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CBS News
5 days ago
- Business
- CBS News
Maryland launches new effort to improve vacant property assessments in Baltimore City
The Maryland State Department of Assessments and Taxation on Wednesday launched an initiative aimed at improving the accuracy of vacant land assessments in Baltimore City, in response to community feedback about the valuation of vacant homes. "Baltimore is a city where property values can shift significantly block by block," SDAT Executive Director Bob Yeager said. "That's why we use neighborhood-based market groupings, which capture a more accurate reflection of local conditions and avoid one-size-fits-all solutions. We're prioritizing a full review of vacant land in each reassessment cycle." The department will methodically identify all properties that have not been developed in the Group 2 reassessment area of Baltimore City. Group 2 refers to a set of residential and commercial properties that are appraised on a three-year cycle by SDAT. The 2023 reassessment covered 779,573 Group 2 properties, based on sales data from the previous three years. A map of the Group 2 area is available on SDAT's website. Integrity checks of sales and property records will be performed to improve data accuracy as part of the initiative, the department said. The state also plans to analyze land sales to ensure neighborhoods are valued correctly. Addressing Baltimore's vacant housing crisis has long been a goal for Maryland leaders. As of August, there are nearly 13,000 vacant homes across Baltimore, according to data from the Baltimore City Department of Housing and Urban Development. In July, Gov. Wes Moore announced $50 million in grand awards to assist Baltimore's efforts to reduce vacant properties. The Baltimore Vacants Reinvestment Initiative provides resources to revitalize communities with high concentrations of vacant homes. Meanwhile, the Baltimore City Council passed legislation to triple taxes on vacant homes starting in 2026, escalating to quadruple rates if owners do not address neglected properties. In March, Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott established the Bmore F.A.S.T. (Facilitating Approvals and Streamlining Timelines) initiative to speed up redevelopment and permitting processes, with added staff and technological upgrades to remove bottlenecks in bringing properties back into productive use.
Time of India
29-07-2025
- Sport
- Time of India
Govt football turf fuels students' dreams
At the Govt Higher Secondary School in Sholinganallur, Chennai's first govt football turf is more than just a place to play. Replacing their earlier muddy, uneven field, the new turf built by Greater Chennai Corporation under 'Namakku Naame Thittam' is helping students dream bigger, train harder, and grow more disciplined. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now For students such as M Mathisha, the opportunity to train on the turf means year-round access to the sport they love, regardless of weather. "Earlier we used to play on a muddy ground. When it rained, we would forego practice," says Mathisha, who began playing football in Class VII. "Now we train all the time. Since I play for zonal and district matches, this turf has helped me work on my form better, and my stamina is preserved better. " K Yoshini, whose seniors inspired her to take up the sport last year, says she dreams of becoming a lawyer. "I come from a family of modest means. My mother is a housewife, and my father is a tailor. With regular training, I hope to secure college admission through the sports quota," she says. The school's physical education teacher, P Sivanesan, who has been training students since 2018, says the turf has transformed their interest in sports. "If I give them a drill, they are pushing their limits and going well and beyond what I ask them to do," he says. Training begins at 6am and ends at 8:30am, and again from 4:30pm to 5:30pm. This turf has drawn the attention of other students also. "We may see an increase in participation," says Sivanesan. Currently, more than 70 students are actively training on the turf, 40 girls and 30 boys, and it's indicative of how inclusive and aspirational the programme has become. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now S Kannappan, director of Tamil Nadu school education department, says, "We shall work with GCC and roll this out in other govt schools. The department's goal is to encourage sports in schools." Beyond football, several govt schools in Chennai are also promoting sports such as fencing, weightlifting, boxing, and basketball. With Sports Development Authority of Tamil Nadu (SDAT) regularly scouting for talent, it has found some of the best fencers in govt schools across the district. As a part of the CM Trophy, a state-level sports competition organised by govt, school students can participate and apply to avail training and support free of cost. "Sports should not be a privilege, it should be accessible to every child, regardless of where they study or what their background is. We're working to ensure that more students, especially those from underprivileged backgrounds, are provided with basic infrastructure, coaching support and adequate nutrition so that every student has an opportunity to discover their potential through sport," says J Meghanatha Reddy, member secretary of SDAT.
