Conserve Water and Reduce Green Waste

Make a positive impact on the environment by planting a native garden. Native gardens require up to 85% less water than non-native gardens as well as fewer pesticides. Native gardens also produce 60% less green waste per year. These benefits are heightened when gardens replace lawns, which are notorious for creating poor stormwater management.

Attract Biodiverse Native Wildlife

The wildlife Maryland’s ecosystem requires to maintain its integrity are benefitted when Maryland gardeners plant native species. This includes pollinators, such as bees, butterflies and hummingbirds, all of whom are vital components of the environment that help to ensure the fruits, vegetables and other plants we consume daily are able to thrive. Native clump-forming grasses serve as the perfect shelter for ground-dwelling birds, such as mourning doves and songbirds. The fruit and nuts from native trees, such as blackgum and white oak, provide food and shelter for squirrels, chipmunks and native birds.

Stress Less for a Beautiful Garden

Because native plants are already acclimated to Maryland’s climate and environment, the maintenance required to keep your garden looking beautiful is greatly reduced. In fact, growing a native garden reduces the amount of time needed to maintain its condition by approximately 70%. This means less time weeding, treating disease, watering and feeding and more time relaxing and enjoying the bounty and beauty of your outdoor space.

Speaking of beauty, there are a wide variety of native plants that will add gorgeous color and texture to your garden. From wildflowers like the vibrant and long-blooming butterfly weed and easy-going bergamot; to grasses such as frothy and graceful bluestem or tall and flowy Indiangrass; you’re sure to find a native Maryland species that speaks to your garden’s style!    

Bluestem is Committed to Improving the Local Ecosystem Through Native Plantings

With the help of landscape architects and environmental planners such as Human & Rohde and Plusen, the Bluestem team has created a plan to develop a boutique mixed-use space that harmonizes with the natural environment of the Bare Hills area. Inspired by the unique habitat and rock formations of Lake Roland, the landscape developers have chosen a plant palette that implements native plantings, including the bluestem grass for which the development is named. The Bluestem team also seeks to encourage responsible planting by informing apartment-dwellers about the delicate nature of the local ecosystem with information packets included in their lease agreement. These packets will make suggestions about the types of plants tenants are encouraged to keep within their homes and in outdoor spaces and which may be considered invasive or harmful to the surrounding flora and fauna. To learn more about the ways in which Bluestem seeks to create an environmentally friendly space, click here.  

The Jones Falls Watershed Encompasses Baltimore County and Baltimore City

The Jones Falls watershed spans 40 square miles, including rural Baltimore County and parts of Baltimore City, and is home to more than 200,000 residents. The head of Jones Falls is located in Greenspring Valley and traverses downwards until it reaches an impoundment located in Lake Roland Park. After combining with tributaries, the waterway ultimately flows into Baltimore City’s Inner Harbor.

While the northernmost reaches of this watershed sustain an ample population of brown trout, the central and southernmost stretches of the Jones Falls watershed face a multitude of threats that wreak havoc on the delicate ecosystems surrounding it. For example, the Lake Roland watershed, which is encompassed by the Jones Falls watershed, faces various hazards that threaten the safety and purity of Lake Roland.

Action Plans Were Created to Improve the Quality of the Jones Falls Watershed

Over time, the Lake Roland watershed has experienced negative threats to its health and purity due to the adverse effects of persistent runoff and sewage leakage into the lake as a result of outdated water treatment systems. By improving the health of Lake Roland through the modernization of sewer and storm management facilities surrounding it, increased green space and revamped septic tank systems, the Jones Falls Waterway will ultimately improve as an indirect result of the revitalization of the Lake Roland watershed.

In the past few decades, there have been various efforts to help improve the overall quality of both the Lake Roland and Jones Falls Watershed. For example, there were action plans for these watershed locations developed in 1997, 2008 and 2015. These action plans were initiated to aid in the management of improved stormwater systems, repairment of outdated sewage and septic systems and management of runoff, as well as the protection and preservation of the natural, forested landscape.

