Spring Break
At the edge of Charles Village, a neighborhood in transition
Issue date: 9/20/07
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Candy-colored row houses painted in corals, turquoises and bright yellows lined the streets of Remington as I wandered south of Charles Village. Women tended their small patches of garden while neighbors casually chatted on stoops. As I passed a park, couples enjoyed a picnic on the grass. I was struck by the smallness of Remington; everything was miniature with an almost Pleasantville-like feel. As I kept walking, the houses became more monotonous, the air more still. The only person I could see was a man who parked his car, gave me a quick nod and then hurried inside a house. I was left alone and the formerly neighborly feeling I had felt before had shifted to one of uncertainty.
Now by myself and began strolling down the street past a Baptist church. As I passed, a police officer left the building. I went up to him and asked him about the current crime rates in Remington. The officer was huge, probably close to six feet, five inches, and I boldly introduced myself to Officer Mark Ellington, inquiring about specific types of crime in the area. "Crime just moves, and as the area around Hopkins continues to develop, more of it is brought here to the outskirts," Ellington said. He spoke of the increased crime rate, adding that the two most common types are car theft and drug trafficking. After such confidences, he took an almost defensive stance and countered his above declarations, "Remington is not a bad neighborhood anymore; we have beautiful homes and nice schools, but there has definitely been an increase in crime, which piggybacks out of Charles Village."
I was anxious to learn more about the character of the block and expressed interest in entering the Greater Faith Baptist Church. Ellington invited me around the building's back to meet the local pastor, Dr. Leigh White. Upon entering the low-ceilinged reception hall, we encountered local congregants gathered for their post-service spaghetti lunch. Two five-year-old girls ran past me, eating candy and laughing. White was pointed out to me and I immediately approached her.
Now by myself and began strolling down the street past a Baptist church. As I passed, a police officer left the building. I went up to him and asked him about the current crime rates in Remington. The officer was huge, probably close to six feet, five inches, and I boldly introduced myself to Officer Mark Ellington, inquiring about specific types of crime in the area. "Crime just moves, and as the area around Hopkins continues to develop, more of it is brought here to the outskirts," Ellington said. He spoke of the increased crime rate, adding that the two most common types are car theft and drug trafficking. After such confidences, he took an almost defensive stance and countered his above declarations, "Remington is not a bad neighborhood anymore; we have beautiful homes and nice schools, but there has definitely been an increase in crime, which piggybacks out of Charles Village."
I was anxious to learn more about the character of the block and expressed interest in entering the Greater Faith Baptist Church. Ellington invited me around the building's back to meet the local pastor, Dr. Leigh White. Upon entering the low-ceilinged reception hall, we encountered local congregants gathered for their post-service spaghetti lunch. Two five-year-old girls ran past me, eating candy and laughing. White was pointed out to me and I immediately approached her.
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Doug Karlsberg
posted 11/11/07 @ 12:13 AM EST
hidden gem?
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