The State of Maryland has announced three new Sustainable Communities and one of them is located here on the lower Eastern Shore. The Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development announced last month that Pittsville in Wicomico County has been named one of Maryland's newest Sustainable Communities. The other two towns named were Boonsboro and Smithsburg, both in Washington County.
The State of Maryland’s Smart Growth Subcabinet has designated 126 Sustainable Communities across Maryland since the creation of the program in 2010. The Sustainable Communities program provides local governments with access to state programs, loans, grants and tax credits that can support brick and mortar community projects, small business development, job creation and tourism.
"Sustainable Community designations help Maryland’s diverse urban, suburban and rural communities connect with resources to support redevelopment and economic growth," said Secretary Kenneth C. Holt. "The program fosters partnerships that guide comprehensive strategies for environmentally, economically and socially responsible revitalization that responds to local needs."
The Town of Pittsville, located in Wicomico County, was originally known as Derrickson’s Cross Roads and boasts a rich agricultural history. Pittsville is located just east of Salisbury in the heartland of Delmarva. The town was eventually named for Hilary R. Pitts, a local doctor and owner of the Wicomico & Pocomoke Railroad that transformed the community in the mid-19th century by linking freight and passengers to Salisbury and Ocean City. Local goals include upgrading stormwater management and wastewater treatment, expanding and improving green space, rehabilitating homes and providing façade improvements, and repairing and connecting sidewalks.
To date, the 126 Sustainable Communities includes four county-level designations, 118 municipalities and 59 unincorporated areas. They are as diverse as Frostburg in western Maryland, unincorporated areas of Calvert County, large urban jurisdictions in central Maryland, and even includes the Town of Ocean City. For more information, you can visit DHCD’s Sustainable Communities webpage at https://dhcd.maryland.gov/Communities/Pages/dn/default.aspx.
Lauren Bunting is a Broker with Keller Williams Realty of Delmarva in Ocean City, Maryland.
