The Harford County Center for the Arts has big plans for the 41-acre Emily Bayless Graham estate land parcel. Using a combination of donations, county and state funds, the group plans to build a center for visual and performing arts. The facility will act as a regional gathering place for music, dance, theater, visual and literary arts disciplines.
As stated in the Graham will, work on the arts center must begin by late 2018 or the property will return to the Graham estate. A clause states that the estate trustee has the power to grant a three-year extension of the established agreement if the project is underway, but not yet completed within that original seven-year time period.
The parcel is bounded by Route 24, Wheel and Tollgate Roads. The other 69 acres of the estate, laying between Routes 24, 924 and Wheel Road, is designated for “passive recreation.” This section will be used for a natural park that is not permitted to have sports fields. There is currently a house in the wooded area that will remain. The estimated market value of the more than 100 acres combined is upwards of $17 million.
The Harford County Cultural Arts Board and the Center for Arts contracted for a feasibility study to determine the demand, sustainability and parameters of an arts center. Area individuals, businesses and non-profit agencies were surveyed, and a business plan evaluating the economic impact upon the county was also completed.
Arts centers in other areas of the country have brought educational, social and economic benefits to their communities. Harford County’s center will operate as a regional cultural hub for all ages and levels of abilities. Classes, performances and exhibits will draw local and national talent. Due to its planned proximity to the I-95 corridor, the new facility is anticipated to attract shows and exhibits traveling nationally.
The Center for the Arts is working with New York City architect Hugh Hardy of Archute, a group specializing in the design of cultural facilities. Hardy presented a preliminary building plan fitting the property’s size and triangular shape that incorporates three theaters of 100, 400 and 1,200 seats each. The plan also includes two rehearsal spaces, two exhibit galleries, a caterer-friendly kitchen, and classrooms, possibly housed in a three story section of the building. The facility may also include a climate-controlled display area of local historical artifacts.
With an eye toward the future, Hardy’s plan includes a green roof, LEED-certified (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) construction and eventually, an elevated green walkway connecting the arts center property with the park area across Route 24. A drainage area will be outfitted with a fountain and a walking path will lead to a sculpture garden.
The next step in making these plans reality focuses on mobilizing community interest, energy and commitment from the residents of Harford County. Funding sources must be identified and the money needed must be raised through the private sector, county and state. A conceptual design and cost estimate of the project is expected by April. This information will identify the amount of funding needed before the project is put up for a construction bid.
The Center for the Arts general information, upcoming events and the membership application is available at http://www.centerfortheartsharford.com
Why does it seem that we feel the need to develop any plot of land that is covered in trees?
It’s called the growth envelope for a reason. If you live in Abingdon or drive through it, you can expect to lose trees. It’s unfortunate, but something like this, and the County’s move to make something like this happen on that land is a great thing.
The alternatives are much, much worse.
The land in question is not zoned for this type of building. It is in the development envelope but an area used for housing. Part of the master plan and of zoning is to protect residents from building and uses not allowed in residential areas. All of the zoning around this land is zoned residential. It would need to be up zoned to B2 or B3. The only time this can happen is once every 7 years and it just took place. Unless some shady things happen in the county executives office this building should not be built.
Neither is the land that Mountain Christian Church sits on (agricultural I believe) and their weekly service attendance is in the range of 2500, just for comparison.
Something tells me zoning wouldn’t be an issue.
churches and school can go in any zoning
Noble,
Zoning doesn’t apply to churches. Recent Supreme Court ruling in favor of church in Colorado and against local zoning authority.
Mountain Christian is a pretty good church as churches go and extremely focused on helping the local community. Check out some of the stuff they do. Of course The Aegis wouldn’t mention their name positively if they had to run blank pages.
The church’s existance may also (and does) pre-exist the current zoning classification, which would also make it exempt. My point had nothing to do with the Mountain Christian Church, except where:
1) It is probably the most nearby comparable type of land use in terms of traffic volume and type of usage.
2) There are always plenty of ways around zoning laws.
I had no intention to make any positive or negative remark about the church.
“2) There are always plenty of ways around zoning laws.”
