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I will agree 100% that we don't want to end as just another area filled up with transplants and new spec housing, but we also need to find a way to stop the population decline, and increase job opportunity for those that still live here and new residents willing to assimiliate to our culture.
I think it will come naturally over the years. It is a major issue with the entire rust belt, even with major cities like Buffalo, Pittsburgh and Cleveland losing big percentages of its population every year as well. If they can't do anything about it, I dont see how western MD has any chance for now.
I will agree 100% that we don't want to end as just another area filled up with transplants and new spec housing, but we also need to find a way to stop the population decline, and increase job opportunity for those that still live here and new residents willing to assimiliate to our culture.
I couldnt agree more. Everyone wants that, but take whats happening here as an example of what not to do. Central maryland isnt a good place anymore. Crime is on the rise it seems and its crowding up pretty fast.
But like I said I dont know yall's situation, but I can most definitely respect and understand your worries.
Garrett County would have the Marcellus Shale potential. Mansfield, PA has a new Peebles, Tractor Supply, and Lowe's now that the shale's hit. With a population of 3,000 in a county of 40,000 the size of Rhode Island, it's become almost as much of a shopping destination as Cumberland.
The argument for allowing development in Eastern Allegany County is just to get some butts in the seats, so to speak. Even people living close to edge of County east of Oldtown, or close to Little Orleans are still closer to Cumberland to shop (not to mention sending their kids to Allegany County schools) even if they have to commute to work in Winchester or Hagerstown.
The trouble is even the seats have been folded up and taken away with closure of Oldtown School and Flintstone HS. What young family would move from outside the area, without family connections or local employment sources, to a zone with essentially no services? If they are homeschooling it's close to both PA and WVa with lower taxes and probably more suitable political climate. Even the active adult community (what I thought that Terrapin Run proposal was going to be at one point) needs water, sewer, and medical, and finding water enough for high density development is a non-trivial proposition, given that Fifteenmile and Town Creeks turn into a series of puddles in the summertime in the driest part of MD where you can find prickly pear cactus growing without too much effort.
The trouble is even the seats have been folded up and taken away with closure of Oldtown School and Flintstone HS. What young family would move from outside the area, without family connections or local employment sources, to a zone with essentially no services? If they are homeschooling it's close to both PA and WVa with lower taxes and probably more suitable political climate. Even the active adult community (what I thought that Terrapin Run proposal was going to be at one point) needs water, sewer, and medical, and finding water enough for high density development is a non-trivial proposition, given that Fifteenmile and Town Creeks turn into a series of puddles in the summertime in the driest part of MD where you can find prickly pear cactus growing without too much effort.
Terrapin Run was to be built step by step, starting houses on wells and septic, then moving up to a full water/sewer system that would have provided infrastructure for the whole Eastern end of the county once a critical mass was reached.
As for the schools. Flintstone school is still there as a K-5. It wouldn't be too much effort to turn it into a K-12 if the demand was there. It wasn't in 1999, it still isn't today, but what about tomorrow?
Anyway, you have hit the nail on the head. That prickly pear cactus is a symbol for the 50 mile desert between Cumberland and the prosperity of the rest of the state. Once you hit the Great Valley, the development goes north and south, not west. Dumping resources into the "oasis" of Cumberland hasn't been successful. I advocate trying to create a housing lifeline though the desert to our more prosperous neighbors with jobs.
My question is this: What is hindering Cumberland and the Mountain region of Maryland from reaching their 21st century potential and what can we do to bring success and growth to this long-depressed area?
Where are our flourishing tech/business parks that are bringing professionals into areas like ours? Why haven't our retail and dining sectors grown in time to match those of similar areas? Where is our urban renewal project or suburban housing development?
In short, why aren't Allegany and Garrett County growing and what can we do to stimulate growth there?
The growth you mentioned that is happening in Maryland and DC is mostly contributed to minority population booms. Growing numbers of hispanics, blacks, and asians. Not so much the white population. That being said, those minorities feel more comfortable in areas and suburbs surrounding major cities like DC and Baltimore and even smaller cities like Annapolis, Waldorf, etc.
The problem with the mountain region of Maryland, in the sense of population growth and economic boom, is that is largely monolithic with regard to race. Something to the extent of 99% Caucasian, with no sign of ever changing.
For some that is great, for others, namely minorities looking to move and experience a different lifestyle, it might be scary.
If you looked in any of those areas you mentioned, much of the retail and dining sectors are staffed by minorities.
Lastly, it doesn't help that the state sees our communities as a dumping ground for their ne'er do wells. We have the prisons, the Pell grant colleges, and the state is more than happy to fund new low income housing in Cumberland. We have several projects going in right now. Of course, Cumberland already has a bounty of cheap housing. If the state had the same committment to being more business friendly, and make the state competetive with WV and PA, we would be better off. It is always sad to see the big warehouses and significant, medium sized industrial businesses located 10 miles north or south of us.
