Building A Better Future for West Baltimore
The latest news at WNADA - Summer Edition 2024
Summer 2024
Dear Friends and Neighbors,
Thank you for making 2024 another good start to an exceptional year for the West North Avenue Development Authority. The participation from our community partners has assisted WNADA in many ways. This season marks the completion of the Comprehensive Revitalization Plan and the successful award of $9.5 million in financial assistance grants to fourteen local businesses.
In this edition of our newsletter, we highlight how our State agency works to ignite hope and inspire economic growth and service.
Our dedicated staff has done an incredible job of expanding our outreach while creating and strengthening our programs and services. Our ongoing goal is to keep our overhead low while increasing our service in the field and with your help, this is possible.
Join us as we lift West Baltimore to recognize collective power, the significance of our impact, and the boundless potential that lies ahead.
Thank you for the opportunity to serve, and for your investment, partnership, and collaboration, as we continue to work to build a better future for West Baltimore neighborhoods.
With gratitude,
Chad Williams
Executive Director, WNADA
Legislative Updates
Governor Wes Moore emphasized the focus of a safer, more affordable, and competitive Maryland during the 2024 legislative session as Maryland State Legislators came together to pass a variety of bills pertaining to housing and economic development which included the Governors Housing Package. The package is composed of the Housing Expansion and Affordability Act, the Housing and Community Development Financing Act, and the Renters’ Rights and Stabilization Act.
HB538- Housing Expansion and Affordability Act
The Housing Expansion and Affordability Act provides land use, affordable housing, zoning density, and permitting alterations for “qualified projects” to reduce the barriers to increasing housing production in local jurisdictions. It also establishes the position and duties of the Historic Property Revitalization Director at the Department of Housing and Community Development.
HB599- Housing and Community Development Financing Act
The Housing and Community Development Financing Act creates an instrumentality of the State known as the Maryland Community Investment Corporation. It serves as an entity to make investments and provide financial assistance for development by leveraging federal New Markets Tax Credits and expanding the eligible uses of the Strategic Demolition and Smart Growth Impact Fun in the Department of Housing and Community Development.
HB693- Renters’ Rights and Stabilization Act
The Renters’ Rights and Stabilization Act establishes the Office of Tenant and Landlord Affairs within the Department of Housing and Community Development and requires the Office to develop a Maryland Tenant Bill of Rights. Its establishment seeks to redress Maryland’s high eviction rate while alleviating the challenges that renters may encounter.
Opening Ceremony of The Carlton Apartment Building
The West North Avenue Development Authority awarded Blank Slate a $245,000 capital funding subsidy grant to assist with the restoration and renovation of the vacant, three-story, and formerly abandoned multi-family property in Reservoir Hill. The “Carlton” is not a 12-unit apartment building. The grant eliminated the budget gap in the $2.6 million project. To learn more about this project, please visit
https://www.carltonreshill.com
WNADA In The News
WNADA will be highlighted in an upcoming PBS documentary. Our executive director, Chad Williams, was interviewed on the deep-rooted economic effects of Redlining and how WNADA is working to address strategic ways to impact equitable housing, economic, and transportation development positively. The documentary is scheduled to be released in early 2025.
2023-2024 RFQ Awards
The West North Avenue Development Authority Awards $6.1 Million in Financial Assistance Grants to Fourteen Local Businesses.
The West North Avenue Development Authority (WNADA) is proud to announce the grant recipients to receive subsidy for commercial and residential projects, as a result of its 2023 Request for Qualifications (RFQ). More than 70 responses were received in December 2023 with an interest in working on revitalization projects along the West North Avenue corridor. Thirteen entities were selected to work with WNADA and West Baltimore neighborhoods to support projects focused on the revitalization of the West North Avenue corridor.
The RFQ was designed to identify qualifying businesses with the experience and interest to redevelop six (6) focus areas along the corridor. Some of the projects will start immediately, with others being implemented in the coming months.
