Walk nine blocks east of Homewood and you stumble upon the neighborhood known to most students as the place you don't go. Geographically in the center of the city, Waverly has Greenmount Avenue as its western border, 39th St. as its northern border, Ellerslie as its eastern border and 29th St. as its southern border.
Fifty years ago, Waverly's claim to fame was what was branded the "World's Largest Outdoor Insane Asylum," or Memorial Stadium, which was home to the Colts, Orioles and - for a brief stint - the Ravens. The moniker comes from how the roar of the Colts' fans could be heard throughout the surrounding area. When the stadium shut its doors in the late 1990s, much of Waverly's business left as well. The bars, restaurants and specialty shops which had previously catered to both stadium patrons and local workers moved out.
Remaining on Greenmount Avenue's business strip are primarily discount clothing stores, fried chicken joints and pawn shops. Yet a few glimpses remain of Waverly's former glory days - most notably, Pete's Grill. Known for its home-cooked taste and huge breakfast portions, Pete's Grill continues to provide Waverly with a bit of local renown.
Waverly is also famous for its weekly farmers' market. Held every Saturday morning, the "32nd Street Market" brings in over 30 vendors from across Maryland and as far as southern Pennsylvania.
The market draws crowds of approximately 500 people weekly, and provides local residents with a source of freshly-grown fruits and vegetables as well as newly baked goods, flowers and prepared foods.
Today the cost of purchasing a home, while on the rise, remains affordable in Waverly, especially when compared to the prices of surrounding neighborhoods like Charles Village or Guilford.
The average price of a house is still well under $100,000. The stadium's exit from Waverly also, not surprisingly, increased the unemployment rate which is currently estimated at approximately 10 percent according to the latest census information.
Many residents also complain that the loss of the stadium has resulted in a decrease in police presence. "When the stadium was here, you'd see police patrolling the street all the time. This doesn't happen anymore," said one life-long resident who requested to go unnamed.
Yet many residents do not seem too concerned about safety and cite the few large profile crimes as anomalies.
"We mostly get the same juvenile delinquency like petty vandalism that you'd get anywhere," said Regina Boyce, a board member of the Waverly Improvement Association and resident of Waverly for four and a half years.
"What happens in Waverly is the same thing that happens in Charles Village, petty juvenile crime."
While residents acknowledge the negative effects of the stadium's exit, many are optimistic about Waverly's future, pointing towards the community's diversity, tight-knight community and historic charm as the source of its potential rebound.
"I know everyone on my block and we look out for one another," Boyce said. "I love and trust my neighbors." Events like picnics and community art projects serve to bring the neighborhood together and give Waverly residents a sense of unity.
John, a resident of Waverly for 10 years, praises the diversity found in the community. "There's a good mix of people; racially and economically diverse."
Residents cite Waverly's historic character as a source of its potential to regenerate its businesses and overcome the devastating loss of the stadium, which served as the backbone of the neighborhood for so long.
It is walking through the neighborhood where one can observe Waverly's historic character.
Yet history is a doubled-edge sword, and reminders of the neighbor's previous prosperity also reinforce the fact that these days are past. One only needs to see the stately marquee of the Boulevard Theater, which is still present on Greenmount Avenue.
The Boulevard was once a neighborhood institution that had to shut its doors in 1989. Its grand marquee, now faded, still remains, but the space is currently occupied by one of the many discount stores that line Waverly's main shopping street. The same is true of the once grand Victorian homes that harken back to days of greater affluence in the neighborhood.
While many bemoan the loss of the stadium's business and its related businesses in Waverly, residents are just as quick to defend their neighborhood. Boyce maintains that her neighborhood "feels like home."
Residents profess pride in the tight-knit community in which they live; that they know all of their neighbors, and look out for one another.
Despite recent economic troubles, Waverly residents are looking toward the future. The site of the stadium remains a place that residents can still rally around - a neighborhood YMCA. A fully equipped gym and community center, the space is open for families and individuals of all ages.
Even in the face of the challenges of a struggling local economy, poor public schooling and increased petty crime, Waverly residents remain deeply attached and committed to their neighborhood.