Noble, you must be one of David’s Boys. Did he offer you a big job too? So are you just going to call up your man in the County Executive’s office and make it happen? Tell us what does it cost to get my name on that building? Maybe I can get my wife on the board of directors like the county executive did for the use of county property as an office for this joke of a project?
Is that how this works Noble? Is that your way around the zoning laws?
I hope this happens so you, David Craig and all the others get busted. You guys need to start serving this county in a new way. BY SERVING TIME IN JAIL!!!!!!!!!!! David, you want your name on something how about a jail cell?
By all means, vote for others. I say vote anyone in office, out, at every level, everywhere. Let’s do it. I’ll be first in line.
I’m sorry that my statement of practical fact (there are always ways around zoning laws) upsets you, and that by attempting to implicate me personally in any such practice or any other government corruption, obscures whatever valid argument you have to make and instead just looks like petty bickering, labeling, and grandstanding.
It’s become all too easy to get on the Dagger and whip up some good rhetoric for slamming the favorite whipping boy du jour and get a bunch of thumbs up on your comments and feel good about yourself and your beliefs.
But it’s a lot less simple to try and reason through an issue in order to discuss and appreciate all sides of it.
You don’t have to drive 10 minutes in Harford County, or probaly anywhere, to see plenty of examples of how zoning laws are put aside for all kinds of reasons some of which are legitimate, and other rather corrupt as you point out. I’m just being realistic about that.
Oh no! Trees will be cut down, holy cow, say it isn’t so!
I was navel gazing and looked up at my oak kitchen table only to lament the loss of the oak tree that gave its life so I could sit at a table.
We should eliminate the growth envelope and return as much property as possible to its natural state full of trees. We could use eminent domain to condemn residential and commercial properties.
Let’s not forget to return farmland to forested land and by doing so will have more trees and save the bay from nutrient run-off. Farmers are such whiners anyway…they get a cheaper agricultural tax rate and they spread manure and chemicals all over the land.
Maybe one day we can return all of Maryland to natural state absent humans and human development? Then and only then will we have achieved our mission.
Great idea. Could we start in Annapolis? Then work our way to Washington, DC?
We could start with David Craig’s home in Havre de Grace and then return all of Havre de Grace to a wetlands state and Bulle Rock to a forest.
Next tear down the Susquehanna Bridge, Hatem Bridge, Conowingo Dam, close I95 in Maryland and re-introduce grey wolves and mountain lions.
Incidentally this Maryland reforestation and human depopulation will make room for Washington, DC rat and rodent relocations.
I think this will be a great addition to the area. However, I agree with the loss of natural land and am concerned about the traffic. With that said, we cant stop development from happening(or so it seems in Harford County) and this is much better than a Walmart or shopping center!
Exactly right. Due to the symbiotic relationship between lower taxes, re-electing politicians, and the development community, it’s absolutely inevitable there will be more development in the Abingdon area, as it falls within the envelope. (See the Master Plan)
But considering we could be forced to live with another shopping center, another super store, or another medium to high density housing complex, this is a welcome relief.
This will cost the county money that is not available and should not be spent. Harford County has schools that need to be rebuilt; county employees and teachers that need pay increases; many roads and services that need updates and improvements; and now the state will force the counties to pay for the teacher pensions. How can Harford County Tax Payers afford to pay for this new waste of money? When will David Craig focus on what is needed for this County and stop adding more of a tax burden on us? I live in Abingdon; will I get a tax credit for the additional traffic and back-ups this waste of tax money will cause? I along with my neighbors have been stuck in traffic for hours trying to get home. Will the county help me with the addition daycare costs when I’m unable to pick up my children on time because of added traffic issues? We all know the answer is NO and I would not expect them too because government cannot be expected to fix everyone’s problems. However, government should not be the cause of the problem.
Remember this is years off from now, and the current budgetary issues you note may not be as much of a concern.
Also, note that the funds are coming from a variety of sources, not just the County. Further, the cost estimates are not yet done, the agreement for what the County is going to pitch in is not yet decided, and none of us really know much about how this project is going to take shape.
