An area called the "Middle East" neighborhood of East Baltimore, not far from world-renown Johns Hopkins Medical Institute and Medical School, is undergoing a "revitalization." Revitalization for many means economic development for the city and renewed employment opportunities for residents. It also could mean displacement of some residents and improved housing conditions for others.

The East Baltimore Development Initiative (www.ebdi.org) is the lynchpin organization that has convened community residents, elected officials, church leaders, urban planners and others in journey toward a better, safer, more economically viable Baltimore for all its residents.

The effort, which began in 2003, will be on-going for the next 8 to 10 years. In Phase One, 80 acres are currently under development. Residents in the area were offered incentives to move into other areas of Baltimore City and to date 400 families have been relocated and the majority opted to remain in East Baltimore. With $850 million of investment in place, the plan for this section of the city includes a new biotech research park, 1200 units of mixed income housing and the promise of 4,000 - 6,000 new jobs. Phase Two will include development of the next 50 acre parcel.

For more specific information about the development project, go to the East Baltimore Development Initiative web site and please come back to MPT for more resources, information and outreach events in the future.