SusanM

Mount Washington, a small, residential neighborhood in Baltimore, is popular for its affordable housing and high end local shops and restaurants. Residents also find it convenient to most parts of Baltimore via Interstate 83, the Central Light Rail and three different bus lines.
While there is both a public elementary and high school, most of the students who live in Mount Washington attended either private or parochial schools, or one Baltimore’s popular magnet schools. Many of the neighborhood girls go on to highly placed Bryn Mawr. Lacrosse is by far the most popular sport in the area. Most school children play on either a school or neighborhood team at some point in their lives. Some even go on to belong to the historic Mount Washington Lacrosse Club, which was once the home of nation Lacrosse Hall of Famer Doug Turnbull.
As a community, Mount Washington have produced more than its fair share of famous Americans. For instance, astrophysicist Charles Bennett grew up here, as well as the heart surgeon Duke Cameeron. Katie Hoff, an Olympic Swimmer, also got her start in the community’s pool.
Overall, Mount Washington is a real jewel in Baltimore, and would make a great place to raise children or even to retire.

Of all the neighborhoods in Baltimore, Franklintown is perhaps the most unique. It well-earned its place on the National Register of Historic Places, with roots going back more than a century and a half. Beginning as a village known as Franklin Mill, constructed by William H. Freeman in 1832, the neighborhood is built around an oval street plan radiating from the central wooden park. It was designed to be a suburban retreat for the growing middle class, and the area still retains its rural characteristics. Historic Franklintown still features several original buildings, including the Franklintown Mill, the Homestead, the Franklin Inn, the original schoolhouse, and the historic Saint Anne’s Cemetery. The neighborhood features numerous examples of mid- to late-19th century homes.
As a national historic district, potential residents need to keep in mind that their ability to make changes to their homes is going to be strictly regulated by regulations governing historic properties. This neighborhood would definitely be best for either a young professional couple with plenty of disposable income and a taste for history, or retirees who want to own a piece of history and want to invest some of their retirement nest egg in something a little more exciting than a 401k.

If you are known by the company you keep, than Oaklee is in good shape. Indeed, its two closest neighbors, Violetville nad Irvington are among Baltimore’s most sought after communities. And little Oaklee is not far behind. Located on the southwestern edge of the city, Oaklee has many nice homes and several lovely parks, as well as access to good schools and neighborhood amenities.
Oaklee is also easily accessible to most any part of Baltimore via the well-known city bus system. There are several stops in the neighborhood that connect residents with a variety of ways to spend their time. For instance, anyone attending classes at the University of Maryland’s Baltimore Campus could take the bus straight to class. On the other, someone wanting to play hooky could just a easily go on to the upscale White Marsh Mall.
Overall, Oaklee would be a very nice place to raise a family. Not only is it affordable, but much of the neighborhood still has the same feel that it has and for decades. I certainly would not mind living there myself, and would recommend it to my family and friends without hesitation.

Ashburton is a wealthy, predominantly African American neighborhood in northwest Baltimore. Characterized by a few large Victorian mansions interspersed among row houses, it has played home to some of the city’s most prominent citizens. For instance, one time mayor Kurt Schmoke has called Ashburton home, as has Maryland State Senators Catherine Pugh and Lisa Gladden. Even the current mayor, Stephanie Blake, lived there as a child, along with prominent Baltimore lawyer Dwight Pettit.
In addition to single family homes, Ashburton also sports a large scale apartment complex that appeals to the less affluent members of the community.
One of the things that accounts for Ashburton’s success, according to its residents, is the fact that the neighbors know each other well and look out for their own and other children. They also work hard to keep the community looking good, and are especially interested in making the area more environmentally friendly.
While Ashburton is not far from the hustle and bustle of downtown, it none the less quiet and suburban like in atmosphere. This makes it especially attractive to those who are looking for a quiet retreat that is still within easy access of all the city has to offer.

Wyndhurst is a square shaped middle class community of more than 300 homes, four schools, two churches and several stores and restaurants. It is popular among its residents for its extensive green spaces and nice, affordable housing. Recent years have seen an influx of buyers interested in the community because of its suburban feel within easy traveling distance of the many amenities offered by downtown Baltimore.
While most of the streets were laid out and named around the turn of the last century, the typical Wyndhurst home dates back to the first decades of the 1900s. For instance, the housing boom of the 20s saw series of simple two story cottages spring up around the area, while what is now the Roland Park Public School was built in 1910. The Catholic Cathedral Mary Our Queen and the Friends School were built later.
Another piece of history that Wyndhurst has successfully modernized is the Maryland and Pennsylvania Railroad. The area where its tracks once ran has been converted to a well maintained path popular among bikers and joggers. Of course, by the time the weather is too warm for jogging, the Roland Park pool is open and people can more comfortably exercise there.

The Orchards is a lovely, upper middle income neighborhood in North Baltimore. For from the crime and violence that plagues so much of the rest of the city, its well built homes located on large, well-manicured lots typically sell for almost twice the average price of other Baltimore houses. It is particularly popular with young professional families looking for a safe, quiet place to raise their families.
The centerpiece of the community is the Elkridge Hunt Club. Established in 1878 to cater to the needs of the upper crust of Baltimore society, the club once consisted of acres and acres of rolling, wooded area dedicated to fox hunting. Today, where once bugles rang out and men and women in stylish riding habits “rode to the hounds,” residents of The Orchards and the surrounding communities meets for golf on the 18 hole course.
While most of The Orchards’ residents own their own cars, there is still some bus service in the area. Two different bus routes run from the edge of the community to other parts of the city. However, there are no local schools in the neighborhood, though there are two excellent public elementary schools nearby.

Don’t look to Brooklyn for a quiet, residential neighborhood. Located at the south end of Baltimore’s Harbor Tunnel, this neighborhood consists primarily of industrial factories built to be near the harbor’s shipping center. So, while there are a few federal government buildings in the neighborhood, you are more likely to see men loading rail cars or oil tankers than carrying brief cases. Likewise, this is not a place you want to live if you enjoy pushing your baby in a stroller down tree lined streets each evening.

Not surprisingly, what little housing there is pretty shoddy and tends to attract low income residents who cannot afford anything better. As is usually the case, this type of desperation and poverty has bred a pattern of crime and violence that make residents very wary of being out on the streets at night. Though there has been talk of trying to improve the area, gang violence has made it difficult to attract investors.

One of the few bright spots in the areas is the Masonville Cove Environmental Education Center begun in 2008 to provide a place for Brooklyn residents to visit and enjoy the waterfront they live so near. It features bikes paths, classrooms and a restore riverside habitat that will enable both young and old alike to learn more about their natural environment.

