RIA Makes Main Street Presence, Tackles Future Challenges

Banners, signs, parking and outreach were the hot topics at Tuesday night’s (RIA) meeting.

“The town needs a jolt of lightning,” said Glenn Barnes, the group’s president. “Something to bring the retailers in.”

Discussions centered around signs for Main Street parking, a sign directing drivers to Historic Reisterstown, new banners and future Main Street banners, getting businesses to join RIA and getting legislators on board with the cause.

As the new non-profit further defined itself, Barnes spoke about the dire need for the RIA to impact Reisterstown. Some recent business closings illustrate the group’s purpose.

“We have to get this commercial corridor revitalized as soon as possible,” he said. “We want to bring in and add, we don’t want to subtract.”

“Ravenstown” banners went up early this month, something the RIA facilitated, and the group is preparing to get Main Street banners up soon, one of several aesthetic improvements the group is working on.

The RIA is working to have a sign placed at the intersection of Franklin Boulevard and Reisterstown Road, which would direct traffic to Reisterstown’s historic district. Barnes plans to stay on top of the issue because the decision will be made soon at the county level, he said.

The group also discussed several outreach efforts to get legislators and local businesses involved in the group. District 2 County Councilwoman Vicki Almond, who attended the group’s , is talking to District 3 Councilman Todd Huff and District 4 Councilman Ken Oliver, both of whom represent parts of Reisterstown, to get them to come to RIA meetings, Barnes said.

To get local businesses involved, the group is sending out membership applications and asking for donations for benches and trashcans. The group, whose membership costs $25, is currently awaiting the approval of grant funds that would be used for Main Street revitalization efforts, such as adding more trashcans and benches.

Peirce MacGill, revitalization specialist at the Baltimore County Department of Economic Development, updated the group about the status of its grant application, which was approved by the county council for $15,713, but must go through other reviews and approvals.

Lauretta Nagel, owner of , updated the group on the formation of a . She is currently talking to local architect Bill Keeney about how many vendors could fit in the Main Street parking lot.

Editor's note: The RIA meets every third Tuesday of the month at Long & Foster, 321 Main Street, at 7 p.m.