The Hindu
03-07-2025
- Sport
- The Hindu
High Performance Centre to come up by August
Former India star paddler Sharath Kamal's dream has finally come true. The High Performance Centre (HPC), to be funded by the Tamil Nadu Innovations Initiatives (TANII), a wing of the State Planning Commission of the Tamil Nadu Government, will be up and running by the end of August, at the Tamil Nadu Physical Education and Sports University (TNPESU) at Melakottaiyur. The proposal was approved by the Executive Committee of Sports Development Authority of Tamil Nadu (SDAT) here on Thursday. Speaking to The Hindu, J. Meghanatha Reddy, Member Secretary of SDAT, said the HPC has received a funding for three years from TNII which help stabilise the Centre. It was also decided that Sharath would be HPC's Advisory Director. 'The funding from TNII will comprehensively cover the infrastructure, upgradation, equipment, manpower, expert coaches for the facilities,' he said. The 42-year-old five-time Olympian was thrilled with the development. Sharath said his vision is to develop talents from other districts of Tamil Nadu and make the HPC into a National Training Centre and tie-up with World Table Tennis (WTT) to bring in coaches and players from abroad. The 10-time Senior National champion is keen to hold a WTT Youth Contender either by November this year or Nov. 2026 at TNPESU. 'It's been a long process. It took us a while to figure out how to get the HPC into shape. Am happy it will be starting soon. I had in mind to start a National Training Centre and in 2022-23 when Meghanatha Reddy sir called me, the seed was planted in my mind. Slowly it took shape,' Sharath told The Hindu. Sharath said he is planning to rope in reputed fitness trainer Ramji Srinivasan and his team of physios and strength and conditioning coaches into HPC. 'Of course SDAT will have a say on it,' he said. Sharath insisted that HPC will have residential facilities for players while adding that he would finalise his team of coaches in the coming months.
Time of India
02-07-2025
- Sport
- Time of India
SDAT to set up three discounted pickleball courts
Chennai: Tapping into the rising urban trend of pickleball games, the youth welfare and sports development department has planned to set up three new courts across the city. As private courts cost 1,000 to 1,500 per hour, the govt plans to allow bookings at 30% discount Pickleball is a paddle sport played typically by four people. Players bounce a lightweight plastic ball over a 34-inch-high net. What makes this an emerging urban fitness trend is that it is easy to learn, say players. Meghanath Reddy, member-secretary, Sports Development Authority of Tamil Nadu (SDAT), said there is a court in Nehru Stadium and they plan to expand to more core areas. You Can Also Check: Chennai AQI | Weather in Chennai | Bank Holidays in Chennai | Public Holidays in Chennai "More people are playing it now among all age groups, and we want to boost community engagement," he said, adding that the pickleball courts would not have any coaching immediately, but eventually, they will look to hire coaches based on response. Each court will cost about 12 lakh with fencing, nets, and lighting. The arena will have washrooms and drinking water. The courts are likely to come up in core areas in Chetpet, Nungambakkam, and Velachery near the SDAT complexes. Khiztar Hussain, who owns Pickleball Task on Anna Salai, said mostly middle-aged people come to play daily. "The courts require no maintenance and the rules too are simple. People come together as a community for leisure," he said. "You just need to play it for an hour or two. It is easy to get the hang of it," says Prasanna B, a businessman. What was earlier a casual game played among friends has turned into a community sport where players organise friendly matches and find each other through apps such as Turf Town. The recent MGM Tamil Nadu Pickleball tournament featured over 250 participants, said Gopi Ram, a participant. "There were players from other districts like Coimbatore, Salem, and Ooty," he said.
Time of India
22-06-2025
- Time of India
‘Pushed to death, but I made it': Tamil Nadu woman scales all 7 continental peaks, survives storm atop Denali
N Muthamizh Selvi, a Japanese teacher from Tamil Nadu, has become the first person from her state to conquer the Seven Summits, completing the challenge with her ascent of Mount McKinley. CHENNAI: On June 16, atop North America's Mount McKinley, N Muthamizh Selvi became the first person from Tamil Nadu to conquer the highest peaks on all seven continents. A native of Johilpatti village in Virudhunagar district, Muthamizh Selvi teaches Japanese in Chennai. Her great climb began in May 2023 when she became the first woman from Tamil Nadu to scale Mount Everest . And in just the next two years, she would complete the 'Seven Summits' challenge Europe's Mount Elbrus (July 2023) Africa's Mount Kilimanjaro (Sept 2023) South America's Mount Aconcagua (Feb 2024) Australia's Mount Kosciuszko (March 2024) Antartica's Mount Vinson (Dec 2024) and finally Mount McKinley. Called Denali by Native American people, meaning 'the tall one', it's where Muthamizh Selvi faced some of her biggest challenges. "I had to carry an 80kg bag with me. It would keep pushing me backwards," she told TOI. "And after reaching the summit, we had to sleep there, in the freezing cold, without a tent, for 16 hours straight because of heavy winds." And that, Muthamizh Selvi says, pushed her close to death. "I developed a splitting headache because of the winds. If I had bled, that would have been my end. It's a miracle I survived," she said. Muthamizh Selvi climbed the mountain with Shaikh Hassan Khan who works for the Kerala secretariat. "When we were caught in the storm, Shaikh contacted Kerala govt through his satellite phone, after which Kerala chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan alerted Prime Minister Narendra Modi. We then found Indian Embassy staff waiting for us at the base camp with medical aid," Muthamizh Selvi said. "We had to walk for 18 hours to reach the base camp. " It took almost 2 crore for Muthamizh Selvi to scale the seven mountains. She was supported by state development authority of Tamil Nadu (SDAT). Hailing Muthamizh Selvi's achievement, DMK MP Kanimozhi Karunanidhi posted on X: "It is an inspiration for crores of women in India to reach their peaks."
