Maryland Launches Initiative to Tackle Vacant Properties in Baltimore

The Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) has announced the opening of applications for the Baltimore Vacants Reinvestment Initiative (BVRI) for Fiscal Year 2027. This program aims to provide capital to Baltimore City, the Maryland Stadium Authority, and community-based development organizations (CDOs) to facilitate the redevelopment of vacant properties and revitalize neighborhoods. The initiative is part of the broader Reinvest Baltimore effort, guided by the Baltimore Vacants Reinvestment Council.

The BVRI is seeking strategies from Baltimore City’s CDOs focused on eliminating vacant properties and strengthening specific target areas. While the current funding round emphasizes the renovation of vacant buildings on contiguous blocks, it also allows for the redevelopment of vacant lots into housing, mixed-use projects, and community-managed green spaces. The overarching goal is to achieve “whole block outcomes,” a state where every property on a block has a productive use, by building upon existing community strengths and assets. The program stresses the need for agility, efficiency, and speed from awarded organizations, reflecting a shared urgency to transform vacant lots into investments that can catalyze neighborhood growth and improve the overall health of Baltimore City’s communities.

The initiative supports a range of eligible activities designed to address vacant properties comprehensively. These include grants and loans for the acquisition, stabilization, and renovation of vacant buildings. Funding can also be used for the acquisition and aggregation of vacant lots for new infill housing construction, mixed-use developments, and the creation of community-managed open spaces. Furthermore, the BVRI will support urgent demolitions of properties that pose immediate risks or demolitions of vacant buildings specifically for near-term redevelopment projects. Other predevelopment activities essential for renovation and new construction projects are also eligible for funding. A key requirement for all funded projects is that they must be located within a cluster of contiguous blocks where the applicant can demonstrate the capacity and a clear plan to address all vacant properties within that area over time. Funds are primarily intended to accelerate the remediation of vacant buildings that have received city-issued Vacant Building Notices.

Eligible applicants for the Baltimore Vacants Reinvestment Initiative are community development organizations (CDOs), which are defined as nonprofit organizations dedicated to improving the physical, economic, or social environment of their operational areas. If selected for funding, CDOs may be required to provide specific documentation, including a government resolution, a corporate board resolution, and proof of charitable registration. All proposed activities must be situated within designated Sustainable Community Areas in Baltimore City. Applicants whose projects are located in the Baltimore City Vacancy Reduction Priority Geography will receive special consideration.

The application period for the FY27 BVRI funding round opens on February 18, 2026, at 10:00 AM and closes on April 1, 2026, at 11:59 PM. Submissions must be made online through Survey123, and paper applications will not be accepted. The program will not utilize DHCD’s IGX Project Portal for this application process, and incomplete applications lacking required documents will be disqualified. To assist potential applicants, a virtual training webinar will be held on Wednesday, February 25, 2026, from 12:00 PM to 1:00 PM. This training can be accessed via Google Meet or by phone at +1 240-437-4438, using PIN: 921 244 497#.

Resources available to applicants include information on the FY27 Property Pipeline for current BVRI organizations, the principles of “Whole Block” redevelopment, and authorization for public disclosure. Sample budget templates for residential infill new construction, commercial mixed-use projects, and open space/placemaking initiatives are also provided to guide applicants in their financial planning. For inquiries or to schedule a meeting to discuss the BVRI program, interested parties can contact David Birkenthal via email at ReinvestBaltimore.dhcd@maryland.gov or by phone at 443-462-7445. The Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development’s Division of Neighborhood Revitalization is located at 2 North Charles Street, Suite 450, Baltimore, MD 21201.

Article by Mel Anara, based upon information from the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development.

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