The University will be working alongside Seawall Development and Baltimore City to improve the Remington neighborhood just south of Homewood campus. Instead of holding its usual Tuesday meeting, the Student Government Association (SGA) joined University President Ronald J. Daniels and other Hopkins administrators on a tour of Remington.
“Hopkins just signed a 30,000-square-foot lease and is planning to open a big new neighborhood medical center in Remington that will include retail and apartments. President Daniels told us that he hoped the University’s efforts would help revitalize the neighborhoods surrounding campus,” Junior Class Senator Amy Sun said.
Possible additions to the neighborhood include a bowling alley on 25th Street, a revitalization of neighborhood housing, restaurants and retail space and an art gallery. The new housing will be geared towards both students and local residents.
Most of these projects are still currently in the planning stages, but construction is expected to begin within the next three years.
Sophomore Class Senator Charlie Green commented on the purpose of the tour.
“They were showing us how the neighborhood is transforming,” Green said.
Junior Jason Plush, SGA executive president-elect, described the event as an informal discussion.
“It is an opportunity for SGA to meet with President Daniels and other administrators such as [Associate Dean of Campus Programming Tiffany Sanchez], [Dean of Student Life Terry Martinez] and others in order to catch up with them over dinner and discuss the state of the University.”
The SGA did not announce the deviation from its open weekly meetings.
“It was not intended to shut people out. This night was planned months ago,” current SGA Executive President Janice Bonsu said. She explained that the date was chosen based on senators’ availability.
The evening began with hors d’oeuvres at the Remington restaurant Parts & Labor after which the SGA took a tour of the Remington neighborhood, led by Development Manager Jon Constable from Seawall Development and Salem Reiner, the University’s associate director of economic development. The tour ended with dinner at The Dizz, a Remington restaurant.
Bonsu described the tour as “dropping breadcrumbs” in order to show students the neighborhood’s trajectory. Plush agreed.
“[It was] an opportunity for us, as student leaders, to have a look at what will be developed in the Remington area and how this neighborhood will be made more accessible,” Plush said.
According to Plush, Bonsu and other senators, the evening functioned as a dialogue between the SGA and administration, with a focus on getting student feedback.
Many of the senators were excited by the opportunities these new developments will provide.
“I think the developers have great plans for the area and are really trying to take into consideration the needs of the community and the growing needs of the Hopkins population. I’m excited to see where this project goes, and I hope it will have a positive impact on the Baltimore community that we are so grateful to be a part of,” Freshman Class Senator Elise Rodrigues said.
The evening also served as an informal setting for the SGA to touch base and brainstorm. According to Bonsu, SGA discussed the Public Interest Investment Advisory Committee (PIIAC), among other initiatives.
The evening was an opportunity for Plush to directly discuss his plans for the upcoming term with President Daniels. Plush spoke with Daniels about his idea for the introduction of a “rivalry day.”
“On this day, every Hopkins sports team plays against a rival team, such as Dickinson or Haverford or Swarthmore, and it’s an all-day event that would attract Hopkins students to come together... There could be a tailgate and different vendors advertising at the game,” Plush said.
Plush also discussed the introduction of an Oktoberfest in the fall, which would be similar to the Spring Fair Beer Garden.
“It would feature various ciders, pumpkin ales and Fall-themed drinks,” Plush said. “It would... promote an outlet for unity and fun on campus.”
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