This article is the first in a series about Hopkins' role in Baltimore's urban redevelopment projects.
In partnership with Baltimore City and Forrest Enterprises, Hopkins has become a part of the East Baltimore Development Inc. (EBDI) Biotechnical Project, an urban redevelopment project that will force nearly 400 East Baltimore families to relocate.
Under the direction of EBDI, an area of 80 acres of homes and businesses directly north of The Johns Hopkins Medical Institute will be razed and redeveloped into the $800 million development, which will include a 22-acre biotechnical and life sciences park complex, including some laboratory space to be used by Hopkins.
"Hopkins has been a supporter of EBDI," said Jack Shannon, the group's president. Shannon said Hopkins has two positions -- the same number that Baltimore City has -- on EBDI's board, one of which is filled by President Brody.
In addition to the biotechnical park's creation of 6,000 new jobs, the development also seeks to rehabilitate the East Baltimore neighborhood with the addition of 1,200 new or renovated homes for mixed income renters and buyers. The first of the project's three phases includes demolition of 831 properties, including 13 businesses and 563 vacant lots. While 56 percent of the residential properties are currently vacant, occupants of the remaining properties face relocation due to eminent domain, the state's right to take private property for public use.
"The city decided to adopt an urban renewal project in this area based on the fact that only one third of the properties in the area were occupied. Because of that, the city was able to use its powers of eminent domain," Shannon said.
"Our ability to undertake this project has been dependent on our proximity to Hopkins. We also benefit from the fact that Hopkinswill be a tenant of our life sciences building," She said.
Many residents within the development's boundaries -- Chase Street to the north, Washington Street to the east, Madison Street to the south and Broadway to the west -- are upset about facing forced relocation.
"I'm 54 now and I was born here and raised here. My childhood was spent running around here. I've been here all my life. I raised my children here. The majority of the old timers aren't too happy about it. They get settled in their ways. They stay around until their passing days," said resident Jerome Mahomes.
Like residents, local businesses are also facing relocation. Janice Lyons, daughter of the owner of Leon's Produce, agreed."We've been here and my father's had his business since 1945. He retired at age 89, but he still wants to keep his business. But now there will be less residents in the area as costumers," she said.
"The vast majority of these residents have gone on to better circumstances. We want to leave people better than we found them," said Edna Kane-Williams, EBDI vice president of community services, communications and outreach.
Resident Beth Henson, while upset about the relocation of herself and her self stepfather, spoke of the benefits of moving to a new area."But I'm pleased [about the relocation] because of the area's drug problem. I open my front door and drugs are there. This is dangerous for a chronic drug relapser like myself. I first got my help from Johns Hopkins," Henson said.
Chair of Hopkins' Political Science Department Matthew Crenson said that such relocation is the norm when it comes to urban development.
"The Biotech Park is requiring some people to move and they may not be happy about it. Any development project in a city is going to displace people," said Crenson.
"Hopkins has seen that this is a very important project for the city; however, this is not a Hopkins project. It has money from all kinds of sources, government and private," said Marsha Schactel, senior fellow at Hopkins' Institute for Policy Studies.
However, residents facing relocation often direct blame towards Hopkins."We usually blame Hopkins. Hopkins is making us move. Of course they have money, so they can make us move. I think they should rehabilitate the houses and let people move back here. I moved here when I was two years old," Lyons said.
Each family displaced by the redevelopment plan will -- under the direction of a family advocate -- receive compensation for the value of their home in addition to up to $70,000 to be used towards a new home. Those renting homes will be given up to six years of aid in rent for their new properties. Compensation for moving expenses will also be given. All residents will be given the option of moving back into the community after development occurs.
"I challenge you to find any relocation project in the country that offers as many benefits as this one does," said Kane-Williams,
"Hopkins sees it as an opportunity for a redeveloping neighborhood that is safer and more attractive. It was a place that was severely blighted in an unhealthy environment, and here is an opportunity. But there were personal costs involved. [Hopkins] felt strongly that what the government provided under law wasn't sufficient, so they have provided additional funding," said Marsha Schactel, senior fellow at the Institute for Policy Studies.
Shannon reported that approximately one third of residents will relocate within the East Baltimore vicinity, one fourth of residents will relocate to the northeast section of the city and the remaining residents will relocate throughout the city, Baltimore County and a few out of state.
"We have given folks a timeline where we work with individuals on a block by block basis. Our plan is to have -- for at least the first 30 acres -- all families relocated by the end of the year," Shannon said.
Resident Molly Jordan, who faces Phase I relocation, said that her relocation timeline remains unclear. "I really don't know what time [relocation will occur]. They really haven't decided what to give me yet [in terms of compensation]. I've been here 50-some years. It's terrible," Jordan said.
"EBDI has met with community members in almost 200 meetings in the past two years," Shannon said.
Some residents complain that unclear communication from EBDI poses difficulties in making relocation plans."We go to the meetings but they don't really tell us anything worthwhile," Lyons said.
Funding for the development comes from the combination of a $21.2 million federal loan and $10 million in private funds, which will pay for property acquisition and demolition in addition to relocation costs for residents. Phase I of the project -- which includes the biotechnical and life sciences buildings -- will be completed by Forrest City Enterprises of Cleveland, Ohio, a private development team.
In 1994, as reported by Eric Siegel in the Baltimore Sun, the Johns Hopkins Medical Institute and the State of Maryland formed the Historic East Baltimore Community Action Coalition (HEBCAC) in an attempt to revitalize 180 square blocks in East Baltimore. It was hoped that the Coalition would improve housing, bolster business development and advance social services for the decayed neighborhood.
However, by 2000, less than ten percent of the properties promised for renovation had been rehabilitated. At that point, as the number of vacant properties reached 4,000, the HEBCAC decided to acquire blocks of decayed houses and offer them to developers for demolition and the subsequent development of residential and commercial areas. At that time, Mayor O'Malley spoke out in support of a development beginning with 10 to 20 square blocks of new housing as well as space for Hopkins or private laboratories.
"The people who live in Baltimore don't have enough money to pay landlords, so landlords can't even pay for building. There's a bigger problem that's not Hopkins' fault -- people are poor," Crenson said.
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