About Baltimore's Hampden

Coming Soon to a Local Business Near You in Hampden - Bnote's!!

In the spring of 2010 Baltimore Green Currency Association was founded. Their goal was to work towards an alternative economy that would strengthen local businesses, create jobs and encourage the formation of local supply chains, and ultimately create economic opportunity and increased opportunities to communities that are often forgotten by traditional economic structures. Their mission is "to foster economic opportunity through the establishment of an alternative currency for the communities of Baltimore". Now, a year later the Bnote is being launched in Hampden.

Once they are officially launched in April 2011, BNotes may be obtained at any participating merchant who is running a cambio, or money exchange. $10 will exchange for 11 BNotes, which trade equal to a dollar, so you get a built-in 10% discount. They are available in multiples of $10, up to $100 (BN110). BNotes may also be received as change from participating businesses.

This community based program will first debut in Hampden in April of 2011. You can find a list of participating businesses here. You'll be able to buy a coffee, books, a massage, yarn for knitting and many other products and services with your Bnotes.

Local currency provides built-in incentives (through the 10% discount) for money to flow into the local economy and to continue circulating there, without being drawn out by national corporate chains. It increases business for local merchants, allowing them to diversify their selection or hire new employees. Ultimately, it leads to an increase in local suppliers and the establishment of longer local supply chains, further strengthening the merchant community. This also reduces the need for goods and services to be delivered from farther away, which cuts the use of oil and related costs and thereby improving the area's carbon footprint.

For now, Bnote's will be able to be used to purchase products from local businesses in the Hampden area, but who knows what the future brings, the goal is for it to expand city wide and perhaps even be able to use Bnote's to pay your water bill, taxes and other city related bills.

To read more about this great opportunity and participate visit Baltimore Green Currency's website.

If you are thinking of buying or selling a home give me a call today and we'll talk about the market conditions and what your home could possibly be worth in today's market place if you are thinking of selling. You can save thousands by listing your home with Advance Realty Professionals Inc.. If you are considering buying a home, there is no better time than now to buy. The tax savings and wealth building a lone is worth the plunge into todays market.

In keeping with saluting our heroes, during 2011 Advance Realty Professionals Inc is waving administrative fees active duty military, retired military and the families of fallen military, as well as policemen, firemen and emt's. If you enter into a contract by the New Year's eve Advance Realty Professionals Inc. will waive the admin fee at settlement. This is a $395 savings. If you are thinking about buying or selling a home give me a call and receive full service real estate assistance from an experienced agent. Our office is open 7 days a week and we can be reached at 410-761-1550.

**Graphics for this blog are courtesy of Baltimore Green Currency

Baltimore's Hampden: More Sophisticated Than You Might Think

A popular hobby in Baltimore is the "Train Garden". You might find very elaborate displays at local firehouses and for some enthusiasts, as was the case with my father, incredible displays right within our own basement. But who would expect to find them in their front yard? Well when the Christmas season comes around all one need to do is head over to Hampden's 34th Street and you will find the most spectacular and gaudy display of holiday decorations in the country. Did I say gaudy? How about a Christmas tree decorated with hubcaps?

Film director, John Waters, comes from this neighborhood and this is where he received much of his inspiration for his very poplular movie, Hairspray. Remember those beehive hairdos, hon?

The folks of Bawlmer's Hampden neighborhood still remember those days and still have fun with them, but don't let that fool you into thinking that this is an unsophisticated neighborhood. Who are some of its residents? How about the professors and grad students from universities such as Johns Hopkins and Loyola.

This region is home to one of the finest art collections in the country, which can be found at The Baltimore Museum of Art. Speaking of art, or I should say artsy, one can always catch one of the more "artsy" films of the day at The Rotunda.

The neighborhood is primarily a mix of varying styles of rowhouses and a few elaborate individual homes as where the neighborhood merges into the wealthy Roland Park.

And, since I brought up movies, one may remember the movie by another Baltimore film director, Barry Levinson, called Tin Men. You will have to watch this movie to see some of the sleazy tricks of salesmen from the aluminum siding business, which can be the only explanation for why an unfortunate "brick" front rowhouse here and there in the neighborhood were refronted with aluminum.

Hampden is centrally located in Baltimore, which makes it extremely convenient, especially with so many different forms of transportation available. But one can stay right in the neighborhood to do their shopping if they wish by going to The Avenue.

Take a look at some of the homes of Hampden.