Improvements in the Health of the Jones Falls Watershed Remain Necessary

In 1996, before the creation of the first action plan to improve the quality of the watershed areas, Jones Falls was found to be contaminated with excessive nutrients, pollutants and sediment as well as invasive elements such as copper, lead and zinc. Even after the first initiated action plan, the Jones Falls watershed continued to be contaminated with dangerous levels of fecal bacteria, as indicated in the 2002 assessment. These negative effects continued to impact the biological communities of the waterway in 2002, 2004 and 2006.

Ultimately, while action plans have been repeatedly put in place to help mitigate the negative impacts of pollutants, sediment and unwanted toxins on the watershed areas, threats to the health and purity of the Jones Falls waterway and Lake Roland still remain.

The Jones Falls Watershed Tested Only Slightly Higher Than the Inner Harbor

While some improvements have been made, including the implementation of multiple action plans throughout the years, the Jones Falls waterway nevertheless still receives a failing grade from the Waterfront Partnership and Blue Water Baltimore report. Jones Falls, which received a failing grade of 54, is ranked only slightly better than the Inner Harbor at 51 on a 1-100 scale. The high levels of bacteria found in the watershed area, primarily caused by poor sewage management systems, can indicate the presence of disease-causing pathogens that are responsible for illnesses such as dysentery, Hepatitis A, typhoid fever and bacterial and viral gastroenteritis. Additionally, the excessive nitrogen and chlorophyll found in the water is linked to the growth of algae blooms and “dead zones” in waterways, which prevent local flora and fauna from surviving or thriving in these areas.

Bluestem Commits to Redevelopment of Outdated Water Treatment Systems

The primary reason believed to be precipitating the harmful environment in the Jones Falls watershed is runoff containing fertilizer and pesticide traces from residential lawns, as well as domesticated animal waste attributed to runoff from nearby farmland and leakage of human waste from outdated sewage systems. That is why the development team for Bluestem has extensively planned for the development of a multi-use village in the Bare Hills Community to maintain and enhance the surrounding ecosystem by implementing modern water treatment systems and revamping stormwater management systems. The restructuring and renovation of existing sewer and septic systems, along with the preservation of the natural, forested land surrounding Lake Roland, are necessary for improving the health and vitality of Baltimore County and Baltimore City’s waterways.

Protection of the Jones Falls and Lake Roland watersheds remain a top priority for the development team at Bluestem, and through mindful redevelopment, Bluestem aims to create a breakthrough multi-use complex that will bring revitalization to the Bare Hills Community while also improving the purity of surrounding waterways in the area. To learn more about Bluestem’s commitment to environmental preservation, click here.

Around the Park, Not In It

Construction of the multi-use Bluestem development will specifically focus on the boundaries adjacent to Lake Roland park. Specifically, there will be no construction existing within the boundaries of the park, and no roads constructed within park limits. The Bluestem development project places thoughtful consideration on development that is friendly to the park, including native plantings and convenient access to the park through more functional and accessible park borders.

The Bluestem team understands the oftentimes negative connotation associated with the term “development,” and this is why the team has gone to such great lengths to ensure that the Bluestem development will not follow in the footsteps of traditional developers. Bluestem has, in fact, spent an extensive amount of time communicating with community leaders, working with local area specialists and thoughtfully planning the mixed-use project so that it will serve as a wonderful new benefit to the community. The plans for the Bluestem project have changed, not once, or even twice, but four full times before the Bluestem team was satisfied that it would meet the needs and address the concerns of the Bare Hills community and Baltimore County public at large.

Bluestem is also committed to enhancing Lake Roland park itself, not by development within it, but by development surrounding it that will contribute to accessibility and the health of the park. This will happen in myriad ways, including increased parking, safer access points, enhanced access to the “Orange” trail and more. In addition, the Bluestem team is committed to preserving the environmental integrity of Lake Roland park. This is seen in many ways, but a significant example is the team’s decision to move the development closer to Falls Road, instead of further towards the back of the property, which abuts the wooded regions of the park. This will allow for a larger forested buffer in between the development and the park, which will greatly enhance the ability for stormwater to be effectively managed; limit noise pollution and disruption within the park; protect unique landscapes, such as the serpentine barren, and ensure park-goers can enjoy the beauty that Lake Roland offers undisturbed.

