Take a minute to remember...

The Complacency - For years, not many residents knew, or cared, that the developer owned almost a third of the land in Bay Ridge. The Big Woods, the Commons, the paths, most street ends, Kass Park, and wooded lots scattered around the community — all were still in the hands of Bay Ridge Properties, Inc. (BRPI).

The Bay Ridge Trust kept telling us how important the wooded lands were to the fragile ecosystem of the Chesapeake. It wanted to buy BRPI’s property, but most people thought that was impossible.

The Horror - Suddenly in the spring of 2000, BRPI announced their intent to prepare their lots for sale. They expected to build approximately 160 homes in the Big Woods and more on Kass Park and the scattered lots. At packed BRCA meetings, the community shouted a resounding NO WAY!

The Determination - Relying on a unique collaboration between the Bay Ridge Civic Association and the Bay Ridge Trust, Bay Ridgers decided to buy the land themselves. We would protect our community from over development, preserve our way of life, and conserve the natural resources that are so critical to us and the Bay.

Fortunately, Bay Ridge residents and friends included men and women with special expertise in finance, law, real estate, public relations, education, development, and engineering who were willing to volunteer their skills and time — untold hours of time — for the good of the community. They led cadres of other volunteers in a battle to save the woods.

The Fundraising - Bay Ridge property owners voted overwhelmingly to add $250 per tax account to the annual special tax benefit assessment to cover a low-interest bank loan secured under the auspices of the Maryland Department of the Environment.

Bay Ridgers present and past, neighbors on the Annapolis Neck, and family and friends across the country gave more than $1.1 million to the Bay Ridge Trust so it could buy the development rights on the woods and preserve it forever. Grants came in from the Anne Arundel County and private sources.

The Excitement - After months of negotiations, the Bay Ridge Civic Association purchased BRPI in 2002 for $4.1 million. The money came from 1) the bank loan, 2) the sale of conservation easements on the woods to the Bay Ridge Trust, 3) Maryland’s Program Open Space, and 4) the sale of six lots to adjacent land owners, with limited conditions of use, and four — only four — lots for development.

The Responsibility - Six years ago we took on what was generally considered by outsiders to be an impossible task. And we accomplished it.

During its ownership, Bay Ridge Properties, Inc. did nothing to maintain the health of the Big Woods. Now it’s up to us.

It’s our woods!