What Happened?
East Baltimore is proposing to replace one of its public schools with a community campus that offers resources to both students and residents. In the heart of one of the city’s poorest neighborhoods, a more well-rounded campus would bring residents a community center, library, auditorium and gym. The community campus could spur economic activity while helping reduce crime and unemployment rates.
The Goal
The school that may be transformed into a community campus is part of a $1.8 billion urban experiment run by Johns Hopkins University and Morgan State University. The project calls for new science and technology buildings, a park, retail development and mixed-income housing to be developed alongside the public school. By attaching the developments to a public school initiative, the researchers hope to prevent gentrification from displacing the low-income residents most in need of the amenities, the New York Times reported.
How It Works
The public school project will service 720 students through 8th grade and occupy several airy, low-rise buildings and lofty communal spaces surrounding courtyards and lined with interior streets. The school will divide up students by grade level between the different buildings that are connected through walkways and contain commons or meeting rooms.
The public school is only part of the city’s urban renewal project. East Baltimore is working with East Baltimore Development Inc. nonprofit and a private design firm to redevelop the area. Leveraging state, local, federal and private funding, the partnership had to clear acres of land which displaced 742 families. One-third of the housing to be developed will be for low-income residents, helping to provide housing options for many of the displaced residents.
The partnership collected feedback from residents regarding what resources they would like to have included in the redevelopment project. The goal of the community campus is to not only provide a community center, library, gymnasium and auditorium to students, but their families as well when the school day or year are over.
One Step Further
The East Baltimore Development Inc. nonprofit has also launched its Elev8 initiative that prepares elementary and middle school students for high school courses and success. Through partnerships with both schools and community groups, Elev8 offers:
- After-school activities to enhance academic achievement
- High-quality health services and health education
- Accessible community resources
- Information for students and families to better understand their options
The program has developed a partnership between more than 25 groups including schools, foundations, health centers and community-based service providers.
Furthermore, East Baltimore Development Inc. has founded the Baltimore Food Enterprise Center that provides a fully-equipped commercial kitchen for local food producers to use to spur economic activity. The center will offer food entrepreneurs small business training, technical assistance and sources of financing. The commercial kitchen is designed to attract:
- Caterers
- Bakers
- Specialty food producers
- Urban farmers
- Gardeners
- Growers
- Vendors
By supporting healthy food providers in the community, the nonprofit aims to boost entrepreneurialism, economic activity and access to nutritional food.
Modern Schooling
Gov1 has commented on the prospect of self-sustaining schools as well as reported on the latest innovations in school energy technology.