Battling vacancies and addiction in Westport

Two brothers stand on the sidewalk on Annapolis Street in the Westport neighborhood of Baltimore. Both grew up nearby and have seen the area succumb to crime as vacant homes multiply on sparsely populated blocks.

“Nobody ain’t safe here,” says one brother. “Everybody has a gun here.’’

Once a thriving community with a mix of working-class families and local businesses, Westport now stands as a stark reminder of the city’s ongoing struggle with vacant properties and their cascading effects.

Tucked between Route 295 and the Port of Baltimore, and accessible by light rail and bus, Westport has become a destination for people from outside the city to get access to drugs and the space to use them away from prying eyes.

Many long-time residents are disillusioned as they fight for the future of their community.

“This neighborhood hasn’t always looked like this,” reflected Keisha Allen, president of the Westport Neighborhood Association. “I love my home; its what’s around it that needs help.’’

Allen has lived on Sidney Avenue for decades and witnessed firsthand the changes that have rocked her community.

“Those who leave either have no children and simply moved away or lacked resources,” she said. But for many who stayed, the challenges remain daunting. The lack of clean air and water issues have plagued residents for years.

The vacant homes, often frequented by squatters, have become hubs for drug use, Allen said.

Lisa Hodgens Hiken, a representative from the Westport Community Economic Development Corporation, echoed Allen’s concerns. “Westport has become a magnet for those dealing with drug addiction problems,” Hiken said.

Now vacant homes have become destinations of sorts for those who would previously only stop in the neighborhood.

The influx of individuals from Baltimore, Anne Arundel, and Queen Anne’s counties—often arriving via light rail—has intensified pressures on the neighborhood.

‘’It’s not my neighbors. It’s folks coming in from surrounding counties like Queen Anne’s County,” said Allen.

Hopelessness has become a common refrain among Westport residents grappling with neglect and systemic challenges, and for residents like Malcolm Smith, who has lived in Westport since 2020, the frustrations are palpable.

“The city barely comes out here,” Smith said. “There isn’t much we can do…”

“Baltimore is like the hole in a donut; centralized for social ills,” said Hiken, the economic development corporation representive, as the city shoulders a disproportionate burden from around the region.

Despite Westport CEDC efforts to collaborate with the city’s Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) to address the issue through legal channels, the burden of managing these challenges largely falls on local residents and community organizations.

Smith and other residents are also concerned about being pushed out by gentrification that could soon be coming to the waterfront. The development group Stonewall Capital is embarking on a $400 million dollar project called One Westport which envisions 140 homes with senior and affordable housing on 43 acres in Westport. Construction began in 2024 after years of delays and ownership changes.

“It’s ironic that there’s so much money being spent just down the street, but 200 feet away, it’s a forgotten community,’’ said Smith.

Allen, the neighborhood association president,  also expressed frustration with housing entities like HC Baltimore LLC, a  group that has been accused of mismanaging vacant homes that exacerbates the area’s decline. The LLC currently holds 83 properties in the neighborhood.

Allen said the LLC leaders “mislead” residents, “making the homes look secure and lived in.” This façade of security masks a more troubling reality, as these properties attract squatters and associated risks, she said.

HC Baltimore LLC was contacted for comment on this article. A response was not received at the time of publication.

Other residents point to social problems plaguing the community.

“There is no Jesus in these kids’ lives,” said a 62-year-old man who, along with his brother, has lived on Annapolis Street for decades.

“One vacant house was completely taken over by a [human]-trafficking group,” Hiken said.

Despite these challenges, community leaders like Allen and the Westport Community Economic Development Corporation are working on change.

“We want to show what Westport can be—cleaner, greener, and healthier,” said Lisa Hodgens Hiken of the economic development group, highlighting recent community walks and partnerships aimed at addressing local issues.

While some development projects hint at progress, Hiken stressed the urgency of confronting broader pressures, such as addiction and housing insecurity.

Allen agrees, emphasizing the community’s potential: “People want to be here. We just need support to make that possible.”

‘Vacants in Baltimore’ is a series produced as a senior capstone project by the Loyola University Maryland Department of Communications and Media, under the supervision of April Newton.