Street improvements planned near Henderson-Hopkins in East Baltimore

Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott joined multiple elected dignitaries and Johns Hopkins officials last week to celebrate the start of a project to improve the streets, sidewalks, and landscapes around the Henderson-Hopkins School, the latest phase of the two-decade endeavor to revitalize the neighborhood north of Johns Hopkins Hospital.

East Baltimore Development Inc. is scheduled to begin the nearly $10 million project in May to improve lighting and landscaping as well as to upgrade roads, sidewalks, utilities, stormwater management systems, and sewer lines. Since 2002, EBDI—in partnership with city government, Johns Hopkins, and other institutions—has led the revitalization of the Eager Park neighborhood, backed by $1.8 billion in public and private investments.

"There's something special happening here in East Baltimore," Scott said during the event at Henderson-Hopkins.

The latest project will improve transportation infrastructure with smoother roads, enhance safety with better lighting and crosswalks for students, and foster connectivity in the neighborhood, said Cheryl Washington, chief executive officer of EBDI.

"This is an exciting milestone in our community's transformation," Washington said. "However, it's about more than roads and sidewalks—it's about building stronger connections, improving access, and laying the groundwork for opportunity. EBDI is proud that our mission supports Mayor Scott's vision for Baltimore: reducing vacancies, ensuring public safety, and attracting new residents and supporting local businesses."

Maria Harris Tildon, vice president for government, community, and economic partnerships at Johns Hopkins, praised the project and said it would "bring valuable economic opportunities, creating new jobs for local residents, particularly in the construction and infrastructure sectors.

"This project is significant for the Eager Park community, promising to improve transportation and safety for residents, students, and businesses," Tildon said. "By upgrading the streets, sidewalks, lighting, and utilities, this project is directly enhancing the quality of life for everyone in East Baltimore.

"We anticipate this will attract new businesses, fostering a vibrant local economy and promoting economic inclusion right here in East Baltimore," she added.

Peter Kanam, principal of Henderson-Hopkins, thanked Johns Hopkins University President Ron Daniels for his support of EBDI and said the "revitalization project is really going to help" enhance the streetscape along Ashland Avenue as well as improve safety around the school with new traffic calming measures.

Tildon praised the city's delegation of elected officials for securing the funding needed to move forward with the project: U.S. Rep. Kweisi Mfume and U.S. Sens. Chris Van Hollen and Angela Alsobrooks at the federal level, and state delegates Stephanie Smith, Caylin Young, and Jackie Addison, and state Sen. Cory McCray in Annapolis.

The latest project, as well as the entire EBDI revitalization effort, "is helping to build a spirit of renaissance" in East Baltimore, Mfume said.

Since its start in 2002, EBDI has made significant progress demolishing nearly all aging, dilapidated, and lead-filled homes and buildings within the 88-acre project area. They are being replaced with high-quality, mixed-income housing and state-of-the-art commercial spaces.

When the project is completed, EBDI will have constructed nearly 2,100 new homes, nearly 1 million square feet of commercial, retail, and restaurant space, a 7-acre community learning campus, expanded green spaces, and a 5-acre park. The revitalization is expected to generate $1.8 billion in public-private investment with $650 million already invested, creating a thriving, opportunity-rich neighborhood anchored by Johns Hopkins and Baltimore's growing life sciences sector.

"This is a really special day for our school and our neighborhood," said Henderson-Hopkins seventh-grade student Kayli Scott. "These changes will make our community stronger and safer."