Stewardship of the Cecil Community

Once a neglected and underused public space, Cecil Community Park located at Cecil Elementary School has been transformed into a vibrant, welcoming hub for neighborhood activity. Located just off Greenmount Avenue in the Midway neighborhood, the park’s $3.6 million revitalization was shaped by years of resident advocacy and community planning, with support from Central Baltimore Partnership, Parks & People, The Mayor’s Office of Recovery Programs, Cecil Elementary School, Cecil Kirk Recreation Center, Greater Greenmount Community Association, and over 15 funders. 

The space includes new play areas, shaded seating, outdoor exercise equipment, updated landscaping, and active recreation features designed to meet the needs of community members.

Last month, Central Baltimore Partnership, Cap Ex Advisory Group, and Tim Rich of the R.I.C.H. Foundation (pictured in above photo) teamed up for front entrance gardening maintenance at Cecil Elementary.  A special thank you to CBP Steering Committee member, Salem Reiner of Cap Ex, for helping coordinate this!  

The maintenance work is a part of CBP’s State of MD DHCD Community Safety Works grant efforts to address environmental and safety improvements at Cecil Community Park within the first year of its opening. Future improvements include lighting enhancements, landscaping support, safety modifications and beautification, and active programming on site to include garden education and environmental workshops.

New Wellness Website!

Connecting residents with resources

We’re excited to announce the launch of the new Central Baltimore Health Partnerships (CBHP) website! Designed to highlight the incredible work happening across our partner neighborhoods, the site features resources for building healthier, more vibrant communities.

Explore the latest projects, discover upcoming events, and learn how CBHP is creating spaces where health, equity, and creativity intersect. Please share it with organizations in your network that could benefit from the resources.

New websites—like the updated CBHP site—play a vital role in helping community members access important resources. Ensuring these sites are mobile-friendly is especially critical for serving individuals who may not have regular access to a computer. Updated websites are also a vital part of communicating with our partners. It increases awareness of programming and an easily accessible site will encourage shared resources and collaborations.

Safe and Healthy Homes

As part of our broader health initiative, CBP is proud to partner with St. Ambrose Housing Aid Center and Jubilee Baltimore on the Safe and Healthy Homes program. This project supports elderly and long-time homeowners by providing critical home repairs—such as roof and HVAC replacements, plumbing and electrical updates to meet code, and weatherization improvements. The program also addresses fall prevention and accessibility modifications to help residents age safely in place. 

In addition to up to $15,000 in direct repair assistance, homeowners receive access to estate planning, tax credit help, deed support, and healthcare-related service referrals. We are deeply grateful to the State of Maryland DHCD, Johns Hopkins University, First National Bank, Mary Catherine Bunting and the Bunting Family Foundation, the State of Maryland DGS, Baltimore City ARPA, and our program partners St. Ambrose Housing Aid Center and Jubilee Baltimore for their generous support and collaboration.

So {St Ambrose} came over and we checked the whole place out to see what needed to be done. And yeah, before I knew it, I have roofers out there working on it. It was amazing. Amazingly fast!" 

- Mr. Syfu, A Safe and Healthy Homes program recipient

ENOUGH Grant

At the end of 2024 Central Baltimore Partnership was selected as a Track 2 Planning grantee in Governor Wes Moore’s ENOUGH initiative—an unprecedented, statewide effort to eliminate child poverty through deep, community-based collaboration.

This $300,000 planning grant will support CBP in collaboration with the neighborhoods of — Barclay, East Baltimore Midway, Greenmount West, Harwood, and our new partner, Better Waverly—as we work with three local schools (Barclay Elementary/Middle, Cecil Elementary, and Dallas F. Nicholas Elementary) to build a neighborhood action plan focused on four pillars: Cradle to Career, Healthy Families, Economically Secure Families, and Thriving Neighborhoods.

With support from our core partner, Urban Strategies, Inc., we’ll engage families in creating a community asset map, needs assessment, and a shared strategy that prioritizes early childhood development and family well-being.

If you’d like to host a focus group or share input, please reach out to Micah Mathis at mmathis@centralbaltimore.org.

