Druid Heights Visioning 2021

DRUID HEIGHTS Community Visioning Update

INITIAL REPORT | SEPTEMBER 2021

BALTIMORE CITY DEPARTMENT OF PLANNING

Note: this document is not a Master Plan. It was developed in support of the Framework for Community Development (Baltimore City DHCD, 2019) and the forthcoming West Impact Investment Area Implementation Strategy Plan (Baltimore City DHCD, 2021) in partnership with the Druid Heights Community Development Corporation (Druid Heights CDC).

Druid Heights Visioning Update | 2021

Thanks to the many community members, stakeholders and agency partners who contributed to this visioning work.

INTRODUCTION

The Neighborhood Sub-Cabinet was developed in 2018 to provide Mayoral-level oversight, cross-agency coordination, and performance management for the Mayor’s Community Development program.

In support of the Neighborhood Sub-Cabinet, Baltimore City Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) released their Community Development Framework focused on seven areas, commonly referred to as the Impact Investment Areas (IIAs). These neighborhoods include Park Heights, the West Baltimore Gateway neighborhoods, the Sowebo neighborhoods, and four East Baltimore neighborhoods (see map on page 2).

Within the seven broader areas, there are 25 unique neighborhoods. While each neighborhood has its own distinct feel and character, the areas have been grouped in some cases to share resources, create a more cohesive vision and pursue a holistic look at the opportunities and challenges the areas face beyond their often invisible neighborhood boundaries. Many of the Impact Investment Area neighborhoods have similar patterns of vacancy and home ownership, often having a mix of both homeowners and vacant units on the same block. Similarly, these neighborhoods have seen historic disinvestment, but many have strong grass-roots and community-led efforts in place. In addition, the neighborhoods were selected with consideration for nearby strong and emerging markets - a “build from strength” model.

For the first years of the initiative, the Neighborhood Sub-Cabinet provided structured monthly sessions on the priority neighborhoods and major components of the Neighborhood Reinvestment Initiative. These monthly sessions included members of the Mayor’s team, executive-level staff from key agencies, community representatives and stakeholders. Sessions focused on a set of areas or key topics, provided a forum of updates on emerging issues, reviewed report-outs from work groups, revised strategic approaches, measured progress on priority project implementation, and tracked key performance indicators.

The City continues to coordinate efforts to expand resources and capacity for community development, with the goal of promoting access and equity for residents of Baltimore, and to invest in all neighborhoods. These strategies look to improve housing and support businesses within communities by increasing access to the opportunities for residents and local, small minority- and women-owned businesses.

To better understand community priorities and appropriately direct efforts, a series of visioning workshops has taken place over the past two years. Led in partnership with the Department of Planning, DHCD and the Druid Heights Community Development Corporation, several visioning “charrettes” or workshops were held in person and via online platforms. This report summarizes the work of residents who contributed to the visioning process.

Above: A map showing the Neighborhood Sub-Cabinet Impact Investment Areas, with the West Baltimore area highlighted in gold.

Druid Heights

BACKGROUND

BACKGROUND

| Visioning Purpose & Other Planning Efforts

Leaders and residents of the West Baltimore Gateway neighborhoods contributed a significant effort to help prioritize projects and direct efforts related to the Impact Investment Areas. United by the historic Pennsylvania Avenue corridor, the West Baltimore Gateway neighborhoods of Penn North, Druid Heights and Upton have worked within their respective communities to reimagine opportunity sites and highlight priorities. While each community remains distinct, the rich African American cultural heritage of Pennsylvania Avenue and West Baltimore tie these communities together.

Visioning was selected as one community engagement tool for directing work within Impact Investment Areas. The ability to have targeted discussion, broad inclusion, and nimble response to community input were key factors to selecting this method of engagement.

“Visioning is a community activity intended to produce a common vision, accompanied by goals, for the future. Ideally, it is broadly based and highly inclusive in order to achieve widespread buy-in among community stakeholders.”

- American Planning Association

Visioning efforts began with a comprehensive review of existing plans, which are summarized in the following section. In Druid Heights, this visioning was framed by the 20-year anniversary of the Druid Heights Community Plan, completed in 2000 (referred to hereafter as the Community

Plan). The Community Plan has guided development efforts over the past two decades and the Druid Heights CDC saw an opportunity to again engage residents to help guide future investment.

Development based on goals from the Community Plan have produced some recent successes, as evidenced by the Bakers View development project. Bakers View is a successful example of newly built rowhouses with a high ratio of owner-occupied residences. In addition to setting goals for home-ownership, the Community Plan focused on improving vacant lots resulting from demolition. Many of these spaces function as community assets: a series of community-built passive and active parklets, which are visible throughout the neighborhood.

During the visioning process to update the Community Plan in conjunction with the Impact Investment Area work, strong themes emerged. These themes included preserving architectural character, highlighting the rich African American cultural heritage, reinvesting in neighborhood businesses, providing opportunities for employment, and offering programs for children and seniors. Many other important comments were collected via conversations and surveys. Strong community leadership continues to be a strength in Druid Heights and will help to guide further development and investment. In addition to the visioning efforts documented in this report, there are also several community plans that have contributed to recommendations for the neighborhood, summarized in the following pages.

DRUID HEIGHTS COMMUNITY PLAN | Druid Heights CDC

Brief Summary:

The Druid Heights Community Plan (2000) was a collaborative effort sponsored by the Druid Heights Community Development Corporation and Bank of America. Recommendations include the following:

1. The Community should explore new ideas and strategies of utilizing demolition and renovation to address vacant houses;

2. Blocks where over 50% of homes or lots are vacant should be considered for demolition and redevelopment;

3. Wherever possible, a balance should be struck between introducing new buildings and retaining the existing significant architectural elements of the community;

4. Open areas created by demolition could be treated in a variety of ways: adjacent owners could purchase the additional land or larger lots could be converted to playgrounds and green space;

5. However, the number of new open spaces should be limited due to problems of safety and crime;

6. Introduce new housing types, including duplexes where appropriate to stimulate housing market and increase home-ownership.

