2100 North Maryland

NDC Project #2388

Empire Homes of Maryland develops, owns, and manages affordable housing for low-income people with disabilities and/or a history of homelessness. Empire Homes’ Lisa Strachura requested Neighborhood Design Center design assistance with exterior, façade, and entryway improvements to their facility at 2100-2102 Maryland Avenue, which currently houses 16 units of affordable housing and a transitional housing program.

NDC volunteers James Leonard and Daniel Cartagena worked with Empire Homes in 2015 to create a conceptual façade and front-yard plan. The corner, multi-section building stretches along 21st Street in the Old Goucher/Charles Village area of Baltimore, with its primary face on Maryland Ave. The proposed façade unifies the many building sections with common materials and highlights the existing architectural features, while adding new planting areas and trees to soften the surrounding streetscape.

Together, James and Daniel contributed 60 service hours to the initiative that would have had an estimated market value of $5,100. Empire Homes used the NDC plans to apply for implementation funding grants including the PNC Transformative Arts grant, Homewood Community Partners Initiative “Spruce Up” grant, and Parks and People Foundation greening grant.