I recommend that rather than just bitching about it, people get involved now, give a voice to your concerns, and help shape how it unfolds.
Even if building this thing costs Harford County nothing; staffing and maintaining a facility is far from free.
This is unreal! Extra traffic and wasted money. Welcome to Harford County.
I am hopeful that one of the next steps, if it is not already done, would be a traffic study.
But I am certain that whatever traffic Abingdon gets would be minor compared to any other use of the land (other than the current one, which is not realistic).
Believe me, if we can find a way to preserve the land as it stands today, I’d be all for that. I just don’t think that’s realistic.
A couple thousand cars at specific preditable times of day is much more manageable than any other development possibility.
“A couple thousand cars at specific preditable times of day is much more manageable than any other development possibility.”
WOW!
Abingdon, It’s time to fight and stop this!
Stop it and then what? A few hundred more houses in its place? Which would have just about the same amount of traffic?
If it’s to be stopped and the land left the way it is, then fine. But like I said, I don’t see that as a realistic possibility.
For some perspective on 1000-2000 extra cars per day:
Average household has 2 or 3 cars, so 500 houses would be 1000-1500 cars
Average daily trips on Route 24 is over 65,000 cars
Average daily trips on Tollgate Road is probably about 15,000 cars
And keep in mind that an arts center like this is not going to draw 1-2000 cars EVERY DAY, only on days when they have events– unlike homes, which create traffic every day of the year.
Trust me, I’m not really for this thing, but let’s be realistic about what’s going to happen to the land, keep an open mind as the plans for the project unfold, and be involved in the process.
Now you’re up to 2000 cars! It just gets better.
What about the lights form the parking lots?
Or the trash from the people of the 2000 cars?
Will you serve alcohol? If so, what about the problem that goes with that and it being right next to a school?
No Thank You!
Up to 2000 cars? I said “a couple thousand”, which to most rational English speaking humans, means about 2000. And I basically pulled that number out of the air by looking at the number of seats the proposed facility would offer, which is around 1000 (when/if completed), plus employees, etc, so I’m estimating a little high probably.
And yes, I serve alcohol to all of my guests– it’s complimentary to anyone who visits my home.
As for the proposed center, I have no idea. I can only assume it’s going to have at least temporary permits for some events. And as you can imagine, people going to see ballet, classical music, and visual art exhibits routinely get smashed and cause all sorts of mayhem in surrounding areas.
It sounds like you have a lot of concerns, I’d suggest you should attend the community meetings.
If you have concerns about this proposal you should go to your community council meetings. I have heard that the Center for the Arts is planning to visit each council to discuss the project.
The next one that I know of is actually at the Abingdon Library on February 23rd, as part of the Abingdon Community Council meeting.
Put down your keyboard and get on your feet and speak your mind.
Oops, typo, I think that’s the 27th, not the 23rd.
It seems to be lost on some of you here, but it’s not the county that initiated it this. The Graham estate wanted this property, which is privately owned, converted to a performing arts center. Of course, it’s all subject to zoning approval, but as another poster stated, would you rather the property be sold to a developer to put yet another shopping center or more houses here?
Some of you really need to think and read before you type.
If this is such a great project it should be able to stand on its own merits and not need any taxpayer’s money. Let’s say it cost 60 million dollars to build (I don’t know the numbers, just conjecture). At best they will need 20 million dollars from the county. Where is this 20 million going to come from? The land is worth 5 to 7 million dollars. That is more money than taxpayers should be putting up for this project. I know the land was donated to Harford County. THE TAXPAYERS OF HARFORD COUNTY! If built who will have the burden of maintaining the building and the grounds? Who will be paying for the 20 and 30 year bonds the county will need to pay for this 20 million dollars. Not the $1.00 a year lease, THE TAXPAYERS OF HARFORD COUNTY!
The article clearly states that the stretch of land that’s between 24 and 924 is valued at “upwards of $17 million.”