Armistead Gardens is a small neighborhood originally built in Northeast Baltimore for those workers coming into the city for jobs in the World War II munitions factories. Unfortunately, most of the original houses were not well maintained and soon collapsed for lack of care. In an attempt to preserve the remaining architecture, the Armistead Homes Corporation purchased man of the remaining properties in 1956. Today, many of the residents are second and third generation citizens of the neighborhood.
Part of the neighborhood’s charm rests in its four historic churches that serve both the spiritual and social needs of the area. Most of the neighborhood’s children attend the Armistead Gardens Elementary and Middle School through 8th grade.
The main problem facing the neighborhood right now is that its population is aging and many of the units are not being purchased by new residents. This, along with a higher than average unemployment rate, has given the community a feeling of being run down and decaying. On the other hand, because over a third of the homes are currently empty, this could be an excellent place for a young couple looking for a bargain in housing. However, there would be a real danger that any property purchased could lose rather than gain value.

Arcadia is one of the loveliest and most charming neighborhoods in Baltimore. Most of the cozy, bungalow style homes in the area were built in the mid-1920s. There are more than 450 single family homes along the tree lined streets. These cozy, typically wood, homes are set off by vintage style lampposts that seem just waiting for children to play under at twilight. Likewise, roomy front porches make great meeting places for neighbors hoping to wile away a few minutes visiting.
In fact, many of the adults visiting on these porches were once the children playing under the lampposts. In addition to growing up in the little neighborhood, they have stayed in the area, attracted by the close proximity of good schools, quaint shops and small restaurants. They also enjoy the green spaces that enhance the neighborhood’s quality of life, including several parks and playgrounds. For those wanting a little more adult entertainment, this primarily family neighborhood does sport a few quiet pub style taverns where adults can enjoy a drink or two after work. However, these are hardly nightspots and also attract families stopping in for a quick meal at the end of a long day at work and school.

Dorchester, a predominantly African-American community in northwestern Baltimore, is another example of a neighborhood in that area of the city that has managed to maintain its former character as a suburb of Baltimore in an earlier time. Built in the 1900s, its tree-lined streets feature homes that remain fine examples of the residences typical of the area. All the homes of that era feature large backyards and plenty of privacy, providing the feel of suburban living with the convenience of the city. Bus Route 91 provides service to Dorchester Downtown, enabling residents to reach the heart of the city easily. One can also work in the area, as the neighborhood offers a vibrant retail and office area. With a crime rate below that of the city as a whole, Dorchester is still a safe, quiet neighborhood that should idea for young families with children, young professionals, even retirees. Young and hip college students on a tight budget may want to steer clear, however, as they may not find the area very affordable. There is a cohesiveness in the neighborhood among its residents which is why Dorchester is, even after 100 years, still one of the most desirable addresses in Baltimore.

One of the defining characteristics of Woodbourne Heights, a community in northern Baltimore, is the high degree of civic involvement among many of its residents. The area sports not one, not two, but three associations—the Woodbourne Heights Community, the Woodbourne-McCabe Neighborhood, and and Beauregard Neighborhood Associations. Each has worked hard over the years to keep the area as a nice place to live. For the most part, they have succeeded in keeping this predominately African-American middle-class neighborhood of homeowners and renters as a desirable area for Baltimore residents to call home. With Chinquapin Park nearby and a close proximity to Morgan State University, young families, students and professionals might want to take a look at this neighborhood. City Garden plots that can be rented on a yearly basis by city residents are located on Woodbourne Avenue, making the area particularly inviting for residents who want to give their green thumbs a workout. The Belvedere Square Shopping Centers feature boutique retail shops and a European-style fresh food market that appeals to an upscale clientel. For this reason, young stylish couples should also give Woodbourne Heights a look if they are looking for a neighborhood that combines close proximity to the city and, an upscale urban vibe, and elements of green living.

Yale Heights is a neighborhood that has seen a lot of attention in the past few years, primarily because of the efforts to restore the green scape of the area. Located in southwest Baltimore, most of the neighborhood was constructed in 1955 and are two-bedroom brick townhouses. There is a lot of civic pride in the area, centered on the very active Yale Heights Community Improvement Corporation. The Corporation meets monthly and spearheads efforts to maintain the friendly and close-knit sense of community that has marked the neighborhood from the beginning.
Perhaps no other area of Baltimore has labored to bring some of the natural environment back into the city. Maiden Choice Run flows through the neighborhood, and in 2008 was selected for a $1.4 million restoration project to improve the water quality of streams and rivers flowing into the Chesapeake. The project included planting hundreds of trees and thousands of native plants along the stream near Beechfield Elementary School. The inviting natural environment and the parkland along Yale Avenue make the neighborhood ideal for young families with children. This upper-middle class, predominately African-American neighborhood is also in close proximity to Mt. St. Joseph High School, a parochial school in the Catholic Archdiocese of Baltimore.

One neighbor was asked about her life in Oakenshawe. This is what she said, “My neighbors and the tree-lined streets. Why did I choose to live here? Location, location, location. Plus the beautiful, well-built rowhouses.”
Indeed, Oakenshawe does have all the charm of a historic neighborhood without the crime and violence that have invaded so many other parts of Baltimore. Built during the decades surrounding the turn of the previous century, Oakenshawe has the kind of large, old trees and quiet, narrow streets that newer neighborhoods dream of.
However, there is a lot more to do in this community than just sleep and eat. For instance, you can take a leisurely stroll from your home to a local restaurant for dinner, followed by a little shopping at a local boutique. Or, if you don’t drive but still want to get to another part of town, there is always the regular public transportation system. It will take you other parts of the city, and return you safely home later in the evening. The streets here are so safe that you need not be afraid to return home, even if it is later than your originally planned.

Mt. Winans is not necessarily a great place to live, for several reasons. First, it is largely industrial and commercial, with not a lot of residential housing available. And, unfortunately, what there is is not very well maintained or cared for. While this was once a respectable, middle class neighborhood that attracted blue collar workers and their families, much of the Victorian Era buildings were lost in the Baltimore Fire of 1903.
Also, because it tends to attract a rather poor population, there is a significant amount of crime that is also part of the local landscape. That is not to say that many of the people who live here do not want something better for their lives. It’s just that they often don’t have the resources necessary to alter their surroundings.
On the other hand, if you want to live, work and shop within in few blocks, Mt. Winans might be just the ticket. It could be especially attractive to a student or someone who has just left home the first time. You could live here cheaply, even without the expense of a car, and save you money for something better. However, I don’t think anyone would want to make this neighborhood their long term home.