Increase Park Usage

In addition, the development of multi-use property in the Lake Roland area will only work to increase the functionality and accessibility of the park. Currently, Lake Roland’s significant increase in park-goers in the last decade has placed an expanded strain on the limited parking space offered in Lake Roland and surrounding areas. In addition, park-goers who currently park on Falls Road to access the Red trail, often find themselves in a dangerous situation when parking just before a sharp curve located on the busy roadway. The development team at Bluestem has planned construction mindfully as to increase the accessibility of the park with the addition of useful parking and trail connections, such as improved access to the park’s Orange trail via a gate constructed at the back-end of the Bluestem property.  

While it is true that the new access point will connect to a trail that runs through the serpentine barrens within the park, the Bluestem team has already come up with creative and environmentally friendly ways to ensure this habitat is undisturbed. By teaming up with Human & Rohde—who were integral in the development of the environmentally-sensitive boardwalk through the wetland areas—as well as Plusen Landscape Architects, the Lake Roland Nature Council and others, the Bluestem team is putting into effect plans for another boardwalk-like structure, as well as signage informing community members about the sensitive nature of the serpentine barrens, in order to empower the community to act as stewards of the park and limit intrusion into fragile areas.

Work in Harmony with Environment

The Bluestem development team upholds their environmentally-conscious approach to building in harmony with the surrounding ecosystem. That is why the development of multi-use housing has been planned as to create minimal disturbance to the environment and with mindfulness to improve both human and local traffic. The Bluestem development project will only improve the surrounding landscape and environmental structure of the area—construction of Bluestem will eliminate an outdated mulch tumbler system located on a watershed site that has persistently wreaked havoc on Lake Roland’s delicate ecosystem. The objective of Bluestem, to promote conservation through re-development of the area surrounding the park, will ultimately best serve the park and the community through modern, updated waste management systems without impeding on park boundaries or the park’s unique ecosystem.

Bluestem Development is Mindful of the Community

The developers and designers of Bluestem aim for the construction of multi-use spaces to be community focused, environmentally friendly, innovatively designed and locally developed. That is why the development of the property surrounding Lake Roland will seek to enhance green space, ease traffic, promote safer parking space and provide more convenient access to the beauty of Lake Roland while protecting the integrity of the park.

To be a good steward is to be a careful and responsible manager of something within your care. When land is purchased for the purpose of development, the purchaser becomes the steward of the land, and becomes legally obligated to develop the land in a way that meets regulatory standards. But, more importantly, any good steward will feel duty-bound to go beyond their mere legal obligations and create a development that will provide great opportunities and benefits for the community at large. While the reality is that development projects are not always designed and created with these goals in mind, the Bluestem team has sought to make a commitment to good stewardship in the development of their mixed-use project.

How Has the Bluestem Team Committed to Being Good Stewards?

The Bluestem team has committed to good stewardship in several ways: through environmental friendliness, a community focus, local development and an innovative design. An explanation of how they have achieved these goals can be found below.  

Environmentally Friendly

The foremost consideration of the Bluestem development was its proximity to Lake Roland park. Lake Roland park offers unique landscapes, including the rare serpentine barren, and also provides an abundance of recreational opportunities. As such, one of the major goals for the Bluestem team was to create a development that would exist in harmony with the park and increase accessibility to the resources and amenities found within the park.

This was completed in a variety of ways. Landscape architects who have worked on Lake Roland park projects previously, such as Human & Rohde, were employed to make thoughtful choices regarding placement of plantings and structures in order to preserve the environmental integrity of the park and the development land itself. Additionally, the Bluestem team collaborated with the Lake Roland Nature Council to better understand the difficulties the park was facing and how Bluestem could help to rectify some of these issues. By creating Bluestem’s vision of a multi-use village, a hazardous mulch tumbler and several outdated structures will be demolished, thereby increasing the water purity and clarity of Lake Roland. The Bluestem development team has worked in tandem with Baltimore County officials to determine a plan of action that will ensure local sewer lines will not be overtaxed by the new development. They will also create stormwater management and waste management systems that meet the rigorous standards of commercial construction. To learn more about Bluestem’s commitment to environmentally friendly design, click here.  

