Hogan Administration to Invest More than $11 Million to Help Revitalize Downtowns, Strengthen Communities

December 29, 2015

New Carrollton, MD – Governor Larry Hogan today announced the award of more than $11 million to local jurisdictions through three of the state’s most effective job creation and neighborhood revitalization programs – Community Legacy, the Strategic Demolition fund and the Baltimore Regional Neighborhoods Initiative.

“My administration is committed to revitalizing Maryland’s older communities,” Governor Larry Hogan said. “These grants will help local communities make necessary improvements while paving the way for additional public and private investments in their neighborhoods and along their streets.”

Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development Secretary Kenneth C. Holt added, “The Hogan administration is committed to providing restoration and operational capital to those older communities across Maryland whose infrastructure requires immediate attention and repair. We will rely on community leaders and organizations to indicate their most pressing needs and we will respond with quick and effective support.”

The Community Legacy program provides local governments and community development organizations with resources for essential projects aimed at strengthening communities through activities such as business retention and attraction, encouraging homeownership and commercial revitalization. Fifty-five projects in 19 counties and Baltimore City received a total of $6 million in Community Legacy grants in fiscal year 2016.

The Strategic Demolition fund is aimed at providing a catalyst to projects that accelerate economic development and job production in Maryland’s sustainable communities. Funding provides assistance for critical pre-development activities such as demolition and land assembly in order to attract needed public and private investment to revitalization projects. The administration is awarding $2.075 million to nine projects.

The Baltimore Regional Neighborhoods Initiative is aimed at bringing back the vitality and increasing the ability of older neighborhoods to attract new homeowners and businesses. The awards will advance the comprehensive revitalization plans and strategic partnerships put in place by local neighborhood leaders and stakeholders. The awards of over $3 million for fiscal year 2016 will leverage an estimated $49 million in public, private and philanthropic investments.

Community Legacy Awards FY 2016

ALLEGANY COUNTY – $350,000

Awardee: City of Cumberland

Amount: $100,000

Project: Upper Story Redevelopment Program

Description: Continuation of a program targeting the central business district providing forgivable loans for upper story redevelopment.

Awardee: City of Cumberland

Amount: $50,000

Project: Downtown Cumberland Centre Street Parklet Improvements

Description: Infrastructure improvements to enhance the visual and architectural significance of the parklet within the Main Street District.

Awardee: City of Cumberland

Amount: $100,000

Project: Leasehold Improvement Program

Description: Provide forgivable loans targeted for leasehold improvement for businesses located in the Central Business District.

Awardee: City of Frostburg

Amount: $50,000

Project: SC Building Improvement Program

Description: Provide upper story and/or façade grant funding to building owners within the Sustainable Community.

Awardee: City of Frostburg

Amount: $50,000

Project: Frostburg Museum Building Reuse

Description: Rehabilitation of historic St. Michael’s Catholic Church School building on Main Street for reuse as new location for the Frostburg Museum.

ANNE ARUNDEL COUNTY – $200,000

Awardee: Arundel Community Development Services, Inc.

Amount: $200,000

Project: Brooklyn Park Acquisition/Rehabilitation and Homeownership Program

Description: Continue successful acquisition and rehabilitation activities within the Brooklyn Park Sustainable Community.

BALTIMORE CITY – $1.3 million

Awardee: Baltimore City Department of Housing and Community Development

Amount: $500,000

Project: Revitalizing the Gilmor Community Center

Description: Renovation of a Community Center in Sandtown to support an integrated model of community services.

Awardee: Central Baltimore Partnership, Inc.

Amount: $50,000

Project: Greenmount West Homeowner Façade Improvements

Description: Implementation of a façade program that will benefit low-income residents of the neighborhood.

Awardee: Central Baltimore Partnership, Inc.

Amount: $100,000

Project: 201 W Lorraine Avenue

Description: Rehabilitation of an important corner row house that is part of the rezoning of 14 similar properties in Remington.

