The Baltimore community is marking the completion of Phase 2 in the redevelopment of the Uplands neighborhood as officials and locals gathered to witness the transformation of what was once a distressed public housing complex into a modern residential area. According to WBALTV, Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott, witnessing first-hand the realization of the project, shared his enthusiasm. "When I was coming down Edmondson Avenue, I saw someone moving in with a U-Haul truck. It's real, and people are actually living here," Mayor Scott said. The resurgence of the community is grounded in the $53 million spent on phase two, providing 150 apartments across 10 buildings aimed towards residents earning 30% to 80% of the area median income.
Coming along with the spacious apartments characterized by open floor plans are sustainable and technological features such as solar panels, electric car charging stations, and consistent skyline views emphasized by the availability of washers and dryers in each living space. Adding to the aesthetic and practical revitalization, designed for families near Ten Hills and Irvington neighborhoods, are playgrounds and renovated walkways. The Baltimore Fishbowl reported adding over $28 million in infrastructure improvements, including new utilities, sidewalks, and roads, to support the future homeownership phases anticipated to bring approximately 220 single-family homes and townhomes.
David Smallwood, president of the Uplands Community Association, stated, as per WBALTV, that the completed project was ushering in a "different vibe to the community." With extended amenities like the Edmondson Village shopping center receiving an uplift and plans for two grocery stores to open, the neighborhood is poised for a new chapter of growth and accessibility.
Pennrose, LLC, the Phase II developer, has been lauded for its role in constructing buildings and fostering community infrastructure. "The completion of Phase II marks another critical step forward in the Uplands redevelopment, an ambitious initiative to transform and shape an entire neighborhood with quality, mixed-income housing, ample amenities, and green space," Patrick Stewart, regional vice president at Pennrose, said in a statement, as reported by the Baltimore Fishbowl. Housing Commissioner Alice Kennedy remarked on the project as a model for equitable development, commenting on the city's strategic engagement with private investment to secure affordability in high-market neighborhoods.
The previous launch of Phase 1 in 2013 resulted in the development of 178 homes and 104 mixed-income rental apartments alongside a community building. The Uplands project represents years of planning, investment, and community collaboration.
