Recently, in the Carroll County Times, Editor Wayne Carter's article entitled "Making Carroll Grown Again" made some valid points in reference to our community. Economically, the county has a low unemployment rate of 4.2 percent, whereas; the state of Maryland unemployment rate is 4.7 percent, and the current national average is 5 percent. As Carter mentioned, we do have a low crime rate and a high graduation rate. Carroll needs to offer far more to become competitive to increase the younger demographics in our community.
As someone who has grown up in Carroll County and whose family has lived here since 1948 I've seen numerous changes to the county both positive and negative over the years. Carroll offers numerous historical and socioeconomic benefits as well as supporting land preservation. Currently, with a goal of 100,000 acres preserved and with 70,000-plus acres to date, Carroll County has been one the top five counties in the nation for the past several years. The developmental growth over the decades has sparked concern from some in our community that Carroll County should not fall victim to planned communities such as Columbia. However, these developments brought in new neighbors, jobs and children for our schools. As a county there needs to be a delicate balancing act between the two, and we can do this and succeed for future generations. As an active member of the community, I think people have various perceptions of the word "growth" regarding a community. Some hear growth and envision countless stoplights and traffic while others envision growth as adding to the community by increasing family activities, quality businesses and the overall health of the area. The latter of these two is what we are in need of in Carroll County.
Anirban Basu, CEO of Sage Policy Group Inc. discussed making Westminster a magnet for young, educated people during his presentation regarding the state and local economy. I agree that Basu is indeed correct. I would broaden this slightly to include not just those in their 20s or 30s, but also citizens in their 40s. There is no doubt that the details in Carter's article in the Times are indeed a good starting point to grow Carroll County, but it is not enough.
Carroll County needs to grow in several areas if the county wants to see sustainable positive growth from a younger demographic that will benefit the community as a whole. The county is currently losing revenue and income as a significant portion of our community travel to other areas of the state to shop. Quality shopping areas such as Hunt Valley Towne Centre and Towson Town Center offer consumers mid- to upscale opportunities while Carroll County loses out to neighboring counties. The younger demographic is looking for these types of venues, which we currently lack. Additionally, stores like Harris Teeter, Whole Foods and Fresh Market focus on a demographic that our county is in need of.
Younger generations are searching for healthy living and activities, and what better place to offer this than Carroll County? Currently, the county is asking residents to make their voices heard in regards to the future of county parks via an online survey. This is a step in the right direction in regard to families and younger generations' interests, and hopefully we will see additional bike and running trails in Carroll's future. These types of offerings can assist in positioning the county to reach those we currently lack. The county needs additional fitness offerings that could include yoga and cycling studios. We need to continue embracing new businesses as we look forward to continued economic development, and the technology field is perfect for a growing, thriving community such as Carroll. Last year, Westminster was fortunate to add the internet provider Ting to its growing business base.
Carroll County needs more accessible quality housing for the community. In this article, I am pioneering a term called "Step Stone Housing." This should not be confused with affordable or Section 8 housing. If you look at the starting pay of Carroll County teachers and some other professions, access to purchasing a home in the county may be difficult if not out of reach. Step Stone Housing may be defined as quality housing that includes not only single-family homes, but also apartments and condominiums. This type of housing would allow younger citizens to "step into and grow out of" while continuing to increase their financial resources. It would allow them to build personal and economic relationships while setting down roots and making them "Feel Right at Home" in Carroll County .
One example of what I propose for the county in regards to Step Stone Housing would be quality commercial open shopping areas with several floors of apartments above them. An example of this is McHenry Row located in historic Locust Point in Baltimore. I have no doubt that there are those who would quickly question this concept and argue that it is more of a metropolitan concept. If one takes the time to study this concept they will find that these types of quality shopping/living areas can be found throughout the country and not only in city areas. This type of area would allow for increased revenue for the county while also keeping this type of housing contained to specified areas.
If we want to grow and promote Carroll County to younger people then we as a community — including both the government and private citizens — need to be proactive in the ways we work together to attract new people into our county. This infusion of younger people will also assist in creating more income for the county, which could assist with the current shortfalls for education funding and other needs of the county. We need to embrace younger generations, fresh ideas, and plans to carry the county forward and build upon the successes that already exist in Carroll.
Tom Gordon III writes from Westminster.