PENNSYLVANIA & W. NORTH AVENUE LINCS | Baltimore City Initiative

Brief Summary:

Leveraging Investments in Neighborhood Corridors (LINCS) began in 2015 as an inter-agency collaboration and is an on-going program. Agencies partners are working with neighborhood partners to:

1. Create corridors that are safe and accessible for multiple modes of transit through an improved street design and pedestrian amenities;

2. Create strong nodes of commercial and community uses to enhance retail services and encourage infill development along the corridors;

3. Create cohesive corridors that act as a connector between neighborhoods through design controls, land use and zoning;

4. Improve the appearance of the corridors through diligent code enforcement efforts, appropriate sanitation disposal, and education;

5. Reinvent The Avenue Market as an anchor destination that offers affordable healthy food and acts as a hub for economic development, local entrepreneurship, and small businesses activity;

6. Develop a strong and resounding brand for Pennsylvania Avenue that reclaims its historic identity as a cultural destination;

7. Pursue programs and activities that seek to ensure and promote public interest, safety, and well-being through community engagement, agency coordination, and improved community policing efforts.

BALTIMORE BICYCLE MASTER PLAN | Department of Transportation

Brief Summary:

The Baltimore Department of Transportation Bicycle Master Plan (2015) envisions a comprehensive city-wide bicycle network. Recommendations from the plan are focused on large scale general outcomes; however the plan does make specific recommendations for placement of bicycle facilities within the west neighborhoods, including locations for protected bicycle lanes. Baltimore DOT is working to implement the following recommendations from the plan:

1. Transit Oriented Development should include “Bicycle Oriented Development” (BOD), which can be placed in areas that are not linked with transit, however, combining BOD with TOD is a practical and efficient means to increase multimodal connectivity;

2. Enact bicycle-friendly legislative policies;

3. Establish and refine bicycle facility engineering policies;

4. Build a stronger bicycle culture;

5. Strengthen law enforcement to improve bicycling safety;

6. Improve recreational bicycling opportunities while increasing access to existing recreational opportunities (for instance, access to nearby Druid Hill Park).

PENNSYLVANIA AVE. TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE PANEL | Urban Land Institute

Brief Summary:

The objective of ULI Baltimore’s Technical Assistance Panel (TAP) program is to provide expert, multidisciplinary advice on land use and real estate issues facing public agencies and nonprofit organizations in the Greater Baltimore Metropolitan Region. This TAP was produced in September of 2016 over a two-day period. Recommendations include:

1. Founding an organization capable of responding at the scale of the problem’s demand, and sustaining the effort for decades;

2. Focusing on a well-defined geographic area within a much longer street (Pennsylvania Avenue), which still retains the historic character that had been lost elsewhere;

3. Cultivating a community of businesses that build a viable new version of their lost entertainment district;

4. Marketing the district as a living symbol of their core city brand;

5. Protecting the district with design standards that maintain its historic feel while encouraging new investment (see p. 7 for the Pennsylvania Design Guidelines, which were developed following the release of this TAP).

6. Investing in major cultural events and cultural attractions that are able to bring in local visitors and tourists, such as the Billie Holiday Festival.

GREEN NETWORK PLAN | Office Of Sustainability

Brief Summary:

The Baltimore Green Network Plan was a City-led planning effort released in March 2018. It outlines strategies to reverse engineer green space into the city through acquisition of vacant lots, development of connected multi-modal infrastructure, and incorporation of existing green spaces and parks. The Green Network recommends the following actions:

1. Empower residents through an inclusive planning process and strive for environmentally and socially just opportunities;

2. Include a wide representation of community stakeholders into the planning process, integrating the existing efforts and goals of those stakeholders in the Green Network;

3. Strengthen economic and social relationships between community groups, anchor institutions, and developers;

4. Prioritize opportunities that address community needs, creating lively and livable neighborhoods and public spaces that invite use and activity in the urban landscape;

5. Create spaces that are conducive to family- and kid-friendly activities;

6. Enhance neighborhood identity and civic pride through improved and cohesive aesthetics and place-making.

PENNSYLVANIA AVENUE DESIGN GUIDELINES | NDC & Cannon Design

Brief Summary:

A collaborative process between West Baltimore residents, community groups, Neighborhood Design Center, and Cannon Design, this plan looks specifically at the Pennsylvania Avenue corridor. The Design Guidelines make recommendations for both the public realm and privately-owned commercial spaces. The Design Guidelines focus on themes of African American entertainment history, cultural identity, restoration of jazz motifs, and provision of space to accommodate outdoor entertainment. Design guidelines cover the following topics:

1. Placemaking - storefronts offer opportunities for attracting outside visitors and encouraging local residents to linger... murals, lighting, clear signage, attractive awning, windows and security gates each contribute to this sense of place;

2. Streetscaping - considers strategies for key intersections (North Avenue, Triangle Park, Avenue Market, and Royal Theater Marquee) that focus on pedestrian experience, flexible seating, lighting, tree canopy, and traffic calming;

3. Gateway arch - proposed for the corner of Pennsylvania Avenue and Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. to pay homage to Baltimore’s musical figures;

4. Mission statement and driving philosophy - Design standards, when done correctly, can maintain the historic character of the area, attract visitors, and encourage new investment.