NHS of Baltimore - $250,000
Rebirth Development - $500,000
Coppin Heights CDC - $250,000
Blank Slate Development LLC - $1,750,000
BARCO - $2,000,000
NHS of Baltimore- $250,000
Charm City Buyers - $250,000
Visionary Venture Partnership - $500,000
NHS of Baltimore- $250,000
Charm City Buyers - $250,000
Visionary Venture Partnership - $500,000
Baltimore City DHCD - $350,000
Druid Heights CDC - $650,000
Baltimore City DHCD - $500,000
* Special Interest Areas *
Public Safety: Frontline Property Management - $350,000
Multifamily Student Housing: H&H Development - $750,000
Neighborhood Preservation:
NHS of Baltimore - $500,000
Druid Heights CDC - $100,000
Public Transit Services
The Graham Project - $100,000
Midtown Baltimore - $250,000
Green Space Improvements
Tree Planting on West North Avenue
Stockton Street Park
Cab Calloway Park
Herbert Street Park
Wilbur H. Waters
Easterwood Park Redevelopment
Open Works West – Coming Soon to West North Avenue
WNADA provided a discretionary grant of $25,000 to fund the Open Work’s pilot program at the Coppin State University’s Business School. Additionally, the WNADA board approved awarding $750,000 to the Open Works and The Baltimore Arts Realty Corporation (BARCO) partnership to build the Open Works West facility at the Walbrook Mill site (2600 block of W. North Avenue).
The Open Works in West Baltimore location was an idea from Senator Antonio Hayes. The collaboration with Coppin State University’s Center for Strategic Entrepreneurship, BARCO, and WNADA will bring the first maker-space partnership to West Baltimore.
To learn more, please visit
https://www.openworksbmore.org/
Transportation
Exciting Projects
West North Avenue SMART Intersection Project
WNADA is partnering with the National Transportation Center at Morgan State University to install SMART Intersection technology at 5 locations along West North Avenue. These SMART Intersections include a suite of sensors that monitor interactions between vehicles and vulnerable road users such as pedestrians, disabled persons, scooters, and cyclists.
The anonymous data collected provides invaluable insight into travel patterns such as: how pedestrians cross streets or access transit stops information on “close calls” between road users and vehicles, and traffic violation rates. WNADA and its partner agencies will use this information to improve the corridor’s safety and accessibility. Over time, the data will be used to evaluate pre- and post-development changes and provide multi-modal traffic volume data to attract new investment around these high-volume areas.
Safety & Accessibility Demonstration Intersection
WNADA is partnering with Graham Projects to design and install safety, accessibility, and placemaking amenities along West North Avenue. Starting with the W. North & Druid Hill Avenue Intersection, this demonstration project will be the first re-designed intersection to improve pedestrian visibility, transit accessibility, restriping crosswalks, street artwork, and more. More information will be shared publicly once the project is designed and receives the appropriate permits from Baltimore City. Stay tuned for more information about the community design and installation process!
Bikemore’s Mobile Bike Shop is offering free bike repair services in Druid Hill Park from 4-7 pm every Thursday (weather dependent)! Pedal by to say hello or receive free assistance with your bicycle.
Transport Economics Fast Facts!
Did you know not all transportation modes provide the same economic outcomes? Projects that improve walking, biking, and moving actively using assistive devices cost 75 percent less to build per mile compared to typical, car-focused transportation projects, they also can bring a broad range of economic benefits...
- Increased property and sales tax revenue by up to 10 times!
- Increased retail and food sales due to increased foot traffic, even with motor vehicle lane or parking reductions!
- Increased tourism revenue by eight to nine times the amount invested in activity-friendly routes to everyday destinations!
- Averted healthcare costs resulting from safer streets, cleaner air, and more opportunities for physical activity!
- Local Transportation Projects
- Key Bridge News Updates
- Druid Park Lake Drive Complete Streets
- Baltimore Red Line
- Frederick Douglass Tunnel Program
- West Baltimore United: A Plan to Reconnect Communities
- Baltimore City DOT Job’s Page
- Maryland Department of Transportation Job’s Page
Business Development Program
The business development program is voluntary to help small- to medium-sized businesses within Baltimore City with their business health by providing workshops, seminars, and application-assistance classes. The goal is to provide local businesses with growth strategies, financial literacy, and networking opportunities to help facilitate and maintain business health. More information will be shared soon.
Business Resources
List of Services
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Baltimore City Mayor’s Office of Small and Minority Business Advocacy and DevelopmentList Item 1
SMBA&D was created to support the various needs of small and minority businesses in Baltimore City. Our mission is grounded in ensuring equitable rights and opportunities for small and minority businesses. SMBA&D will support the business community by conducting outreach, advocacy, and facilitating training.
