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QUARTERLY UPDATE VOLUME II - ISSUE 1
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2020 is upon us and with it comes the promise of continued growth, development, and positive change. At DHCD, we will continue our work to move that agenda forward.
2019 saw the launch of our Framework for Community Development, in which we defined our new approach. 2020 will focus on aligning the agency to best implement the Framework. Our work to preserve and revitalize Baltimore's neighborhoods is grounded in partnerships with our community leaders and across agencies and jurisdictions. The Neighborhood Cabinet, convened at City Hall, and the many associated work groups, continue to meet regularly and find ever more efficient and effective ways to share information and collaborate. 2020 will focus on aligning the agency's staffing, operations, and resources to pursue the strategic vision advanced in the Framework towards the goal of inclusive, equitable community development in Baltimore City.
Looking forward in FY20, we are excited about the block-by-block level of planning we’ve been working on with our partners in the identified Impact Investment and Asset Building Areas. We’ll be expanding our work to more fully develop our middle-market strategy and we are looking carefully at the intersection of schools, community, and public safety; working with Police Commissioner Harrison and his team to knit together strategies where public safety and housing investments do more than stabilize communities, they support and leverage long-desired community development.
Please keep an eye out for the announcement of the second round of RFPs for the Community Catalyst Grant (CCG) operating and capital funds in February. We made 60 CCG awards last year, most to emerging organizations, and look forward to delivering another round of support to our community partners and organizations and to the critical capital projects they are leading. Also, just this week we finalized spending priorities for the Affordable Housing Trust Fund (AHTF). The resources of the AHTF and the work of the AHTF Commissioners helps ensure that as we promote community development we are building in quality, long-term affordable housing at the outset.
Finally, I encourage you to review the recent presentation we made as part of our Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) requests before the Planning Commission. With so many competing demands for capital, and important new priorities, many city agencies face significant cutbacks. Nevertheless, please know that we remain vigilant in our direction and purpose and working together, we will continue to make progress.
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Intersection of Housing Stability and
Educational Outcomes Addressed
Research confirms that housing stability is inextricably linked to school attendance and educational outcomes. However, it is rare for the systems to coordinate solutions. DHCD, in partnership with City Schools, is advancing the idea of a school-based affordable housing program for families who face housing instability during the school year.
DHCD teamed up with UPD Consulting and was awarded funding from Fannie Mae's Sustainable Communities Innovation Challenge (The Challenge) to research and develop a model program. DHCD will work with affordable housing providers to facilitate the rehabilitation and maintenance of available properties and Baltimore City Schools will identify the families of students in need of housing interventions. Foundation support for much needed services will play a critical role.
Such a school-based affordable housing program will support children in their living situations and their educational experiences while further establishing schools as anchors in their surrounding communities. Reducing housing instability and the associated costs will improve the lifetime prospects for children of low-income families and reduce costs associated with frequent mobility. In addition, the program will help improve the housing stock in surrounding communities.
Development of the model will take place over the next 12 months and will inform both a successful pilot and establish a compelling case to scale the effort.
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New Online Process to Promote Development
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DHCD has launched a new process for expressions of interest (EOI) to develop several city-owned properties. The EOI aims to (a) begin the redevelopment process by publicizing information about properties primed for redevelopment, (b) establish a list of interested and qualified parties or firms, and (c) lead to the development of Requests for Proposals if warranted. The process provides a cost-effective way to measure the level of developer interest and for the first time, the agency has established an online mechanism for interested parties to inquire and submit proposals.
Seven strategic locations are being marketed, to include five parcels of land in the neighborhoods of Upton, Broadway East, Central Park Heights, Mount Winnans, and Ten Hills. Two historic buildings being promoted include the Gompers School - a key location in Baltimore's North Avenue Corridor -- and the Home of the Friendless in the Marble Hill neighborhood. An additional six properties that are all surplus schools are being promoted through the EOI process.
Submissions for the listed properties are due beginning Tuesday, March 3, 2020. Learn more.
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ARTSPACE Set to Revitalize Historic
Ambassador Theater
DHCD's effort to attract development interest to the Liberty Heights Avenue Commercial Corridor is taking shape with the recent acquisition of the Ambassador Theater by Artspace Projects, Inc. (Artspace).
The Ambassador Theater screened its final movie 50-plus years ago, and has been vacant for more than a decade. However, in 2016, with strong community support, DHCD placed the Ambassador in receivership and stabilized the structure in anticipation of future development opportunities.
Artspace, a Minneapolis-based national nonprofit that has developed more than 50 art spaces across the country, submitted the winning bid for the theater at the receivership auction. Redevelopment of the Ambassador will be its first project in Baltimore.
Artspace plans to redevelop the Howard Park property into a vibrant arts hub. Potential uses for the building include commercial/retail, performance art, event space, gallery space, nonprofit organizations, studios, and live/work artist housing.
Artspace engaged the community through focus group meetings to help identify a range of inclusive arts uses for the iconic landmark. The development team’s Community Engagement Report will be made public in early 2020, with an Arts Market Study to follow later in the year.
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Funds Leveraged for Community Empowerment
Community led efforts in West Baltimore are transforming the old Bethel Outreach Center on McCulloh Street into a vibrant community resource soon to open as the new Bethel Empowerment & Wellness Center.
DHCD is supporting the community, State partners, and faith-based institutions to rehab and transform the building into a facility that houses several community-based organizations. The new Bethel Empowerment and Wellness Center is set to bring vital programs and services to approximately 10,000 residents.
DHCD has committed an investment of $600,000 to the redevelopment. Our resources will help leverage investments form the State and private philanthropic organizations to support the $2.5 million project. The building at 1429 McCulloh will be restored to its former elegance and will be a source of pride in Upton's Marble Hill Historic District.
The community expects to celebrate the grand opening of the Bethel Empowerment & Wellness Center in June of 2020.
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A new law in Baltimore City requires homeowners who rent property for the short-term to get a license. DHCD is responsible for implementing the new rules, which are a result of legislation passed by the Baltimore City Council (Council Bill 18-1089).
Effective since December 31, 2019, all short-term rental properties are required to be licensed. Short-term rentals are properties that are rented for 90 or fewer consecutive days.
Only a homeowner can be issued a short-term residential rental license for his or her permanent residence (a permanent residence is one in which the owner resides for at least 180 days annually). Additionally, such properties must be free of any code violations. A $200 license registration fee is required, and under certain circumstances, an additional dwelling unit can be licensed. Learn more.
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Did you know that every person not counted in the Census leaves $1,800 of federal funding on the table each year? The importance of the Census cannot be overstated.
More than 50 State and Federal programs rely on Census data for funding. The Census helps leaders understand community needs and determines how the City is represented in Congress, the Maryland General Assembly, and City Council.
Every City resident must be counted to ensure we get our fair share of federal funds for essential programs that cover health care, education, housing, economic development, and transportation. Responses will inform how more than $675 billion in public funding flows into community services, health clinics, Head Start, historically black colleges and universities, Community Development Block Grants, WIC, programs that support minority-owned businesses, and more.
Census 2020 is easy to complete. There are 10 questions and it only takes 10 minutes. You can fill out the census online, by phone, or mail in your answers. By law, your personal information will be kept confidential.
Improving our community starts with Census 2020. Encourage everyone you know to participate. Census Day is April 1, but you don’t have to wait. Everyone in Baltimore Counts! Learn more.
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