Thank you to Governor Moore and the Governor’s Office for Children for investing in Central Baltimore’s vision for a stronger, more equitable future!

“The Central Baltimore Partnership is honored to join the inaugural cohort of the ENOUGH initiative, which will significantly enhance our work to craft a strong web of partners who, together, can eliminate child and family poverty in Central Baltimore. We and our communities send our gratitude and congratulations to Governor Moore and the team who have created this ambitious and important new resource.” 

- Ellen Janes, Central Baltimore Partnership’s Executive Director

Asia North 2025

A month of dynamic programming

This May, Asia North 2025, which was co-produced by Towson University's Asian Arts & Culture Center and Central Baltimore Partnership transformed Station North Arts District into a vibrant celebration of art, culture, and community. 

With exhibitions and performances across various venues, Asia North brought together an incredible lineup of artists, performers, and storytellers who worked together to showcase powerful narratives, foster cross-cultural dialogue, and create space for connection through the arts.

The gallery exhibition, titled ‘EXCEEDS EXPECTATIONS,’ showcased 25 artists from the Baltimore area and the DMV, at 6 venues across North Avenue in Station North. The exhibition was guest curated by Baltimore-based artist Phaan Howng with Nerissa Paglinauan.

The exhibition title is a nod to the loaded phrase “exceeds expectations” and its resonance within the APIMEDA community. The show challenges and pushes beyond conventional expectations about the kinds of artwork typically presented during AAPI Heritage Month.

Whether you joined us for a gallery tour, a communal feast, a dance party, or a movie viewing—we thank you for making this year’s festival unforgettable.

Highlights included: 

• Over 2,000 attendees

• Featured dozens of artists across multiple disciplines

• 35 community partners and organizations involved

• The EXCEEDS EXPECTATIONS exhibition featured 25 groundbreaking APIMEDA artists across six venues

• AAPI Networking and Meetups, historic Koreatown walking tours, and children’s literary events

"To us, exceeds expectations of something that is kind of been hammered down on us, especially if we are of immigrant children, etc., where we always, in the Asian Community, we feel like we have to be seen, and the only way we can be seen is to exceed expectations. I just also want to establish how important we are as an AAPI community here in Baltimore, that we are here and we exist." 

– Phaan Howng, Guest Curator of EXCEEDS EXPECTATIONS

Visit the New Station North Website!

We’re excited to share the launch of the new Station North website — a vital tool for telling the story of the district, supporting local artists and businesses, and keeping the community connected.

An updated site for Station North is a valuable tool that ensures access to resources for artists and easily accessible information for small business patrons.

Inviting Light

Two New Installations to be Unveiled

The Station North Arts District is set to glow brighter than ever on Saturday, June 14, as part of Baltimore’s Inviting Light initiative. Two striking new installations will debut along Charles Street during a free community celebration that blends music, light, and neighborhood joy.

The event runs from 6–10:30 pm on June 14th. At nightfall, from 9:00-9:30 pm, we will unveil works by artists Tony Shore and Phaan Howng. Shore’s piece reimagines the old Gatsby’s nightclub with illuminated portraits of Baltimoreans. Meanwhile, Howng turns the Charles Street Garage into a surreal botanical fantasy with a bold, cinematic twist. Together, the installations create a one-of-a-kind experience and put the spotlight on Station North as a thriving hub of artistic innovation.

RSVP!

Over the past decade, stakeholders in Station North have recognized inadequate lighting as a barrier to cultural activity, safety, vibrant street life, and investment. Guided by the Station North Public Space Plan and Signal Station North—a two-year initiative focused on community engagement, planning, and prototyping—Inviting Light will introduce a total of five unique artistic light installations.

Inviting Light was made possible thanks to the 2023 Bloomberg Philanthropies Public Art Challenge garnering Baltimore a $1 million grant in support of the project. Baltimore was one of eight U.S. cities selected to receive the award, out of 154 project proposals submitted to the challenge. 

Inviting Light is a citywide effort powered by collaboration between local artists, city partners, and the community. With five major works planned throughout the year, the project brings imaginative public art into the heart of Station North—inviting residents and visitors alike to gather, dance, and connect under the glow of creative expression.

