Charm City got a bit of good news with its recent “5-STAR” sustainability rating from the non-profit Star Communities. This non-profit’s mission is to assess and then rate a city’s environment, economy, and the well-being if its residents. Only Seattle and Massachusetts’s City of Northampton have won the highest 5-STAR rating. You could take this honor with a grain of salt given our town’s recent events–but it’s useful to note that the sustainability rating system examines not only governmental efforts, but also community partnerships.
From Parks & People supporting a healthy and natural environment, to the Family Tree preventing child abuse and neglect, and GEDCO building seniors housing, Baltimore has a robust group of non-profits investing in Baltimore’s success. Baltimore’s Office of Sustainability led the assessment project in concert with 50 community partners. Areas of excellence noted were: Baltimore’s Vacants to Value redevelopment program, the extensive Disaster and Preparedness Plan (DP3) addressing climate change, and the city’s 18 percent reduction in green house gas emissions.
