No small town can be totally prepared for an alpha personality as large and intense as construction executive Roy Kirby. The former Green Beret has made a remarkably successful career out of beating his competition by delivering high quality construction projects (mostly schools, churches, and parking facilities) on time and under budget. Part of Roy’s success is his passion for work, but that same passion and intensity has, by his own admission, caused misunderstandings and concerns in Chestertown with his involvement with critical projects important to the community, including the development for Stepney Manor, the Chestertown Marina, Cross Street and the town’s Waterfront.
In his interview for the Chestertown Futures project, Roy talks candidly about his background, his motives, the Chestertown projects he’s involved with, and his hopes for Chestertown.
Chestertown Futures is a two-year project of the Chestertown Spy to provide a sustained community conversation on Chestertown’s future and aspirations through the unique voices of twenty-four members of the community representing all aspects of greater Chestertown. By design, these interviews are longer than most broadcast interviews to allow each participant ample time to express their views. It is therefore advisable to allow time for the YouTube video to load the interview fully before viewing, which may take up to three to five minutes.
Robin Wood Kurowski says
Nicely done…..thanks so much for doing and posting this very nice interview!
thatguy says
This is one of my favorite Futures so far. Roy Kirby is an interesting man that has a lot of progressive ideas for our small town. Many people are against him, but I found this interview very informative in regards to his thinking and the future of Chestertown. If we had a few more people like him in this town who knows what could happen.
Larry G says
Roy Kirby is a breath of fresh air! Give him a chance, and perhaps Chestertown will come alive, be more loved and be more of the fine town for which it is known. Why do so many people get suspect of a new face with new ideas?
This is the future and welcome the progress! Chestertown needs more exposure to other places–then sort out the best. Take your blinders off and welcome Roy’s thoughts and views. Could be a terrific thing but only if he is permitted to speak and be heard.
Carla Massoni says
Thanks Roy. Love the renovations on Cross Street!!
Edward E. Maxcy says
Mr. Kirby’s work, to date, in Chestertown and on the Washington College campus, appears to have been of very high quality, a standard that I for one admire. I do wonder what traffic will be like when, eventually, 250 hours and perhaps 500 cars need to move along Cross Street to High Street in order to go north or south.
I greatly admire the work being on on his Cross Street properties, but hope the Town will do something to reduce the danger of cars moving from Cannon Street to Cross Street — perhaps a blinking light with “red” on Cannon and “yellow” on Cross/Quaker Neck?
Even the lovely live, evergreen trees this past winter season have been the cause of a number of close “encounters of a very unpleasant kind” between vehicles on Cross and Cannon Streets.
Not rich!!! says
So Mr Kirby is going to build another 250 to 300 houses on current farmland??? This is a farming county that is slowly losing that feeling because of the developing that is going on! While I agree that some growth is good, there are tons of houses on the market already that the young couples/families just starting out CANT afford!! I think Mr Kirby has doen wonderful work on what he has done so far but unless he is going tohave nice homes under say….$100,000 or so, the young families cant afford to stay in the county!!!!
robin says
yikes. does anyone remember the cool little park and dock at radcliffe landing where there now stands a bunch of atrocious CONDOS? the trailer park on philosophers terrace has way more charm and appeal. duck neck too! actually i think im going somewhere with this. yeah lets make a sweet trailer park on the south side of town so some real locals can live within walking of all those cutsie shops and restaurants downtown. bet 10% of them are boat owners too!
Jason says
I have worked with Roy Kirby personally and he is a fine man and good for Chestertown! The rest of us sit around arguing for YEARS about the B.O.E. and the National Guard building and in the meantime Kirby is building the future.
Bopper says
Roy Kirby has invested in our town with wide hall. I believe he has some great visions of making chestertown a forward leaning destination that will not only be the gem of the eastern shore but all of md. Loosen up and give the guy a chance