Community Focused

The Bluestem development team understood that there would naturally be concerns from the community about any new development that was created within Bare Hills, and as such the team sought to forge positive connections with the community to understand their concerns and provide viable solutions. The Bluestem design plans ultimately underwent four phases, each adding new improvements and adjustments to better meet the community’s needs. These included changes to maintain the natural topography of the land, incorporate native plantings in the landscape architecture, reduce the height of the residential building, adjust the density of the building layout, create an access point to the “Orange” trail within Lake Roland Park and more. The Bluestem team also responded to a need within the community for more pedestrian access to amenities, a variety of boutique-style shopping, new restaurants and additional housing options to accommodate Millennials and Baby Boomers as their living needs change. To learn more about how Bluestem has made the community a priority in their development, click here.   

Locally Developed

The Bluestem development team consists of a variety of specialists, firms and individuals who have not only lived and worked in the communities surrounding Bare Hills, but whose specialty is in developing projects for the unique needs of community members in these areas. The team includes professionals from Bozzuto, Vanguard Retail Property Development, Keystone Realty Company, Alexander Design Studio, Human & Rohde, Plusen Landscape Architects, SGS Law, The Traffic Group, MFI Realty, Morris & Ritchie Associates and more. Bluestem also boasts innumerable local supporters and stakeholders who see the development as an opportunity to enhance the functionality and usability of existing Bare Hills infrastructure. To learn more about how Bluestem has committed to a locally developed project, click here.

Innovatively Designed

The Bluestem development team is keenly aware that the nature of how we live, work and play is changing. Our housing, retail and transportation needs are evolving, as Baby Boomers find themselves with empty nests and a desire to age in place, and Millennials find themselves drawn to areas with lower crime rates and greater educational opportunities for the families they are beginning to raise. As such, the way we create developments must change, and the Bluestem team has committed to a mixed-use space, in the vein of places such as Remington Row and The Rotunda, but that push the bar with a design that is environmentally sensitive and considerate of local needs and aesthetics. It is the hope that this kind of smart, thoughtful planning will not only meet the needs of the community, but also encourage other developers to make similar choices in other regions across the country. To learn more about how Bluestem is innovatively designed, click here.  

The Bluestem development team understands that good stewardship requires responsibility, transparency, commitment to the local community, the ability to find actionable solutions and a desire to serve a purpose larger than simply building a new development. Ultimately, their commitment to environmental friendliness, a community focus, local development and innovative design will help them act and serve as good stewards of the Bluestem development property, thereby inspiring other development firms to commit to similar action and continue creating developments that are based on an intelligent, sustainable and solutions-based design. To learn more about Bluestem’s commitment to environmental preservation, click here.

Watershed Properties are Outdated

A watershed is an area where excess water drains to a waterway. Clean watersheds benefit the community, as the accumulation of polluted water in waterways is hazardous to both the community and the surrounding ecosystems. Clean watersheds also reduce tax burdens, as methods to reverse the effects of polluted runoff on damaged ecosystems is costly. Healthy watersheds also raise property values and improve local habitats as well as aid in the maintenance of clean waterways, parks and streets.

Many structures located on the watershed land surround Lake Roland, including septic systems and mulch tumblers, are outdated and in need of renovation. These dated systems cause water to collect toxic waste and subsequently mix with the lake and stream water. Additionally, stormwater management systems do not meet modern regulations. One major example of the dated nature of these stormwater management systems include the dilemma of “100-year storms,” which relates to the concept that modern stormwater management systems should be designed to accommodate the amount of rainwater that would result from a major storm with a one-percent chance of occurring at any time of year. In the Lake Roland area, these current stormwater management systems cannot handle the vast amounts of rainwater that would result from a major storm.

The Bluestem project developers, mindful in their efforts to develop in harmony with the surrounding ecosystem, will prioritize the need of these watershed properties to be redeveloped.  

The Effect of the Mulch Tumbler Site on Lake Roland

A mulch tumbler site, which is located on a watershed property that will be redeveloped as part of the Bluestem project, has persistently harmed the water purity and environmental integrity of Lake Roland and the park. Mulch tumblers spread non-native seeds throughout the environment and leak toxic run-off into surrounding waterways, including Lake Roland and the Jones Falls, which eventually flow into the Baltimore Harbor. In an effort to reduce the impact of the mulch tumbler site on the environment of both Baltimore County and Baltimore City, the removal of the site will be included in the Bluestem development project.

