She helped with the development of the American Indian Studies Center in Fells Point, became a member of the board of the East Baltimore Methodist Parish and the Fells Point Renewal Organization, which later became the Society for the Preservation of Fells Point and Federal Hill.
In the early 1970s, Ms. Hyatt joined the Southeast Community Organization, of which she eventually became president, and was active in the successful battle that resulted in keeping a proposed extension of Interstate 83 from being routed through historic Fells Point.
As a member and director of the Citizens of Washington Hill Inc., of which she served as president from 1971 to 1972, and later as the organization's paid director, Ms. Hyatt worked with the city in helping to create and organize the Washington Hill Urban Renewal Plan.
Ms. Hyatt became an outspoken advocate for the preservation and rehabilitation of the 28-block Washington Hill neighborhood, whose architectural mix dates to the 1790s and includes examples of Federal, Queen Anne, Italianate, Second Empire and Victorian architecture.
"The variety of architecture makes it interesting," Ms. Hyatt told The Baltimore Sun in 1996. "But I'm a city girl. I have really good neighbors - we all watch out for each other - and I like the convenience of being able to walk everywhere."
Ms. Hyatt exuded boundless energy and enthusiasm for her Washington Hill neighborhood.
"You can get bogged down in pessimism until you can't do anything," Ms. Hyatt told The Evening Sun in a 1973 interview. "We can't do that."
Ms. Hyatt's work resulted in a visit to her rowhouse by Jimmy Carter during his 1976 presidential campaign to discuss her community development efforts.
"The fruits of those planning efforts were the Washington Hill Mutual Homes cooperative, the revitalization of Butchers Hill, creation of the Chapel Apartments, and the Artist's Housing project on East Baltimore Street," her son said.
"The senior housing program with the First Apostolic Church, the continued revitalization of Fells Point and numerous other projects helped bring the voices of the people into city and community planning," he said.
City Councilwoman Mary Pat Clarke, a former City Council president, was an old friend and admirer.
"She ran the Washington Hill organization for decades. She was a real lady, very polite but very direct. You didn't mess with Betty. Just ask any mayor," Mrs. Clarke said, laughing. "She successfully moved the area to the front of the line."
