From Vision to Reality: The Hammond at Greenmount Park and Johnston Square Library Branch Open Their Doors

Photo Credit: Ki Seldon, Photographer/CEO of Defiant Shots

On Monday, November 10th, nearly 1,000 Baltimore leaders, residents, and supporters joined hundreds of BUILD leaders, along with ReBUILD Metro and Re-Build Johnston Square, to cut the ribbon on The Hammond at Greenmount Park—a major leap forward in the community-driven revitalization of East Baltimore’s Johnston Square neighborhood. The new four-story building completes the transformation of an entire block of long-vacant lots into 109 affordable, income-integrated apartments and the first new Enoch Pratt Free Library branch in more than 15 years.

The Hammond—developed by Somerset Development Company, New Community Partners, and ReBUILD Metro—offers one-, two-, and three-bedroom apartments for families earning between under 30% and up to 80% of area median income. Twelve formerly homeless families will receive permanent supportive housing with dedicated services. Residents also benefit from free wi-fi, robust onsite support, and a spacious community room for neighborhood gatherings.

This milestone represents the culmination of more than a decade of BUILD-supported work in Johnston Square, now considered a model for community-led development in Baltimore and a critical component of the $1.2 billion in public commitments BUILD has secured to tackle the city’s vacant and abandoned housing crisis. Mayor Brandon Scott, Maryland Housing Secretary Jake Day, Maryland Comptroller Brooke Lierman, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen, and many others celebrated this major victory alongside community leaders.