Woodberry is a small, middle income neighborhood in north Baltimore. Most of its structures were built in the 1920 and were designed primarily as single family homes, row houses and duplexes. There are also several large apartment complex that tend to cater to a lower to middle income clientele. It is an area, with a long and respected past.
Led by the Concerned Citizens of Woodberry, residents of this community have been diligent in their fight against pollution, littering and crime. They work hard to maintain their own homes and to encourage their neighbors to do so. They also keep an eye on the popular walking path, Greenspring Trails, which lure many residents off their couches during the warmer months of year.
Woodberry is also the home of “TV Hill,” a higher than average location that is the home of four Baltimore television stations.
About ¾ of Woodberry’s population is white, with most of the rest of the residents being African American. It has a much lower than national average unemployment rate and provides nice, inexpensive housing for those with a limited income. So, if you are looking for a safe, quiet, inexpensive home, check out Woodberry. They might have just what you’re looking for.

Located in the north-central area of Baltimore, the neighborhood of Harwood is east of Charles Village and south of Waverly. Known as Oxford in the 1870s, the area became known for the brick and frame construction in the area near 25th and Barclay streets. The neighborhood's place in the history of the city is centered around it's role as the site of several successive baseball fields, beginning with the first Oriole Park at the intersection of 25th and Greenmount Avenue and continuing with the second Oriole Park along 30th Street until it burned in 1944.
Today, this charming and close-knit area preserves a particular era's of Baltimore's history. It is a predominately African-American upper-middle class area with rents and housing values near the median for the city as a whole. Because of it's close proximity to the main campus of Johns Hopkins University, students might find it a good low-cost choice for off campus living. Professionals with a connection to the University should also look in this area. It's crime rate is no greater, certainly, than most other neighborhoods in this part of Baltimore. One of the drawbacks is a lack of park space close to the neighborhood. Families with children should look elsewhere in the city.

Wyman Hill is a pleasant, economically diverse community in Baltimore. Depending on their needs and budgets, families can choose between a wide variety of housing options. For those on a fixed income or just getting started in this, there are some nice high rise apartment buildings. Or, if you’re afraid of heights, there are also some very affordable garden apartments built close to the ground. On the other hand, is you are a couple with kids are looking forward to starting a family, there are also some very affordable single family homes in Wyman Park, many of them with shady lawns and plenty of bedrooms.
Most of the commercial and residential structures in Wyman Hill were built in the mid 20th century and reflect that style of architecture, though a few do date back to the 1920s. Among more recent buildings is the Keswick Nursing Home, built to house those at the end of their lives, and the Roland Park Country School, designed especially for those just learning how to live and work well with others. Finally, there are several new building associated with Johns Hopkins University, which continues to expand its campus into Wyman Park.

Union Square is one of those great communities that people imagine themselves living in when they leave Kansas for the “Big City.” Built around the historic park by the same name, its elegant three story row houses date back to the Victorian Era and continue to attract upper middle income families to their elegant, Italianate features. But what many new residents don’t know is that famous American author H. L. Mencken already beat them to it and lived in Union Square his entire life.
While Mencken’s highbrow vibe still attracts many artists and galleries ot the neighborhood, there’s plenty for the less artistic types to do, too. For instance, one can easily stroll over to Camden Yard or Raven’s Stadium to see a ball game, or down to the Inner Harbor for a great meal or some fun shopping. You can even play a round of golf or take the MARC train into Washington DC for some sightseeing.
Of course, if you’re looking for something to do with the kids, you’ll find plenty going on in Union Square. Depending on the season, you might be able to see an outdoor movie, hunt some Easter Eggs or carve a Jack O Lantern. There are also two great public schools, the Southwest Baltimore Charter School and Stuart Hill Academy.

Seton Hill has the distinction of being the only neighborhood in Baltimore named for a local saint. Mother Elizabeth Anne Seton, founder of one of the country’s first schools for girls, lived and worked in this neighborhood for years before moving to the mountains surrounding Frederick, Maryland. It is characterized by a healthy mix of historic, residential and commercial buildings.
The showpiece of Seton Hill is its beautiful, historic Saint Mary’s Park which attracts people on an almost daily basis to walk along its brick paths under the shade of its centuries old trees. Unfortunately, many of the historic homes surrounding the park have fallen into disrepair and give the area felling of being run down and dangerous.
Residents worked hard to have Seton Hill placed on the National Register of Historic Places around the same time Mother Seton was canonized. However, there has not been as much interest in improving the long stretches of row houses, many of which are among the city’s oldest, as some think there should be. So, if anyone is looking for a place with a lot of potential just waiting to be tapped, Seton Hill might be for you. And who knows: you might even merit some help from a higher power.

Located in southern Baltimore, Westport is yet another example of once prosperous, middle class neighborhoods that fell victim to the triple threat of urban sprawl, racial tension and economic woes. When it was built during the 1920s housing boom, immigrants and blue collar workers were lined up to buy the new and modernly equipped row houses. However, by the time the children raised in Westport had reach adulthood, they were anxious to move away from the crowded urban setting in favor of the big lots and trees offered in the suburbs.
With so many people selling their homes, values dropped and some homes stood empty, waiting for someone who wanted to move closer to the city rather than away from it. Then the racial tensions of the 1960s drove out most of the rest of the residents and left the once happy neighborhood in desperate straits.
However, things are looking up. Westport has been tapped to receive a large influx of money from the federal government as part of a major armed services reorganization. There are plans underway for high end apartment buildings and new waterfront businesses. So, if you’re willing to take and chance and looking for somewhere to invest, Westport might just be a good location for your new home.

Most commonly known as “Pigtown,” Washington Park is one of the most interesting and culturally diverse neighborhoods in Baltimore. The first thing you’ll notice as your drive through this quaint neighborhood is that it is constantly growing, with new high end town homes being built beside existing structures that are decades old.
You’ll also see vibrant, electric groups of people on the streets, many of whom were originally attracted to the area by the annual fun and funky Pigtown Festival. This includes everyone from young families to street performers to local craftmen and artists. At the same time, you’ll likely notice professionals making their way home from work and blue collar laborers on their way to a shift in one of the local factories.
Another thing that distinguishes Pigtown is its affordable, quality housing, much of which is perfect for young couples starting out. On the edge of the Camden Yards Transportation Center, Pigtown is convenient to Philadelphia and Washington DC via MARC train, downtown Baltimore by bus and the surrounding suburbs by I-95.
But then again, why would anyone want to leave the area unless they had too. It is veritable smorgasbord of shopping, restaurants and entertainment designed to cater to most any kind of taste.

