Originally posted in The Rawlings-Blake Review, Issue #182

This past Tuesday, we celebrated the third anniversary of Baltimore’s acclaimed Vacants to Value initiative. When I formed Vacants to Value, the mission was clear: to get Baltimore’s vacant and abandoned properties cleaned up and redeveloped more quickly, more efficiently, and more economically.

Three years later, Vacants to Value has helped to initiate the rehabilitation of 1,400 vacant properties, demolition of 700 dilapidated structures, and adoption & greening of over 800 lots by community groups. Over 500 homebuyer assistance grants have been awarded through the program.

But our work is far from done. This week we redoubled our efforts by re-launching Vacants to Value with a fresh look and a new website, as well as an upgraded Baltimore Homeownership Incentives Program (B-HiP). With the new B-HiP, we are increasing Baltimore City employee homeownership incentives from $3,000 to $5,000 and increasing Live Baltimore’s Buying Into Baltimore incentive from $4,000 to $5,000. We are also campaigning to double employer and employee participation in the Live Near Your Work.

This is an exciting time for our city—particularly for all of the neighborhoods across Baltimore that are being improved because of this innovative program. Baltimore is steeped in history, culture, and pride. Our more than 200 neighborhoods make up the urban heart of Maryland, and Vacants to Value is about preserving and enhancing the splendor of this magnificent city. It’s about attracting new residents and bringing relief to families that have called Baltimore home for decades.

For me, the true measure of success is in the faces of the communities—and families—that are being transformed for the better because of our efforts.

On Tuesday I was pleased to stand with Ms. Cynite Cooke on the steps of what is soon to be her new home—a formerly vacant property that is being rehabilitated through Vacants to Value. Ms. Cooke moved to Baltimore to work as a teacher for Baltimore City Public Schools. After living here for a few years, she decided to put down roots in the city by taking advantage of the numerous homeownership incentives we have put in place. Her heart has been in Baltimore for years, but with the help of Vacants to Value, she is now able to make Baltimore her home. Stories like Ms. Cooke’s are happening all over Baltimore and are exactly how we will grow our city one resident at a time.

Our third anniversary celebration culminated with the latest Vacants to Value demolition success story. After years of waiting, community members watched as a number of blighted structures in the 1300 block of Hillman Avenue were finally torn down. After the space is cleared, beginning next year we are going to consolidate the lots and lease the space out as an urban farm.

I am committed to working every day to make each community in Baltimore stronger, and I’m grateful to be mayor of a city with so many community partners who are willing to step up and work with government to move our city forward. Let’s keep up the fight, and together, I know we can make Baltimore’s future even brighter.