Dropping Anchor In The Neighborhood

Concentrated rehabilitation works better than scattered-site infill to revitalize Baltimore's struggling neighborhoods.

1 minute read

November 2, 2003, 9:00 AM PST

People's Homesteading Group, "a 20-year-old nonprofit that converts vacant houses into homes for low- and moderate-income families," recently launched a campaign to clean up a block of 22 abandoned houses in Baltimore. Like the city's government, the Group believes that "piecemeal rehab strategy [is] ineffective in helping turn around neighborhoods." They hope that the concentrated effort, in addition to raising funds for future rehabilitation, will "bring a stabilizing effect to the area," enlivening the neighborhood's appeal to potential homeowners. This project "is part of a larger effort called 'Anchors of Hope' in an approximately 20-square-block area that includes greening, a proposed small commercial development and spot rehabs of another dozen units."

Thanks to David Gest

FULL STORY: Rebuilding a city, a block at a time

Thursday, October 30, 2003 in The Baltimore Sun

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