Despite improvements, residents in East Baltimore remain disgruntled
This article is the first in a series profiling the various perspectives on development in Middle East Baltimore, near the Hopkins medical campus.
Leslie Lewis no longer recognizes the Middle East Baltimore neighborhood she grew up in. Before development forced residents to relocate, she felt a strong sense of community.
"You had your moms on the block sitting out on the steps or sweeping the sidewalk in front of their houses. You knew everybody and everybody knew you ... it was almost like a small town," she said.
"When I walk through the neighborhood, it's very hard to imagine it has an identity. It feels like a ghost town ... There's nothing like seeing 30 acres of property in rubble," she said.
Conflicts and cooperation between two organizations in the Middle East Baltimore neighborhood are shaping a community identity for the area, which has been impacted by developments that forced residents to relocate.
East Baltimore Development, Inc. (EBDI) is a partnership between institutions, including Hopkins, and is responsible for managing the 80-acre development, which is anchored by a biotechnology research park.
Save the Middle East Action Committee (SMEAC) is a grassroots community organization dedicated for advocating the interests of Middle East Baltimore residents.
"I wouldn't call us partners, but we're not adversaries either. We're working together to get the best for the people in the area," said Lewis, who serves as the organization's vice chair.
EBDI Chief Real Estate Officer Christopher Shea stressed the importance of the organization's relationship with SMEAC and the resident community.
"It is important that there is an organized expression from the community, and SMEAC is that. They have been extremely valuable and extremely constructive in being that organized voice in a depopulated community," Shea said.
But beneath this cooperation there is conflict, which Lewis feels stems from the different way they view the people of Middle East Baltimore.
"For [EBDI], they are residents. For us, they are neighbors," she said.
At meeting on Wednesday intended to address the community identity of the "New East Baltimore," several residents felt EBDI was not doing enough to communicate on the redevelopment's progress.
"We're not getting the message. There should have been communication between you and SMEAC so they could make announcements," one resident said.
EBDI Director of Communications Helen Szablya responded that she had hand-delivered fliers to SMEAC for distribution.
Lewis said that even after SMEAC goes door-to-door to keep residents updated, they often "find people that don't know what is going on."
Though they acknowledge the perceived lack of communication with current residents of Middle East Baltimore, Szablya said that EBDI communicates with residents through a monthly newsletter and meetings with the community.
"EBDI is working very hard to take care of these issues," said Johns Hopkins Institutions Director of Community Affairs Deidra Bishop.
Bishop is a liaison between Hopkins and the Middle East Baltimore community.
Szablya cited positive response to family advocates, who provide assistance families relocated in the recently completed Phase I of construction, as well as to those who will be affected by subsequent phases.
According to a recently conducted independent survey, out of the 396 families relocated to make room for construction, 90 percent reported satisfaction with their new home.
Eighty-three percent consider themselves better off than they were before relocation.
Although she had a positive experience during relocation, Lewis said that the firsthand knowledge she garnered during debates with EBDI gave her an insight that other residents do not have.
Several residents expressed optimism that the redevelopment project will create a positive identity for the area.
"We don't want to make any predictions ... right now it looks like everything is going fine. We'll wait and see what happens next," said Pastor K.C. Wilks of the First John Tabernacle Church.
But Lewis wondered if this new identity is worth the loss of the old one.
"In giving us an opportunity for better EBDI has succeeded, but it's sometimes hard to let go of the past. Right now the identity is faded. You don't know what it is and you can't see what it was," she said.
Lewis said she would consider moving back into the neighborhood once more housing is opened.
EBDI recently opened workforce housing, which is nearly 50 percent full, with 70 percent of those residents returning after relocation.
A senior citizen housing building called Ashland Common is nearly 80 percent full, with 70 percent of those residents returning after relocation.
Charlotte Johnson, who has lived in East Baltimore for almost 60 years, was a homeowner but made the decision to become a renter so that she could stay in the area.
She said that with 100 residents and only one elevator, living in Ashland Commons is a difficult situation.
EBDI noted that the building meets city regulations.
For now, EBDI and SMEAC will continue to work together in creating new initiatives.
Currently, SMEAC is fighting for the continuation of services provided during the first phase of construction through this second phase.
At a Monday meeting the organization held with residents, student attorneys for SMEAC from the Community Development Clinic of the University of Baltimore's Law School presented on tax breaks for renters.
SMEAC hopes that the EBDI Vacant Housing Rehabilitation Program, also known as the "House for a House" home ownership access program, will allow residents to avoid relocation and remain in the Middle East Baltimore community.
EBDI has developed plans to rehabilitate 20 fully-rehabbed home ownership units by the end of the year, according to a letter from president Jack Shannon to SMEAC.
Shea said that he believes that the "House for a House" program will hopefully be the most successful housing program in the project, because "it has its roots in the realities of people's lives."
Donald Gresham, the president of SMEAC, said that many residents see Hopkins as a major player in the development.
"I think Johns Hopkins can do better financially. I think it can be more community-friendly, and it isn't. The institution has not shown these people in this community that they are important," he said.
Szablya said that while Hopkins has been a very important critical partner and investor, the University does not own anything.
"Johns Hopkins is a major partner in the effort, along with the city, state and federal goverments and the foundation community, but the effort is run by EBDI," Hopkins Spokesman Dennis O'Shea said.