Those against obviously do not have any connection to the Visual or Performing Arts that are going on in our schools, college and community, otherwise you would be very excited. I was where you are several years back, prior to my daughters involvement in the areas orchestra, when my eyes were opened. It is amazing the musical talent that is in Harford County, both children and the adult musicians that support them. The positive impact and benefits on their lives for their involvement is irreplaceable. Many of our adult residence play professionally in such groups as the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, and give their time freely to the upcoming youth musicians. The facility would bring education, cultural events and traveling exhibits to central Harford County so all could enjoy. Before you make up your mind that this facility is not needed, please educate yourself to the Arts in Harford County first! Attend, just one time, the free concert given twice a year by the Harford Youth Orchastra and Harford String Orchastra, a college level course that is given at HCC for our area middle school and high school students. They play amazingly and the time and effort they put into their craft is obvious at each and ever concert. Althought it is not my thing, I attended the Harford All-County Chorus Concert made up of our High School students this past weekend. It was beautiful and you would have thought you were listening to the Morman Choir. The Harford All-County Orchastra, made up also of our high school students, will give a performance this Saturday, February 4th, 12:30pm, at North Harford High School, free to all. Please attend! Then say No!
You make a good point. We can all go to one of the high schools or HCC for the same thing. Thank you for helping me understand why Harford County does not need this.
It’s funny cause I hear other people saying we should cut costs in the schools by getting rid of all exra-curricular programs like these.
I guess we can’t have it all, can we?
I don’t think we need this project either. But I’m a little surprised so many people are up in arms over it. I guess you can’t build a lemonade stand with partial public funds these days.
My guess is if you want to get a rough idea of what the project is going to be, take a look at the Strathmore Center in Montgomery County, though probably taken down a couple notches.
Using the Strathmore Center in Montgomery County is a perfect example of why this should not happen in Abingdon or anywhere else in Harford County. Please look at the Google maps of the Strathmore Center in Montgomery County then compare that location to Abingdon.
Point # 1: The Strathmore Center in Montgomery County is located at the intersection of Truckerman Lane and Rockville Pike a 10 lane intersection.
The Abingdon location will be located at the 1 lane traffic circle of West Wheel Road and South Tollgate Road.
Point #2: The main entrance to the Strathmore Center in Montgomery County is on Truckerman Lane a 6 lane road.
The main entrance to the Abingdon location will be located on the residential 2 lane West Wheel Road or the residential 2 lane South Tollgate Road.
Point # 3: Rockville Pike also a 6 lane highway within 1 mile of 495.
The closest highways to the Abingdon location are MD 24 and I95. MD 24 is a 4 lane highway and about 4 miles from I95.
Point # 4: The Strathmore Center in Montgomery County needed and has its own Metro Station for light rail.
Abingdon location – NO!
Point # 5: The Strathmore Center in Montgomery County has 10 Bus stops within walking distance.
Abingdon location – I would think the county would send a Blue transit bus to them!
Point # 6: The Strathmore Center in Montgomery County has no residential area that’s primary entrance to their development is on the same road as the center.
The Abingdon Location has Montrose Way; Airdrie Ave; Amelanchier Ct; Country Walk; Arthurs Woods; it also has Abingdon Library; Emmorton Elementary School; and Harford Glen. Also, because MD24 is considered a limited access highway this location will never get access to MD24.
Point # 7: Strathmore Center in Montgomery County has Lots of Parking.
Point # 8: The Strathmore Center in Montgomery County is in Montgomery County, one of the richest counties in the United States of America. They can afford it and have the population of Montgomery County and Washington DC to support it.
We live in Harford County 1 hour away from Baltimore City; 2 hours away from D.C.; and a quick trip to Atlantic City or New York City for all the shows or art you can handle. We also have some of the best school programs in the state and most of them are free to go see. HCC has a great theater program check it out. We are Harford County not Montgomery County. Every day we get closer to Baltimore City let’s try to make it a little farther this time.
http://maps.google.com/maps?rls=com.microsoft:en-us&oe=UTF-8&startIndex=&startPage=1&um=1&ie=UTF-8&q=Strathmore+Center+in+Montgomery+County&fb=1&gl=us&hq=Strathmore
lol. Apparently you have no idea what the phrase “rough idea” means. I know, lets compare the new project at Cedar Lane to M&T stadium.
