Policy makers and planners are largely in agreement on what makes for successful urban communities. Communities across demographics need public safety, supportive infrastructure, quality institutions, helpful services, useful amenities, economic opportunity, and good, affordable homes. In terms of planning, this translates to physical elements such as the availability of transit, grocery stores, local businesses, good infrastructure, open spaces, and quality housing. But human needs are also in many ways intangible. Communities need a sense of security, access to employment, healthcare and wellness, good education, opportunities for enjoyment, and an overall sense of belonging. The HUD Choice Neighborhoods Initiative considers the complex, multivalent issues and conditions involved in helping impoverished communities succeed. The federal program encourages cities and housing authorities to apply a holistic strategy to revitalize their aging assets, addressing the quality of housing, neighborhood conditions, and the welfare of the community. The Housing Authority of Baltimore City set out to improve the Perkins Homes neighborhood by creating a comprehensive transformation plan in accordance with the Choice Neighborhoods Initiative. While redeveloping the public housing sites, the plan also examines the surrounding neighborhood context to seek and create opportunities for improvements.

The proposed neighborhood plan was developed through a publicly engaged process that identified strengths, challenges and opportunities for investment. Informed by a data driven, analytical process, the plan evolved to include specific investment opportunities such as the improvement of schools, addition of complete streets, development of neighborhood amenities, and creation of new locations for community programs to increase access and engagement. The plan targets a geography that for generations persisted as an island of poverty surrounded by areas of economic growth. The strategy leverages the strength of surrounding neighborhoods and districts to attract new investment into the plan. And given that the CNI model requires a one-to-one replacement of public housing units, the neighborhood can become a truly diverse, mixed-income community that supports and serves the needs of all its residents.

The Perkins Somerset Oldtown Transformation Plan received the highly coveted CNI implementation grant and is currently being implemented.