Ideas + Insights
December 15, 2025Whole Blocks, Whole Communities: Rebuilding Baltimore the Right Way
Written by Jennifer Goold, Executive Director of the Neighborhood Design Center
“This is a long-overdue moment of alignment between government, philanthropy, the financial sector, and the nonprofit community, and it’s worth celebrating.”
Baltimore is finally receiving the attention and investment needed to tackle one of its most persistent challenges: vacant housing.
With $50 million from the State of Maryland’s CORE program and a coordinated city-state partnership through the Baltimore Vacant Reinvestment Initiative (BVRI) and Reframe Baltimore, momentum is building for real, sustained transformation.
However, as we mark this milestone, we must also clarify our vision and ensure that while we understand that returning vacant homes to use is essential, it is only one step in revitalizing a neighborhood.
What is the “Whole Block” concept?
The “Whole Block” concept offers a powerful and proven framework for rebuilding Baltimore’s neighborhoods. First pioneered in partnership by BUILD and ReBUILD Metro and documented in their “Whole Blocks, Whole City” report (ABLE Foundation, 2023), this strategy goes far beyond construction.
“A whole block is a place where every house is filled within a thriving surrounding community.”
This means...
“So far, the City and State efforts have centered primarily on acquisition, stabilization, rehab, and development.
These are critical building blocks, but they’re not the full picture — if we stop there, we risk building houses without rebuilding communities.”
Community development organizations, many of which have been doing this work for decades with limited support, now require comprehensive support for the full continuum of neighborhood transformation.
comprehensive support includes:
Groups like the Neighborhood Design Center are well-positioned to support these efforts through inclusive design, planning, and resident engagement; however, lasting transformation will require strong cross-sector partnerships and shared investment in the full vision of community revitalization.
The state and city must continue to lead while also broadening the lens.
We call on our philanthropic partners, financial institutions, and civic stakeholders to adopt the entire “Whole Block” framework.
This includes resourcing trusted neighborhood leaders, supporting community-generated plans, investing in the public realm, and marketing neighborhoods in ways that foster a sense of belonging and pride, rather than displacement.
We are proud to be part of this ecosystem, and excited to see partners stepping up with new energy and resources.
Now we need to ensure that “Whole Block” doesn’t become shorthand for vacancy clearance. Let’s remember the vision of neighborhoods that are whole, vibrant, and led by the people who live in them.
This is a moment of real possibility in Baltimore, but realizing it will require deep collaboration across sectors and a commitment to the full vision of neighborhood revitalization. Through strong partnerships, shared investment, and community leadership, we can achieve success.