The name Greenmount is a remnant from Robert Oliver's estate located at the north east boundary of Baltimore City named "Green Mount." With Oliver's death in the early 1800's, his heirs broke up the large estate and sold it off. Prior to 1876, the land that would become Greenmount West was split into two parcels which abutted each other where Guilford Avenue exists today.
The area grew in the 1880's and 90's as suburbs to downtown Baltimore. A middle class neighborhood with North Ave. as a fine shopping area, the area changed greatly during World War II as the large houses were made into apartments. Greenmount West is one of two neighborhoods (Charles North is the other) that comprise the North Central Historic District, a district listed on the National Park Service's National Register of Historic Places. Today it is the first area in the city to receive the state designation as an arts and entertainment district (Station North Arts and Entertainment District). Station North is a diverse collection of artist live-work spaces, galleries, row homes and businesses - all just steps away from Penn Station, the Charles Theatre, the University of Baltimore, and the many restaurants on Charles Street.
Greenmount West is a rapidly growing, revitalizing neighborhood. An area rich in diversity, Greenmount West is quickly becoming the place to be for young artists, and commuters that work in Washington DC. New condominiums, renovated row houses, and artist lofts are under construction and commercial district revitalization continues to gain momentum on North Avenue.
