Spring Break
Waverly residents try to regain neighborhood's glory days
Issue date: 10/11/07
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Walk nine blocks east of Homewood and you stumble upon the neighborhood known to most students as the place you don't go. Geographically in the center of the city, Waverly has Greenmount Avenue as its western border, 39th St. as its northern border, Ellerslie as its eastern border and 29th St. as its southern border.
Fifty years ago, Waverly's claim to fame was what was branded the "World's Largest Outdoor Insane Asylum," or Memorial Stadium, which was home to the Colts, Orioles and - for a brief stint - the Ravens. The moniker comes from how the roar of the Colts' fans could be heard throughout the surrounding area. When the stadium shut its doors in the late 1990s, much of Waverly's business left as well. The bars, restaurants and specialty shops which had previously catered to both stadium patrons and local workers moved out.
Remaining on Greenmount Avenue's business strip are primarily discount clothing stores, fried chicken joints and pawn shops. Yet a few glimpses remain of Waverly's former glory days - most notably, Pete's Grill. Known for its home-cooked taste and huge breakfast portions, Pete's Grill continues to provide Waverly with a bit of local renown.
Waverly is also famous for its weekly farmers' market. Held every Saturday morning, the "32nd Street Market" brings in over 30 vendors from across Maryland and as far as southern Pennsylvania.
The market draws crowds of approximately 500 people weekly, and provides local residents with a source of freshly-grown fruits and vegetables as well as newly baked goods, flowers and prepared foods.
Today the cost of purchasing a home, while on the rise, remains affordable in Waverly, especially when compared to the prices of surrounding neighborhoods like Charles Village or Guilford.
The average price of a house is still well under $100,000. The stadium's exit from Waverly also, not surprisingly, increased the unemployment rate which is currently estimated at approximately 10 percent according to the latest census information.
Fifty years ago, Waverly's claim to fame was what was branded the "World's Largest Outdoor Insane Asylum," or Memorial Stadium, which was home to the Colts, Orioles and - for a brief stint - the Ravens. The moniker comes from how the roar of the Colts' fans could be heard throughout the surrounding area. When the stadium shut its doors in the late 1990s, much of Waverly's business left as well. The bars, restaurants and specialty shops which had previously catered to both stadium patrons and local workers moved out.
Remaining on Greenmount Avenue's business strip are primarily discount clothing stores, fried chicken joints and pawn shops. Yet a few glimpses remain of Waverly's former glory days - most notably, Pete's Grill. Known for its home-cooked taste and huge breakfast portions, Pete's Grill continues to provide Waverly with a bit of local renown.
Waverly is also famous for its weekly farmers' market. Held every Saturday morning, the "32nd Street Market" brings in over 30 vendors from across Maryland and as far as southern Pennsylvania.
The market draws crowds of approximately 500 people weekly, and provides local residents with a source of freshly-grown fruits and vegetables as well as newly baked goods, flowers and prepared foods.
Today the cost of purchasing a home, while on the rise, remains affordable in Waverly, especially when compared to the prices of surrounding neighborhoods like Charles Village or Guilford.
The average price of a house is still well under $100,000. The stadium's exit from Waverly also, not surprisingly, increased the unemployment rate which is currently estimated at approximately 10 percent according to the latest census information.
Viewing Comments 1 - 10 of 10
Rachelle D. Hollander
posted 10/17/07 @ 11:06 AM EST
Ah, for the days when students ventured forth into neighborhoods nearby campuses to find cheap living and eats! Surprising that the Thai restaurant on Greenmount doesn't deserve mention, or "Friendlys," THE place for fried chicken or fried fish sandwiches, ranch fries, and cafeteria black home-style cooking! The YMCA is an enormous resource for the community and others in the city, as is the large neighborhood built playground now found also on the former stadium grounds. (Continued…)
Herman Heyn
posted 10/17/07 @ 12:29 PM EST
Repeatedly, the article suggests that with the demise of
Memorial Stadium, the Waverly community has been sliding
downhill. Not so at all! For us living in Waverly, the
stadium's demise is ancient history. (Continued…)
Andrew Timleck
posted 10/17/07 @ 5:04 PM EST
I agree that there are challenges to and for our neighborhood. Constantly being compared to Charles Village is one of those. Waverly as a "village" of intersecting community groups, businesses and interests exhibits strengths of diversity in all facets - class, race, housing, businesses, ethnicities, religions and more. (Continued…)
Nancy Michel
posted 10/17/07 @ 5:23 PM EST
I bought my house on East 39th Street shortly after the stadium's demise in 1998. Since I am located at the northern border and I work outside of the city, I haven't had the opportunity to explore or experience my own community as well as I would like. (Continued…)
Sharon Beach
posted 10/18/07 @ 10:04 AM EST
Waverley is safe for walkers from JHU, close to Giant, has the best city Farmer's market, a state of the art YMCA, the best playground around, IS NOT GENTRIFIED (and that means affordable and diverse), has great Thai food, great jamaican food, a neighborhood library, is full of fabulous and involved neighbors. (Continued…)
Anilia
posted 10/18/07 @ 10:46 AM EST
I am a very recent transplant to Waverly. My husband and I just bought our first house here on 36th St. I have met nothing but kindness and community since I moved. (Continued…)
Joe Stewart
posted 10/18/07 @ 11:47 AM EST
Thanks for featuring our community in your newspaper, though it only skimmed the surface and thus was not able to fairly describe the historic charm of Waverly, the diversity and strength of our many homegrown organizations and the significance of our recent redevelopment and restoration, including Stadium Place, Waverly Crossroads Giant Food and Hopkins at Old Eastern. (Continued…)
Leona MacDonald
posted 10/18/07 @ 12:30 PM EST
I'm another DC area transplant. I moved up here because I could buy a house at a reasonable price and am currently updating my home on the 600 block of Montpelier. (Continued…)
Monnie H
posted 10/18/07 @ 12:50 PM EST
I believe this article is a fair assessment of the state of Waverly, past and present. The article mentions the challenges but also the feeling of optimism. (Continued…)
Monessa Keemer
posted 11/13/07 @ 10:59 PM EST
I do'nt know weather your article is fact or fiction.There was a lot of both. Fact:there are some people who are probably afraid to walk through Waverly. (Continued…)
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