New Baltimore Will Cut the Ribbon on New Streetscape on Small Business Saturday

The New Baltimore Downtown Development Authority (DDA) will cut the ribbon and officially dedicate its streetscape at an event taking place at 10 a.m. on Saturday, Nov. 30, at the intersection of Washington and Alfred Streets, where the new Baltimore Christmas tree is located.

The dedication coincides with Small Business Saturday, a day when holiday shoppers are encouraged to support local businesses. Mayor John Dupray and DDA authorities will officially open the streets for the “shop small” event, in which many shops and restaurants will offer special deals and observe extended hours.

Another draw is the Indoor Farmers Market at the Recreation Center,as well as a Holiday Bazaar and Book Sale at MacDonald Public Library. Detailed maps will be available at all downtown businesses the week prior and the day of the event.

The New Baltimore DDA says the streetscape is the culmination of many years of planning for an improved downtown.

“The overall goal of the DDA is to sustain and cultivate the business environment,” DDA Chairperson Mike Wojciechowski said. “In order to do this, the city needs to be aesthetically pleasing in order to attract businesses and the customers alike.”

Wojciechowski said it was important for the DDA to “lead by example” by moving forward with a project that would be a foundation for generations to come.

“This project stayed on target because of the dedication, teamwork, and personal efforts well above and beyond the expectations of many people who are all passionate about the success of New Baltimore,” he said.

The mission of the City of New Baltimore DDA is to create and implement development plans, provide physical improvements to the district, promote economic growth, and to correct and prevent deterioration in the district, thereby establishing a downtown that is healthy, viable and economically sound for the future.