Outdated Septic Systems in the Area

Several residential and business properties surrounding the lake are currently outfitted with outdated septic systems. Because of these inefficient systems, domestic wastewater leaks into Lake Roland, threatening the current ecosystem and potentially affecting the health and safety of Lake Roland residents. In fact, the Lake Roland Nature Council site regularly updates the public about the poor water quality of Lake Roland, which hampers the ability of park visitors to utilize the lake and which is due to a variety of ecological concerns, including these dated septic systems. Whereas these septic systems were once deemed “modern” during their initial development over 100 years ago, many have not been updated since. Therefore, the century-old pipes installed in many old Lake Roland homes can potentially harm the surrounding ecosystem by mingling wastewater with stormwater.

The Bluestem development team has worked in tandem with Baltimore County officials to determine a plan of action that will ensure local sewer lines will not be overtaxed by the new development. The construction of the Bluestem development will incorporate modern development techniques that will include up-to-date plumbing facilities. These updated structures will work harmoniously with the natural surroundings, thereby mitigating the effects of the outdated septic systems on the surrounding environment.

Bluestem Developers Aim to Improve the Surrounding Ecosystem

Ultimately, the development team for Bluestem is taking an environmentally-conscious approach to the multi-use development and are aware of the importance of upholding and improving the cleanliness, health and aesthetic of Lake Roland and the surrounding park. That is why the project development will focus on both mitigating any negative effects on the environment as well as improving the surrounding ecosystem with updated waste management systems and a removal of harmful structures that will improve the water purity and safety of Lake Roland. Redevelopment is essential for both open space and park conservation, which is why Bluestem will prioritize the implementation of modern codes and updated building requirements for the future of the lake and the community.

This past winter, volunteers from Lake Roland Nature Council and the Maryland Native Plant Society initiated a test plot to attempt to clear invasive Virginia Pine from the Park’s serpentine barren. Thanks to the Society for allowing us to reprint the article below from the Spring 2013 issue of their journal, the Marilandica.

There has been much activity at Lake Roland since 2010 when Baltimore County took over stewardship of the park and a group of citizens formed the Lake Roland Nature Council. The park’s infrastructure has been improved, including repair of the old railroad trestle across Jones Falls, and a new boardwalk, picnic pavilion, and dog park. Heavily used by dog walkers, Lake Roland is now the only park in the county that employs rangers to enforce park rules, including leash laws. Several local garden clubs are planning to install a native plant garden in an area close to the Lake Roland dam. With advice from MNPS, they have compiled a list of suitable species and expect to begin planting this year.

From a naturalist’s perspective, the park’s most interesting features are the wetlands around Lake Roland, beloved by birders, and the serpentine barren, home of several rare and uncommon plant species including Phemeranthus teretifolius (Fameflower). Over the last several decades, this grassland/prairie community has been impacted by the spread of Virginia Pine. With the full support of park staff and the Nature Council, a project has begun to find out whether quality prairie community can be expanded by removal of pines. This project is under the leadership of Dwight Johnson of MNPS and the Lake Roland Nature Council, Charlie Davis of the Natural History Society of Maryland, and paleobotanist Bill Hillgartner, who has maintained a serpentine study plot in the park for over 10 years. They selected an experimental area of about one acre that still retains a healthy prairie plant community despite scattered trees. This spring, members of the Nature Council Trails Committee will cut the trees in that area and they will be removed by a group of boy scouts as part of an Eagle Scout project. The hope is eventually to expand this quality area outward. The preferred tool would obviously have been fire as is used in Soldiers Delight, but that is not possible given the proximity to a residential area. Dwight, Charlie and Bill plan to perform a complete biological survey of the experimental area this year, and then to observe changes over the next several years.

Starting in 2012 Dwight Johnson is conducting a plant survey of the entire park, which includes over 320 species so far. Participants in MNPS field trips will undoubtedly add to this list.

