“That Could Have Been Bad” Orienteering for Challenge, Fun
Why is it that the most out-of-shape person in Greenbelt insists on doing so many outdoor activities? This is what I thought to myself as I lay on my bed for five straight hours Sunday afternoon, unable to move, staring mournfully at the ceiling. Occasionally I’d yell for Dan, saying things like “errrggghhhh” and “uggggggh,” […]
In-person Voting Held Tuesday For City Council Elections
After months of campaigning and city council forums, Greenbelt residents had the opportunity to vote in person on Tuesday, November 2, for the 2021 to 2023 Greenbelt City Council. The five precinct locations in town – the Community Center, Springhill Lake Recreation Center, the Greenbelt Police Department, Greenbriar Community Building and Schrom Hills Park – […]
Acquisition of Armory Offers Options and Issues for City
The City of Greenbelt has begun the process of acquiring the Greenbelt Armory. At the October 18 worksession, the Greenbelt City Council instructed City Attorney Todd Pounds to contact the state, which has ownership, to begin discussions on transferring the property, both the building and the adjoining area, into the holdings of the city. Council […]
Election 2021 Candidates Discuss Discord And Reparations at Forum
In the final public event for city council candidates, hosted by Greenbelt Homes, Inc., on Tuesday, October 19, nine of the 10 candidates were present: incumbents Colin Byrd, Emmett Jordan, Judith Davis, Rodney Roberts and Silke Pope and challengers Brandon “Ric” Gordon, Kristen Weaver, Bill Orleans and Matthew Inzeo. Newcomer Alex Zajac did not participate, […]
Redistricting Map Prince George’s County Council Creates New Redistricting Map
Prince George’s County Council pivoted yet again in the redistricting process during their Tuesday, October 19 meeting. In a contentious vote of 6 to 4, the council agreed to an amended map that will put the population of Greenbelt in District 4, while Greenbelt Park is in District 3. Redistricting is required every 10 years […]
Aberdeen Gardens, Va.: Built By Blacks for Blacks in 1930s
On October 21, the Greenbelt Museum hosted an online lecture about Aberdeen Gardens, a national historic district located in Hampton, Va. This neighborhood was built for and by African Americans in 1934. Aberdeen Gardens was a planned, New Deal community designed for the relocation to better housing of African American workers from the Newport News […]
“Tomorrow’s House Today:” The 1938 Parkbelt Homes
Old Greenbelt’s 1930s architecture is a graceful reminder of the city’s New Deal heritage: the dramatic Art Deco design of the Community Center (originally also the town’s elementary school) and the theater, complemented by the International Style reflected in the townhouses and apartment buildings. There is another small group of late-30s houses, however, that also […]
Council Wrestles with CARES Rent Grants, Armory Purchase
Two major topics arising in the Greenbelt City Council meeting of October 11 are covered in this article. Remaining topics will be covered in a future article. Rent Support Funds City Manager Nicole Ard reported that, as of October 8, there had been six rental grants made by the city from federal American Rescue Plan […]
Franklin Park CASA Rally: Evictions Are NOT Pending
Residents of Franklin Park and members of CASA de Maryland held a rally and press conference on Monday, October 18 protesting alleged eviction notices for the large apartment complex. While the group gathered peacefully and put on red CASA T-shirts in solidarity with the nonprofit organization, the apartment management, Fieldstone Properties, represented by Denise Knight, […]
Council, PSAC, Police Argue Next Steps for Police Reform
The Greenbelt City Council continues to grapple with the best way forward on the issue of reform in the city’s Police Department, spurred by Mayor Colin Byrd’s revised Fair and Just Policing Act proposal and by the subsequent review of its first iteration by the Public Safety Advisory Committee (PSAC). While both the council and […]