Your arguments are so irrational they are useless.
Nobletea or Noble you’re an idiot. Read all of your post and see which ones are irrational and useless. One of your posts you say “I don’t think we need this project either.” Others you fight for it with a load of insider information.
My best guess is that you are on the board of this project. You are most likely one of hopefuls to get a very high paying job or maybe your name on the building. Maybe you’re already the Director of Finance or some other high paying position on the “Staff and Offices” list on the web page that will be paid by the taxpayers of Harford County if this is built.
So what will this cost to build 60, 70, 80 Million Dollars or more? Which is the closest? The Strathmore Center in Montgomery County was around 84 Million Dollars. Bel Air High School the largest school building in the county was also in that 60 to 80 range. So it is safe to say that “the rough idea of what the project is going to be” that you offered will be a larger than a new project at Cedar Lane but smaller then M&T stadium?
It seems like my open-minded, balanced approach to a subject is too complicated and confusing for you to understand. My comments reflect this nuanced view of the situation. Unlike many of the other comments that are clearly against the project, that are pretty emotional, and possibly logically deficient, mine take into account the potential benefits, as well as pointing out some of the potential problems. This is what happens when you try to understand something, rather than quickly or maybe blindly make up your mind about it. I am very comfortable with the logic and rationale used in my comments, and I welcome any real and specific challenge to my statements.
I have no affiliation with the Center for the Arts in Harford or anywhere else. I have no affliation with this project, the land, the family, any contractors, or even any neighborhood surrounding it. I have no insider information. Everything I posted is either speculation or publically available information that any well-informed citizen of Abingdon should be aware of about this development project. This is not even the first press about it. The land deal the County used to acquire the land was published months ago and the ideas for an arts center and park land were made public then.
Man I wish I were one of the lavish lifestyle people you are talking about, but I am far from it. There’s a good chance I will probably never even go to the proposed Center if it got built. I go to musuems and musical productions and other artsy stuff about as much as any other regular person. I might get to the BSO once every few years– including the fireworks shows at Oregon Ridge. I go to the more pop oriented performances at the BSO on special occasions because quite honestly I can’t afford it more than that. I continously get solicitations to make donations which I can only laugh at, as most of the musicians make multiple times what I make in a year, so there’s no way I’m donating to their salaries.
Referencing Strathmore as a rough idea was intended to give people a picture of the type of facility they are talking about. It’s a multi-use arts center for hanging art, musical performances, dance, etc, just as described in the article. I believe some of the idea is, much like Strathmore, to save some people the trouble of leaving the County and driving to Baltimore or DC for some moderately sized events and in the process raise tax revenue.
As I have said before, if people have concerns or questions about the project, they should consider attending any public forum held to discuss it. People can get answers and help shape the direction of it.
All of this, keeping in mind that the beginning of construction is still years away, if it happens at all.
MY buest guess is that something like this doesn’t even blip on the radar of most Harford County, or Abingdon residents, and that most of the people vociferously posting opposed it and negatively rating my comments so heavily are driven here by radical idealogy or because they live very nearby the location.
And those people are welcome to their opinion and feelings about it. If they are going to be most impacted by it, I would hope that they stop wasting their time here and get involved in the real process as it unfolds, by going to public meetings, County Council meetings, etc.
If instead, someone wants to try to denigrate my character, the nature of my comments, or my intentions, you will find that I will cease to post responses, because I many more important things to do than argue nonsensically on the internet.
The David R. Craig Center for the Arts……has a nice ring doesn’t it.
Paid for by what used to be the middle-class of Harford County.
Absolutely needs to be built.
Not another strip mall shopping complex, Not another high density townhouse ghetto.
I cannot think of a better use for the land. Let’s face it – Harford ain’t just for hillbillies anymore…
We spent extra money on the Bel Air High School Auditorium to make it the center of “cultural arts” in the county seat. Now the county is spending money on this????? When people are still being laid off, prices are rising at the pump and grocery, if the high brows and the politicians that court them want this crap so bad – let them pay for it themselves. Shame on you David Craig and anybody else in county government supporting this.