Awardee: Downtown Partnership of Baltimore

Amount: $100,000

Project: Downtown Partnership’s Façade Improvement Program (FIP)

Description: Continue the Façade Improvement Program that reimburses property and business owners for improvements made to their storefronts.

Awardee: Habitat for Humanity of the Chesapeake, Inc.

Amount: $150,000

Project: Revitalizing Sandtown-Winchester

Description: Transform blighted vacant properties to increase homeownership and engage residents in neighborhood revitalization efforts.

Awardee: Strong City Baltimore

Amount: $150,000

Project: Waverly Market Reset

Description: Assisting in the production of a supply of rehabilitated homes intended to raise housing values in the Waverly area.

Awardee: TRF Development Partners

Amount: $250,000

Project: East Baltimore Revitalization II

Description: Infrastructure and stabilization improvements for a 10-unit rental project in East Baltimore’s Broadway East neighborhood.

BALTIMORE COUNTY – $250,000

Awardee: Baltimore County Department of Planning

Amount: $250,000

Project: Winters Lane Housing Rehabilitation Project

Description: Rehabilitation of ten historic homes in the historic African-American community of Winters Lane in Catonsville.

CAROLINE COUNTY – $160,000

Awardee: Town of Denton

Amount: $160,000

Project: Crouse Park Visitor and Heritage Center

Description: Funding to assist with the construction of the Crouse Park Visitor and Heritage Center.

CARROLL COUNTY – $50,000

Awardee: Town of Sykesville

Amount: $50,000

Project: Façade Improvement Program

Description: Implement a Façade Improvement Grant Program to offer commercial property owners an incentive for exterior and ADA-compliant improvements.

CECIL COUNTY – $250,000

Awardee: Town of Elkton

Amount: $50,000

Project: Elkton Downtown Façade Grant Program

Description: Continuation of a successful façade improvement program targeting commercial and mixed-use properties in the downtown area.

Awardee: Town of Port Deposit

Amount: $50,000

Project: Port Deposit Façade Improvement Program

Description: Implement a Façade Improvement Program for structural and exterior repair, and renovations to improve the historic community.

Awardee: Town of Port Deposit

Amount: $150,000

Project: Jacob Home Gas House Restoration

Description: Restoration of historic gas house for reuse as a Visitor and Research Center.

DORCHESTER COUNTY – $600,000

Awardee: City of Cambridge

Amount: $50,000

Project: Cambridge Façade Improvement Program

Description: Continue a Façade Improvement Program that fosters enhancements of commercial and residential properties to revitalize neighborhoods and business corridors.

Awardee: Dorchester County

Amount: $500,000

Project: Hearn Building

Description: Stabilization of the historic Hearn Building in the City of Cambridge due to the recent collapse of the south masonry wall.

Awardee: Town of Hurlock

Amount: $50,000

Project: Hurlock Façade Improvement

Description: Improve façades in the downtown area to improve the deteriorating appearance of the area.

FREDERICK COUNTY – $200,000

Awardee: City of Brunswick

Amount: $50,000

Project: Brunswick Main Street – Façade Program Grant

Description: Continue the Façade Program that provides for façade improvements while enticing private investment to revitalize downtown.

Awardee: Town of Emmitsburg

Amount: $50,000

Project: Façade & Restoration Program

Description: Continue the Façade Program that will undertake exterior restorations and façade improvements in the Sustainable Community Area.

Awardee: City of Frederick

Amount: $100,000

Project: Façade Improvement & Building Reuse Program

Description: Continuation of the successful Frederick Façade Improvement Program within the Patrick Street Corridor Community, and pilot a Building Reuse Program within the Main Street Area of Downtown Frederick.

GARRETT COUNTY – $25,000

Awardee: Garrett County Community Action Committee, Inc.

Amount: $20,000

Project: Oakland Welcome Sign Project

Description: Installation of a new “Welcome to Oakland” sign at the north end of town.

Awardee: Garrett County Community Action Committee, Inc.

Amount: $5,000

Project: Oakland Façade Program

Description: Façade work on one of the centerpiece properties downtown.

