ReBUILD Metro has completed the redevelopment of another four historic rowhouses in Johnston Square, significantly reducing blight and vacancy on a block that had once been home to over a dozen abandoned houses. By restoring four more homes on the 700 block of East Preston Street—and by rebuilding 28 of Johnston Square’s abandoned houses over the past 12 months—ReBUILD has propelled vacancy in Johnston Square below 15% for the first time in decades.
731 East Preston Street, one of the restored homes, is now available for purchase. The remaining three homes will also be sold to aspiring homebuyers, continuing to bring new energy and reinvestment to Johnston Square while creating high quality homeownership opportunities in the heart of Baltimore.
“Ten years ago, ReBUILD made a commitment to Johnston Square residents that we would work with them to eliminate the vacancy plaguing their neighborhood,” said Sean Closkey, President of ReBUILD Metro. “While we still have lots of work to do to reach that goal, our tremendous progress shows that it is well within reach. This change was only possible because we have worked hand-in-hand with the community every step of the way, and because people across Baltimore believed it was possible.”
Using its “whole blocks” redevelopment model, ReBUILD also stabilized two additional abandoned properties on the 700 block of East Preston for future redevelopment, and it has coordinated with the City of Baltimore on the removal of two vacant end-of-block properties that required demolition. In addition, ReBUILD has partnered with the State of Maryland and Rebuild Johnston Square Neighborhood Organization (RJSNO) to provide 11 legacy homeowners on this block with major home repairs or façade improvements, ensuring that they also benefit from reinvestment in the neighborhood.
“Our residents on East Preston Street have dealt with decades of disinvestment, but soon they will have a healthy block and new neighbors.” said Regina Hammond, Executive Director of RJSNO. “As we continue to breathe new life into Johnston Square, we are working every day to ensure that our long-term residents, who have remained committed to our neighborhood through thick and thin, can enjoy and benefit from its rebirth.”
ReBUILD’s scattered-site single-family redevelopment has been supported by the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development, the Baltimore Department of Housing and Community Development, and the Baltimore Mayor’s Office of Recovery Programs, as well as from the Harry and Jeannette Weinberg Foundation and dozens of mission-driven individuals and families. With ongoing public and private support, ReBUILD continues to plan, finance, and implement its “whole blocks” redevelopment strategy across Johnston Square, block by block.
