TURN OVER 12 FULL-GUT REHABS IN 18 MONTHS
In many urban neighborhoods, there are particularly “bad” blocks chronically plagued by blight, crime and grime. Two real estate investment funds bravely undertook the development of one of the worst blocks in West Baltimore, a street full of vacant, crumbling homes and drug houses.
These funds turned to New City to complete the redevelopment of the twelve properties they collectively owned on a single block. Their objective was to revitalize the troubled area and its surroundings through dense redevelopment of homes. While the full-gut rehab projects were fairly typical, the environment was not. New City had to make special considerations to safeguard properties against theft and vandalism. Neighborhood residents were recruited both to work on the projects and to become “eyes and ears” during off hours. New City also sponsored cleanup programs on the block to get residents involved in the redevelopment of their own community.
As vacant shells were converted into homes with new residents, the positive effect of the changes became clear. Old and new homeowners worked together to oust the drug dealers and keep the block clean. Today, the results of the transformation are self-evident. This once-blighted block is now one of the nicest in its neighborhood, and the residents work together to ensure that it stays that way.
PROJECT TASKS
- Convert twelve vacant properties on the same block into new homes.
- Handle the challenges of working on a distressed block in a transitional neighborhood.
- Collaborate with local residents to help clean up the community.
