The Highway to Nowhere is a lasting remnant of past efforts to connect Interstate 70 with Interstates 83 and 95 around Baltimore’s Central Business District. Largely uncompleted, only a 1.4-mile stretch of Route 40 was constructed, resulted in the demolition of homes and businesses and the displacement of approximately 1,500 residents of West Baltimore. Roughly 50 years later, the Highway to Nowhere remains as both a physical and scar in the community dividing large swaths of West Baltimore that were once connected.
With this event, AIA Baltimore’s Urban Design Committee wants to provide stakeholders a platform and to honor to see and present ideas that have already been developed over the years. Featuring fast-paced Pecha Kucha style presentations, the speakers will discuss past and ongoing grassroots organizing efforts, development opportunities, academic work focused on the Highway to Nowhere, planning studies, and Baltimore City’s current efforts to obtain federal funding through the Reconnecting Communities Pilot Program. Presentations will be followed by a question and answer session and then time for informal discussions. Drinks and light snacks will be provided.