Our Focus Neighborhoods

To maximize our impact, we target as many of our resources as possible along the Dundalk Avenue corridor in our focus neighborhoods.  Our focus neighborhoods are not only historic and charming, but also tight knit. We seek to stabilize communities within our focus neighorhoods by targeting what could major financial stressors for home owners. Income qualified seniors in our Focus Neighborhoods can take advantage of our Senior Home Repair Grant program which enables seniors to safely age in place and help maintain their home. We encourage developers, through our Market Boost program, to enhance the neighborhoods through quality home renovations.  We limit the geography of our projects to make visible, concrete changes with limited resources.

We believe in partnerships and collaboration. We achieve more when we work together. No one entity can do it all, and we welcome opportunities to partner and support others’ endeavors to make Dundalk the best it can be.

Old Dundalk, Dun-Logan, St. Helena, Turner Station and Graceland Park geographically locate the neighborhoods in which we are concentrating our work and programs for 2019-20. While they have some things in common, they each have their own personalities as well.

They all border Dundalk Avenue, a main gateway into the community, with easy access to 695, 95 and into Baltimore City. They have public transportation; MTA bus routes 4, 10 and 31 serve Dundalk and a variety of destinations, including CCBC Dundalk and Essex, as well as downtown Baltimore. LocalLink 62, 63 (from Johns Hopkins Bayview to Tradepoint Atlantic) and 65 have been added, and CityLink Navy connects Dundalk to several city locations.

These neighborhoods have long histories, housing stock that is affordable for the first-time buyer, and some wonderful renovations! Each has an active neighborhood association, where you will quickly notice residents’ strong commitment to their neighborhoods. All Focus Neighborhoods are in the cachement area for the new Dundalk High School, and all but Graceland Park will send their students to the new Dundalk Elementary in fall 2019! Please read on…

Old Dundalk is walkable, full of homes with historic charm on tree-lined streets, with beautiful parks, a post office and schools. The strong historical ties to the architecture of Roland Park are evident and provided for a ‘town center’ with shops, offices, schools, churches, transportation and a community hall. Today the Historic Dundalk Town Center offers an array of retail, eateries, services and businesses. You’ll find several churches and the Y Aquatic Center, as well as the Dundalk-Patapsco Neck Historical Society and Museum and the historic home for The Dundalk Eagle. Much of this community is within the National Register Historic District, with homes built before WWI through the 1940s, including stucco duplexes with English village-style peaked slate roofs, detached bungalows, duplexes and brick colonials. The Yorkway Development by Ryan Homes offers a new construction option.

New buyers are discovering the neighborhood, drawn by the small town feel, curved streets and the historical charm. Old Dundalk is host to many community festivals and  events, including the St. Patrick’s Day Parade, Dundalk’s 4th of July Parade and Heritage Fair, the Family Fall Festival, the Christmas Parade, Holiday Hoopla and Cookie Tour, and the Summer Concerts in the Park series.

Dun-Logan was the epicenter of early-to mid-twentieth century aviation in Baltimore, an important part of the military complex that included aspects of air, land and sea. Today, the community maintains an historical respect and a family-friendly tradition that attract a variety of homeowners to neat row homes and attractive single units. You’ll find a combination of sturdy brick row homes, Cape Cod bungalows and other styles that give the area such personality! Many have been upgraded and landscaped by long-time residents, and developers are updating and renovating homes as well.

Dun-Logan is just blocks away from Heritage, Merritt Point and Chesterwood Parks, offering plenty of mature trees, shoreline and boat ramps. Nearby, two Baltimore County Public Library branches, public schools and a diverse selection of houses of worship are available. Shopping and eateries are nearby in the Historic Dundalk Town Center, along Merritt Blvd., in Canton and Highlandtown.

Neighborhood pride is always on display as residents participate in rec council sports, the Dun-Logan Community Council, the Dundalk 4^th of July Parade, Heritage Fair and other events.

Turner Station is a venerable African American community dating back to 1888, and residents are committed to preserving its historic foundation while also supporting current cultural and recreational assets. Fleming Recreation Center, a division of the Department of Aging, is a 17,000-sq.-ft. that houses a senior center, facilities for recreation and a Head Start program. The new 28,000-sq.-ft. Sollers Point Multi-Purpose Center offer an auditorium, gym, classrooms, banquet room, county library, and space for civic and church groups as well as area youths and seniors. It also houses the Turner Station Historical Center, which showcases the diversity of the community. Turner Station is enhanced by parks and waterfront as well. The Turner Station Conservation Teams actively contribute to the improvement, growth and development of the community consistent with the recommendations in the Turner Station Community Conservation Plan.

Most of the homes in Turner Station were built from about 1919 to 1945, most as a result of increases in employment by Bethlehem Steel in the 1940s. Housing is available as single family homes, semi-detached homes, row houses, and low-rise multi-family apartments.

St. Helena has been part of the steel manufacturing story since its very early days; it began to change from farmland to an urban community around 1882. Today, St. Helena has eclectic mix of housing that includes wood frame, concrete, brick and Formstone. Most date from the early 1900s through the 1940s, although there are newer homes to be found. The neighborhood is partly within the city of Baltimore but most is in Baltimore County, surrounded on three sides by industry, and has a secluded, insulated feel. Many residents grew up in St. Helena and have family here, although the area has attracted young families as well.

There are lots of churches and parks to be found! St. Helena Park has a playground, ball fields and dog park. Cimaglia Park offers residents a reforestation area, open meadow, wetland with a scenic overlook, recreation area, ball fields, community gardens, a natural spring system, basketball court, picnic area and parking. St. Helena Community Center is ‘home’, and neighbors regularly use it for events and meetings.

Enjoy a meal at Donna’s or Pickles—enjoy bowling at Pinland—get a great haircut at Avaras. Take in the mix and the changes in St. Helena!

Graceland Park is also both City and County, a gem of a small community with unfenced yards, trimmed yards and landscaped gardens. Although the development of the community didn’t begin until the 1940s, the land was plotted as early as 1917, which explains why the area’s streets bear names connected to the steel industry. The neighborhood evolved over 50 years, and housing stock ranges from Cape Cods, bungalows (some with 3—4 bedrooms), row homes, and newer town homes at Boston Court, which also straddles the City/County line.

Because the area was once farmland and is also nearly surrounded by beautiful cemeteries, there is a feel of quietness in much of Graceland Park. Access to all of the City and Baltimore County is easy, and this neighborhood is a wonderful example of affordable homes and the possibility to live near your work, shopping, schools and parks.