The Park Heights corridor is an area of historic significance to the Baltimore Jewish community, with generations of Jewish Baltimoreans living in and near these neighborhoods in the era of the movies Avalon, Liberty Heights, and Diner, as well as today. In 1983, CHAI (Comprehensive Housing Assistance, Inc.) was founded to strengthen the fabric of neighborhoods in this corridor through housing and community development for the benefit of all residents, including the area’s Jewish, Black, and Latino neighbors, young people, families, and older adults. For over 40 years, CHAI has built the partnerships, relationships, and trust that have made them a proven entity committed to strengthening the neighborhood for all living there.
In that community is Pimlico racetrack, which will run the 150th Preakness Stakes in May. Soon thereafter, the track will be closed, demolished, and rebuilt over a two year period with an expectation to reopen for the 152nd running of the Preakness in May 2027. The redevelopment of the track has been a dream of generations and is finally becoming a reality. It has ignited significant development work in the area as the city and state aren’t just investing in the track but also in the neighborhoods, businesses, and organizations surrounding the track in the Park Heights corridor.
In this experience, CHAI will take us on a journey that will showcase how strong relationship building leads to communities that can care for their neighbors and make opportunities available to those living in that corridor that positively impact each neighbor’s quality of life.
This visit will include a short walking tour of Park Heights Avenue, a visit to a senior housing building that is enabling low income seniors to live independently, a panel discussion over lunch to include community leaders, neighbors, business owners, and government officials to speak to the organized community development, and end with a drive around on the bus a bit farther than walking allows to see the area supported by CHAI and its partners, including the Pimlico racetrack site.
