Current Projects
Habitat Chesapeake is currently building in five neighborhoods in Baltimore City and Anne Arundel County. As we build, our Community Engagement team is on the ground every day, attending community association meetings, actively participating in public-private coalitions and building relationships with residents and community leaders to advocate for other projects and improvements that create stronger, safer, healthier and more vibrant communities.
Among our current projects are:
Milton-Montford
Milton-Montford is in the heart of East Baltimore, and was once a close-knit community of Czech-American immigrants. Following many families’ migration to neighboring counties, the community suffered from disinvestment. Today, it is experiencing a renaissance, thanks to strong community organizing by engaged residents, an influx of public and private investments and the transformation of nearby industrial buildings into nonprofit headquarters and hubs of innovation. For more information on our work and the community, view our Milton-Montford Fact Sheet.
Pigtown/Washington Village
Pigtown is a historically working class neighborhood in South Baltimore, so named for the pigs that were once shuttled through the streets from the B&O railroad to local butcher shops. Today, Pigtown is a diverse community with a bustling main street full of locally-owned restaurants, and easy access to downtown Baltimore, as well as major highways and public transportation to DC. Learn more about the neighborhood here. Since 2007, Habitat Chesapeake has renovated 23 existing homes and constructed 18 new townhomes in Pigtown. Much of this work has centered on the 1100 and 1200 blocks of Ward St. where we have demolished a series of vacant and badly deteriorated structures. These buildings will be replaced by new townhomes, as well as open space and parking for close partner, Paul’s Place Outreach Center, which offers a wide range of programs for the neighborhood. Habitat Chesapeake is also working with Pigtown Main Street to address infrastructure and public safety needs such as street lighting and traffic calming. For more information, please view our Pigtown Fact Sheet.
Sandtown
Sandtown is a vibrant West Baltimore community bordered by historic Pennsylvania Avenue and the burgeoning Innovation Village district between Maryland Institute College of Art and Coppin State University. Jazz great Cab Calloway and groundbreaking Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall both grew up in Sandtown. Previously, the Sandtown community was served by Sandtown Habitat, founded in 1989 by charismatic leader Allan Tibbels. Then part of New Song Community Church’s Urban Ministries, the organization built more than 330 homes, helping many families find safety, stability and a brighter future. In 2014, Sandtown Habitat merged with Habitat Chesapeake, which remains committed to serving the community. We are currently renovating 9 homes in the neighborhood and also operate a ReStore, selling low-cost building materials, tools, furniture and more. For more information, check out our Sandtown Fact Sheet.
Woodbourne-McCabe
Woodbourne-McCabe is part of the Greater Govans Community directly off of the York Road Corridor in North Central Baltimore City. Once a strong middle-class African-American community, the neighborhood suffered from gang violence and vacancy in the 1970’s and 80’s. Despite its challenges, Woodbourne-McCabe has much to recommend it: abundant green space, a playground, easy access to mass transit and strong local partners like Loyola University and the York Road Partnership. Habitat Chesapeake’s work began in 2012 in partnership with the City of Baltimore’s then-new Vacants to Value Initiative. Since then, we have rehabilitated 18 homes on McCabe Ave. – a street that was once half vacant – and worked alongside residents and community leaders to advocate for other investments, like the demolition of derelict buildings, upgrades to street lighting and the installation of speed bumps. Today, with 18 Habitat homeowners in place and more to come, the community is filled with the sounds of children playing and neighbors greeting one another. For more information, read our Woodbourne-McCabe Fact Sheet.
Curtis Bay
Curtis Bay is a South Baltimore community neighboring Brooklyn and Cherry Hill. Church Street, where Habitat Chesapeake is beginning new construction on 9 houses, is named for the many churches and faith organizations calling this area home. This historically industrial, working class neighborhood now boasts acres of green space and waterfront trails thanks to dedicated community investment. Take a virtual tour of a home interior and learn more about the neighborhood and its amenities on our Church Street information page. For more information, read our Church Street sell sheet.
