By Tashi McQueen,
AFRO Political Writer,
tmcqueen@afro.com
After more than 30 years of vacancy, the Carlton has been renovated and reopened to the Reservoir Hill community.
“When we invest in projects like this, we make sure that we eliminate vacancy and blight by making things safer,” said Chad Williams, executive director for the West North Avenue Development Authority (WNADA). “We make Maryland and Baltimore competitive when we make investments like this.”
With the help of many city partners and developers, Alex Aaron led the renovation of the long-vacant historic building into a modern-day apartment building with 12 market-rate, affordable housing units with features such as smart locks, smart home technology, secure access, a courtyard and resident lounge.
“I didn’t give up; I held onto hope. And with all of the strategic partners we had it was possible,” said Aaron, CEO of Blank Slate, a Baltimore-based real estate firm. “Mayor Scott, we will tackle that vacancy, we will tackle that blight and we will make Baltimore a better community going forward.”
Baltimore has about 13,000 vacant properties, a noticeable drop from 2020 when the city had approximately 16,000.
Though the city is progressing, Mayor Scott is calling for more advancement.
“At the end of last year, we gathered not too far from here to announce a plan to eliminate vacant [lots] in Baltimore in its entirety. Accomplishing that goal is going to require tasks like this one,” said Scott.
In July 2023, Baltimoreans United In Leadership Development (BUILD), the Greater Baltimore Committee (GBC) and the mayor announced a collaborative effort to eliminate the city’s longtime vacant housing crisis. Their plan includes a $3 billion investment throughout the next 15 years.
They have already started advocating for some of the funds from the state during the 2024 Maryland General Assembly session.
On Feb. 27, Scott advocated for the millions of dollars Gov. Wes Moore allocated to Project C.O.R.E (Creating Opportunities for Revitalization and Equity) and other housing priorities in Baltimore. Project C.O.R.E. is an initiative between the state and the Baltimore City government to eliminate thousands of vacant properties to help redevelop and invest in the city.
“In Baltimore, there is a renaissance building,” said Scott in a hearing on the capital budget funds in the Capital Budget Subcommittee of the Maryland Senate Budget and Taxation Committee. “The State Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) capital budget, specifically the $50 million allocated for Project C.O.R.E., is going to be crucial to help accelerate a key component of that effort.”
The governor’s proposed capital budget for fiscal year 2025 includes $115.5 million in additional funds for housing and community revitalization initiatives under the Maryland DHCD.
“That capital budget, as proposed, would allow for significant acceleration of our vacants work around Baltimore City,” said Scott. “The $50 million in Project C.O.R.E. money in the governor’s budget could be leveraged to unlock $1 billion over 15 years if bonded and sustained.”
“Overall, this ambitious undertaking is going to require all of us to accomplish it,” added Scott. “We will need investments from the city, state and private partners to make it happen.”
Tashi McQueen is a Report For America corps member.
The post The Carlton reopens in Reservoir Hill after decades of vacancy appeared first on AFRO American Newspapers.
