond the reach of elementary school teachers, nurses, retail salespersons, and janitors.” Employers also struggle when their employees live far from work. Aaron Nelson of the Chapel Hill-Carrboro Chamber of Commerce commented on the drain this had on his town: “‘We

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April 1, 2014

The Monitor Spring 2014

Please enjoy our semi-annual landowner newsletter.

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April 1, 2014

April Fools!

April Fools! We have sent our email subscribers here, to our blog. Not the trickiest trick, we know. We just want to show off our new website. Take a look around. Check our our events calendar, recent blog posts, our preserves. We're awfully proud of our beautiful home, the Eastern Shore, and we want to share its beauty with the world. If you'd like to sign up for our newsletters, click here.

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February 27, 2014

Food for Thought: Big Box Design

Buzz around Easton about the potential Harris Teeter development has us thinking about interesting ways supermarkets and other large retailers build stores with the community and the environment in mind. The U.S. Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) program is a great place to start for a new construction retail store. The LEED Retail program focuses on exterior elements (such as stormwater management and modes of transportation) and interior elements (such as energy management systems, indoor air quality, and materials reuse). Harris Teeter already has multiple LEED-certified store, including a few in Maryland. Read more about for the specific case studies in Baltimore and Olney. There are opportunities to help superstores contribute more to the community. Prioritizing walkability and connectivity is an important factor for many small towns. Some stores choose to do this by locating parking lots behind stores. Examples of this type of design in Easton include the Tidewater Inn, the former McCord building (soon to be the Eastern Shore Conservation Center), and the town office on South Harrison St. Without a giant expanse of parking space, pedestrians can more easily access shops and services. Sharing parking with nearby retailers also requires less paving, saving money and opening up space for public green space. Instead of orienting a development toward cars, many retailers choose to make people the focus. Sidewalks can replace roadways for cars. Check out Denver’s approach and Davidson, North Carolina’s layout (below) for creating these types of developments and demonstrating how living streets are important for future commercial areas. Photo courtesy of Little Consulting Conserving some of this land would leave more open space, which is not only aesthetically pleasing but great for the environment! Reduced impervious surface cover (e.g., roads and parking lots) means less stormwater runoff after a big rain and less pollution in the

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February 26, 2014

We’re Accredited!

QUEENSTOWN – Eastern Shore Land Conservancy this week received land trust accreditation from the Land Trust Accreditation Commission, an independent program of the Land Trust Alliance. “Since our founding, Eastern Shore Land Conservancy has demanded of itself the highest standards of ethics and accountability,” said ESLC Executive Director Robert J. Etgen. “This is critical for a nonprofit using public donations and for a land trust permanently stewarding family lands. Becoming an Accredited Land Trust makes this long term commitment official – we passed the test that has become the gold standard for ethics and accountability for land trusts. Congratulations to our members for supporting ESLC, and many thanks to the Accreditation Commission for your dedication and thorough review.” ESLC was founded in 1990 as a result of widespread concern that the Eastern Shore’s important wildlife habitat and prime farmland were being consumed by sprawling development. The decision was made by the founders to preserve land on Maryland’s Eastern Shore to keep prime farmland in agriculture, to protect unique natural areas, and to perpetually monitor preserved lands. ESLC helps private landowners explore and implement various preservation options. To date, ESLC has helped to protect more than 55,000 acres with easements on 275 properties, the creation of three preserves, and assistance protecting another 16 properties. It is one of the most successful land trusts in the country. Eastern Shore Land Conservancy was awarded accreditation this February and is one of 254 accredited land trusts from across the country and is among the first accredited Maryland-based trusts. Accredited land trusts are authorized to display a seal indicating to the public that they meet national standards for excellence, uphold the public trust and ensure land is protected in perpetuity. The seal is a mark of distinction in land conservation. “This round of accreditation decisions represents another significant milestone for the

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February 26, 2014

ESLC Prepares to Break Ground on Conservation Center

EASTON – Eastern Shore Land Conservancy is preparing to begin construction on the Eastern Shore Conservation Center. Construction is scheduled to begin by late spring 2014 on the former McCord and Brick Row buildings on South Washington Street. The site will serve as headquarters for ESLC, as well as offices for other environmental, agricultural, and community-centered nonprofits. During the first phase of construction, ESLC is working with the Land Restoration Program of the Maryland Department of the Environment to remove a few pockets of chlorine- and petroleum-based chemicals. The clean-up could increase the cost of the project. The finding was unexpected because the Department issued a notice of compliance in 2001 stating that an extensive 15-year cleanup process had been completed. Before taking ownership, ESLC had completed a Phase I environmental study that indicated the site was not likely to require further cleanup. Because of the increased costs and the organization’s faith in and commitment to the project, the ESLC Board of Directors voted to increase the project budget to $7.6 million to accommodate clean-up without sacrificing the vision of a nonprofit center for collaborative work. Fundraising continues for the Eastern Shore Conservation Center. ESLC recently signed a grant agreement to receive $500,000 through the Neighborhood Business Works program. Operated by the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development, the program supports revitalization projects that invest in commercial districts and town centers. Additionally, ESLC seeks a café tenant for the Eastern Shore Conservation in Easton. "We are excited to have reached this point," said Executive Director Rob Etgen. "After a lot of work, we are ready to find the key tenant who will bring additional energy to the project. The café will serve as the front door of our project, its public face." The portion of the former McCord Laundry building that once served as the commercial counter

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Cambridge Gateways Report

Oxford Stormwater

Oxford starts stormwater management fund

Party to Preserve!

Workforce Housing Goes Up in St. Michaels

The Monitor Spring 2014

April Fools!

Food for Thought: Big Box Design

We’re Accredited!

ESLC Prepares to Break Ground on Conservation Center

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