BALTIMORE SUSTAINABILITY PLAN | Baltimore Office of Sustainability

Brief Summary:

The Baltimore Office of Sustainability was created by the City Council in 2007 to be a resource, a catalyst, and an advocate for a healthy, resilient Baltimore. The Office produces the Baltimore Sustainability Plan to offer innovative, sustainable solutions to Baltimore’s opportunities and challenges while engaging people throughout the city, region, and country. The Baltimore Commission on Sustainability oversees the Sustainability Plan, monitoring and reporting progress annually. The 2019 plan update makes recommendations on the following topics:

1. Community: Neighbors, Environmental Literacy, Healthy School Environments, Waste and Recycling, and Urban Agriculture;

2. Human-Made Systems: Neighborhoods, Housing Affordability, Buildings, Transportation, and Noise;

3. Climate and Resilience: Community Preparedness, Energy, Greenhouse Gas Emissions, Clean Air, and Food Systems;

4. Nature in the City: People and Nature, Nature for Nature’s Sake, Trees and Forests, Water in the Environment, and Green Infrastructure;

5. Economy: Local Economy, Workforce Development, and Arts and Culture.

THE FRAMEWORK FOR COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT | Baltimore City DHCD

Brief Summary:

In 2019, DHCD presented their Framework as a starting point in a collaborative effort to guide the City into a new era of neighborhood investment. The Framework articulates a comprehensive vision for community development that leverages prior successes, builds partnerships, and breaks new ground through innovative and bold new resource allocation and approaches to collaborative neighborhood improvement. The Framework is built on the following three key strategies:

1. Expand Resources and Capacity for Community Development - new public investment outlined in the Framework constitutes an unprecedented allocation of support for distressed communities including Community Catalyst Grants, Neighborhood Impact Investment Fun, Affordable Housing Trust Fund, State. Federal, Private, Philanthropic and Anchor Investments, and the Mayor’s Neighborhood Sub-Cabinet.

2. Promote Access and Equity - by maintaining and expanding affordable housing, support and expand home-ownership, and promote economic inclusion.

3. Invest in all neighborhoods - build assets and address blight, build from strength, stabilize middle neighborhoods, and strengthen neighborhood and retail corridors.

NORTH AVENUE RISING | State of Maryland & Baltimore City

Brief Summary:

North Avenue Rising has grown from local community planning efforts along North Avenue and evolved into a collaboration with the State of Maryland and Baltimore City. The goal of North Avenue Rising is to support economic revitalization along North Avenue through increased mobility and to broaden access for residents along the corridor.

Construction on this project began in 2019, and MTA is working to implement the following recommendations:

1. Implement dedicated bus lanes along North Avenue to add to the existing lanes through downtown Baltimore under Baltimore-Link. The dedicated lanes will allow safe shared use with bicycles (and scooters, etc);

2. Implement six enhanced bus stops, providing passengers with improved, weather-protected, and safe waiting areas (to be located at critical transfer and activity nodes within the corridor);

3. Enhance streetscape with a mixture of highly visible crosswalks, ADA-compliant curb ramps, pedestrian-scaled lighting, accessible pedestrian signals, traffic signal reconstruction, and the addition of street trees and other plantings;

4. Renovate key features of the Penn-North Station, including a major overhaul of the station’s elevators and escalators, security improvements to the station entrance, the installation of artwork in the mezzanine level, and replacement of lighting with energy efficient fixtures.

JOHN EAGER HOWARD INSPIRE PLAN | Department of Planning

Brief Summary:

Each modernized 21st Century school represents tens of millions of dollars of public investment into the neighborhood it serves. To leverage this investment, the Department of Planning launched Investing in Neighborhoods and Schools to Promote Improvement, Revitalization, and Excellence (INSPIRE). This planning program focuses on the neighborhoods surrounding each of the 21st C. schools. The John Eager Howard INSPIRE Plan was adopted in January 2017 and makes the following recommendations:

1. Whitelock Street is an important link between Penn North and the John Eager Howard school community in Reservoir Hill and would be an excellent candidate for implementing Complete Streets principles;

2. Improve primary walking routes by bringing sidewalks up to code, maintaining vacant lots and buildings, street-lighting, marking Safe Routes to School footprints and deployment of crossing guards;

3. Strengthening the housing market by supporting and increasing home-ownership, removing blight, creating and maintaining high-quality rental properties, and promoting large-scale development opportunities;

4. Creating environmentally sustainable neighborhoods through improvement of sanitation, greening, safety, health, wellness, connectedness and access to services.

CAB CALLOWAY LEGENDS PARK | Department of Planning & Druid Heights CDC

Brief Summary:

The City of Baltimore Department of Planning in 2016-2018 conducted a public process to create the Baltimore Green Network Plan (see p. 7 for more information). The Plan aims to strategically transform vacant properties to quality open space and weave new green infrastructure among neighborhoods to increase access to new and existing green space. Cab Calloway Legends Square is one such new green space, proposed by the Plan.

During 2019, the Baltimore City Department of Planning partnered with Druid Heights CDC and Design Collective to gather input for the future of this 2.7 acre park in the heart of Druid Heights. Recommendations from the concept plan include the following:

1. Include spaces that promote gathering and community engagement with an open lawn that allows for passive and active recreation;

2. Develop methods to better ensure safety, security, and good maintenance;

3. Emphasize and recognize history and prominent events and / or figures within the community through community art and performance (include flexible spaces for arts programming);

4. Create inviting space that also addressed environmental conditions with trees, plantings, seating and general beautification.