- Additional reporting by Marie Cushing
Leslie Lewis no longer recognizes the Middle East Baltimore neighborhood she grew up in. Before development forced residents to relocate, she felt a strong sense of community.
"You had your moms on the block sitting out on the steps or sweeping the sidewalk in front of their houses. You knew everybody and everybody knew you ... it was almost like a small town," she said.
"When I walk through the neighborhood, it's very hard to imagine it has an identity. It feels like a ghost town ... There's nothing like seeing 30 acres of property in rubble," she said.
Conflicts and cooperation between two organizations in the Middle East Baltimore neighborhood are shaping a community identity for the area, which has been impacted by developments that forced residents to relocate.
East Baltimore Development, Inc. (EBDI) is a partnership between institutions, including Hopkins, and is responsible for managing the 80-acre development, which is anchored by a biotechnology research park.
Save the Middle East Action Committee (SMEAC) is a grassroots community organization dedicated for advocating the interests of Middle East Baltimore residents.
"I wouldn't call us partners, but we're not adversaries either. We're working together to get the best for the people in the area," said Lewis, who serves as the organization's vice chair.
EBDI Chief Real Estate Officer Christopher Shea stressed the importance of the organization's relationship with SMEAC and the resident community.
"It is important that there is an organized expression from the community, and SMEAC is that. They have been extremely valuable and extremely constructive in being that organized voice in a depopulated community," Shea said.
But beneath this cooperation there is conflict, which Lewis feels stems from the different way they view the people of Middle East Baltimore.
"For [EBDI], they are residents. For us, they are neighbors," she said.
At meeting on Wednesday intended to address the community identity of the "New East Baltimore," several residents felt EBDI was not doing enough to communicate on the redevelopment's progress.
"We're not getting the message. There should have been communication between you and SMEAC so they could make announcements," one resident said.
EBDI Director of Communications Helen Szablya responded that she had hand-delivered fliers to SMEAC for distribution.
Lewis said that even after SMEAC goes door-to-door to keep residents updated, they often "find people that don't know what is going on."
Though they acknowledge the perceived lack of communication with current residents of Middle East Baltimore, Szablya said that EBDI communicates with residents through a monthly newsletter and meetings with the community.
"EBDI is working very hard to take care of these issues," said Johns Hopkins Institutions Director of Community Affairs Deidra Bishop.
Bishop is a liaison between Hopkins and the Middle East Baltimore community.
Szablya cited positive response to family advocates, who provide assistance families relocated in the recently completed Phase I of construction, as well as to those who will be affected by subsequent phases.
According to a recently conducted independent survey, out of the 396 families relocated to make room for construction, 90 percent reported satisfaction with their new home.
Eighty-three percent consider themselves better off than they were before relocation.
Although she had a positive experience during relocation, Lewis said that the firsthand knowledge she garnered during debates with EBDI gave her an insight that other residents do not have.
Several residents expressed optimism that the redevelopment project will create a positive identity for the area.
"We don't want to make any predictions ... right now it looks like everything is going fine. We'll wait and see what happens next," said Pastor K.C. Wilks of the First John Tabernacle Church.
But Lewis wondered if this new identity is worth the loss of the old one.
"In giving us an opportunity for better EBDI has succeeded, but it's sometimes hard to let go of the past. Right now the identity is faded. You don't know what it is and you can't see what it was," she said.
Lewis said she would consider moving back into the neighborhood once more housing is opened.
EBDI recently opened workforce housing, which is nearly 50 percent full, with 70 percent of those residents returning after relocation.
A senior citizen housing building called Ashland Common is nearly 80 percent full, with 70 percent of those residents returning after relocation.
Charlotte Johnson, who has lived in East Baltimore for almost 60 years, was a homeowner but made the decision to become a renter so that she could stay in the area.
She said that with 100 residents and only one elevator, living in Ashland Commons is a difficult situation.
EBDI noted that the building meets city regulations.
For now, EBDI and SMEAC will continue to work together in creating new initiatives.
Currently, SMEAC is fighting for the continuation of services provided during the first phase of construction through this second phase.
At a Monday meeting the organization held with residents, student attorneys for SMEAC from the Community Development Clinic of the University of Baltimore's Law School presented on tax breaks for renters.
SMEAC hopes that the EBDI Vacant Housing Rehabilitation Program, also known as the "House for a House" home ownership access program, will allow residents to avoid relocation and remain in the Middle East Baltimore community.
EBDI has developed plans to rehabilitate 20 fully-rehabbed home ownership units by the end of the year, according to a letter from president Jack Shannon to SMEAC.
Shea said that he believes that the "House for a House" program will hopefully be the most successful housing program in the project, because "it has its roots in the realities of people's lives."
Donald Gresham, the president of SMEAC, said that many residents see Hopkins as a major player in the development.
"I think Johns Hopkins can do better financially. I think it can be more community-friendly, and it isn't. The institution has not shown these people in this community that they are important," he said.
Szablya said that while Hopkins has been a very important critical partner and investor, the University does not own anything.
"Johns Hopkins is a major partner in the effort, along with the city, state and federal goverments and the foundation community, but the effort is run by EBDI," Hopkins Spokesman Dennis O'Shea said.
- Additional reporting by Marie Cushing
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Hanna
posted 3/28/08 @ 9:47 PM EST
I just heard an amazing play about the same thing happening in Caspers, DC. Advocacy groups can have a powerful say in what they want their future to look like. (Continued…)
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