And by the way – I participate in Harford county arts programs – specifically vocal music, and while I think the performing arts are a joyful thing to be shared it does not mean I think we should be stupid with hard earned tax dollars. An open space park in Abingdon, free to all – great! A multimillion dollar construction project for a building we don’t need – bulllllllll.
I’m disappointed that I voted for David Craig who initially ran on “smart development.” As an Abingdon resident, since his smart development I’ve witnessed the paving over of almost any free space in Abingdon. While Bel Air folks can now drive right over it on their way to 95, I’m stuck in Wegman’s and Walmart traffic and stuck at the roundabout on Singer Road because of the new developments there. That said, the fact that something that would actually be of benefit to the Abingdon community is shocking. While Fallston got its community center thanks to our former county rep, all we got was more townhouses, traffic lights and back-ups. And all David Craig has done for me is decrease the value of my house. Please no one tell me I chose to live in the development envelope–what Harford County does is the opposite of “smart development.”
Mr. Backer is exactly right – another waste of taxpayer’s money. Why don’t these cowards put large projects on the ballot – if you want X, it will cost Y in tax increases. The alternative is private funding and if it’s that popular and desirable, people will donate for a special purpose/project.
There will be significant private funds component. Try reading the article.
Then build it with no county money!
That would be great. I hope that happens if it gets built at all.
If there are those who feel the need for this arts center they can purchase limited partnerships, or memberships, or make donations. It can be a private entity with members and non-members who pay different prices for events they wish to attend.
The Strathmore is lovely. I also paid $75.00 to attend a concert that cost less than half of that elsewhere. I am a music lover and have paid plenty to attend concerts that interest me. I can drive one hour south to see most anyone I wish, go to art museums within two hours drive, and enjoy that opportunity.
I am a recent transplant to Harford County and am impressed with the physical beauty of this area on a daily basis. I would prefer it maintain as much of its country flavor as possible and not try to become an arts hub. Particularly not with my tax money. I will attend any meeting I can to express that opinion.
Bravo Billy Jack.
Anything less than 100% privately funded will be dumped on the taxpayers – including the cost overruns. I read the article and I understand all too well how our county projects are covered financially. How ’bout they start out with a big old fundraiser for this little project and see how popular it is. If they can’t bring home the big money in a fundraiser, you will see where the difference will fall – on us. This is not County government’s job.
Did you see the cultural arts website lately. The fall fundraiser – $185.00 per ticket. This is exactly why the center should not be built in Abingdon. You are going to spend county tax dollars and then who gets to use the cultural arts center – the people with the money to pony up the bucks to get into any events. Right now our chorus members pay to participate and perform. Our concerts are at Bel Air High School and are free of charge. This is what community is all about. Not some hoity toity richy riches and David Craig dancing the night away to the tune of $200 a pop. Now we read that teacher pension funding costs are coming to county governments – good luck with taxes, discretionary spending, etc after that. Live in the real world people. Make the Graham property an open space park or let the family have the property back.
If we could get park space on both sides of the highway with a walkway over it in between, that would be absolutely fantastic.
Just color me skeptical on that actually happening.
I’m already pretty thrilled that the other half is set for park land.
I admit that I have little to no knowledge about the arts community in Harford County. Just not my thing. Before you start bashing me for commenting about this article, I DO have a MAJOR interest in where my tax dollars are going. I am aware that we have the Amoss Center and the huge auditorium at Bel Air High School, but does anyone know if these facilities are available to be used for the performing arts? Again, no bashing please, I’m just asking because I truly don’t know. If anyone is privy to that info, please share.
First, I think it’s sad that the first thing you are concerned about it being bashed for asking a question.
But that’s a good question, and others have mentioned it previously. Unfortunately I don’t know the answer either, but it would interesting to know. Hopefully someone will have an answer.
Obviously on one level, the HS campus would never be able to hold the same types of events it appears the Center for the Arts is angling for with this project.
My suspicion is that this plan is going to go like so many other development plans before it: it starts out big and grand, but between lack of funding and some public input, it’s going to get whittled down to something more manageable and appropriate. For the latest reference, see the Boulevard at Box Hill.