Conservation Through Redevelopment

Many of the watershed properties surrounding Lake Roland are dated, and as such, the stormwater management systems do not meet modern codes and regulations. One such regulation pertains to the concept of “100-year storms,” meaning stormwater management systems should be able to accomodate the vastly increased stormwater output from a storm that has a one-percent statistical chance of occuring in any given year (as we saw exemplified in Ellicott City in 2016 and 2018). As they are currently built, these watershed properties cannot adequately accommodate such a storm. Through the redevelopment efforts that will occur with the Bluestem development, modern stormwater management systems will be created that meet all the current standards which ultimately positively impacts the surrounding properties.

Additionally, there are several homes surrounding the lake currently which are using outdated septic systems. These septic systems allow untreated water to make its way directly into the lake, posing serious environmental and human health hazards. In comparison, the Bluestem development will be implementing modern water treatment systems that meet very stringent commercial codes. Ultimately, through the use of modern techniques and an adherence to current regulations, the Bluestem development’s waste management infrastructure will serve to improve Lake Roland’s water purity and safety in ways older systems simply cannot.

One of the watershed properties which will be redeveloped to create Bluestem, a mulch tumbler site, has for years wreaked havoc on the delicate ecosystem of Lake Roland and the park surrounding it. The environmental hazards of mulch tumblers are twofold: they cast non-native seeds into the surrounding ecosystem, and they send noxious run-off into the lake, which ultimately flows into the Jones Falls and Baltimore Harbor. This negatively impacts the water quality not only for Baltimore county residents, but city residents as well. By removing the mulch tumbler, the water quality of Lake Roland and surrounding bodies of water will be immediately and positively impacted.

Thoughtful Consideration of the Ecosystem

Human & Rohde, one of two landscape architects and environmental planners for Bluestem, are deeply knowledgeable about Lake Roland Park and have played a major role in several of the park projects, including the dog park, boardwalk and several amenity improvements. All aforementioned projects were designed and implemented with an intentional eye on the environmental impact, and were designed in a way so as to disturb as little of the natural surroundings as possible. Using this prior experience, the architects at Human & Rohde will be able to redevelop with a keen sense of the unique environmental characteristics of Lake Roland and implement other boardwalk-style paths that connect park-goers and residents of Bluestem without interfering with the delicate ecosystem and micro climates of the park.

The developers have made several purposeful decisions to ensure Lake Roland’s delicate and unique ecosystem remains unaffected—and even enhanced—by the Bluestem development. The physical placement of the Bluestem development is very close to Falls Road, allowing for a larger transition space between the development and the native woodlands. This transition will be gradual, instead of the typical fenced-in barrier that many developments have implemented. The developers also spent extensive time studying the microclimates that exist within the park, and they have maintained an open dialogue with park staff about the removal of the invasive Virginia Pine, which has crowded out the prairie grasses that would naturally inhabit the unique serpentine areas of Lake Roland. Because Lake Roland is one of only four remaining areas in Maryland with a naturally-occuring serpentine barren, a prairie-like grassland area existing on dry, nutrient-poor soil and rock, the Bluestem developers feel strongly about maintaining its integrity in every way possible.

In regards to native plants, the Bluestem developers have taken a proactive approach to maintaining the integrity of the natural spaces surrounding the development by carefully choosing which types of plants will be involved in the landscaping process. Inspired by the unique habitat and rock formations of Lake Roland, the landscape developers have chosen a plant palette that implements native plantings, including the bluestem for which the development is named. This palette not only pays homage to Lake Roland’s unique environment, but also creates a unique space that will be attractive to boutique shops rather than national brands.

Apartment-dwellers at Bluestem will also be informed about the delicate nature of the local ecosystem with information packets included in their lease agreement. These packets will make suggestions about the types of plants tenants are encouraged to keep within their homes and in outdoor spaces and which may be considered invasive or harmful to the surrounding flora and fauna. This education campaign will be continued with signage surrounding the walkways through Lake Roland park that will explain to park-goers the importance of staying on developed pathways and avoiding contact with the serpentine ecosystem. By providing this information, the Bluestem developers will help to encourage those who live at Bluestem to become stewards of Lake Roland and the Bare Hills community.