"We're discouraged by the fact that EBDI still seems to be intent on relocating more and more longtime homeowners out of the neighborhood," said Nathan Sooy, executive director of SMEAC. "There were many blocks ... that EBDI had said weren't going to be touched by eminent domain, that EBDI would purchase rental and vacant properties and leave homeowners alone. That is no longer the case."
Shannon, though, says EBDI has responded to such concerns by expanding the choices available to homeowners. A homeowner in the targeted area could decide to stay in his home if it meets building code standards. Otherwise, the homeowner would be given a relocation benefit, which could be used to purchase a home in the neighborhood or elsewhere. The amount of the benefit is still undetermined; it averaged $153,000 in the first phase. Donald Gresham, chairman of SMEAC and a 20-year homeowner in the largely low-income neighborhood, said most remaining homeowners would jump at the chance to own one of the newly rehabbed homes. But he said it has become more difficult and unsafe to stay with so many of the remaining homes boarded up. Gresham said he hopes to stay until he can buy a rehabbed home.
FOR THE RECORD - A photo caption with an article yesterday about new offices and apartments in East Baltimore mistakenly identified the new development as a group of homes that will be renovated.
The Baltimore Sun regrets the errors.
"It was a great idea, but it's not moving quick enough that the people will be able to stay," he said
So far, EBDI has acquired 22 of the targeted 150 homes, along the 1700 and 1800 blocks of East Chase St., the 1100 block of Rutland Ave. and the 1100 block of McDonogh St. Of the 150 homes, about 30 percent are occupied, Shannon said.
Of those, fewer than half are occupied by homeowners, and the rest are rentals, he said. Those homes are either north of East Chase Street or in an area bounded by Collington Avenue, Patterson Park Avenue, East Madison Street and Ashland Avenue.
In the project's first phase, EBDI acquired 916 properties, demolished more than 550 structures and excavated foundations of another 200 that had been previously razed, Shannon said. Of the 916 properties, about 30 percent were occupied. EBDI relocated 396 households, 150 of which owned their properties, Shannon said.
He said the homes slated for rehabilitation were left because "the Chase Street corridor is part of a historic district and an amazingly intact area in terms of the rowhouses that are still standing."
Besides the EBDI rehabs, Shannon said, some other housing development is taking place, including A&R Development's plans to build 49 new, for-sale townhouses and flats.
