Community revitalization: sometimes it's a major project like rebuilding an entire neighborhood. But sometimes it can be as small as planting a new bed of flowers. On Friday, October 1, 2010, the City broke ground on the Uplands Redevelopment, starting one of the major new investments along the Red Line corridor. Not far away on the same day, a small group of dedicated neighbors celebrated a new community sign in the Edgewood community of Edmondson Village, an area that will also benefit from the Red Line.

The Uplands redevelopment will be located on the former Uplands apartment site, a 60+ acre area in West Baltimore. Once complete, the new neighborhood will have 208 mixed income rental units, 245 homes for sale at affordable rates, and 308 market rate homes. Plans also include tree-lined streets, parks, and a clubhouse with a pool, internet café and meeting rooms. People will begin moving in as early as 2012, and the whole project is expected to be completed by 2019—just after the Red Line starts running.

“I am excited and encouraged by the bold transformation underway in this community,” said Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake. “The Uplands community will become a neighborhood of choice and opportunity with high-quality housing opportunities that will attract new residents while enhancing the quality of life for existing residents.”

With the Red Line, Uplands will be one of Baltimore's largest transit oriented developments. Pennrose Properties, LLC, the developers, have worked hand-in-hand with the community, City agencies, Edmondson Westside High School, and other groups to create this new neighborhood on Baltimore's west side.

Meanwhile, just a few blocks away from the Uplands neighborhood, at the intersection of Edmondson Avenue and Hilton Parkway, neighbors dedicated a renewed community sign in the Edgewood community. With a grant from Parks and People Foundation, residents re-painted the old sign and planted flowers to welcome people to the neighborhood. It was a small project, but one that shows how people can work together to make change in their own backyard.

"This project celebrates one of the many gateways to Edmondson Village, a neighborhood that will benefit from the community development coming with the Red Line."

—Cynthia Shaw, Chair Edmondson Village Collaborative, Healthy Neighborhoods