News-Letter

Media Credit: Shiv Gandhi Residents of East Baltimore aired their grievances with the ongoing construction in their neighborhood at a meeting last Tuesday. The area has been affected by the building of a biotech park, which has resulted in the removal by the city of over 800 residents from their homes through eminent domain. [Click to enlarge]

Many residents do not to return after initial removal from E. Baltimore

A controversial development project sponsored by the University has started construction on another 57 acres of housing in East Baltimore, while a majority of the 800 residents displaced during the first phase of construction will not be returning to the neighborhood they once called home.

East Baltimore Development, Inc. (EBDI) - a consortium of financial sponsors that includes Hopkins, the office of the mayor and the Historic East Baltimore Community Action Coalition - has been clearing neighborhoods to make room for a $1.8 billion biotechnology park, which the group says will help revitalize the historically-impoverished area.

According to EDBI President and CEO Jack Shannon, 396 of these residents who were displaced by the first wave of construction are now living in different neighborhoods. Of these residents, only 30 own their new homes.

The new housing units built under the first phase of demolition and construction are just now opening back up to residents, said Chris Shea, chief real estate officer for EBDI. "Park View at Ashland Terrace is opening next week. It contains 74 units which are all affordable rentals for seniors," he said.

According to Shea, around 40 of the 58 leases were signed by returning East Baltimore residents, and the monthly rent will range between $335 to $680. Ashland Commons, the next series of residential housing, will not open until December, where removed tenants have currently signed 29 of 45 leases. EBDI has designated these units for working families and has stated that monthly rent will range from $616 to $950.

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