"Live Near Your Work" grants housing subsidies to Hopkins employees
This sentiment, while held by certain demographics in the Hopkins community, seems to reflect perception rather than reality.
The actual crime statistics show that the areas targeted by the initiative are on the whole less dangerous than areas like Fells Point.
According to the Baltimore Police Department's Web site, there have been 45 crimes reported in the Fells Point area since Sept. 1, while there have only been 10 crimes reported in the Barclay neighborhood since that date.
Carlstrom asserted that Hopkins contracted an expert in urban renewal planning, and that there are precedents and patterns for this kind of incentive-driven housing initiative.
"People will first buy on the perimeter, and then blocks will stabilize and people move into the center. We expect that to be the case in many of our targeted neighborhoods. By 2012, we are expecting to see those areas strengthened," Carlstrom said.
Also, because Hopkins employees make up a diverse demographic, Carlstrom thinks that this will be reflected in the areas in which Hopkins employees buy homes through the program.
"Hopkins has diverse employees, diverse racially, diverse economically. The program offers something for everyone. It's a win-win situation for both employees and targeted neighborhoods," Carlstrom asserted.
Salem Reiner, director for community relations at Hopkins, acknowledged that in order for the program to be successful, many will have to overcome the perception that these areas are lawless no man's lands, but that not everyone would want to take advantage of the opportunity.
"Some people that for whatever reason do not appreciate city living, ["Live Near Your Work" is] not a program trying to convert those people," Reiner said.
Officials at both Hopkins as well as the other non-profits that are working to revitalize the areas targeted in the "Live Near Your Work" program stressed that the current residents have and will continue to be consulted on all projects, and that they have generally been supportive.
The actual crime statistics show that the areas targeted by the initiative are on the whole less dangerous than areas like Fells Point.
According to the Baltimore Police Department's Web site, there have been 45 crimes reported in the Fells Point area since Sept. 1, while there have only been 10 crimes reported in the Barclay neighborhood since that date.
Carlstrom asserted that Hopkins contracted an expert in urban renewal planning, and that there are precedents and patterns for this kind of incentive-driven housing initiative.
"People will first buy on the perimeter, and then blocks will stabilize and people move into the center. We expect that to be the case in many of our targeted neighborhoods. By 2012, we are expecting to see those areas strengthened," Carlstrom said.
Also, because Hopkins employees make up a diverse demographic, Carlstrom thinks that this will be reflected in the areas in which Hopkins employees buy homes through the program.
"Hopkins has diverse employees, diverse racially, diverse economically. The program offers something for everyone. It's a win-win situation for both employees and targeted neighborhoods," Carlstrom asserted.
Salem Reiner, director for community relations at Hopkins, acknowledged that in order for the program to be successful, many will have to overcome the perception that these areas are lawless no man's lands, but that not everyone would want to take advantage of the opportunity.
"Some people that for whatever reason do not appreciate city living, ["Live Near Your Work" is] not a program trying to convert those people," Reiner said.
Officials at both Hopkins as well as the other non-profits that are working to revitalize the areas targeted in the "Live Near Your Work" program stressed that the current residents have and will continue to be consulted on all projects, and that they have generally been supportive.
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