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Council debates repurposing DHCD placemaking grant from bus shelters to crosswalk; refers matter to committee
Summary
City staff asked the council to endorse a request to DHCD to change a placemaking grant originally for two artistic bus shelters to instead fund pedestrian-safety work at a crosswalk near the Star Center. Council members expressed competing priorities and concerns about shelter-related misuse; no motion was made and the issue was referred to the planning committee.
City administration asked the Havre de Grace City Council to support a request to the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) to change the scope of a placemaking grant from two artistic bus shelters to pedestrian-safety improvements — chiefly an enhanced crosswalk that leads from a school parking lot to the Star Center.
"So we're considering, maybe an artistic type crosswalk... that is safe for the people to gather and cross the roads," Dr. Ritchie told the council as he described the city's interest in pivoting the grant toward pedestrian safety. Director Borsier told council members the original grant application planned for two bus shelters — one on Revolution in front of the Family Dollar and one on Otsego near McDonald's — and that DHCD had asked for a letter from the city if it wanted to consider a scope change.
Council members exchanged concerns over both options. Council member Jones said he saw value in bus shelters for riders and asked whether multiple shelters were planned; Director Borsier confirmed two shelters had been planned. Several council members said bus shelters can provide important protection for transit users; others voiced concerns that shelters can attract vandalism or informal encampments. "In my time of living here, the one shelter bus stop that we have did become a homeless camp," Council member Schneggs said, arguing the city should weigh possible unintended consequences.
Other council members suggested designing different shelter types ("lean-to" or limited benches) to reduce misuse while preserving rider dignity. Council member Robertson, who said her own child crosses near the Star Center, emphasized pedestrian safety during after-school hours and twilight, and said an enhanced crosswalk had clear safety benefits.
Council did not make a motion to change grant language or immediately repurpose the money. The council president said committees would review the options and assigned the matter to the planning committee for further study. Administration noted DHCD would prefer the letter sooner rather than later if the city wants to pursue a scope change, but that waiting a short time for committee review was acceptable.
What to expect next
The planning committee will review the bus-shelter versus crosswalk options, evaluate design and safety trade-offs, and return recommendations to the full council so the city can decide whether to send a formal request to DHCD to change the grant's scope.
