{ A HAVEN ON THE BLOCK}
were merged into a communal garden. The urban retreat left a lasting impression on one- time resident Bill Drayton, who founded Ashoka in 1980. In 2002, Baltimore became the laboratory for testing the idea, when Community Greens be- gan lobbying to remove state and local roadblocks to gating. In 2004, the Maryland General Assembly granted Baltimore the power to give property own- ers the right to gate their alleys. Baltimore’s Alley Gating and Greening ordinance was signed in 2007. Community Greens received a $49,000 grant from Baltimore’s Abell Foundation, and local nonprofits offered to help underwrite gating projects as they sprung up. Navigating the city’s gating
ordinance is a multiphase pro- cess that requires forms galore, as well as maps, photos, per- mits and a public hearing. Once a project is approved, the really tough part begins: Organizers must get signed consent from at least 80 percent of the block’s property owners. Gating proj- ects on “private” alleys, built on hom- eowners’ property, require 100 percent consent from the owners. As of mid-May, the city has ap-
complaint is a gift,” she said. To her delight, the family re- versed themselves. Then, they wavered again. Mayo still had their approval in writing and continued to work toward the 100 percent goal. After several setbacks, Mayo
and Reynolds decided to keep communication with neighbors to a minimum by not reporting every bump in the process. “I didn’t want people’s doubts to poison it,” Mayo said. Eventually, the women met
Community Greens organizer Ben Nathanson, 28, who in- troduced them to two students at the Maryland Institute Col- lege of Art who were willing to design and weld the gates at a discount. The Baltimore Com- munity Foundation awarded a grant to pay for the gates. The city’s new alley-gating office provided guidance and secure boxes to allow access for public services. Finally, a gated, safe alley
Tonae Taylor and Tony Holioy enter the Glover-Luzerne gated alley block that Lora Mayo worked to secure.
proved nine alley-gating projects, six of which are complete. Others have be- come snarled in disagreements, such as whether to divert trash collection from the alley or to allow parking. A few gat- ing attempts have been abandoned after failure to get enough written consents.
For Mayo and Reynolds, gating the
alley wasn’t just about locking people in or out, Mayo said: The gates would “strengthen the neighborhood and help modify behavior.” Still, the words “pris- on gates” often surfaced in neighbor- hood discussions. To overcome such hurdles, each woman played to her
‘‘
strengths. Reynolds, a science writer, tackled the grant proposals and legal details. Neighborhood engagement fell to Mayo, who hoped to allay the fears of neighbors who, like she, are African American. “There’s still a lot of fear and distrust
based on race,” Mayo said. Some on her predominately African American block might see gating as a step toward gentrification, which has been viewed as a code for forcing black residents from newly desirable communities they could no longer afford. Tensions arose. One couple flatly
rejected the gating idea because “they were afraid that the people who would be kept out would take offense and re- taliate,” Mayo said. She sent the family a thank-you note. “I told them that every
seemed within reach.
One mile east, another gating
project had stalled. For block resident Kimiya Aghevli,
26, a real estate agent, alley gating is one more tool for building a sustainable community. She also acknowledged that locking out strangers can smack of ex- clusivity. In theory, “it’s not good to gate something,” Aghevli said. “We’re not liv- ing in theory; we’re living in reality.” An initial meeting with Nathanson
and several neighbors left everyone “su- per excited” about gating the broad alley between the first block of South Lin- wood Avenue and South Curley Street, Aghevli said. But what began as a “lovey-dovey, kumbaya” experience soon soured. “I have concerns philosophically
about what it means to shut out the rest of the neighborhood,” said 19-year resi-
I have concerns philosophically about what it means to shut out the rest of the neighborhood.” Robyn Quick, whose neighbors are considering gating
28 THe WasHinGTOn POsT MaGazine | MAY 16, 2010
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