Stories of Philanthropic Leadership in Advancing Regional and ...

II. B. TURNING NEIGHBORHOODSAROUND: ANNIE E. CASEYFOUNDATION’S EASTBALTIMORE DEVELOPMENTINITIATIVEFunder Highlighted:Annie E. Casey FoundationO’Malley sought support for a study. The proposedstudy was envisioned to become a blueprint for ablighted area only a 20-minute walk away from thecity’s Inner Harbor, where 25 percent of its adultslacked either a high school diploma or GED, andnearly 35 percent of all of its residents lived inpoverty (a level twice that of the city and four timesthat of the state of Maryland). Dotted amongabandoned row houses circa 1870 were nearly 800families, many of them senior citizens, but almost allof them low-income, who had lived in theneighborhood for 35 years or longer.LIVABLE NEIGHBORHOODS/STRONG REGIONS“This project is our biggest example of puttingmission into action.”— Scot Spencer, Annie E. Casey FoundationThe East Baltimore Development Initiative is aunique economic development project that buildsupon the community’s assets and needs in order tocreate opportunities for current residents as well asnewcomers. Local community organizations,business leaders, city officials, and a leadinginstitution of higher learning are collaborating with amajor national foundation to plan and implementthis 80-acre redevelopment initiative. This profilehighlights that urban redevelopment can besuccessful, profitable, inclusive, and equitable topublic, private, and community stakeholders when afoundation’s primary mission of human servicesreform and community support fosters the initiative.Progress and redevelopment need not meandisempowerment and displacement. With an eyetowards environmental integrity and socioeconomicrevitalization, true partnerships can be built betweenlocal employers, institutions, organizations, officials,and residents.Project ProfileThe East Baltimore Development Initiative (EBDI)represents a long-term, comprehensive andcollaborative commitment to transform an 80-acrearea near Johns Hopkins Hospital. Over the next tento 15 years, new facilities, community alliances,careers, housing, and hopes will all be nurtured,achieved, and eventually celebrated.According to Scot Spencer, manager of Baltimorerelations with the Annie E. Casey Foundation(AECF), its initial interest in this massive project firstoccurred in 1999 when Baltimore’s Mayor MartinA rendering of the East Baltimore Development Initiative’s AshlandCommon (Source: East Baltimore Development Initiative).Joining AECF’s partnership team were the JohnsHopkins Institutions (with their emphasis onlearning and research), the Greater BaltimoreCommittee (bringing together prominent businessleaders dedicated to strengthening the region’sbusiness climate), Baltimore Housing (which ensuresthat all citizens have access to affordable housingopportunities), the Coalition to End ChildhoodLead Poisoning (which serves as the project’s FamilyAdvocacy service provider), and the city ofBaltimore. The six major partners share vital roles ina multi-billion dollar development that will beanchored by a two-million-square foot life sciencesand technology park that will eventually house 30 to50 companies. In addition, the project is envisionedto attract 630 primary researchers and 2,000postdoctoral students and other scientists; build1,200 mixed-income, new, and rehabilitatedresidential units; provide up to 6,000 new jobsbetween construction and new or expandedbusinesses; and include dedicated greenspaces.Governed by a quasi-public entity, the nonprofitinitiative is overseen by an 11-member, jointlyappointed board (which includes three at-largemembers, two representatives each appointed by the69Funders’ Network for Smart Growth and Livable Communities