Built to house returning solders following the Civil War, Washington Hill soon attracted families from all over the country, and indeed all over the world as more and more people poured into the coastal city looking to make their fortunes.
Today Washington Hill can best be described as “economically and culturally diverse.” On the one hand, two large scale housing projects dominate its landscape, attracting much of the poverty and crime that often accompany such structures. On the other hand, there are also several apartment and condominium complexes that cater to some of the wealthier citizen of Baltimore. In between there are some remaining historic homes that are in various states of repair. This variety of housing attracts a variety of people from differing cultural and racial backgrounds, including everyone from long term African American residents to newly arrived Hispanic immigrants. Though the area has a higher than national average unemployment rate, it is still is not nearly as bad as some other parts of town.
There are several schools in Washington Hills, including the well-respected Baltimore Curriculum Project Charter School. There is also City Springs Park, which is attached to a formerly failing but recently improving public elementary school by the same name.

Waltherson stand in mute testimony of what can be accomplished in a neighborhood when residents band together to defend their homes and businesses against encroaching trouble. Like many communities in the 1980s Baltmiore, Waltherson was once a dying area, plagued by ever increasing crime, falling property values and unsafe streets. However, all that changed in 1990, the residents got together to form the Gardenville Nieghborhood Association (named Gardenville after Waltherson’s popular local nickname).
With more than 200 members currently, the GNA has done an amazing job improving life in Waltherson. One of their first actions was to organize a citizen watch group to combat crime. Simply by keeping an eye out on what was going on and calling the police to report suspicious activity, they have seen a marked decline in the number of thefts and violent crime over the last two decades. They neighborhood association has also hosted numerous clean up and neighborhood beautification projects. Through their efforts, homes that were once in disrepair are not well cared for, and streets once strewn with littler now host children playing.
Today Waltherson is a pleasant, stable neighborhood knows for its good neighbors, well maintained playing field where Little Leaguers frolic and the Rosedale Park, where joggers run in the morning and children play in the afternoon after school.

Walbrook is a predominantly African American neighborhood in western Baltimore. Like so many other communities within the city limits, it suffers from a perfect storm of poverty, racial tension and violence.
In many ways, the racial tension of the late 1960s was what began Walbrook’s descent into the pit. Prior to that time it was a lower middle income neighborhood that catered to working class singles and families. However, the riots that rocked much of the country following the death of Martin Luther King, Jr. destroyed most of the community’s businesses and extensively damaged homes. Fears of further trouble drove residents out of the area and into the newly integrating Baltimore suburbs.
There is little left in Walbrook today accept a few small businesses, most of which have bars over their windows and doors, as well as some homes that have been similarly outfitted. Many of the buildings in the community have been abandoned and stand boarded up year after year until they finally collapse.
The one thing recommending Walbrook is its excellent bus service. In fact, its is the central hub of the Maryland Transit Administration and thus connects with many bus services around the area.
Not Here

Primarily an industrial center, Wagner’s Point is one place the no one wants to live anymore. While 50 years it was a pleasant water front neighborhood with a predominately African-American population, the pollution given off by the large industrial complexes is thought to have killed many of its lifelong residents. During the late 20th century, resident concerns over their high incidence of cancer combined with the city’s desire for harbor front industrial expansion to spell the destruction of every home in the community.
While many opposed the city’s offers to buy them out, all those who lived in Wagner’s Point eventually came to see the hand writing on the wall. Most left before the wrecking balls raised their formerly tidy row homes, clearing the land for new factories and waterfront industry. Others simply stood and mourned what has once been a nice place to live.
The bottom line is that there is no place to live in Wagner’s Point anymore. And that’s a good thing, because you probably wouldn’t want to anyway. It’s not even a very interesting ghost town, according to Ghosttowns.com, since pretty much all of the original structures have been torn down and replaced with modern activity.

From rambling, 19th century farmhouses to tidy 20th century row homes, Violteville has most any type of single family home you might be looking for. Perhaps more than any other neighborhood in Baltimore, it has maintained much of the same community spirit and look that it had in the 1950s. It is not surprising, then, that Violtetville was voted the “Best Neighborhood in Baltimore” in 2005 and years later still referred to as a “hidden gem.”
Much of the credit for the community’s continued success goes to its determined and committed community association. Founded during the suburban heyday of the late 1950s, they have worked tirelessly to see to it that all is good in Violetville is maintined and any negative influences are held at bay. They began by establishing Violetville Park, devoted then and now to maintaining the neighborhood’s Little League teams and promoting their competitions. When the weather is too cold for baseball, the association turns its attention to the annual outdoor Christmas lights completion which makes Violetville one of the loveliest neighborhoods in Baltimore throughout the holiday season.
In sum, if I were a young family looking for a place to live in Baltimore, I would focus my search on Violetville. It seems to have everything you could want, and little that you wouldn’t like to have for both you and your children.

Upper Fells Point got its start as the home of immigrants coming to Baltimore to work on the docks and in local factories. By the turn of the last century, it was a regular melting pot of immigrants from all over Europe. Today its comfortable row houses and charming streets continue to attract immigrants, but this time from South America. As a result, it often bears the affectionate nickname “Spanish Town.”
Whereas the original residents might have been attracted to its peaceful streets that were still within walking distance of their jobs, today’s young professional residents love Upper Fells Point for its nearby urban opportunities, including nightclubs and good restaurants. They love to take a water taxi across the harbor to all the excitement of the Inner Harbor.
On the other hand, those who have lived here a while and are getting up in years appreciate its proximity to top notch medical care at the world famous Johns Hopkins Hospital.
The Baltimore City Paper summarized Fell’s Point attraction in 2006 this way, “It's got a hardscrabble exterior, a booming Latino community, a dash of the old-school Baltimore that's being edged out in most of the city's up-and-coming environments.” That is the same year in which they named it Baltimore’s Best Neighborhood.

While the main campus of the University of Maryland is located about 30 miles away in College Park, Maryland, the Baltimore campus is quite large and popular in its own right. Known as the University of Maryland at Baltimore, or UMB for short, the neighborhood surrounding the campus is obviously dominated by a student population. As a result, most of the living spaces consist of newer but inexpensive housing designed to appeal to students looking for an affordable place to live near campus.
There are several advantages to living near a college campus. First, there are always a wide variety of social and cultural events going on, most of which are free. Also, because of the compact nature of the housing and campus buildings, you can easily get along without a car. This is made even easier by the extensive public transportation system that carries residents from several places in the area to most any other part of the city.
Crime on any college campus is always a little higher than in the suburbs. However, it typically takes the form of alcohol related mischief and petty theft rather than violent or drug related offences. The UMB does offer officer escorts for lone walker who are going to their vehicles after dark, so there is a higher than average protection against becoming a victim.

