I had the privilege of meeting Mary Loreto today. While Mary has an extraordinary personal history as well as a long association with Columbia, she requested that this article remain focused and committed to the issue at hand, Avenue J.
Mary recollected how two cousins living at 106 South Second Street maintained the lower section of Avenue J, which runs adjacent to the property, from Second Street to Bank Avenue. She stated that the majority of that work in the avenue was done by Ralph McBride. The cousins pulled weeds and maintained the bricks and cobblestones, keeping everything intact and clean. Mary added that her children also helped pull weeds there. (Jeanne Fisher currently owns this property.)
Since the McBrides no longer maintain Avenue J, it has deteriorated. There have been reports of weeds and trash. Most noteworthy is a piece of concrete curbing that may have been removed, presumably to allow for off-street parking.
A request was recently presented to borough council to maintain Avenue J and block it off from thru traffic. The barrier would be placed at the intersection with Second Street.
Recently, some 300 signatures supporting such a change were obtained by a private citizen and presented to borough council as well as to consultants hired by the CEDC. Mary stated that she placed a follow-up call to Mayor Lutz on April 9, 2015. According to Mary, the mayor said he must present the request for a barrier to council. However, such a proposal had already been discussed with council at its March 23, 2015 meeting of the whole. During the ensuing conversation, council promised a "field trip" to Avenue J. To date, no one is aware that this has taken place. At the meeting, Mary also cited a study done with a $50,000 grant in which it was recommended that Avenue J be preserved as a walking path.
Recently, some 300 signatures supporting such a change were obtained by a private citizen and presented to borough council as well as to consultants hired by the CEDC. Mary stated that she placed a follow-up call to Mayor Lutz on April 9, 2015. According to Mary, the mayor said he must present the request for a barrier to council. However, such a proposal had already been discussed with council at its March 23, 2015 meeting of the whole. During the ensuing conversation, council promised a "field trip" to Avenue J. To date, no one is aware that this has taken place. At the meeting, Mary also cited a study done with a $50,000 grant in which it was recommended that Avenue J be preserved as a walking path.
Mary said that this block of Second Street is Columbia's most historic - and its most unique.
The lower section of Avenue J, looking southwest from the 100 block of South Second Street. A faltering curb can be seen on the left.
A section of curb bordering Avenue J, at about the halfway point
The curb ends abruptly at a dirt driveway leading onto private property.
Avenue J, looking northeast from bank Avenue. A driveway is pictured on the right, and a sewer access can be seen immediately below it.
Another view from Bank Avenue
Further down on Avenue J, as seen from Bank Avenue
