ReBUILD Metro

Last month, ReBUILD Metro took another step forward in our revitalization of Johnston Square by completing the redevelopment of four abandoned rowhouses on the 700 block of East Preston Street. While 4 homes may seem like a small number in a neighborhood with nearly 800 buildings, they are a key milestone in our broader strategy to restore entire blocks and create lasting stability. These homes, which are 4 among 28 homes we've rebuilt in Johnston Square over the past year, have brought the neighborhood’s vacancy rate below 15% for the first time in decades. While there is still much work to do, this milestone signals that Johnston Square is on the path to renewal. With these homes complete, we have nearly eliminated abandonment on a block that once had over a dozen vacant houses. This is central to our "whole blocks" approach—ensuring that, block-by-block, every vacant house is either rebuilt or removed so that both new and long-standing residents can live on stable, thriving blocks without experiencing the harm of living near abandoned houses. In addition to rebuilding its vacant houses, we are committed to supporting the homeowners who have lived in this neighborhood for years. Through our Johnston Square Legacy Homeowner Repair Program, we provided major repairs or fa?ade improvements to 11 homeowners on this block, ensuring they can enjoy safe, high-quality housing and build equity alongside their new neighbors. The first of the newly revitalized homes is now available for a new homeowner, offering another opportunity to invest in this growing community. Stay tuned for updates, and check out the full story here: https://lnkd.in/eSXdJWGx

Last month, ReBUILD Metro took another step forward in our revitalization of Johnston Square by completing the redevelopment of four abandoned rowhouses on the 700 block of East Preston Street. While 4 homes may seem like a small number in a neighborhood with nearly 800 buildings, they are a key milestone in our broader strategy to restore entire blocks and create lasting stability. These homes, which are 4 among 28 homes we've rebuilt in Johnston Square over the past year, have brought the neighborhood’s vacancy rate below 15% for the first time in decades. While there is still much work to do, this milestone signals that Johnston Square is on the path to renewal. With these homes complete, we have nearly eliminated abandonment on a block that once had over a dozen vacant houses. This is central to our "whole blocks" approach—ensuring that, block-by-block, every vacant house is either rebuilt or removed so that both new and long-standing residents can live on stable, thriving blocks without experiencing the harm of living near abandoned houses. In addition to rebuilding its vacant houses, we are committed to supporting the homeowners who have lived in this neighborhood for years. Through our Johnston Square Legacy Homeowner Repair Program, we provided major repairs or fa?ade improvements to 11 homeowners on this block, ensuring they can enjoy safe, high-quality housing and build equity alongside their new neighbors. The first of the newly revitalized homes is now available for a new homeowner, offering another opportunity to invest in this growing community. Stay tuned for updates, and check out the full story here: https://lnkd.in/eSXdJWGx

ReBUILD Metro is excited to share that 418 East Oliver Street is now available for purchase! In 2012, we preserved and rebuilt 9 homes on this block—honoring the history and character of Greenmount West. After years, of leasing these homes, this is one of the first that we are able to sell to a new homebuyer. Come see this beautifully restored home at our Open House on March 1, from 12-2 PM.?Don't miss this chance to become a homeowner in the Greenmount West community!

"'I believe that the best way to do community development work is to literally start in relationship with people,' said Closkey. 'And it is within the context of relationships that you can really have a much more honest and a much more effective conversation about what needs to happen.'" Thanks to the Baltimore Fishbowl and the Loyola University Maryland Department of Communications and Media for documenting how we are working with our partners at Rebuild Johnston Square Neighborhood Organization to achieve redevelopment without displacement in Johnston Square.

Michael Bainum, ReBUILD's Director of Real Estate Development, will be participating on this ULI panel on Development Without Displacement. The panel will explore the complexities of neighborhood change and discuss strategies for anti-displacement, diving into how economic, demographic, and cultural shifts impact communities. Don't miss this vital conversation!

Discover Your New Home with ReBUILD! ?? Explore our beautiful properties in East Baltimore, each offering unique charm and modern amenities. ?? Special Offer: Receive $5,000 in seller assistance with a full-price offer by December 31! Plus, these homes qualify for various incentive programs that can significantly reduce your upfront purchasing costs. ?? Learn more about all our available homes at: https://lnkd.in/enxvnJEw #ReBUILDMetro #EastBaltimoreHomes #HomeOwnership #HousingIncentives

Our mural project at 1254 North Gay Street is now complete! ??? Artist: Dirk Joseph Funding: Maryland State Arts Council Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) A huge thank you to the Broadway East Community for collaborating on this vision. More #communityart coming to East Baltimore rowhomes in 2025! #eastbaltimore #revitalization #placemaking #muralmagic

?? Big changes are underway at East Biddle Street and Greenmount Avenue! ?? ? On Tuesday, our partners at Somerset Development Company and Harkins Builders, Inc. led us, Baltimoreans United in Leadership Development, and Rebuild Johnston Square Neighborhood Com on a tour of the amazing progress they have made over the last few months on the 109-unit Greenmount Park Apartments ?? and the new street-level Enoch Pratt Free Library & Maryland State Library Resource Center ?? branch. ? This cornerstone of Johnston Square’s community-driven revitalization will be complete next year, along with a new community park ??—a huge step forward as we continue to realize our shared vision of transforming Johnston Square from vacancy to vibrancy. ?

??? ?????????????? ????????????????????! Exciting news from the Johnston Square community! Last month, ReBuild Johnston Square Neighborhood Organization (RJSNO) held a Volunteer Perennial Planting Day to complete the final steps of the meditative garden project. Together with volunteers, community leaders, residents, and partners, we planted 160 perennials to bring this beautiful space to life. We celebrated the project's completion with a ribbon cutting! The day began with a heartfelt program featuring a blessing by Pastor Cotton, a moving poetry reading by a youth team member, and inspiring words from Nature Sacred, NDC, and ReBUILD Metro. The event concluded with the installation of the Nature Sacred journal bench under the pergola, offering a serene spot for reflection and connection. This garden, a vital part of the Johnston Square Vision Plan, is a testament to the power of collaboration and the strength of this community.

For years, 827 East Chase Street was more than just a vacant rowhouse—it was abandoned, with a collapsed roof and crumbling walls. Like many homes in Johnston Square and across Baltimore, its deterioration impacted the entire block. Blighted homes don’t exist in isolation. Nearby residents face leaks, infestations, health hazards, and declining property values, often losing generational wealth through no fault of their own. Over time, this creates a cycle of abandonment that undermines the health of entire neighborhoods. Fast forward to today: after months of work, 827 East Chase Street is completely restored—one of three homes we’ve revitalized on this block and one of 35 across East Baltimore since Fall 2023. Soon, it will become a new homeowner's foundation for opportunity, while the block's 15 other residents benefit from increased safety, stability, and value. This is the power of our whole block strategy: turning abandonment into revitalization and restoring community strength. Want to learn more about our impact? Check out our Whole Blocks Toolkit and see how we’re making change happen in East Baltimore. ??: https://lnkd.in/gyEsQ3VN #CommunityRevitalization #EastBaltimore #ReBUILD #ReBUILDMetro?