story by ALEXANDRA STEVENS, video by BERNIE OZOL, ALEXANDRA STEVENS & ANN LOLORDO

Few weekly commuters would have recognized the parking lot at the West Baltimore MARC station on a recent Saturday morning. Gone was the multitude of cars that crowd the lot during the week, causing MARC riders to park on nearby streets and angering residents in the process.

Instead, the parking lot was filled with locals milling about in search of things seldom sold in West Baltimore—fresh fruits and vegetables.

The inaugural West Baltimore Farmer’s Market, sponsored by city and state transportation officials and the Baltimore Citizens Planning and Housing Association, was an opportunity to address a series of community concerns — and spur interest in a proposed commuter transit line that would run along Edmonson Avenue. Recently released plans for the east-west line has generated some vocal critics.

But MARC train commuters pose a more immediate problem for area residents.

“People who live around this area, they have an issue with the parking. This lot overflows and people park in their community,” explains Joyce Smith, co-chair of West Baltimore TOD, a group that supports transit oriented development.

But the MTA plans to expand the MARC parking lot, using $3 million in federal stimulus dollars to level part of Route 40, and another $6 million to $7 million in federal transportation funds to build the new lot. Saturday’s market was organized, in part, to highlight transit projects like the parking lot expansion and the Red Line, which will run from Canton on the east side to Edmonson Village and adjoining neighborhoods on the west side.

“We’re trying to make sure people have information so they can make informed decisions and really become a part of the dialogue,” said Kirin Smith, 27, a local resident and representative of the Evergreen Protective Association.

Residents asked Kirin Simth how the Red Line would benefit them.

At the far end of the market, Smith stood behind her poster-lined booth and explained the transit projects to curious residents.

“We do have a lot of residents who are just fearful. They have been burned, because of the ‘Highway to Nowhere’ and other things that have gone on in the community,” she said, referring to the infamous 1970s road project that required the demolition of many area homes. “They’ve seen their communities kind of fall apart. So they’re just fearful about this—is it going to make things worse? Is this going to take me out of the community? What’s going to happen?”

Smith is hopeful, citing the jobs that the Red Line would provide. “We don’t just want to build a train that runs through and that’s it, that’s not the goal. We’re looking at these projects and using them as a way to say, ‘How can we revitalize the community?”

Haunted by transportation-project fiasco
Even residents who remember the disasters of the past tended to agree. “I’ve been in this area for a while,” said Gloria Ross, 62. “I remember the ‘Highway to Nowhere.’ I remember the people whose homes were there, I remember that. It really destroyed a lot of the community. And then when the riots came, that really did it. We haven’t seen anything productive since the riots, except for what’s going on now. I tell people that this is their chance to lend a voice so it doesn’t happen again.”

And when they raise their voices, residents are clear on what they feel the neighborhood needs, says Joyce Smith. Affordable housing is frequently mentioned (“Not the type of housing that would push people out,” she explained. “I mean housing for people who are living here and for people who may want to come here.”), jobs, and the need featured most prominently on Saturday—fresh food.

“We definitely need a market and some stores,” said shopper Beverley Bowman. Standing behind her at the fruit stand was Cynthia Amy, who agreed. “I love the idea of it being right here, because I can come here instead of going downtown or Glen Burnie, which is where the closest stores are.”

Health is another issue of concern to organizers and shoppers. “Our community has some of the highest chronic health disease,” explained Joyce Smith. “Research has shown that fresh produce and vegetables and fruit can help reduce the quantity of diabetes, hypertension, and help improve the quality of life.”

Throughout the day, reactions were positive, and organizers believe that word of mouth will get others in the community excited about the market if it becomes an ongoing event.

“I hope it does” become a regular event, said Wayne Jackson of Stoecker Farms who was selling produce at the market. “It has potential. Everyone is telling us, ‘This is so fantastic.’ This is what they want, and it’s going to work.”

Between buying peaches and listening to the drum circle stationed at the front of the market, residents talked of bringing the community together and using the new transit projects to help lift up West Baltimore.

“We’re looking to make a destination here,” said a shopper known to neighborhood residents as Miss Zelda. “Not just a place to go by, but a destination where people want to stop and take place in what’s going on.”

- Bernie Ozol and Ben Wong edited this video.