HARFORD COUNTY – $360,000

Awardee: City of Aberdeen

Amount: $50,000

Project: Aberdeen Façade Improvement Program

Description: Financial assistance to businesses to improve their building façades, that are located in the Transit Oriented Development Areas.

Awardee: Bel Air Downtown Alliance

Amount: $50,000

Project: Façade Improvement Program

Description: Provide funds to commercial and residential properties for building improvements.

Awardee: Harford County

Amount: $60,000

Project: Edgewood Neighborhood Revitalization Initiative

Description: Acquisition and rehabilitation of Harford Square home as part of a revitalization program that includes affordable homeownership opportunities.

Awardee: City of Havre de Grace

Amount: $200,000

Project: Opera House Renovation – Phase 2

Description: Rehabilitate a historic City-owned building to facilitate a state-of-the-art theater venue for public use.

KENT COUNTY – $150,000

Awardee: Town of Chestertown

Amount: $150,000

Project: Sultana Education Foundation Education Center

Description: Construction for a LEED Platinum Education Center at 200/204 South Cross Street.

MONTGOMERY COUNTY – $100,000

Awardee: City of Gaithersburg

Amount: $100,000

Project: Olde Towne Park Plaza Phase 2

Description: Construction at the intersection of Summit and Diamond Avenues, the crossroads of Old Towne Gaithersburg.

PRINCE GEORGE’S COUNTY – $1.28 million

Awardee: Town of Bladensburg

Amount: $150,000

Project: PG Municipal Healthy Homes

Description: Provide weatherization and structural improvements to homes of LMI residents to enhance health, community and environmental conditions.

Awardee: Town of Bladensburg

Amount: $100,000

Project: Port Towns Clean and Green Initiative

Description: Acquisition of Bigbelly compacting solar powered trash bins that will augment and serve as support in clean-up and education efforts.

Awardee: Central Kenilworth Avenue Rehabilitation CDC

Amount: $90,000

Project: Edmonston Road Rain Garden

Description: Establish a rain garden that includes plantings, benches, signage, sidewalks, permeable paving and lighting.

Awardee: City of College Park

Amount: $100,000

Project: Environmental Remediation of Former Calvert Road School

Description: Environmental remediation and removal of interior systems of a vacant 1930s school building to position for productive re-use.

Awardee: Housing Initiative Partnership, Inc.

Amount: $250,000

Project: Kentland/Palmer Park Transforming Neighborhoods Initiative (TNI)

Description: Purchase and renovate vacant homes for sale to first-time homebuyers and provide façade improvements to qualified homeowners.

Awardee: Hyattsville Community Development Corporation

Amount: $45,000

Project: 4314 Farragut Street Rehabilitation

Description: Rehabilitation of a building to support the property’s adaptive reuse as a nonprofit incubator and artist live/work space.

Awardee: City of Hyattsville

Amount: $50,000

Project: Commercial Façade Improvement Program

Description: Continue the Façade Improvement Program which assists small businesses in upgrading the quality of their building’s façade.

Awardee: City of Hyattsville

Amount: $75,000

Project: Public Placemaking Project

Description: Create a public space that will use the character of the City to encourage a strong business environment and improve quality of life.

Awardee: City of Mount Rainier

Amount: $100,000

Project: Mount Rainier Business Toolbox Program

Description: Interior and exterior improvements to target investment in the commercial districts through business retention and attraction programs.

Awardee: Town of North Brentwood

Amount: $35,000

Project: Rehabilitation of 4516 41st Avenue

Description: Rehabilitation of a vacant property historically known as Sis Tavern and turning it into a community asset.

Awardee: Redevelopment Authority of Prince George’s County

Amount: $250,000

Project: Net Zero Energy District – Fairmount Heights, Maryland

Description: Construction of seven Net Zero Energy Houses Prototype for sustainable and energy efficient development.

Awardee: Town of Upper Marlboro

Amount: $35,000

Project: Façade Improvement Program

Description: Continue to implement a Façade Improvement Program for the Central Business District.