The Orchards is a lovely, upper middle income neighborhood in North Baltimore. For from the crime and violence that plagues so much of the rest of the city, its well built homes located on large, well-manicured lots typically sell for almost twice the average price of other Baltimore houses. It is particularly popular with young professional families looking for a safe, quiet place to raise their families.
The centerpiece of the community is the Elkridge Hunt Club. Established in 1878 to cater to the needs of the upper crust of Baltimore society, the club once consisted of acres and acres of rolling, wooded area dedicated to fox hunting. Today, where once bugles rang out and men and women in stylish riding habits “rode to the hounds,” residents of The Orchards and the surrounding communities meets for golf on the 18 hole course.
While most of The Orchards’ residents own their own cars, there is still some bus service in the area. Two different bus routes run from the edge of the community to other parts of the city. However, there are no local schools in the neighborhood, though there are two excellent public elementary schools nearby.

Taylor Heights is an unusual community, in that most of its residents are dead. The sprawling Parkwood Cemetary dominates the community landscape, and limits the number of homes available in the area.
Instead, most of the property in Taylor Heights is devoted to commercial endeavors. There are a couple of chain restaurants, as well as a few family owned eateries. Because Baltimore is a seaport town, these places tend to focus on seafood offerings. There are also several bars and nightclub that tend to attract a somewhat rowdy clientele, especially on the weekends.
There are not a lot of chain stores in Taylor Heights. Instead, most of the stores are privately owned specialty shops that cater to those who do not have transportation to shop at the more competitive stores in the suburbs. There are also several hair salons and a small day spa.
The few homes that are available in the community tend to be of poor quality and occupied by people of questionable intents. In other words, because the neighborhood is primarily commercial, those who choose to live there are often interested in less than entirely legal commercial activities. For these reasons, and others, I would not recommend this neighborhood to anyone.

Stonewood-Pentwood-Winston, a small neighborhood with a big name, is located on the outskirts of Morgan State University in Baltimore. Like most communities near college campuses, it has had some trouble balancing the needs and wants of the nearby student population with those of the residents. For one thing, neighbors have had to institute a parking permit system to make sure that they are able to park in front of their own houses.
Unfortunately, this largely African-American community has fallen on some financially hard times. There are way too many abandoned homes in the community, as well as the types of crime and violence that that sort of problem attracts. At this time, almost half the homes in this once nice community are standing empty.
On the other hand, Stonewood-Pentwood-Winston can be a cheap place to live for more serious students who do not wish to become too entangled in campus life. This includes low income upperclassmen and older students who may be married and have families of their own. However, no one would come here looking for a permanent home to raise a family, or as a place to retire. There are just too much poverty and crime right now for me to recommend it to anyone, other than desperate students.

Located in West Baltimore, Sandtown-Winchester is a large neighborhood known to its residents simply as Sandtown. Unfortunately, it is also one of the city’s most dangerous places to live. In fact, children in the community are more likely to have heard of the Bloods and the Crips, notorious gangs, than they have of Washington and Lincoln.
Perhaps the saddest thing about this community is that it spent its first century as an enclave of middle income African American culture. So now, where once Cab Calloway and Billie Holliday played jazz, their neighborhood descendants get high and dodge bullets. Along the streets where Thurgood Marshall once practiced his opening arguments, former drug lord “Little Melvin” later got the youth of the community hooked on his criminal drugs nad violent activities.
In short, there is nothing at all to recommend this community. It is too dangerous for anyone, even students. If you are poor but still want a safe, decent place to live, look elsewhere. You do have other options, and anything is better than living here. Even those who live that now are desperate to get out and would not try to draw in anyone they care about.

Rosemont is a sad example of the history of so many of Baltimore’s historic communities. First, it began as a middle class neighborhood made up of hard working blue collar workers and professionals during the latter half of the 19th century. It remained a growing, vibrant area for about a century before succumbing to a number of factors that combined to create a “perfect storm” of social and economic disaster.
First, there was the flight to the suburbs, during which many of the communities more stable families left the neighborhood for larger homes in areas farther from the center of town. Next, those who remained suffered economic setbacks as the American economy tanked following World War II. Many who had mortgages were unable to make the payments and faced foreclosure. Because the neighborhood was by this time in such a decline, there were not enough people interested in purchasing homes to keep them full. This led to boarded up homes which made the area look even worse.
Finally, the racial riots that spread through Baltimore after the death of Martin Luther King proved to be the final nail in the community’s coffin. Today, the neighborhood is a center of crime and despair where drug dealers and pimps ply their trades.

One of the first planned communities in America, Roland Park was a suburban neighborhood from its inception during the turn of the previous century. Once can still see the remnants of it upper income original owners when you look at the elegant architecture and tree lined streets.
Not just a good place to live, Roland Park is also a great place to learn. Its local public elementary and middle school has won statewide recognition for its academic excellence. There are also numerous private schools in the community, including the Friends School of Baltimore and the Cathedral School, as well as private academies for girls (Bryn Mawr) and boys (the Boy’s Latin School). Residents can continue their higher education at St. Mary’s Seminary and University.
Once they graduate, or if they want to earn some extra cash during high school, students can often find work at the Roland Park Shopping Center, listed in the Guinness World Records as the first shopping center ever created. They can also find work at one of several other malls in the neighborhood.
Finally, the neighborhood is that proud home of the Baltimore Country Club, one of the city’s long established centers of society and culture.

Ridgely’s Delight is a small residential neighborhood in Baltimore. Located within walking distance of the Inner Harbor, it is popular among those who are looking for a more affordable neighborhood that is still near the glitz and glamor of the touristy Inner Harbor.
Ridgely’s Delight’s main claim to fame is the Babe Ruth Birthplace Museum. The men and women who come from all over the country to visit this shrine to America’s most famous baseball star have led to the development of a baseball theme subculture in the immediate area. There is everything from a sports themed bookstore to the Camden Pub, where patrons can enjoy a light meal and beer while watching various games played out on TV.
Residents have benefited from this influx of tourist dollars in several ways. For instance, a local MARC train station brings tourists in, but it also give residents an easy way to get to jobs as far away as Washington DC. There are also many opportunities for those who own their own homes to rent out parking spaces to baseball fans coming ot see games at the nearby Camden Yards, or other events at the M & T Bank Stadium.

Once the home of American author Gerturde Stein, Reservoir Hill is a charming Victorian neighborhood located on the edge of Baltimore’s famous Druid Hill Park. No matter what size home you are looking for, you are likely to find it here. There are everything from rambling Victorian mansions to row houses to apartments carved out of older homes. Many of these older structures were built by 19ths century immigrants from Eastern Europe. The commitment of many of these immigrants to their Jewish faith can be seen in the elegant architectures of the still in use Beth Am synagogue, originally built in 1922.
The jewel of Reservoir Hill is the Mount Royal sub neighborhood. Here you will find homes that have been extremely well maintained through the years. Not surprisingly, they also fetch the highest prices in the neighborhood, and are hard to buy because those who originally purchased them tend to hold on to them for life.
The other great beauty in Reservoir Hill is Upper Eutaw. Also a historic district, it boasts a number of the larger mansions in the neighborhood, as well as several apartment complexes that date back to the turn of the previous century. Unfortunately, some of these apartments will need to work to bring them up to the standards of the rest of the community.

