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 QUARTERLY UPDATE FEBRUARY 2021
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If 2020 taught us anything, it’s that, as a City, we are resilient and capable of serving communities under challenging circumstances. It has been more than a year now since a COVID-19 public health emergency was declared for the Nation by the US Health and Human Services Secretary. During this time, critical functions have continued, and we’ve adjusted operational procedures that ensure safety for our personnel while also maintaining a response level that ensures continuity of operations.
Since my last communication with you, we’ve inaugurated a new Mayor, welcomed a new City Council and Comptroller, and witnessed the convening of a new General Assembly session in Annapolis. Under this canopy of change, DHCD has continued to move forward, and I’m pleased to bring you this update on our recent activity.
The FY22 budgeting process is well underway. DHCD submitted its Capital Improvement Plan (CIP), requesting $23 million to continue our work. While these funds don’t begin to meet the immense need, we believe we’ve strategized the use of these funds in a way that helps the trajectory of the whole city. I hope you will take a moment to review our CIP and its intentions.
With respect to plans for our city, we have also issued the Draft Five-Year Consolidated Plan and Annual Action Plan. These plans guide and describe specific community development efforts in Baltimore City and inform our Federal formula grant programs, like Community Development Block Grants (CDBG) and HOME Investment Partnership. A certified approved plan is also required to apply for more than 17 housing and social service grant programs overseen by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).
Updates on several of our projects are included below. I also thought you might enjoy the story on our work in Clifton Park and the net-zero homes or learning about how we used fines for an illegal demolition to support the completion of a community park.
Finally, we've launched a series of virtual Community Conversations to engage communities and discuss the progress the City is making in revitalizing areas. Look for information on an upcoming conversation for your area in the near future.
As always, my thanks go out to our community partners and everyone working to keep the city moving forward.
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In its second round of spending priorities in this category, DHCD announced the availability of $1.7 million in Affordable Housing Trust Fund (AHTF) dollars for New Construction and Preservation of Existing Rental Housing. These funds will help support new construction of affordable rental housing and/or the rehabilitation of existing rental projects for affordable housing.
DHCD is seeking projects that are impactful, leverage additional investment, and align with our community development goals and strategies as outlined in the Framework for Community Development. Supporting the construction of new, quality, affordable housing across a range of communities ensures that we are meeting the development needs of all residents. Emerging developers -- developers who have completed at least three and no more than five projects -- are encouraged to apply.
Applicants must demonstrate that they meet all State and established organizational standards required by the NOFA. Deadline is 4 p.m., Friday, March 5. Learn more.
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DHCD is constantly working to revitalize and redevelop communities and to promote access to quality affordable housing opportunities in safe, livable neighborhoods.
Annually, DHCD and other agencies present Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) project requests and priorities to the City’s Planning Commission. Last month, DHCD gave its FY 22-27 presentation, highlighting targeted areas of spending that correspond with our priorities as noted in the City’s Framework for Community Development .
While DHCD has made significant progress with implementing an equitable community development strategy, expanding resources, and investing in all neighborhoods, there’s still work to be done.
DHCD is requesting $23 million in CIP project funding. Our priorities include increasing funding for homeownership projects; focusing on stabilizing buildings which would decrease demolition requests; garnering new support for projects within the City’s Impact Investment Areas; sustaining funding for key projects and programs; and maintaining the city’s infrastructure. View plan.
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 Black Women Build Baltimore purchased and rehabbed 1905, 1903, and 1901 Etting Street (pictured left to right), along with 1911. The Etting Street project compliments the adjacent Marshall Gardens development in the background.
Revitalization efforts in the City’s West Impact Investment Area have garnered national attention.
After purchasing four vacant homes from DHCD in 2019, Black Women Build Baltimore (BWBB) recently completed the restoration of all four homes in the 1900 block of Etting Street. This work adds to the ongoing community development activity happening in Druid Heights and compliments revitalization projects in the area such as Bakers View, Marshall Gardens, and Druid Square.
Last fall, Kelly Clarkson invited BWBB Founder & Executive Director Shelley Halstead to join her talk show to discuss the nonprofit and the Etting Street project. BWBB — founded in 2017 — is a homeownership and wealth building initiative that trains Black women in carpentry, electrical, and plumbing by restoring vacant and deteriorated houses in West Baltimore. BWBB teaches construction skills and financial literacy while fostering homeownership opportunities. BWBB buys abandoned houses, trains the women to rehab them, and then sells the properties to the renovator at an affordable price.
Ms. Clarkson was so inspired by BWBB’s work that she donated $50,000 to the project. The City also awarded BWBB nearly $270,000 in Community Catalyst Grant funding to assist with rehabbing the four homes on Etting Street and six others in West Baltimore. Additionally, BWBB received Commission for Historical and Architectural Preservation (CHAP) tax credits, which helps make the houses more affordable for the buyer.
Each refurbished house features two bedrooms, one bathroom, granite countertops, skylight, a washer and dryer, a brand-new roof, and engineered hardwood flooring throughout. BWBB has stabilized two more properties in the same neighborhood and has identified nearly 30 more city-owned properties in West Baltimore that it hopes to rehab in the future. Learn more.
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Affordable housing issues are a challenge for most cities. Studies show that housing instability and homelessness can jeopardize a child’s opportunity for academic achievement. In response, DHCD pursued funding to develop a model project designed to help overcome these housing and educational obstacles.
After winning a Fannie Mae Sustainable Communities Innovation Challenge award, DHCD, Baltimore City Public Schools (BCPS), and UPD Consulting partnered to develop a concept utilizing vacant homes for a school-based, affordable housing program.
Following a year of work and substantial engagement with more than 100 local and national experts in affordable housing, family homelessness, education, and community schools, the team released a white paper highlighting the Student-Centered Housing Response Model. This program is designed for the City to intervene before a family becomes homeless. DHCD will partner with affordable housing providers to facilitate the rehabilitation and maintenance of properties near neighborhood schools. BCPS will identify the families of students in need of housing interventions.
DHCD, BCPS, and the Department of Planning anticipates implementing this model at three pilot schools by the end of 2021. Learn more.
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DHCD thanks Jim Majors, Assistant Commissioner, Project Finance and Development, for his many years of service to the City of Baltimore. Mr. Majors, who served the City for 33 years, retired in January 2021.
Most recently, Mr. Majors oversaw DHCD’s Office of Project Finance where he led efforts to provide funding to increase the city’s rental and for-sale housing stock. Mr. Majors was instrumental in securing financing for recent projects such as Bakers View, Marshall Gardens, Four Ten Lofts Apartments, 1234 McElderry, Greenmount Chase Multifamily Apartments, Park View at Coldspring, 22 Light Street Apartments, and Renaissance Row.
We know many of you have worked with Jim over many years on important projects throughout the city. His contributions and dedication to the City of Baltimore will have long-lasting impact. Thank you Jim!
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