Westport, Baltimore
Encyclopedia
Westport is a neighborhood in south Baltimore
, Maryland
. It borders the Middle Branch River
on the east, Cherry Hill
and Lansdowne
to the south, Hollins Ferry Road to the west, and Interstate 95
to the north. The Baltimore Washington Parkway (MD Route 295) runs through the middle of Westport and intersects with I-95.
and the Baltimore Gas and Electric Westport Plant
. Over the years, the industrial core of Baltimore faded and many residents moved to the suburbs, leaving neighborhood's like Westport to fall into disrepair. According to an article in the Baltimore's Department of Planning, in 2000, 22% of the homes in Westport were abandoned.
When the Carr Lowrey Glass company went out of business, the 16 acres (64,749.8 m²) property was purchased by Inner Harbor West LLC for $6.82 million. The prior year, Inner Harbor West LLC purchased the 12 acres (48,562.3 m²) power plant from Constellation Energy Group. The Carr Lowrey factory was leveled and there are plans for water-front development with a park. Westport has a picturesque view of the historic Hanover Street Bridge and the Baltimore skyline. As a result of the development, housing prices in Westport rose significantly.
In 1985, the Wheelabrator Incinerator
, a waste-to-energy
plant, was built in Westport, near I-95. The tall white smokestack that reads "Baltimore" in capital letters, is considered a distinctive landmark for motorists traveling on I-95.
In the spring of 2011, City officials gave the green light to major city developer, Patrick Turner for future development along its waterfront over the next ten years in phases. Westport was designated a BRAC Zone to attract major employers with many incentives, especially attracting contractors from both military installations at Aberdeen Proving Grounds and Ft Meade (Baltimore Development Corporation). The first phase of development is expected to begin in late 2011 and during 2012, with a luxury apartment building being the first of many buildings (www.westportwaterfront.com). The rezoning bill for Westport's main drag on Annapolis Rd went into effect on May 11, 2011, together with the Annapolis Road Urban Renewal Plan (URP), with hopes to add businesses in its existing neighborhood as the waterfront develops. Patrick Turner himself, the City and its very active Westport Neighborhood Association have a lot to do with the neighborhood improvements.
of 2000, there were 2,185 people residing in the neighborhood. The racial makeup of Westport was 9.8% White, 88.8% African American, 0.2% Native American, 0.5% Asian, 0.2% from other races
, and 0.7% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.9% of the population. 32.4% of occupied housing units were owner-occuped. 22.0% of housing units were vacant.
The demographics of this neighborhood is expected to have a dramatic change with pending waterfront development within the next few years, which will positively revitalize its existing neighborhood.
34.6% of the population were employed, 17.9% were unemployed, and 47.5% were not in the labor force. The median household income was $16,250. About 45.7% of families and 43.0% of the population were below the poverty line.
, who graduated from Southern High School
in 1954 and was recruited by the Detroit Tigers
for the then-all-time high amount of $35,000.00. Al Kaline also coached the Westport Methodist Baseball League.
system. The Westport stop is just south of the Hamburg Street stop, which serves M&T Bank Stadium
, and north of the Cherry Hill stop. The Maryland Transit Administration
's bus line also run along Baltimore/Annapolis Boulevard (MD Route 648
).
Baltimore
Baltimore is the largest independent city in the United States and the largest city and cultural center of the US state of Maryland. The city is located in central Maryland along the tidal portion of the Patapsco River, an arm of the Chesapeake Bay. Baltimore is sometimes referred to as Baltimore...
, Maryland
Maryland
Maryland is a U.S. state located in the Mid Atlantic region of the United States, bordering Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and Delaware to its east...
. It borders the Middle Branch River
Middle Branch River
-References:*...
on the east, Cherry Hill
Cherry Hill, Baltimore, Maryland
Cherry Hill is one of the southernmost neighborhoods in Baltimore, Maryland. Referred to by residents as "a town within a city" and so being isolated from surrounding neighborhoods, bounded by the Middle Branch of the Patapsco River to the north, the river's main channel to the east, and railroad...
and Lansdowne
Lansdowne-Baltimore Highlands, Maryland
Lansdowne-Baltimore Highlands is a census-designated place in Baltimore County, Maryland, United States. The census area is made up of the unincorporated communities of Lansdowne and Baltimore Highlands. The population was 15,724 at the 2000 census....
to the south, Hollins Ferry Road to the west, and Interstate 95
Interstate 95 in Maryland
Interstate 95 in Maryland is a major highway that runs diagonally from northeast to southwest, from Maryland's border with Delaware, to the Woodrow Wilson Bridge, briefly entering the District of Columbia before reaching Virginia...
to the north. The Baltimore Washington Parkway (MD Route 295) runs through the middle of Westport and intersects with I-95.
History
The neighborhood is mostly brick row homes built in the 1920s. The neighborhood consisted of mostly blue-collar workers who worked at nearby businesses such as the Carr Lowrey Glass CompanyCarr Lowrey Glass Company
-Establishment:Carr Lowrey Glass Company founded in Baltimore, Maryland in 1889. Located on the Middle Branch of the Patapsco River in a neighborhood named Westport, Samuel Carr and William Lowrey established their company to create glass bottles for the pharmaceutical and perfume industries...
and the Baltimore Gas and Electric Westport Plant
Constellation Energy
Constellation Energy, headquartered in Baltimore, Maryland, is an energy producer, trader, and distributor. The company operates over 35 power plants in 11 states under its operating company Constellation Commodities Group and/or Constellation Generation Group...