Located in northern Baltimore, Remington is the type of community that most people imagine when they picture middle class America. While its earliest origins date back to those of the republic, it did not began to grow in a significant way until the late Victorian Era, when improved transportation attracted people from the downtown area to the suburbs.
There is also a wide variety of business opportunities in the community, including small, family run shops and restaurants, fun and funky markets, and even some small scale industry.
There is also a wide variety of business opportunities in the community, including small, family run shops and restaurants, fun and funky markets, and even some small scale industry.
Today, Remingtons early 20th century row houses remain some of the best cared for and popular in Baltimore. They have attracted a culturally diverse population that truly represents the best of the American melting pot experience. The few houses that have fallen into disrepair or disuse are even now being renovated as part of Baltimore’s Healthy Neighborhood Initiative.
Most of the residents of Remington are married couples with children. Whether their kids attend one of the public charter schools or private schools, they tend to be very involved in their children’s education. This has allowed Remington schools to gain a reputation in the area for excellence and progressive educational practices.

Located in northern Baltimore, Remington is the type of community that most people imagine when they picture middle class America. While its earliest origins date back to those of the republic, it did not began to grow in a significant way until the late Victorian Era, when improved transportation attracted people from the downtown area to the suburbs.
Today, Remingtons early 20th century row houses remain some of the best cared for and popular in Baltimore. They have attracted a culturally diverse population that truly represents the best of the American melting pot experience. The few houses that have fallen into disrepair or disuse are even now being renovated as part of Baltimore’s Healthy Neighborhood Initiative.
Most of the residents of Remington are married couples with children. Whether their kids attend one of the public charter schools or private schools, they tend to be very involved in their children’s education. This has allowed Remington schools to gain a reputation in the area for excellence and progressive educational practices.

Ramblewood is a small, predominantly middle income African American neighborhood in northeastern Baltimore. It is popular among residents for its affordable housing, good schools and friendly neighbors. The Ramblewood Community Association works very hard to keep that community a nice place to live, and to address concerns of area citizens about such matters as school districting, trash pick up and lawn maintenance.
One of the issues that the RCA has to deal with a while back was that of parking. Most of the single family homes are privately owned and occupied year around. Because these houses tend ot be close together, and because most families today have at least two cars, residents tended to park on the street in front of their homes. This was not a problem until students at nearby Morgan state University also started parking on Ramblewood Streets. This often led to the following scenario: a resident would leave for work early in the morning and then return home in the evening to find that he had no place near his home to part because students have taken up all the on street parking.
The RCA solved this problem by issuing parking permits to residents, and then obtaining permission to have any parked car not bearing a permit towed from neighborhood streets. The students soon got the message.

Radnor-Winston might romantically be described as a rose among thorns. Located in Baltimore’s often troubled North district, it has maintained its historical integrity in spite of the racial unrest, poverty and industry shutdowns that have nearly destroyed more than one of its sister communities.
Perhaps Radnor-Winston’s success is to do some sort of supernatural protection. After all, it is located just behind the famous Catholic enclaves Loyola University and Notre Dame’s Baltimore campus. While the prayers no doubt help, it is probably more likely that the students looking for nearby housing are not as likely as non-Catholics to be involved in drugs and violence.
Another possible reason for its success is the charm and value of Radnor-Winston’s 220 single family homes. Consisting of everything from cottages to bungalows to row houses, they continue to attract a culturally diverse citizenship that are mostly of middle and upper middle incomes. These good folks tend to work hard, many at one of the local colleges mentioned above. Plenty are also active in the Radnor-Winston Improvement Association, a group of citizens committed to maintaining the community’s pleasant surroundings and stable property values. They meet regularly to make suggestions for community improvement, and to keep citizens abreast of social and political issues that are relevant to their lives.

Pen Lucy is a small, mainly African American neighborhood in North Baltimore. It has a bad reputation in the area for its poverty and high crime rate. In fact, it is often accused of harboring drug dealers and other violent criminals who prey on the surrounding areas.
The primary cause of Pen Lucy’s poverty is that well over half of its homes are headed by single parent families, usually single moms, who do not make enough money to support themselves and their children. Many of these women became pregnant as teenagers and were never able to finish high school. They live in Pen Lucy because of its low cost housing. In fact, almost two thirds of the neighborhood’s residents do not own the homes they live in. Instead, they are dependent on government support rental properties and apartment complexes.
The Pen Lucy Neighborhood Association, Inc. is working hard to improve the lives for these mothers and their children. However, they have an uphill battle against numerous problems, including boarded up, falling down houses that attract every kind of criminal. They dream of a day when these homes can be repaired or even simply torn down and replaced by safe parks for the community’s nearly 1,000 children.

Built just after the Civil War, Patterson Park is yet another of the many historic neighborhoods surrounding Baltimore’s downtown area that have been nearly destroyed by racial tensions, declining blue collar jobs and a poor economy. What makes it special is that, unlike so many of other neighborhoods, the past decade have seen it rise again like a Phoenix out of the ashes of poverty and violence.
Patterson Park’s fight back began in 1986, when the Patterson Park Neighborhood Association organized neighbors to take responsibility for their surroundings and improve what they had. Among its many other project, the PPNA has raised money to finance home improvements that are making Patterson Park’s old styles houses more modern and energy efficient. They have also gated many alleys that were once homes for drug deals and turned them into quiet, park like space where people can relax and garden.
The other player in Patterson Park’s renaissance is the Patterson Park Community Development Corporation, which oversaw renovations on more than 300 collapsing row houses before succumbing to the current economic crisis. This has led to an amazing drop in crime and a tremendous rise in home values. These improvements continue, even though the PPCDC is no longer in operation.

Parklane is a small, almost exclusively African American neighborhood in North Baltimore. While the population tends to be lower middle income, it does have many of the features that one would expect to find in a more affluent area. For instance, it has two significant green spaces, Edgecombe Park and Pal Mall Playground. While some families are concerned about the dangers of drugs and violence in these public areas, they are typically pretty safe during daylight hours. For indoor recreation, the James D. Gross Recreation Center offers a gym, meetings rooms, a computer lab and some workout equipment.
Most children in the neighborhood attend the Edgecombe Circle Elementary School, a small public school with a low teacher to student ratio, through the 5th grade. In addition to offering education, this school provides both free breakfasts and lunches to most of its students, as well as afterschool care.
Parkland also has a good bus service, with several routes running through the area. Residents can take these buses to visit historic Fort McHenry, or to connect with a Baltimore Metro train, as well as to work and higher education, social events or dinner and a movie.

