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 QUARTERLY UPDATE VOLUME III - Issue 3
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Recently, I was reflecting on our agency’s strengths and accomplishments, and they are formidable when I think of all that DHCD represents and achieves on behalf of the citizens we serve. As I look forward to leading the agency and working with the Mayor’s team to deliver superior service, there are some immediate priorities that we will be addressing.
These include hiring a full-time equity officer, expanding the Agency's reach to redress housing and community inequities, engaging new technology to re-engineer and improve the permitting process, and working with staff to advance the many community projects more nimbly in DHCD's pipeline. As always, I remain focused on the critical intersection of health and housing and will continue to embrace strategies to help reduce displacement, ignite revitalization, and prevent further blight.
While I understand and recognize the negative impacts that housing policy has had on our city over the years - from redlining and historic disinvestment - I'm very excited about the opportunities that exist in Baltimore. I will use this opportunity to build trust with communities while providing intentional work and development where it is needed most.
For now, I hope you enjoy the quick updates on activity over the last quarter. We've kept things moving, even under these altered circumstances, and it has been great getting back out into the community to some degree.
In Service,
Alice
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Somerset I Ribbon Cutting
One ribbon cutting down, three more to go for Somerset Housing - part of the Perkins-Somerset-Oldtown (PSO)Transformation Plan.
For decades, DHCD, in partnership with HABC, has worked diligently to transform distressed public housing. In September, City, Federal, State, and community partners, along with the developers, celebrated the completion of Phase I of the neighborhood renewal plan with the grand opening of Somerset I – known as 1234 McElderry Apartments. While on site, the City also broke ground on Somerset II, further advancing the plan.
Located in East Baltimore, 1234 McElderry Apartments is a four-story, 104-unit, mixed-income rental property that has 84 units set aside for affordable to lower-income families. The four-story complex features a fitness center, club room, cyber lounge, two courtyards, and 92 secured-garage parking spots.
Additionally, construction is proceeding on Somerset II, located directly across from 1234 McElderry. Somerset II will bring 192 additional mixed-income dwellings and street-level retail. Two additional mixed-income housing complexes — Somerset III, and Somerset IV, which will be anchored by a grocery store offering healthy food options — are in the pre-development phase.
PSO’s Transformation Plan calls for the creation of a vibrant, mixed-income community that offers affordable and market-rate housing. This includes 652 replacement homes at Perkins and Somerset Homes and 590 affordable housing units spread throughout Perkins-Somerset-Oldtown. The community is also getting a new City Springs School, a new park, and green spaces.
Henson Development Company and Mission First Housing Development Corporation are serving as the development team for the Somerset project. McCormack Baron Salazar is the lead developer for Perkins Homes Housing and Beatty Development Group is the lead for the Perkins Homes Demo/site preparation and public improvement, including South Central Park. This effort is expected to generate $1 billion of investment in the area.
See Photos from Ribbon Cutting.
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2021 Community Catalyst Grants Award Recipients
North, south, east, and west ― all over the City of Baltimore, community renewal activity is moving forward.
Many of these projects ― which are critical to locally driven community revitalization in Baltimore ― are possible because of strong partnerships between the City, State, local community organizations, and other stakeholders, including foundations and anchor institutions. The City is committed to providing resources to assist communities with these efforts through its Community Catalyst Grants (CCG) Program.
Over the summer, Mayor Brandon M. Scott and DHCD Acting Commissioner Alice Kennedy announced the 32 recipients who were awarded CCG Program funding. The City awarded more than $3.5 million in CCG capital money and $2.2 million in operating funds, totaling more than $5.8 million. Some recipients received both operating and capital support.
CCG grants support projects that promote transformational, neighborhood-led investments that remove blighting influences, create a diversity of needed uses, and foster neighborhood-owned and led enterprises. The goal of CCG, a competitive awards program, is to provide capital and operating funds for community-driven revitalization efforts.
These awards mark the second phase of funding through the CCG Program. The City dedicated a large amount of these funds to new and emerging organizations. Learn more.
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Heritage Crossing Ribbon Cutting
Over the summer, DHCD attended several ribbon cuttings with Mayor Brandon M. Scott, City officials, and stakeholders to celebrate the progression of community revitalization activity across Baltimore. Below are project descriptions and links to event videos.
Heritage Crossing
The City supported Heritage Crossing Resident Association’s Central West Gateway Project that called for the redevelopment of the community entrance located at the corner of Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard and Franklin Street. DHCD awarded Heritage Crossing $40,000 in Community Catalyst Grants funding to help bring the $200,000 project to fruition.