“We are honored and thrilled to be awarded such generous support from Bloomberg Philanthropies and now the Baltimore Community Arts Foundation to help us integrate even more local artists and creatives to be a part of what’s to come in the neighborhood.” 

—Ellen Janes, Executive Director of Central Baltimore Partnership

Coming Soon to Remington: Fishnet  

We’re excited to share that Fishnet will be opening later this summer on W. 29th Street in Remington, taking over the historic former location of Sterling’s Crab and Oyster House, which originally opened in 1949.

Owned by Keiya Yalcin, Fishnet is dedicated to sustainability and local sourcing. Keiya aims to purchase at least half of the restaurant’s produce from Baltimore’s urban farms—bringing fresh, local flavor to every dish. 

Central Baltimore Partnership provided grant funding to support Fishnet’s first brick and mortar location. Special thanks to Maryland Department of Housing and Johns Hopkins University for their funding assistance. In addition, the Greater Remington Improvement Association played a vital role in fostering the project and supporting Fishnet at the community level. Fishnet is one of many small businesses strengthening Central Baltimore. 

Can’t wait until August? You can try Fishnet now by visiting their food truck: www.eatfishnet.com

Photo courtesy of ddbworkshop

Graham Projects HQ 

Trenton Art Garage Brings New Life to Station North

A once-vacant 125-year-old warehouse in Station North has been transformed into a vibrant new space for both artists and residents. With support from Central Baltimore Partnership, the Trenton Art Garage at 101 E. Trenton Street now features eight income-restricted apartments and a ground-floor studio for Graham Projects, a public art and design firm known for its community-centered placemaking work.

“The real driving force behind this is to attract businesses, bring foot traffic, and, more importantly, to help groups like Graham’s grow. We would love to fund projects similar to this one several times over."

– Jack Danna, Director of Commercial Revitalization for Central Baltimore Partnership. 

The $1 million redevelopment, led by architect and founder of ddbWorkshop, Tamir Ezzat and Graham Projects founder Graham Coreil-Allen, blends historic preservation with modern design. The redevelopment was funded through a grant from Central Baltimore Partnership and loans from the Neighborhood Impact Investment Fund. As the building is 125 years old, it is also eligible for historic tax credits. This project delivers on CBP’s mission to support affordable housing and small business growth in the area.

Inside the newly renovated building, which was formerly used as a horse stable and an auto upholstery factory,  Graham Projects’ light-filled, open-format studio includes a production workshop, bike storage, and artist-curated artwork throughout the space. The development also includes a 100-foot mural, outdoor seating, and a forthcoming traffic-calming street mural—underscoring the project’s belief that public art and equitable development can go hand in hand.

Studio Expansion at AREA 405

In 2022 CBP and developer Ernst Valery purchased AREA 405 to preserve it as an affordable, vital art hub. The 120-year-old, 70,000 square-foot industrial building in Greenmount West is one of Baltimore’s largest creative workspaces. AREA 405 includes over 40 art studios, an event space, and the Station North Tool Library. Since then, CBP has made extensive improvements to the building while preserving its historic character.

We worked with the Neighborhood Design Center through their Arts Space Technical Assistance program to understand existing constraints and building code requirements to improve safety and create conceptual floor plans. 

In the second half of 2024, Central Baltimore Partnership completed the build-out of three new affordable studios on the third floor of AREA 405. Measuring 1,284 sq ft, 806 sq ft, and 443 sq ft, each come equipped with HVAC, a much-needed upgrade not found in the older units. All three studios are now fully leased.

The project was made possible through generous support from the Cultural Spaces Capital Support Fund ($150K) and the Department of Housing and Community Development ($350K). The work was done in collaboration with Cross Street Partners, project manager John Renner, and the women-owned firm L2Design Studio, led by Lori Wood Lessem. These improvements reflect CBP’s ongoing investment in preserving AREA 405 as an affordable, vibrant creative hub in the heart of the Station North Arts District.

Up Next

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Thank you for joining us in making a brighter Central Baltimore!