Overlea is a solidly middle class neighborhood in Baltimore. Located on three square miles of land, it boasts more than 12,000 residents, making it one of the area’s more crowded neighborhoods.
Most of the more than 3,000 families in Overlea live in one of several middle income style apartment or condominium buildings. However, they are more likely to be DINKS (double income no kids) than families with children. This is because, while Overlea has little crime or problems with violence, it also does not have many single family homes with large lots, such as families with children a likely to look for.
That is not to say that there are no kids in Overlea. In fact, there are more than 2000 kids in the area. However, most are younger, first children of families still working for the dream home or the children of one income or single parent homes. Those in high school attend Overlea High, a large high school with extensive extracurricular activities.
There is very little poverty in Overlea, which also makes it popular with retirees. Nearly one quarter of its population is over 55. Typically, these are people who have lived there for years and chosen to remain, rather than choosing it as a place to retire to.

Located near the Inner Harbor in Baltimore, Otterbein is a small community with a big pocketbook. In fact, it has the proud distinction of being one of the wealthiest neighborhoods in Baltimore. Though its charming old row houses are located close together and have only what used to be called handkerchief sized lawns, they regularly fetch high real estate prices from those wanting to live within walking distance of the history and glamor that makes up the Inner Harbor.
A typical home in Otterbein is an antebellum, row house. Depending on which part of the neighborhood it is in, it may be a large mansion, a Victorian Era home that has been turned into one or two high end apartments or a small, two or three story row house. What is particularly interesting is the Otterbein was, even from its earliest times, pretty culturally eclectic. While standing on a singly street corner on any given day, you might see a grand lady drive by in a carriage, hear an newly immigrated Irishman trying to learn English or wave to a black freedman newly arrived from the south. This is still the situation today. Though most of Otterbein’s residents are wealthy, they come from all sorts of religious, cultural and racial backgrounds.

Oliver is a predominantly African American neighborhood on the east side of Baltimore. Once a solidly middle class neighborhood on the edge of Greenmount Cemetary, it has, in recent decades, joined the much too long list of Baltimore communities that are dominated by crime and poverty.
The problems began during the racial riots on the late 1960s when Oliver was the home of Baltimore’s infamous Black Panther Party. Rioters, vandals and looters damaged or destroyed many of the local homes and businesses. Frightened by this violence and instability, those residents who could left the area for better, safer parts of town. Those who remained behind had little choice but to watch their once happy community fall victim to drug dealers and pimps. Today it is in such a state of decay that HBO used it for exterior shots for the widely acclaimed TV show, The Wire.
Though one in four homes are abandoned and boarded up, there are a few signs of life yet. The Oliver Economic Development Corporation is working hard to attract new businesses and investors ot the area. They are responsible for the community’s only culture center, the Great Blacks in Wax Museum. At the same time, the Oliver Community Association is encouraging residents to apply for grants and other government programs designed to fix up and maintain their homes.

Without a doubt, the Inner Harbor neighborhood of Baltimore is by far the best area of the city. It is the real heartbeat of the city, with annual city-wide events taking place with the Inner Harbor as it's backdrop. These include the recent Grand Prix of Baltimore and the Virgin Music Festival. Also in the area are the city's major tourist attractions, such as the National Aquarium at Baltimore, Camden Yards (home of the Baltimore Orioles), M&T Bank Stadiym (home of the Baltimore Ravens), and the Baltimore Maritime Museum featuring the USS Constellation. Also in the neighborhood are numerous office complexes, hotels, retail shops, restaurants, bars, nightclubs, and other establishments meant to attract both residents and tourists.

While the Inner Harbor is known primarily as a shopping and entertainment destination, it is also a place to consider if one wants to live in the heart of Baltimore. The area has luxury condominiums with prices high above the city median housing price, and there are plans over the next several years to increase the amount of residential space through mixed-use development. Because of the location in the heart of the city, Inner Harbor would not be a good choice for families. Young single professionals and couples would find the area ideal .

Lauraville is another example of an area begun as a suburb of Baltimore in the late 19th century and gradually incorporated into the city limits. It has managed to maintain it's suburban charm while being gradually converted into an urban area. The neighborhood, named after the daughter of a local property owner, is bounded on the south by Herring Run Park and on the west by Mount Pleasant Park. The close proximity of the parkland contributes to Lauraville having a quiet and “green” atmosphere.
Most of the houses date from the 1870s-1920s, the area being mostly developed by the time Lauraville was annexed into the city in 1918. The houses were built by a variety of developers over the years and show different styles and facades. Most houses are detached single-family fame or cedar shingle structures along streets lined with shade trees coveted by the residents of the area.
Neighborhood residents describe the area as safe and quiet, engaging in outdoor activities such as biking, walking and running that take advantage of the nearby parks and the tree-lined streets. An upper-middle class area with a median income almost twice that of Baltimore as a whole, with nearby Morgan State University adding to the professional character to the neighborhood, the area is ideal for professionals, families, singles—anyone looking for a bit of suburban living in the city.

A neighborhood in south Baltimore, the Lakeland neighborhood is on some of the oldest land in Baltimore City. Settled by 1675, the area was purchased by Charles Carroll of Carrollton and consolidated into his Georgia Plantation in 1732; in 1733, portions were deeded to the Baltimore Iron Works Company. From this time through the 19th century, a small community of brick homes sprang up, first named Minersville and later named Lakeland.
Today, Lakeland still has much of the charm it earned through the 19th and 20th century. It is one of the few truly integrated neighborhoods, almost evenly divided between whites and African-Americans. With median income above that of the city as a whole, Lakeland is one of the more prosperous areas of Baltimore. Housing is more expensive than in much of Baltimore, with housing prices and rents being above the city-wide medians. While attractive because of its relatively low crime and good schools, for those on a budget (especially singles and young families) may want to look at other areas of Baltimore first. The neighborhood is convenient to the main highways of MD-295, I-695 and I-95. It is also on Baltimore's main bus routes, so getting into downtown is not difficult. For those who want to commute to jobs outside the city area, the MARC line is nearby.

If you want to live in a neighborhood that combines urban convenience, suburban environment, and historical appeal, then the Lake Evesham neighborhood is no doubt the best place for you. This entire neighborhood, located in North Baltimore, has been designated as a Historic District, and for good reason. The area preserves a variety of residential architecture showing its development between 1870 and 1940. It exemplifies through it's variety of home types and architectural styles Baltimore's grown from the late 19th century through the World War II era. The neighborhood includes Victorian-era facades, bungalows and homes from the 1920s and 30s, and immediate post-war housing styles at the beginning of the baby boom years. While the neighborhood represents the efforts of several developers, the neighborhood has its own sense of time in space through its architecture, its old streetscapes, setbacks, and landscaping.

