AIA Baltimore Awards - AIA Baltimore Awards 2021
Social Equity Award
2021-10-27 13:43:03
SOCIAL EQUITY AWARD
GOOD DESIGN = GOOD BUSINESS HONORABLE MENTION
E21 BOONE
ddbWORKSHOP LLC
E21 Boone is exactly the kind of project that Baltimore needs. By coming into the community and having thoughtful meetings with neighborhood leaders, residents and partner organizations, the developers were able to build rapport and trust among the community before even breaking ground on the project. Understanding that financing such a project was a cause for developers in the past to not invest, this developer, backed by the support of neighborhood leaders, self-financed the project, and they were able to bridge the chasm of financing that has held this neighborhood back. Just by their startling contrast and undeniable quality, these new-construction row homes were not only able to entice market-rate buyers, but to command appropriate appraisals, also having the effect of raising appraisals nearby. This had the impact of making renovations feasible of nearby row homes that previously wouldn’t have been able to secure financing. Not only was this of benefit to rehab developers, but also those who had been living in the neighborhood were now able to secure financing to undertake repairs to their own homes as their equity rose.
The project could have stopped there; however, because of the early conversations with neighbors and community partner organizations, a former community garden that sat just north behind the alley of the development was another project the neighborhood leaders mentioned as a potential challenge. The developers sought input through community meetings held at the elementary school and in a creative place-making process, designed with the leadership of residents to build a public green space in partnership with the community association. This green space added relief to the built environment.
In addition to the green space and cascade of redevelopment, the injection of new neighbors has facilitated a revitalization of a strong sense of community spirit and civic engagement as new residents have joined the existing community association and contributed to efforts to create greater outreach within Midway, fostering a sense of identity within the neighborhood itself.
JURY COMMENTS
Social Equity Award
The jury is pleased to award E21 Boone the 2021 award for social equity. The project is consistent with community plans, and its modular building is a sustainable and economical addition to a neighborhood with a long history of projects starting and stopping. The development is more than just a row house infill, as it complements the fabric of the neighborhood. The redone community garden is an amenity that benefits everyone; this project increases the value of the surrounding properties.
Good Design = Good Business Honorable Mention
E21 Boone Street sets a precedent for a successful neighborhood infill project due to its economical approach of using modular construction, which was integral to the project’s overall success. The jury was encouraged by the project’s role in sparking a successful neighborhood revitalization for the entire city block.
OWNER: ddbWorkshop and Maryland Custom Builders | ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN TEAM: ddbWorkshop LLC – Tamir Ezzat | GENERAL CONTRACTOR: Maryland Custom Builders Inc./Mautaz Ezzat and Tamir Ezzat | CIVIL ENGINEER: Kimley Horn/Nick Leffner | PHOTOGRAPHY: Kasey Ezzat
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