Gay Street

Gay Street is a neighborhood in the east region of the city. The neighborhood lies within the confines of East Biddle Street, North Eden Street, East Monument Street and North Broadway. The neighborhood contains a mix or commercial and residential uses. A majority of the homes here are multifamily apartment units, although a number of attached row home structures are located here as well.

Dedicated green space can be found at Madison Square Park s well as Eden and Eager Park. Public transportation is available and the Johns Hopkins Metro Station is located here, as well as numerous bus stops.. As with many neighborhoods, residents will find numerous places of worship. Schools include the Bluford Drew Jenison STEM Academy, the Sought Out Redeemed Christian School and the Community Initiatives Academy. Shopping can be found within the neighborhood, but many will want to venture elsewhere for more options. There are numerous restaurants located throughout the neighborhood as well.

Like many neighborhoods in Baltimore, crimes against people and property can occur at any time and crime rates can vary from street to street and day to day. As always, check recent crime statistics to make an informed decision on any neighborhood you are considering living in or visiting.

I think that this neighborhood will not appeal to many due to the large amount of rental housing.

Named for colonial Baltimore surveyor Nicholas Gay, the Gay Street neighborhood is one of the few historic communities in northeast Baltimore that was unscathed by the 1904 Great Baltimore Fire. Thus, the original character of the neighborhood remained until the early 1970s. AT that time, Gay Street was cut in half by the urban development of east Baltimore. Today, the old Gay Street area is dominated by the Oldtown Mall, a retail strip that was converted from a working street to a pedestrian mall. In spite of the development, there are still a few housing units in the area that follow the original, angular path Gay Street cut through the neighborhood. North of Monument Street is a pedestrian path, following the old route of Gay Street along the Cain athletic Field.
Gay Street is a predominately African-American, lower-middle-class neighborhood. Dominated by mult-family housing complexes, the Gay Street neighborhood does not contain much in the way of retail stores or family entertainment. It may not be the best choice for young couples or families looking to establish a residence in the city. Perhaps one of the other neighborhoods in Baltimore that is undergoing something of a renaissance would be a better choice.