DRUID HEIGHTS DEVELOPMENT PLAN | Druid Heights CDC

DRUID HEIGHTS GREEN COMMUNITY MASTER PLAN | Druid Heights CDC & UMD

Brief Summary:

Many partners contributed to the Green Community Master Plan for Druid Heights including neighborhood residents and stakeholders, the University of Maryland School of Landscape Architecture, Chesapeake Bay Trust, U.S. Environmental Agency, the Maryland Department of Natural Resources, and Druid Heights CDC.

The plan, which was developed on a strong foundation of community input, identifies challenges and opportunities in Druid Heights. Vacant properties are a key focus of the plan; vacancy is listed as both a challenge and an opportunity. To reduce vacancy and support the revitalization of Druid Heights, the following goals were established:

1. Repurpose vacant properties as public green space to help improve resident health and well being;

2. Improve pedestrian environment to ensure a comfortable, safe, and pleasant walking environment;

3. Utilize different low impact development techniques to capture and treat stormwater runoff;

4. Increase tree canopy coverage to provide shading, cooling, and pollutant removal.

MORE INFORMATION | Accessing the Plans

Baltimore City Department of Housing and Community Development Framework: https://dhcd.baltimorecity.gov/m/ community-development-framework

Baltimore City Department of Planning - Neighborhood Plans: https://planning.baltimorecity.gov/planning-plans/ neighborhood

Baltimore City Department of Transportation - Bicycle Master Plan: https://transportation.baltimorecity.gov/bicycle-plan

Baltimore Office of Sustainability - Sustainability Plan: https://www.baltimoresustainability.org/plans/sustainability-plan/

North Avenue Rising Website: https://northavenuerising.com

Pennsylvania Avenue Design Guidelines: https://www.pa-mainstreet.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/PA-DesignGuidelines-Nodes-Aug-2018-002.pdf

Urban Land Institute Baltimore - Technical Assistance Panels: https://baltimore.uli.org/resources/technical-assistancepanels/

Community Engagement

COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT

| Process & Partners

The West Gateway Impact Investment Area utilized a variety of outreach methods to engage community members in the visioning process. Neighborhood Sub-Cabinet work groups were a key component for engaging community leaders. These focused meetings led by Baltimore City DHCD allowed for collaboration of City agencies and community partners, and helped to organize priorities and projects. Key community partners in the West Gateway neighborhoods include the Penn North Community Association, Druid Heights Community Development Corporation (Druid Heights CDC), and the Upton Planning Committee.

Public outreach is the other method by which community input was gathered. Strategic efforts to engage stakeholders were made in partnership with community groups and City agencies, led by the Department of Planning and Druid Heights CDC. These efforts aimed to reach a wide range of community members and stakeholders. For Druid Heights, the outreach effort included public meetings held in person and online, strategic door-knocking, and pop-ups at events like neighborhood clean-ups and tree-plantings.

The visioning process begins with information gathering and analysis. Next, community members and partners work to determine a scope and develop goals. Options are generated and circulated for community input. As feedback becomes more focused, ideas are refined. Because the

visioning process is iterative, steps can occur out of order or be repeated a number of times. At each stage, partners review ideas and share information. A continuous dialog between the community, DHCD and the Department of Planning helps to promote procedural transparency, ensure that goals reflect the highest priorities of the community (while also maintaining expectations), and position projects for successful implementation.

To that end, the visioning process for Druid Heights sought to identify projects and priorities that strengthen the community, promote access and equity, and focus on revitalization that supports legacy residents while attracting new home-owners. Once priority sites were identified, partners and stakeholders worked to imagine short-, mid-, and long-term interventions. These interventions typically included provisions for interim greening where demolition had occurred or was planned. Some of the interim greening sites were identified as desirable redevelopment sites, while others were discussed as potential permanent open spaces for the community. Strategic greening emerged as a theme from past planning and current visioning efforts.

This visioning work was highly collaborative, incorporating many ideas from Druid Heights community members and stakeholders, and Baltimore City agency partners. The following sections document the community engagement process and resultant recommendations that were developed over the course of a two-year span.

COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT | Fall 2019

In preparation of the 20th anniversary of the Druid Heights Community Plan, in support of the work on Cab Calloway Legends Park, and with the Impact Investment Area designation, the Druid Heights CDC and members of the community began a series of visioning sessions. These efforts began with a review of goals from The Community Plan (2000) and accomplishments to date, including successful development projects and greening efforts. Meeting discussion included the following topics:

1. A brief overview of recent development, including an update on the Bakers View project along the 500 block of Baker Street - newly constructed owner-occupied rowhouses;

2. Recap of main objectives and goals from the Druid Heights Community Master Plan, including goals for increased homeownership, strategic greening and supportive programs;

3. Discussion of renovation on the 2200 block of Druid Hill Ave. - Druid Heights CDC is interested in converting these large homes into “granny-flat” units with one owner-occupied unit and one rental unit to help offset the cost of mortgage and utilities for home-owners;

4. Overview of resident feedback and input process, including collection and analysis methods.

Top: An early visioning session held at Druid Heights CDC with members of Board and of the Druid Heights CDC and Department of Planning Staff. Middle: The existing site for Cab Calloway Legends Park. Bottom: A rendering of the future Cab Calloway Legends Park (by Design Collective).

COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT | Spring 2020

Spring 2020 visioning began with in-person sessions, but quickly transitioned to an online format to accommodate distancing requirements. The final in-person session before distancing requirements went into effect was held on February 22, 2020 at the monthly Druid Heights community meeting. During this session, resident groups worked together on mapping neighborhood assets and opportunities. Department of Planning staff facilitated the groups and answered questions. At the end of the exercise, each of the five groups presented their maps and gave a brief overview of their top priorities. Following this exercise, a 10-question survey was distributed at the meeting in paper form, and remained available online through May of 2020. In all, there were more than 30 participants in the mapping exercise, and 26 survey responses. The survey included some of the following questions:

1. What makes Druid Heights different from other neighborhoods?

2. What amenities are missing and needed in the community?

3. What changes would you like to see in Druid Heights?

4. How can your group make a collective difference in the neighborhood?

Top: An example of the online survey with some of the top answers shown. Middle: Groups work together to map their ideas for Druid Heights using pens, markers, sticky notes and stickers. Bottom: One of several maps containing ideas from community members.

COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT | Summer 2020

Additional feedback was collected over the summer and shared with community members in several formats to confirm accuracy. The word cloud was one method used to communicate typical responses with community members; the version shown on this page represents aspects of the community that residents want to celebrate. Legacy businesses (such as Ms. Johnson’s beauty shop, which has been open for 50+ years), significant African American history, beautiful architectural character, green spaces, recreational facilities like Shake & Bake, Upton Boxing Center and the Enoch Pratt Free Library, are all points of pride for the neighborhood.

A list of community wishes was generated from the survey, as well. The following excepts is taken from that list:

1. Jobs and career development opportunities - programs for those who want to learn and improve their skills at any age, but especially for young people transitioning into adulthood.

2. Services - banks, grocery and fresh food, technology and webservices or computer repair, dry-cleaners.

3. Shops and restaurants - locally owned businesses, sit-down restaurants and eateries, bakeries, coffee shops, healthy options.

Top: A word cloud depicting some of the important resources that Druid Heights Community members would like to see in their neighborhood. Bottom: Peace Park, located at 2035 Druid Hill Ave., is a point of pride for the community.

ENGAGEMENT | Fall 2020 & Spring 2021

Engagement efforts continued throughout the fall of 2020 and spring of 2021 with additional surveys and discussions about preliminary visioning concepts (included in the following section). Based on feedback from community members and stakeholders, priorities became more focused. Having preliminary concepts also gave residents tangible ideas that could garner reactions. This format allowed a robust conversation about longterm goals for the neighborhood, concerns about maintenance and crime, aspirations for elevating the rich cultural heritage, and blending preservation with new construction.

Finally, in April of 2021, the community outreach effort for this portion of the visioning concluded with an in-person tree planting at Gold Street Park. Residents focused on two specific sites, the 2100 block of Etting St. and the Sphinx Club located at 2105 Pennsylvania Ave. This outreach effort yielded 40+ survey responses. Combined with the other input efforts, the total number of respondents topped 100. Druid Heights CDC felt this was sufficient input to continue with a more widely shared report (this document), however there will be future input opportunities for these sites. Early interim greening efforts have already begun in many cases, but most sites will take years to develop.

Top: Strategic greening and connecting beyond neighborhood boundaries became leading themes in the visioning process; this sketch shows an early idea about greening and connection Bottom: A view of Gold Street Park following the April 2021 tree planting event.

Preliminary Vision Concepts

PRELIMINARY VISION CONCEPTS | Process

This section contains a set of preliminary visioning concepts that attempts to organize the community’s ideas into cohesive visions for the neighborhood. The visioning concepts fell into three different categories, based on early feedback: the Arts and Entertainment concept, the Incubator Neighborhood concept and the Village concept. These concepts were based on ideas heard most, including a desire for jobs and professional development, support of the Black Arts district, and a focus on restoring and preserving the beautiful architectural character of the existing urban fabric.

The Arts and Entertainment idea focuses on the emerging Black Arts District and organizes possible uses around performance, education, and artist housing. The Incubator idea centers on professional development, live-work housing options, resources for small and local businesses, and a thriving commercial corridor. Finally, the Village idea envisions a tight-knit, walkable community with a focus on the types of goods and services that Druid Heights residents identified as desirable to the neighborhood.

The concepts were developed to encourage dialog and give residents a set of ideas to which they could respond. Residents were encouraged to discuss what they liked or disliked about each idea, rather than voting on a favorite concept. This feedback was collected during community conversations online, in person and via surveys. Community members gave thoughtful responses

about what they felt might work and why. In some cases, residents didn’t like the proposed density or the image associated with a term. For instance, one respondent said they liked the general concept of a walkable community layered with local businesses, shops and restaurants, but the work “village” seemed outdated and unflattering. This type of nuanced input helped to shape future concepts and refine ideas to more closely align with residents visions for the future of the neighborhood.

Feedback was documented and reviewed carefully. The analysis was used to develop consensus about possible future outcomes, interim strategies, and near-term priorities. Once the feedback had been reviewed, priority sites were clarified. Blocks identified as priority sites were reviewed within the context of ongoing efforts of public, private and non-profit partners (a summary of specific efforts follows this section). Reviewing priority blocks within the larger context of the neighborhood helps to determine opportunities for more study, and will allow for alignment of City agency and neighborhood efforts.

Two specific sites were vetted for additional ideas during a pop-up visioning session, in which residents focused their attention on the 2100 block of Etting St. and the Sphinx Club (located on the 2100 block of Pennsylvania Avenue). This additional information was used to develop additional proposals and begin fundraising efforts.

THE INCUBATOR CONCEPT |

This concept synthesizes community ideas about increased density and workforce development, heard during the February 2020 community meeting. Residents did not vote on concepts, but gave input about what they liked or disliked about each plan. A final vision developed from this community feedback.

WHAT MIGHT THIS LOOK LIKE?

Examples of buildings from around Baltimore + the world

To give residents a better idea of what these early concepts might look like, we shared examples of buildings from around Baltimore and other places that emulated the characteristics of the various concepts. Residents were reminded that these buildings were for illustrative purposes only, to be thought of as examples.