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Baltimore Small Business Resource Center (SBRC)List Item 2
The Small Business Resource Center (SBRC), an initiative of the BDC, cultivates and supports the growth and development of small businesses and entrepreneurs in Baltimore City through technical assistance, training, counseling, workshops and a vast resource library. SBRC is now housed at the Mayor’s Office of Minority and Women-Owned Business Development.
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Maryland Department of CommerceList Item 3
Advantage Maryland (MEDAAF)- A flexible and broad-based program, Advantage Maryland (also known as MEDAAF) funds conditional grants, loans and investments to assist economic development initiatives. Uses include business attraction and retention, infrastructure support, brownfield redevelopment, arts and entertainment districts, daycare, revolving loan funds and local strategic planning. Projects must be within Priority Funding Areas and eligible industry sectors. Awards are made on a competitive basis.
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Maryland Capital Access ProgramList Item 4
A financing resource to stimulate opportunities for small businesses that may have difficulty in obtaining business financing by establishing a Loan Reserve Program. MD CAP encourages banks and other financial institutions to make loans to small businesses that have difficulty obtaining financing.
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Maryland New Start Microloan Program
The Maryland New Start Microloan Program is a financing resource established to provide $50,000 in no-interest loans to covered individuals to start a small business.
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Neighborhood BusinessWorks
Provides flexible financing to new or expanding small businesses and nonprofit organizations in Sustainable Communities and Priority Funding Areas throughout the state.
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Maryland Technology Development Corporation
TEDCO (Maryland Technology Development Corporation) is an independent instrumentality of the State of Maryland, established by the Maryland General Assembly in 1998, to facilitate the creation of businesses and support their growth in all regions of the State. TEDCO's role is to be Maryland's leading source of funding for early-stage, technology-based businesses; to provide other business assistance to entrepreneurs throughout the State; and to foster technology transfer and commercialization from the State’s universities and Federal labs.
"This is a down payment on growth and economic development for the communities in West Baltimore to shape their own destiny.”
– Governor Wes Moore
RFQ 202
The West North Avenue Development, on behalf of Governor Moore, sponsored by Senator Hayes and chaired by Dr. Jenkins, is releasing $9.5 million of grants to make that investment in the economic, housing, transportation, and green space revitalization of West Baltimore.
Growing a Tree Canopy in Commercial Areas Along the West North Avenue Corridor
Trees can improve air quality and help battle climate change. Trees along the corridor also promote a vibrant commercial district and encourage the economic success of neighborhood businesses. WNADA, in partnership with Parks and People and DSO Contractors, has planted 150 trees to date and will complete the plantings this summer.
On Saturday, May 4, volunteers from the community joined WNADA for a tree-planting event.
WNADA Meets with Small Developers
July 11, 2024
WNADA had the opportunity to present to and network with the Baltimore Small Developer Collective, the Voice of the Small Developer.
Our executive director, Chad Williams, shared an overview of the West North Avenue Development Authority's work and the exciting opportunity to collaborate with individual home renovators and small community developers.
We appreciate the opportunity and thank everyone who attended the presentation. Your presence and engagement were invaluable to us.
WNADA Participates in the 4th International Placemaking Week
The West North Avenue Development Authority (WNADA) joined public space leaders worldwide today at the 4th International Placemaking Week event in Baltimore.
The WNADA panel: "83 to Hilton - Restorative Justice with Food and You" was a dynamic and fruitful discussion, bringing together The Urban Oasis, The No Boundaries Coalition, and The Fresh Food Factory panelists in a powerful display of collaboration.
Special thanks to
the Neighborhood Design Center Design Center for co-hosting this great opportunity.
WNADA had the opportunity to present to and network with the Baltimore Small Developer Collective, the Voice of the Small Developer.
Our executive director, Chad Williams, shared an overview of the West North Avenue Development Authority's work and the exciting opportunity to collaborate with individual home renovators and small community developers.
We appreciate the opportunity and thank everyone who attended the presentation. Your presence and engagement were invaluable to us.
Thanks to the
Center for Urban Families for providing a beautiful event space.
The West North Avenue Development Authority (WNADA), a State of Maryland economic development agency for Baltimore City. The agency was established to create a comprehensive plan for housing, economic, transportation, and neighborhood development along West North Avenue between 600 - 3200 Block, defined as the Target Area, and 250 yards surrounding the Target Area, defined as the Buffer Zone.
