The Village at Mondawmin: A Shining Example of Urban Renewal

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Mondawmin Mall (Photo: Kimberly Angle)

There are times when the bleak can turn into something bright. The Village at Mondawmin is a prime example of urban revitalization that brings renewed hope. On April 19. 2015 riots started at the Mondawmin Metro Subway Station located at the Mondawmin Mall in West Baltimore. The riots were a fallout from Freddie Gray’s death in police custody. This was the day Gray was laid to rest and the peaceful protests erupted into violent riots. ".After Baltimore's Gray Skies Cleared: A Look at West Baltimore Since the Death of Freddie Gray" did a deep dive into the damage and rebuilding of West Baltimore. Little did the residents of West Baltimore know that this dark day would lead to a brighter future for the Mondawmin neighborhood through urban revitalization.  

The Target department store, at the Mondawmin Mall was once a bustling retail space which struggled to rebound after the riots, and finally closed it’s doors in 2018. It has since been razzed to the ground to make way for the Village at Mondawmin. It has undergone a remarkable transformation into a contemporary community collaboration center. The project, situated in the heart of West Baltimore, stands as a testament to adaptive reuse and forward-thinking urban planning.

The site, as the Target, formerly served as a retail anchor for the community. It was integral to the community as it served as a grocery store, pharmacy and retail all in one. Located in an area that many residents are elderly or rely on public transporation or foot traffic to get to. It had been vacant for several years, emblematic of the challenges facing traditional brick-and-mortar retail in the digital age, along with an area that was hit extremely hard during the riots.  However, rather than succumbing to disrepair and neglect, Tim Regan, CEO of Whiting-Turner Contracting Company, sunk a million of his own dollars to start the process to reinvent, redevelop and breathe well needed new life into the area.

According to the Baltimore Sun, “Regan hopes the Village will become a catalyst for even more development in West Baltimore.” He and his wife, Joanne, are personally developing the property into an 8-acre project that will offer health care services, workforce development programs, child care and retail options, among other tenants. The development will also include a TouchPoint Empowerment Center and a small office for Whiting-Turner.This will bring jobs and healthcare to an area where it is very much needed. The front will consist of approximately 10 retail spaces that will provided jobs and business opportunities. There will be a primary care provider located in one of the large spaces in the back. Another large space in the back will be a spot for providing various aspects of care for the elderly.

The future is very bright for the Village and surrounding neighborhood. The possibilities of what may end up in Village itself or the area surrouding is endless. Speaking with construction professional Garry Conrad, he stated “The Village has injected new vitality into the surrounding neighborhood, spurring additional investment. Civic leaders hail the development as a model for sustainable growth and community engagement. Mr. Regan did the community a huge favor by starting this process of building the Village and will do well with the investment.”

As cities around the world grapple with the challenge of repurposing obsolete retail spaces, this success story serves as a beacon of hope and inspiration. Conrad also said “By embracing innovation, collaboration, and a shared vision for the future, communities can transform blight into beauty, breathing new life into areas that were  once-vibrant but are no longer, thus  creating vibrant urban environments for generations to come. The Village at Mondawmin is a prime example of just this.” The Mondawmin neighborhood is full of hope from this new project.

The urban revitalization begins for the Village at the Mondawmin Mall.

(Photo: Kimberly Angle)