ARTS + ENTERTAINMENT CONCEPT

This concept synthesizes community ideas about supporting the new Black Arts District, heard during the February 2020 community meeting. Residents did not vote on concepts, but gave input about what they liked or disliked about each plan. A final vision developed from this community feedback.

WHAT MIGHT THIS LOOK LIKE?

Examples of buildings from around Baltimore + the world

To give residents a better idea of what these early concepts might look like, we shared examples of buildings from around Baltimore and other places that emulated the characteristics of the various concepts. Residents were reminded that these buildings were for illustrative purposes only, to be thought of as examples.

VILLAGE CONCEPT

This concept synthesizes community ideas about a walkable neighborhood with shops and services, heard during the February 2020 community meeting. Residents did not vote on concepts, but gave input about what they liked or disliked about each plan. A final vision developed from this community feedback.

WHAT MIGHT THIS LOOK LIKE?

Examples of buildings from around Baltimore + the world

To give residents a better idea of what these early concepts might look like, we shared examples of buildings from around Baltimore and other places that emulated the characteristics of the various concepts. Residents were reminded that these buildings were for illustrative purposes only, to be thought of as examples.

This poster was on display during the April 2020 tree-planting at Gold street Park. Residents shared their ideas about these two priority sites, the 2100 block of Gold Street, and the Sphinx Club located at on the 2100 block of Pennsylvania Avenue. A final vision developed from this community feedback.

Ongoing Projects

ONGOING PROJECTS

| Private & Non-Profit Efforts

Druid Heights CDC - Baker’s View Project

The Bakers View Homeownership Development is the building of Eighty-Seven (87) townhomes targeting low- to moderate-income families. The first phase of the development includes 17 affordable modular housing units with a sale price start at $139,000. Construction started May 2009 and the second phase development of 56 units is expected to start after lot assemblage and lot consolidation has been completed this year. Source: https://druidheights.com/

Black Women Build - Scattered Sites

In 2015, Shelley Halstead moved to Baltimore with the single purpose of helping Black women. She founded Black Women Build – Baltimore, an organization dedicated to providing training to Black women in home improvement skills like carpentry, plumbing, and electrical. The goal is to promote economic freedom and intergenerational wealth through home ownership initiatives. BWB has renovation projects on Etting and Division Streets.

Source: https://osibaltimore.org/impact-series/blackwomen-build-baltimore/

Marshall Gardens - Scattered Sites

Marshall Gardens is a new 87-unit development encompassing three mostly-vacant city blocks in Central West Baltimore. It involves both the construction of new infill townhouses and apartments, as well as the substantial rehabilitation of five existing historic rowhouses. This rental development will serve a mixed-income population, including very low-income families, workforce households,

and unrestricted market rate renters.

Source: https://www.tcbinc.org/where-we-work/ pipeline/item/5612-marshall-gardens.html

Pennsylvania Avenue Main Streets Program

A brand under which businesses can proper and grow. The New Historic Pennsylvania Avenue Main Street Program’s Five-Point approach, along with leveraging local assets of cultural and architectural heritage, will help build a sustainable and complete community. Preservation and protection of cultural resources of the past provides a legacy for future generations.

Source: https://www.pa-mainstreet.com/about/

The Black Arts District

The Black Arts District is Maryland’s only A&E district uniquely dedicated to the cultural production of African Americans. Pennsylvania Avenue was once a revered destination for Black art and entertainment, hence it is the perfect location for this effort. Moreover, redlining, blockbusting and racial covenants have led to decades of impoverished Black communities across Baltimore City, which are still experiencing systemic disinvestment. Based on state-wide reports, in fiscal year 2018, events and new businesses in 25 Maryland A&E Districts collectively supported more than $1 billion in state GDP... a new A&E district can spur economic development and small business growth and expansion along the Pennsylvania ave corridor. This growth will have tangential affects on the overall health of the surrounding communities.

Source: https://www.blackartsdistrict.org/faq

Art & Greening Projects

ART & GREENING PROJECTS

| Public, Private & Non-Profit Efforts

There are many incredible assets in Druid Heights. Involved residents, legacy home-owners, local business, and a rich history are just a few of these assets. Murals and art are woven throughout the community, reminding residents of the special place they live. Young and emerging artists are leaving their mark on the neighborhood with bright murals that look toward the future and remember the past, all while highlighting the rich African American culture of the neighborhood.

Many of these murals are adjacent to greening and beautification projects led by public and non-profit partners. Druid Heights CDC and partners have been working to repurpose vacant lots into useful and beautiful green spaces for several years. According to the Druid Heights Green Community Master Plan, these areas offer benefits for residents in many ways. In addition to mitigating stormwater runoff and providing space to exercise, play, socialize, and learn, these green spaces also signal the reclamation of vacant properties by the community. Vacant properties can indicate neglect and abandonment and become sites for crime and dumping. By cleaning, developing, and maintaining these lots for their benefit, the community asserts ownership over these spaces, transforming them from liabilities into assets for the neighborhood.

The recently opened Gold Street Park project located at 527 Gold Street is part of Druid Heights community plan to assist with revitalizing green space in urban

communities. Also in the Green Network Plan, the Gold Street project includes three vacant lots with over 10,000 sq with stormwater management features. The project included funding from Baltimore City CDBG ($100,000), Chesapeake Bay Trust ($50,000) and Maryland Department of Housing ($50,000). Gold Street Park is a great example of how nonprofits can collaborate with funding support from foundations, City and State stakeholders. It is also a shining example of how talented artists leave their mark on the neighborhood.