Watch video.
700 East Chase
This affordable housing complex represents a $16.6 million investment in Johnston Square that is part of the Johnston Square Partnership’s 550 vacant property Land Disposition Agreement that is providing 60 affordable apartments, a large community space, and other amenities. The City helped move this project forward with $2 million in funding.
Watch video.
Marshall Gardens
DHCD helped advance the development of Marshall Gardens, which represents more than $1.5 million in City investment, through acquisition and demolition. The City acquired more than 140 vacant lots and condemned properties that were transformed into an 87-unit development designed to help meet the city’s affordable housing needs in West Baltimore.
Watch video.
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 Van Anderson, President, Arch Social Club; Mayor Brandon M. Scott; Acting Housing Commissioner Alice Kennedy; and Kaleb Tshamba, Chairman of the Board, Arch Social Club, participate in a ceremonial interior demolition during a renovation kickoff event.
In July, while visiting the Arch Social Club, Mayor Brandon M. Scott and Acting Housing Commissioner Alice Kennedy helped send a loud-and-clear message — community revitalization efforts are underway along the Pennsylvania Avenue Corridor and more are on the horizon.
Mayor Scott, Acting Housing Commissioner Kennedy, and Club leadership donned hardhats and used mini sledgehammers to smash into a lobby wall making way for the expansion of the Club’s museum. The demolition of the wall officially kicked off long-awaited renovations to the historic club.
City funds are helping to make renovations to the Club possible. Arch Social Club is using $180,120, awarded through the City’s Community Catalyst Grants program, to fund the museum expansion and to upgrade to the Club’s electrical system. Additionally, CCG money will be used to make the building ADA-compliant.
This project compliments revitalization efforts along the Pennsylvania Avenue Corridor, which received a State designation as the Pennsylvania Avenue Black Arts & Entertainment District in 2019, the first of its kind. Community renewal activity progressing in the neighboring blocks, includes the recent completion of Marshall Gardens, the refurbished rowhomes in the 1900 block of Etting Street, and the ongoing expansion of Baker’s View Townhomes.
During the 1920s thru the 1960s, Pennsylvania Avenue was the place to be, as the Avenue served as a thriving destination for Black arts and jazz-age entertainment. The Avenue flourished with night clubs, restaurants, motion-picture venues, and performance halls, and the stores bustled with eager customers. City and State officials, community members, and private investors are working hard to return the area to its former glory by committing considerable resources to ongoing and future redevelopment projects. Learn more.
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For many years after the demolition of the former Adams Coal Yard in Druid Heights, the vacant land left behind at the corner of Division and Gold Streets served as popular dumping spot.
But those days are long gone thanks to a partnership between DHCD and State, community, local, and nonprofit stakeholders.
DHCD and its partners teamed with Druid Heights CDC to transform three City-owned lots into a park with lively green space for the community to enjoy. Gold Street Park provides more than 8,100 square feet of green space, art murals, and storm-water management features. DHCD supported this much-needed project with $100,000 in Community Development Block Grants funding.
Studies show that investing in urban green spaces can increase property values, help reduce stress, and boost mental and physical health. This project is one of several renewal efforts that is advancing in the surrounding blocks, including Baker’s View Townhomes, Marshall Gardens, and the eventual development of Cab Calloway Legends Park. With Gold Street Park, residents now have a new place to relax and enjoy physical activities while taking in creative artwork. View Event Photos.
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In August, the U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development (HUD) announced nationwide awards for programs providing safety modifications and repairs for low-income elderly homeowners. DHCD was pleased to be chosen for the maximum award of $1 million.
Funding is provided through HUD’s Older Adults Home Modification Program, which helps eligible seniors with low-cost home modifications that will reduce older adults’ risk of falling and injuring themselves.
The HUD grant will enable DHCD to assist an additional 130 homeowners through it collaborative network known as the Housing Upgrades to Benefit Seniors (HUBS) initiative.
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This RFP offers key sites in Biddle Street, Broadway East, Cedmont, Franklintown, Grove Park, Harlem Park, Kenilworth Park, Park Heights, Sandtown Winchester, and South Clifton Park. These neighborhoods have an abundance of assets to leverage and are poised for future development, transformative growth, and investment.
Submissions are due by Friday, December 17, at 11:59 p.m. (EST). Learn more.
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