We Catalyze Community Transformation
Working hand-in-hand with community residents, we strengthen neighborhoods by rebuilding homes, restoring whole blocks, and fostering enduring community relationships.
Rebuilding Neighborhoods so Nobody has to Live Near an Abandoned House
Baltimore is home to tens of thousands of abandoned properties and vacant lots, each one threatening the health and safety of nearby residents and sapping wealth from their neighborhoods. By partnering with communities and strategically working block-by-block to restore concentrations of these properties into new homes and community assets, we transform neighborhoods into inclusive, equitable, and healthy communities where families have access to high quality housing that drives generational wealth.
Born in Response to Tragedy
ReBUILD’s story began with one of East Baltimore’s greatest tragedies: the 2002 firebombing murder of Oliver community leader Angela Dawson and her five children. In response, the pastors and congregations of local BUILD-affiliated churches resolved to rebuild Oliver and nearby long-distressed neighborhoods in East Baltimore, so that a tragedy like this would not happen again. The church leaders connected with Reinvestment Fund, a national leader in community reinvestment, and the two organizations partnered to form TRF Development Partners to invest in fixing the blight and abandonment that had undermined the health and safety of Oliver residents and had stripped the neighborhood of resources and investments. In 2017, TRF Development Partners became ReBUILD Metro and made a permanent commitment to rebuilding Baltimore neighborhoods.
Tackling the Challenge at Scale
Over the last two decades, we have strategically invested over $125 million in East Baltimore, remediating over 500 vacant properties and lots into new homes and assets and reducing vacancy by over 90% in our first two reinvestment areas of Oliver/Broadway East and Greenmount West. In 2015, we expanded our model to Johnston Square, where we are now working with public, private, and community partners on a $200 million plan to transform the neighborhood into a thriving and income-diverse neighborhood that provides opportunities and changes the lives of new and legacy residents alike—and that can serve as a blueprint for Baltimore’s regeneration.
Our Core Principles
We take a comprehensive approach to revitalize Baltimore neighborhoods.
Our Community Revitalization Strategies
Building Homes
We restore abandoned houses and turn vacant lots into new affordable apartments, creating high-quality homes and healthy blocks.
Enhancing Communities
We work with communities on a wide range of local needs and priorities, from healthy outdoor spaces to safe streets to public art and beautification.
Path to Own
We connect with underserved homebuyers and support them with financial education, mortgage access, and homebuying incentives so they can purchase their first home.
Legacy Repairs
In Johnston Square, we help legacy homeowners with major repairs and upgrades so that they live in healthy homes that build value—and that they want to keep.
Whole Blocks Strategies
We strive to share our revitalization models for acquiring, financing, and rebuilding whole blocks and whole neighborhoods with fellow community builders.
Changing the Outlook
ReBUILD’s Work is Inspiring People Across Baltimore to Think Big about the Potential of our City