. Over the years, the industrial core of Baltimore faded and many residents moved to the suburbs, leaving neighborhood's like Westport to fall into disrepair. According to an article in the Baltimore's Department of Planning, in 2000, 22% of the homes in Westport were abandoned.
When the Carr Lowrey Glass company went out of business, the 16 acres (64,749.8 m²) property was purchased by Inner Harbor West LLC for $6.82 million. The prior year, Inner Harbor West LLC purchased the 12 acres (48,562.3 m²) power plant from Constellation Energy Group. The Carr Lowrey factory was leveled and there are plans for water-front development with a park. Westport has a picturesque view of the historic Hanover Street Bridge and the Baltimore skyline. As a result of the development, housing prices in Westport rose significantly.
In 1985, the Wheelabrator Incinerator
Wheelabrator Incinerator
The Wheelabrator Incinerator is a waste incinerator located in the Westport neighborhood of Baltimore, Maryland and is operated by Wheelabrator Technologies, a subsidiary of Waste Management, Inc ....
, a waste-to-energy
Waste-to-energy
Waste-to-energy or energy-from-waste is the process of creating energy in the form of electricity or heat from the incineration of waste source. WtE is a form of energy recovery...
plant, was built in Westport, near I-95. The tall white smokestack that reads "Baltimore" in capital letters, is considered a distinctive landmark for motorists traveling on I-95.
In the spring of 2011, City officials gave the green light to major city developer, Patrick Turner for future development along its waterfront over the next ten years in phases. Westport was designated a BRAC Zone to attract major employers with many incentives, especially attracting contractors from both military installations at Aberdeen Proving Grounds and Ft Meade (Baltimore Development Corporation). The first phase of development is expected to begin in late 2011 and during 2012, with a luxury apartment building being the first of many buildings (www.westportwaterfront.com). The rezoning bill for Westport's main drag on Annapolis Rd went into effect on May 11, 2011, together with the Annapolis Road Urban Renewal Plan (URP), with hopes to add businesses in its existing neighborhood as the waterfront develops. Patrick Turner himself, the City and its very active Westport Neighborhood Association have a lot to do with the neighborhood improvements.
Demographics
As of the censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 2,185 people residing in the neighborhood. The racial makeup of Westport was 9.8% White, 88.8% African American, 0.2% Native American, 0.5% Asian, 0.2% from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 0.7% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.9% of the population. 32.4% of occupied housing units were owner-occuped. 22.0% of housing units were vacant.
The demographics of this neighborhood is expected to have a dramatic change with pending waterfront development within the next few years, which will positively revitalize its existing neighborhood.
34.6% of the population were employed, 17.9% were unemployed, and 47.5% were not in the labor force. The median household income was $16,250. About 45.7% of families and 43.0% of the population were below the poverty line.
Sports
This neighborhood was the home town of Al KalineAl Kaline
Albert William "Al" Kaline is a former Major League Baseball right fielder. He is a member of the Baseball Hall of Fame. Kaline played his entire 22-year baseball career with the Detroit Tigers. Kaline still works for the Tigers as a front office official. Because of his lengthy career and...
, who graduated from Southern High School
Southern High School (Baltimore)
Southern Senior High School was a former secondary school in south Baltimore, Maryland, originally built in 1910 with an addition in 1926. Part of the Baltimore City Public School System, it was originally located on the southeast corner of Warren Avenue and William Street...
in 1954 and was recruited by the Detroit Tigers
Detroit Tigers
The Detroit Tigers are a Major League Baseball team located in Detroit, Michigan. One of the American League's eight charter franchises, the club was founded in Detroit in as part of the Western League. The Tigers have won four World Series championships and have won the American League pennant...
for the then-all-time high amount of $35,000.00. Al Kaline also coached the Westport Methodist Baseball League.
Transportation
Westport is served by Baltimore's Light RailBaltimore Light Rail
The Maryland Transit Administration Light Rail is a light rail system serving Baltimore, Maryland, United States, and the surrounding suburbs.In downtown Baltimore it uses city streets...
system. The Westport stop is just south of the Hamburg Street stop, which serves M&T Bank Stadium
M&T Bank Stadium
M&T Bank Stadium is a multi-purpose football stadium located in Baltimore, Maryland. It is the home of the Baltimore Ravens of the National Football League. The stadium is immediately adjacent to Oriole Park at Camden Yards, the home of the Baltimore Orioles. Served by the Hamburg Street station of...
, and north of the Cherry Hill stop. The Maryland Transit Administration
Maryland Transit Administration
The Maryland Transit Administration is a state-operated mass transit administration in Maryland, and is part of the Maryland Department of Transportation. It is better known as MTA Maryland to avoid confusion with other cities' transit agencies who share the initials MTA. The MTA operates a...
's bus line also run along Baltimore/Annapolis Boulevard (MD Route 648
Maryland Route 648
Maryland Route 648 is a collection of state highways in the U.S. state of Maryland. These highways are sections of Baltimore–Annapolis Boulevard, the old alignment of MD 2 between Annapolis and Glen Burnie. These segments were bypassed when MD 2 was moved to Governor Ritchie Highway, a...
).
External links
- Westport Neighborhood Association http://www.westportpartnerships.org/www
- http://www.baltimoredevelopment.com/brac-incentives
- http://www.westportwaterfront.com
- http://www.bizjournals.com/baltimore/news/2011/03/10/turner-pressing-ahead-on-westport.html
- Demographics from Neighborhood Indicators Alliance
- Map of Westport, Baltimore