Other greening efforts are underway, too. Cab Calloway Legends Park on the 2200 block of Druid Hill Avenue is being created in partnership with the Baltimore City Department of Recreation and Parks, the Baltimore City Department of Planning, BCDOP’s Baltimore Green Network, Baltimore City Department of Housing and Community Development, Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development, Maryland Department of Natural Resources and Maryland Heritage Area Authority. Covering 82 lots, the park will honor legendary icons that lived and worked in the community as it provides recreational opportunities for legacy homeowners, new residents, and visitors to Druid Heights.

Archway Park at 1301 W. North Avenue was funded by the Department of Natural Resources and Maryland State Department of Housing. The University of Maryland Department of Plant Science and Landscape Architecture was a partner in this project.

ART & GREENING | A Sample of Murals & Gardens

Murals at the Nature Play Space connect the past and the present

A new mural across from the recently completed Archway Park. The mural was completed sometime in 2021.

A rain Garden at Peace Park, corner of Bloom St. and Druid Hill Ave., helps to beautify the neighborhood and mitigate stormwater runoff.

Mural depicting local community advocates Ms. Jackie Cornish and Rev. Maggie Quille

Druid Heights Artist in Residence LaTosha Maddox adorned the paving of the new Gold Street Park with a bright-colored mural.

ART & GREENING | Map of Murals & Green Spaces

1. Gateway Park

2. Mural at W. North Avenue and Druid Hill Avenue

3. Green space and play area at Druid Heights CDC

4. Cab Calloway Legends Park

5. Mural at the new Gold Street Park

6. Gold Street Park

7. Future greening project at Etting Street

8. Peace Park

9. St. Katherine’s Park

10. Reverend Maggie Quille Park

11. Mural at Presstman Street and Druid Hill Avenue

12. Nature Play Space and Murals

Opportunity Sites

OPPORTUNITY SITES | Selection Method

As discussed in the previous section, visioning sessions and a careful review of broad community input helped to guide future goals for the neighborhood. Initial input was collected and reviewed to select priority blocks for closer examination. Blocks were then organized into specific actionable strategies: acquisition of land for redevelopment of new housing or parks, stabilization of vacant housing for future rehabilitation, identification of specific properties for scattered-site rehab projects, receivership, code enforcement, and home-owner support.

Land acquisition is expensive and can take years to complete. This type of action is best for blocks that already have many City-owned parcels. In Druid Heights, much of the land acquisition to date has been focused on the 2200 blocks of Druid Hill Avenue, Etting and Division Streets for the development of Cab Calloway Legends Park.

For scattered site redevelopment, private developers and residents may purchase homes to renovate and occupy or sell to other new home-owners. This action often follows significant public and non-profit investment, like the investments in Bakers View and Cab Calloway Legends Park. While some developers will operate under a forprofit model, non-profit organizations like Druid Heights CDC and Black Women Build help more residents become home-owners through their respective programs, resulting in equitable neighborhood revitalization. Programs that allow lower- to moderate-income families purchase quality

homes at reasonable prices contribute to neighborhood stability and minimize the risk of displacement.

Receivership is a legal action in which the city transfers an unsafe vacant structure to another owner. Per Section 121 of the Baltimore City Building Code, the Building Official may petition the court for appointment of a receiver to rehabilitate a vacant property, to demolish it, or to sell it to a qualified buyer. This process can be an effective tool for transforming vacant housing into rehabbed houses that are ready for new home-owners and families. More information on receivership can be found on the DHCD website: https:// dhcd.baltimorecity.gov/how-series

Finally, code enforcement and home-owner support programs can encourage the stabilization of blocks that might otherwise be at risk of becoming vacant. Programs may allow legacy residents to stay longer in their homes, and ensure those houses don’t fall into disrepair.

These efforts - whether public, private or non-profit - work in concert and can result in equitable revitalization when used properly. The following section visualizes what equitable redevelopment looks like to the residents of Druid Heights. Their ideas are contained in the following pages. Some of the projects depicted are already in the pipeline and have identified funding sources, while others are in very early conceptual phases. Together, they form a cohesive vision for what is possible in Druid Heights.

SITE SELECTION | Assets & Opportunities

1. The Enoch Pratt Free Library - Penn North Branch: In addition to providing access to books, Internet and media, the library provides programs end education.

2. Bakers View: New construction rowhouses have resulted in majority owner-occupied blocks.

3. Brunt Manor: New garage-front rowhouses have resulted in majority owner-occupied blocks and remained stable for decades.

4. Gold Street Park: Recently dedicated park space embellished with a beautiful mural from a local artist.

5. The Sphinx Club: A historic asset, poised for redevelopment.

6. Future Phase Bakers View: New rowhouses are planned for Baker and Division Streets.

7. Cab Calloway Legends Park: Covering 82 lots, this park will honor legendary icons that lived and worked in the community. Construction is scheduled for 2022.

8. Black Women Build: Scattered site rowhouse rehabs that offer a path to home-ownership for women.

9. Archway Park: Recently completed park space.

10. 2200 block of Druid Hill Avenue: Rowhouse rehab project led by Druid Heights CDC (planning phase).

11. The Druid Heights CDC: In addition to equitable development, the CDC offers childrens programming.

12. Opportunity Site

13. Opportunity Site

14. Peace Park: A lush passive park that doubles as stormwater management.

15. Black Women Build: Scattered site rowhouse rehabs that offer a path to home-ownership for women.

16. Nature Play Space: An active play space.

17. Marshall Gardens: New workforce multi-family housing and rowhouses (currently in construction

VISIONING SITES |

Architectural rendering of a concept for the 2200 block of Druid Hill Ave.

