Welcome to the Summer 2026 edition of your East Frederick Rising Newsletter! Growth is coming: our responsibility is to help ensure it is the right kind of growth!
Over the past several years, East Frederick has entered one of the most transformative periods in its history. Projects such as Frederick Brickworks, Canterbury Station, improvements along the East Street Corridor, and other redevelopment efforts are bringing new homes, businesses, parks, and opportunities to our community. These investments have the potential to strengthen East Frederick and enhance our quality of life for generations to come.
At East Frederick Rising, we welcome thoughtful investment and recognize that growth is an important part of Frederick’s future. New development can create housing opportunities, support local businesses, expand our tax base, improve infrastructure, and provide amenities that benefit residents throughout the City and Frederick County. But growth is about much more than constructing buildings. It is about building a community.
The decisions made today will shape how East Frederick looks, feels, and functions for the next 20 to 30 years. The neighborhoods we create, the parks we preserve, the streets we design, the businesses we attract, and the public spaces we invest in will influence how our children and grandchildren experience Frederick long after today’s construction projects are complete.
That is why East Frederick Rising believes every development should leave behind more than new buildings, it should leave behind a lasting public asset.
Whether that means permanent parkland, connected trail systems, safer sidewalks, preserved historic resources, improved transportation, thoughtfully designed public spaces, or stronger support for local businesses, every project should contribute to the long-term success of our community.
As new developments continue to reshape East Frederick, it is essential that we ask important questions:
- How will this project improve our neighborhoods?
- Will it create safe, walkable connections for families?
- Does it preserve the history and character that make Frederick unique?
- Will our schools, parks, roads, and public services keep pace with growth?
- Are we creating places where people will want to live, not just today, but decades from now
These questions are not obstacles to progress. They are part of responsible planning. The City of Frederick has established a thoughtful public review process that brings together elected officials, City staff, Planning Commissioners, developers, businesses, and residents. That process works best when every voice is represented. Community participation helps decision-makers understand neighborhood priorities, identify opportunities for improvement, and ultimately produce stronger projects.
Developers play an important role by investing in our community and bringing forward innovative ideas. Likewise, City leaders have the responsibility of balancing economic growth with the long-term needs of residents. As a community organization, East Frederick Rising believes the strongest outcomes are achieved when these perspectives are informed by meaningful public participation.
That is where each of us has a role to play.
Too often, residents first learn about a project after construction begins. By then, many of the most important decisions have already been made. Attending a public meeting, submitting written comments, participating in community workshops, or simply staying informed through trusted organizations like East Frederick Rising gives residents an opportunity to help shape projects before they become reality.
Our voices matter.
Not because we oppose change but because we care deeply about getting it right.
East Frederick Rising will continue to advocate for development that balances economic opportunity with environmental stewardship, public access, neighborhood character, historic preservation, and quality of life. We believe that growth and community values are not competing priorities, they are complementary ones.
As East Frederick continues to evolve, we invite you to stay engaged. Attend a meeting. Read the project materials. Ask questions. Share your ideas. Encourage your neighbors to participate. The future of East Frederick is not something that simply happens to us. It is something we build together.
Thank you for your continued support of East Frederick Rising and for helping ensure that our community remains a place where families, businesses, and future generations can thrive.
Together, we can help shape an East Frederick that reflects the values, vision, and pride of the people who call it home. Thank you for caring, and we will see you on the east side!
Warmly,
Heather Goddard
Board President, East Frederick Rising