Lake Evesham is preominately white, upper class professionals. Housing values are high above Baltimore's median value, making the area very attractive to professionals and families. Because of high housing costs, it may not be best for singles or young families starting out.

Because of its designation as a Historic District, anyone with the idea of making changes to their home should keep in mind the many rules and regulations governing historic properties. But if you want to own a piece of history, then look at Lake Evesham first.

Unless you are a heroin pusher or junkie looking to score your next fix, you should avoid Kresson at all costs. Located in Southeast Baltimore, Kresson is primary an industrial neighborhood with a small residential section of about 400 low-income people who would not live there if they could leave. This is not a place one would want to be in during the day, much less at night. You're more likely to see a prostitute on the streets than a postman. One of the more dangerous areas of Baltimore, there were two shootings and a stabbing at the same streetcorner in the neighborhood over a two-day period in September 2011. Without a doubt, crime and drugs are a continual problem in this neighborhood, and will be for some time to come.

It is impossible to recommend this neighborhood to anyone. There is no redevelopment taking place, and none planned in the near future. In contrast to an area such as Joseph Lee, there has been no attempt to clean up the area and replace the run-down buildings with new, more inviting housing options. Even if there were, it would take a major effort to rid the area of the crime and drug problems and the social problems that go with them. There are so many nicer neighborhoods in Baltimore one can choose, there is really no reason anyone should choose Kresson. Don't even think about giving this neighborhood any consideration if you're looking to move into the city.

If you're looking for a place to live in Baltimore, you should start by looking here. Joseph Lee is the residential part of the Bayview neighborhood. It is often called the "A-B-C" neighborhood because all of the north-south streets are laid out in alphabetical order. The neighborhood features numerous examples of traditional Baltimore row houses. The oldest houses in the neighborhood, in the western part, were constructed in the 1920s, with the houses in the eastern part build in the 1950s, The neighborhood features streets line with azalea bushes. The neighborhood is predominately white middle-class professionals, many of whom work at the nearby biomedical research facility at the Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center that houses the National Institutes on Aging and Drug Abuse.

There have been several development projects in the last decade that have gone a long way to increasing the attractiveness of the neighborhood. These include "Archer Square," an open-air shopping center developed at the former Archer Fence complex; and a Streetscape project along Eastern Avenue. In all, Joseph Lee is one of the more desireable neighborhoods in Baltimore.

Jonestown is an area of Baltimore that demonstrates what can happen when a city fails to preserve its historical areas. The neighborhood is in a section of Southeast Baltimore originally laid out in 1732. It is bounded by Little Italy, Oldtown, Washington Hall, and Downtown Baltimore and is only a few blocks away from the Inner Harbor. Featuring a mixture of industrial, commercial, and residential buildings, Jonestown has shifted form being an Eastern European and Jewish neighborhood in the 19th century to a predominately African-American community by the mid 20th century. In a misplaced attempt at urban renewal, the original row houses and townhomes in the area were torn down and replaced by public housing projects. By the early 21st century, however, these run-down projects were themselves being torn down and replaced by modern rowhouses resembling suburban townhomes. As one of the oldest areas of Baltimore, Jonestown features 8 City Landmarks, including the Flag House.

Over time, the area continues to show signs of renewal, particularly because of its close proximity to Inner Harbor. While currently a lower-income African-American community, the area should attract those with higher incomes as housing opportunities improve. Those who want to try a revitalizing neighborhood close to shopping, nightlife, and work may want to try this area.

A neighborhood in southeast Baltimore, Irvington is located between Yale Heights to the west and Gwynn Falls to the east. With most of its homes built before 1950, it is one of the older neighborhoods in Baltimore with houses going back at least a century. The neighborhood has two significant landmarks--the Irvington Theater and St. Joseph Monastery. Irvington Theater opened in 1925, its marquee sign being a prominent community landmark. Remodeled as a cinema in 1967, by 1971 it became an unwelcome feature to the neighborhood as it had transitioned to screening adult films. It closed in 1971, only to be reopened in September of that year as a church. St. Joseph's Monastery, build in 1886, houses the Passionist Order and is one of Baltimore's most striking architectural features. Thanks to the presence of the monastery, the area is served by several parochial schools of the Catholic Archdiocese of Baltimore, including Mount St. Joseph College, a Catholic High School for Boys.

An upper middle-class, predominately African-American community, Irvington should be attractive to professionals looking for convenience to the business districts and young families looking for reasonable housing prices in an area that still has some attractive green spaces.

Named for George Washington’s elegant home, Mount Vernon is best known for the first Washington Monument, built in Baltimore decades before the better known DC version. It has excellent public transportation and numerous cultural centers, including the Lyric Opera House and the Peabody Conservatory. It also offers excellent educational opportunities to its citizens, with both the University of Baltimore and Johns Hopkins University being located within its borders. These institutions have attracted an eclectic mix of restaurants and night clubs to the neighborhood and have led several owners of older homes to turn their residences into charming Bed and Breakfast that are popular with tourists.
Mount Vernon isn’t just for tourists, though. There are numerous elegant homes built around the Washington Monument during the decades following its construction, as well as apartment buildings and row houses. The elegant Belvedere Hotel, originally constructed in 1903, has since been converted to high end condominiums. Many of these homes boast large, well-cared for lawns, or are near one of the neighborhood’s many carefully manicured parks.
Overall, Mount Vernon is the perfect middle class urban neighborhood, with homes, museums, restaurants, shops and park all nearby. It continues to attract up and coming professionals and their families.

Located in west Baltimore, Mosher is a large community that has seen better days. While primarily African American, it was once a largely European enclaves, as can still be seen by much of its architecture. For instance, the imposing brick building that was once the Hebrew Orphan Asylum still dominates that landscape. In fact, this building represents that changes that have taken place in the neighborhood over the past 150 years. IT was built in 1876 by Jewish immigrants who wanted to provide for the needy children in the community. Then, in the 1950 it became a Lutheran Hospital, as a more gentile population took over the community. Today, it is the home of Coppin State University, a traditionally black college, and caters to the almost entirely low-income African American population that lives in the area.
Unfortunately, not all the houses and buildings in Mosher have made the transformation as easily. There are many once proud homes that are run down or have been damaged by racial unrest. There are also far too many boarded up and unsafe buildings in the area that play home to drug dealers and prostitutes. While it would be nice to see Mosher restored to its former glory, there is little in the works right now to indicate that will happen.