Mayor Brandon M. Scott announced the designation of Park Heights as the City’s ninth Baltimore Main Street district.
Mayor Brandon M. Scott, Council Vice President Sharon Green Middleton, other city council official, and community businesses and residents made the announcement at an event in Park Heights.
Park Heights is a 1500-acre neighborhood in Northwest Baltimore and comprised of 30,000 residents. It joins Belair-Edison, Federal Hill, Fells Point, Hamilton Lauraville, Highlandtown, Pennsylvania Avenue, Pigtown, and Waverly as the latest active Baltimore Main Street in a city-wide effort to revitalize neighborhood economies. The Baltimore Main Streets program follows Main Street America’s four-point model of economic vitality, design, promotion, and organization.
“Parklane Shopping Center is the selected site for the announcement because the owners have made a commitment to working to renovate this shopping center that has been in the community for more than 50 years. The partnership from PHR will support new safety enhancements, a new mural at the corner of Park Heights Avenue and West Cold Spring Lane, and a partnership with our Clean and Green program to begin beautification strategies and new tree plantings,” stated Yolanda Jiggetts, CEO of Park Heights Renaissance, Inc. “PHR is excited to work hand in hand with business partners, residents, and stakeholders to implement the Main Streets approach in a way that is inclusive, equitable, and impactful. We look forward to strengthening collaboration and garnering new resources to support a BOLD NEW HEIGHTS!”
“It is such a joyous event to announce the Park Heights Main Street! This is especially meaningful to me being from and still residing in West Baltimore. Baltimore Main Streets, program Director Nater, and the entire SMBA&D team are committed to providing assistance and resources throughout Baltimore City. Park Heights will be revitalized from the additional support and diligent efforts of our partner in this public private partnership, Park Heights Renaissance. We are excited to work in partnership with PHR and the community in these efforts,” stated Christopher Lundy, Director of the Mayor’s Office of Small and Minority Business Advocacy & Development
The announcement of the Main Streets Designation and Small Business Funding is expected to be leveraged to further the significant investments being made in the Park Heights Community that are coming to fruition, including:
- Renaissance Row: 84 affordable rental units and office space
- Woodland Gardens I: 63 affordable intergenerational units
- Woodland Gardens II: 75 affordable senior units
- Cold Spring Lane Apartments: 163 affordable rental units in a transit-oriented development adjacent to the West Cold Spring Metro SubwayLink Station
- NHP Foundation: 280 new units, marking the construction of the first brand-new single-family homes in over 20 years
- 4710 Park Heights Avenue: 100 affordable senior units
- A $20 million branch of the Enoch Pratt Free Library that will replace a branch that closed in 2002
- $18 mm in BCRP investments, like:
- CC Jackson Park Expansion
- Renovations at Towanda Grantley Rec Center, JD Gross Recreation Center, and the historic Langston Hughes Community Center
- Expansion and modernization of Park West Health Systems and the Kennedy Krieger Schools Program
- The establishment of two 21st Century Schools: Pimlico ES and Arlington ES
- $400 million redevelopment of Pimlico Race Track”
“It is with immense pride that we incorporate Park Heights into the Baltimore Main Streets program. Park Heights exemplifies a community enriched by its robust independent business community. The upcoming addition of nearly 1000 residential units forecasts a bright economic future for our commercial areas and opens the door to numerous partnership opportunities,” stated Charlyn Nater, Director of the Baltimore Main Streets program. “The foundation of a strong community lies in working together. As we embark on this new journey, we are forging partnerships that will benefit generations to come.”
The Baltimore Main Streets Program is a neighborhood revitalization approach that focuses on support and funding to attract new businesses and jobs in designated districts. It is currently the third largest urban Main Streets program in the U.S.For more information on the Baltimore Main Streets Program, visit https://smba-d.baltimorecity.gov/mwboo/baltimore-main-streets