You're comment is funny. On one hand you bash the government about the lack of prosperity and job opportunities available to you all out there and then on the other hand you bash them for building federal prisons and colleges out there. Outside of building roads and bridges, those are two of the most job producing things ANY government can do to produce and sustain jobs in an area. What would happen if those prisons and colleges were relocated? What would the local economy consist of then? They tried to put a casino and resort out in western MD and NOBODY wants to go there, heck, they couldn't even get a bidder for the casino rights! At some point, people need to stop blaming the government and start doing for themselves. I'm actually surprised to see this type of comment from someone who lives in a decidedly conservative area of the state. You can't have it both ways.
You're comment is funny. On one hand you bash the government about the lack of prosperity and job opportunities available to you all out there and then on the other hand you bash them for building federal prisons and colleges out there. Outside of building roads and bridges, those are two of the most job producing things ANY government can do to produce and sustain jobs in an area. What would happen if those prisons and colleges were relocated? What would the local economy consist of then? They tried to put a casino and resort out in western MD and NOBODY wants to go there, heck, they couldn't even get a bidder for the casino rights! At some point, people need to stop blaming the government and start doing for themselves. I'm actually surprised to see this type of comment from someone who lives in a decidedly conservative area of the state. You can't have it both ways.
Maybe you can't have it both ways, but you can still expect to have it done right. The state coal tax credit is a good example of the state helping Western Maryland, subsidizing an industry to make it both viable to employ locals and help protect the environment.
Building prisons is an example of the state doing it wrong. Sure it brings jobs, but at what cost? I was on the fence about the prisons for a long time, waiting, watching, not buying the hype about their negative impact. I am a believer now because of a previous job where I got my hands in the muck of the crime, justice, social service, etc. in our community. It wasn't pretty, and the negative impact of the prisons became clear.
The college is an overall benefit to the community, but notice how FSU wasn't designating as one of the state colleges choosen to have its standards raised. Our college was chosen as the dumping ground for those that could no longer gain admitance to the branches closer to their home.
I don't know what you mean about the casino. The state, and Allegany County, voted overwhelmingly to legalize slot gambling. We had one developer who wanted to build a track/slot parlor on private land, and now the slots are supposed to go in at Rocky Gap. What is slowing that process down is the state being too greedy about their cut of the money. Bidders are slow to come in. That isn't Western Maryland's fault.
Really, more than wishing government would dump money or prisons out here, I wish government would change regulations to be more business friendly and not put up roadblocks to building housing in the eastern part of the county. If I haven't been clear enough about that, I apologize. It is a sad state of affairs when the Western Maryland counties have a lower median income than our more pro-business PA and WV neighbors.
Last edited by westsideboy; 08-24-2011 at 08:27 AM..
The growth you mentioned that is happening in Maryland and DC is mostly contributed to minority population booms. Growing numbers of hispanics, blacks, and asians. Not so much the white population. That being said, those minorities feel more comfortable in areas and suburbs surrounding major cities like DC and Baltimore and even smaller cities like Annapolis, Waldorf, etc.
The problem with the mountain region of Maryland, in the sense of population growth and economic boom, is that is largely monolithic with regard to race. Something to the extent of 99% Caucasian, with no sign of ever changing.
For some that is great, for others, namely minorities looking to move and experience a different lifestyle, it might be scary.
If you looked in any of those areas you mentioned, much of the retail and dining sectors are staffed by minorities.
Bullsh*t. Washington County, Harford County, Carroll County, Cecil County are all overwhelming white counties that have grown by leaps and bounds over the last 30 years, attracting both white and minority residents. The primary factor causing growth in Maryland is promixity to the urban areas and their jobs, plus open spaces to build new housing, period. We have neither in Western Maryland, thus no growth, little prosperity.
Don't drop the race card so carelessly when you don't know what you are talking about.
Bullsh*t. Washington County, Harford County, Carroll County, Cecil County are all overwhelming white counties that have grown by leaps and bounds over the last 30 years, attracting both white and minority residents. The primary factor causing growth in Maryland is promixity to the urban areas and their jobs, plus open spaces to build new housing, period. We have neither in Western Maryland, thus no growth, little prosperity.
Don't drop the race card so carelessly when you don't know what you are talking about.
race card? what? are you insane? do you even know what race I am? if someone asks the question about why western md isn't developing or growing like the urban cores of the state that surround dc or baltimore or hell, even southern, md you'be be insane not to mention the growing numbers of hispanics, blacks and asians and their impact on that growth in those areas.
maybe it's the truth that you don't want to realize but it is the TRUTH nonetheless, don't believe me, here read this:
You even acknowledged the lack of diversity in this post. The poster, being a minority, echoes what many minorities feel about western md, whether it's true or not. Until that perception changes, growth, at least in the sense that the other areas you mentioned, will be stagnant and limited.
So before you accuse anyone of throwing out a "race card" i'd suggest you at least make an attempt at doing your homework before discounting FACT for PROPAGANDA.
Last edited by (-); 08-24-2011 at 10:12 AM..
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