Architectural rendering of a concept for the 2000 block of Etting St.

VISIONING SITES | Restoration Blocks

CABCALLOWAYLEGENDSPARK

2200 Block of Druid Hill Avenue:

This block was identified as a priority for stabilization and restoration. Druid Heights CDC will lead the effort of redeveloping these stately homes.

• The site includes 19 existing singlefamily three-story rowhouses.

• Druid Heights CDC has site control of 15 of the 19 parcels and is working to obtain the last 4 homes.

• Lots on this block range from 15’ - 17’ wide x 89’ - 58’ deep.

• The zoning is R-8.

• Because of the large size, redevelopment options include adding a “granny flat” or small rental unit to offset mortgage and utility costs of the larger owner-occupied units.

• Stabilization efforts for this block have begun and are ongoing.

2000 Block of Etting Street:

Despite the challenges of changing demand, some smaller alley house blocks have been well maintained and remain mostly occupied. The community identified blocks with legacy residents, which could be targeted for support and rehab.

• The site includes 12 existing singlefamily two-story rowhouses.

• Lots on this block are approximately 12’ wide x 59’ deep.

• The zoning is R-8.

• Of the 12 homes on this block, there are three owner occupied homes.

• There are two vacant buildings on this block: one is city-owned in fair condition and one is privately-owned in poor condition.

VISIONING SITES | New Housing Blocks

Photo of Bakers View

Architectural rendering of a concept for a future phase of Bakers View

SITES

Bakers View Phase I & II Homeownership Development - 500 block of Baker Street

The Bakers View Street Homeownership Development is the building of eighty-seven (87) townhomes targeting low-moderate income families.

• Phase I began in 2009 and was completed in 2012; this phase included 17 affordable modular housing units with sales price starting at $139,000.

• Lots on this block are approximately 22’ wide by 100’ deep.

• The zoning is R-8

• Construction of Bakers View II, with 6 more units, started in 2019 and was completed in 2020.

• Despite the challenges of the Covid 19 global pandemic, all of the homes sold.

• A total of 23 homes have been built to date, and all are owner-occupied.

Bakers View Phase II (continued) and Phase III Homeownership Development500 block of Baker, 2300 Blocks of Etting and Division Streets:

The continuation of the project is expected to start after lot assemblage and lot consolidation has been completed.

• Continuation of Phase II includes another 15 homes. All of the parcels for the continuation of Phase II have been acquired by Druid Heights CDC.

• There are a total of forty-eight (48) lots in Phase III, and all but eight (8) are owned by Druid Heights CDC or Mayor and City Council.

• R-8 Zoning

• Houses in this phase will face the new Cab Calloway Legends Park and are adjacent to the planned renovation of the historic homes on the 2200 block of Druid Hill Avenue.

VISIONING SITES | Interim Greening Options

Architectural rendering of a concept for the 1900 block of Etting St.

Architectural rendering of a concept for the 2100 block of Etting St.

CABCALLOWAYLEGENDSPARK

1900 Block of Etting Street:

For some alley house blocks, high rates of vacancy and low demand for smaller houses have allowed buildings to fall into disrepair, resulting in compromised structure and ultimately demolition. In instances where buildings were too unstable for renovation, the community explored other options for the sites, including interim greening options.

• There are a total of fifteen (15) vacant lots resulting from demolition on this block, and all but four (4) are owned by Mayor and City Council.

• Lots on these block are approximately 11’ wide by 60’ deep.

• R-8 Zoning

• These lots could provide eighteen (18) surface parking spaces and approximately 7,000 sq. feet of green space for stormwater management.

2100 Block of Etting Street

As with the site above, high rates of vacancy and low demand allowed the buildings to fall into disrepair, resulting in demolition. This concept re-imagines the space with temporary improvements for possible later development.

• There are a total of thirty-eight (38) vacant lots on this block, and all but three (3) are owned by Mayor and City Council.

• Lots on these block range in size from 11’ -14’ wide by 60’ - 70’ deep.

• R-8 Zoning

• These lots could provide approximately 30,000 sq. feet of green space.

• The concept was designed with a nod to the newly finished Gold Street Park.

• Druid Heights CDC is working to secure grant funding for construction.

VISIONING SITES | Longer-term Development Projects

Architectural rendering of a previous concept for the Sphinx Club by ArchPlan

Architectural rendering of a desirable future concept for the 2100 block of Etting St.

VISIONING SITES | Longer-term Development

CABCALLOWAYLEGENDSPARK

2105 Pennsylvania Avenue - Sphinx Club

The Spinx Club was established in 1946 and soon became the “place to be” on Pennsylvania Avenue. In 1988 Mr. Tilghman, the Club’s founder, passed away and the business closed.

• In the late-2000s, the building was proposed to hold the Negro League Baseball museum (see image).

• The current proposal is to use the space for commercial business and to educate the community and the public.

• First phase plan is to redevelop the space and utilize it for art and public programs. Druid Heights CDC will showcase a high-quality, timely, humanities-focused study on the Sphinx’s impact on Baltimore and the historic culture within the State of Maryland.

• The programming is meant to also compliment the Black Arts and Entertainment District.

2100 Block of Etting Street

For this site, there were several ideas from the community. Green space was favorable, as were ideas about community, performance and educational spaces.

• There are a total of thirty-eight (38) vacant lots on this block, and all but three (3) are owned by Mayor and City Council.

• Lots on these block range in size from 11’ -14’ wide by 60’ - 70’ deep.

• R-8 Zoning

• The building shown in this concept render would likely come as a much later infill project.

• Temporary greening (shown on page 34) will likely occur in the interim, and may become permanent depending on the future wishes of the community.