SOMERSET COUNTY – $50,000

Awardee: Town of Princess Anne

Amount: $50,000

Project: Princess Anne Façade Rehabilitation

Description: Undertake façade rehabilitation in the downtown district in order to attract additional shoppers.

ST. MARY’S COUNTY – $100,000

Awardee: Saint Mary’s County Housing Authority

Amount: $100,000

Project: Essential Capital Improvements to South Shangri-La Way Neighborhood

Description: Rehabilitation of ten town homes that support permanent housing for homeless families within the South Shangri-La Way neighborhood.

TALBOT COUNTY – $50,000

Awardee: Town of Oxford

Amount: $50,000

Project: Façade Grants for Commercial Businesses

Description: Implement a façade program for commercial properties in the Sustainable Community Area.

WASHINGTON COUNTY – $200,000

Awardee: City of Hagerstown

Amount: $150,000

Project: Acquisition/Rehabilitation of Properties for Homeownership

Description: Acquisition and rehabilitation of residential properties within targeted areas for homeownership in the Sustainable Community Area.

Awardee: City of Hagerstown

Amount: $50,000

Project: Façade Program

Description: Renovation of storefronts in the Main Street Area.

WICOMICO COUNTY – $50,000

Awardee: City of Salisbury

Amount: $50,000

Project: Salisbury Neighborhood Intervention Program

Description: Purchase dilapidated houses and demolish if rehabilitation is not cost effective.

WORCESTER COUNTY – $275,000

Awardee: Town of Berlin

Amount: $50,000

Project: Façade Renovation Program

Description: Continuation of a Façade Grant Program.

Awardee: Ocean City Development Corporation

Amount: $50,000

Project: OCDC Façade Improvement Program

Description: Enhance the exterior appearance of older buildings in downtown Ocean City.

Awardee: Ocean City Development Corporation

Amount: $50,000

Project: OCDC Green Building Initiatives Program

Description: Provide energy-efficient materials to business related buildings in downtown Ocean City.

Awardee: Town of Snow Hill

Amount: $125,000

Project: Snow Hill Building Improvement Program

Description: Implement a program designed to improve the physical appearance of both the interior and exterior of commercial and residential buildings.

Strategic Demolition Fund FY 2016

County Awardee Project Name Amount Description Cecil County Elkton Housing Authority Rudy Park $250,000 Demolition of 50 outdated housing units located at the Rudy Park Family Site to make way for an improved redevelopment. Dorchester County City of Cambridge Sailwinds / Gateway Phase 4 Demolition $100,000 Demolition of acquired property along Rt.50 entrance into historic Cambridge to create a welcoming gateway. Frederick County Frederick, City of Downtown Frederick Hotel & Conference Center $500,000 Acquisition for the development of a full-service Marriott hotel with 24,000 square feet of meeting space. Harford County Aberdeen, City of Aberdeen Transit Oriented Development – Station Square Area $100,000 Acquisition and demolition of a blighted and vacant property within the designated Transit Oriented Development Area. Montgomery County Montgomery Housing Partnership, Inc. Germantown Center Residential Development $275,000 Predevelopment for new, mixed-income multi-family rental apartment community. Prince George’s County Prince George’s County, Redevelopment Authority of The Artisan $250,000 Predevelopment for a mixed-use project in the Town of Brentwood. Talbot County Oxford, Town of MEWS Property Acquisition $300,000 Acquisition of the dilapidated and vacant historic mixed-use building, known as the MEWS building for rehabilitation. Worcester County Ocean City Development Corporation Royalton Hotel mixed use project $200,000 Demolition of the Royalton Hotel in downtown Ocean City to construct a new mixed-use project. Worcester County Snow Hill, Town of Mason’s Opera House Engineering Documents $100,000 Create engineering documents defining the infrastructure needs for the old Mason’s Opera House building. Grand Total $2,075,000

Baltimore Regional Neighborhoods Initiative FY2016