Latest news with #Baltimoreans
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
The NHP Foundation and Henson Development Company Open the Doors to Park Heights Senior Apartments
Development is first phase of $400M Neighborhood Revitalization Plan BALTIMORE, May 22, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The NHP Foundation (NHPF), a national not-for-profit provider of affordable housing, partnered with The Henson Development Company (Henson), the City of Baltimore, the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD), and Park Heights Renaissance Community Development Corporation (CDC) to celebrate the ribbon-cutting of The Terraces at Park Heights—a $52 million development delivering 100 affordable one- and two-bedroom homes for seniors in Northwest Baltimore. This milestone marks the first phase of a sweeping transformation of the 17.3-acre Park Heights Master Redevelopment Area (MRA), designed to revitalize a historically under-invested community into a vibrant, mixed-income, multi-generational neighborhood. The master redevelopment plan includes NHPF and Henson's 90-unit single-family home community, affordable multifamily building and new green spaces. This is expected to further support the neighborhood revitalization efforts which include the new Enoch Pratt Free Library as well as an overhaul of Pimlico Racecourse. Distinguished guests at the ceremony included Maryland Governor Wes Moore and First Lady of Maryland Dawn Moore, Baltimore Mayor Brandon M. Scott, and First Lady of Baltimore City Hana Scott, Councilwoman Sharon Green Middleton, Housing Commissioner Alice Kennedy, Delegate Sandy Rosenberg, Senator Antonio Hayes, Park Heights Renaissance CEO Yolanda Jiggetts, and Elizabeth Tatum, Acting Director, Mayor's Office of Recovery Programs, and Delegates Malcolm Ruff and Sean Stinnett. "Since taking office, we've invested more than $75 million into Park Heights to create jobs, grow the economy, and open pathways to work, wages, and wealth for Baltimoreans," said Gov. Wes Moore. "This project marks the next chapter in our work, and it will transform the city by ensuring seniors have access to affordable housing and a safe, vibrant community. When we say this is Maryland's decade and Baltimore's time, it's partnerships like this one that show us what that looks like." Major Announcements Unveiled at the Event: The overall master-planned community will be called Cloverbrook Green. Cloverbrook was the first horse to win the Preakness Stakes that had been bred and trained in Maryland. The community will offer an array of "green" features including solar-powered common areas and energy-efficient appliances. 90+ single-family homes with a targeted construction start of 2026. A 59-unit affordable multifamily rental building will be named The Anderson, commemorating George "Spider" Anderson's legacy. A new sculpture of Anderson—one of only two African American jockeys to win the Preakness in its 150-year history—was unveiled along with other outdoor artwork created by Art with a Heart, a local organization dedicated to using art to enrich lives, bridge divides, and forge the leaders of tomorrow. George "Spider" Anderson was the first African American to win the Preakness Stakes on May 10, 1889 and May 10th, 2025, the date of the Ribbon cutting was the 136th anniversary of his win. A mural by Baltimore based multi-hyphenate artist LaToya Peoples that honors the history of people of color in the racing industry and celebrates Baltimore's heritage. "We see this as a unique opportunity to merge Baltimore's rich history with innovative, forward-thinking development that will reestablish this area as a cornerstone of economic and social activity," said Dana Henson, Vice President, Principal, The Henson Development Company, Inc. "There's a story here waiting to be retold, and we're excited to craft a narrative that blends the area's historic vibrancy with new opportunities for growth, connection, and celebration." The event featured citations from both the Mayor's office and Senator Chris Van Hollen and representatives from the many vendors responsible for the project's completion: Southway Builders, Torti Gallas & Partners, STV Inc., D.W. Kozera, and Environmental Health Consultants. The celebration aligned with the 150th running of the Preakness Stakes and the 4th Annual George "Spider" Anderson Music & Arts Festival, reinforcing the neighborhood's cultural ties to Baltimore's racing history. "You can see my family's home from the Terraces, so this groundbreaking is especially meaningful to me," said Baltimore Mayor Brandon M. Scott. "For many years, folks thought a project like this one, in Park Heights, was impossible. But here we are. This is the story of a neighborhood that never gave up, that stayed committed, and that came together to do the impossible. I couldn't be prouder to be a son of Park Heights—especially today—and I'm grateful to each and every member of the community who helped make this a reality." Funding partners for the development include: $8.7M – U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) $22.5M – Tax credit equity from R4 Capital and Aetna, a CVS Health Company $13.3M – City of Baltimore $5.4M – Maryland CDA $2.1M – Deferred developer fees Additionally, through community quarterback Park Heights Renaissance, Governor Moore's Office of Children funded the ENOUGH Grant Program which contributed $300,000 toward a new onsite maker space, providing hands-on creative programming for residents and the surrounding community. "In partnership with our state, city and local partners, we are helping to restore Park Heights' position as one of the most prominent and sought after neighborhoods in the City," said Mansur Abdul-Malik, Senior Vice President, NHPF. "The new maker space reflects our commitment to investing in people and places which we feel are the two most important ingredients for any neighborhood revitalization effort." Community-Driven, Sustainable Design The Terraces at Park Heights incorporates rooftop, carport, and gazebo-mounted solar panels, battery backup power, and meet the National Green Building Standards. Amenities include a fitness center, library, computer lab, coffee bar, and lounge areas, along with original artwork and photography celebrating the neighborhood's horseracing legacy. Resident services will be provided onsite by Operation Pathways, NHPF's dedicated resident services subsidiary. "Housing is the foundation of strong communities. We are committed to building public-private partnerships that drive long-term change," said Eric Price, President and CEO of NHPF, "Though the road hasn't always been easy, we have remained true to our commitment—to the City and to the residents of Park Heights—to help make this a place where people want to live, grow, and thrive." About The NHP Foundation (NHPF)The NHP Foundation (NHPF) is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit real estate corporation founded in 1989. With over three decades of experience in affordable housing acquisition, investment, development and construction, NHPF's team brings together deep knowledge of real estate fundamentals, attention to changing resident and community needs, and the expertise required to make sound investment decisions. We are also committed to providing equitable, tailored resident services programs, powered by our subsidiary, Operation Pathways, which offers Family-Centered Coaching to families facing poverty and hardship. Through strategic partnerships with financial institutions, the public sector, faith-based organizations, and other nonprofits, NHPF currently owns and operates 63 properties across 16 states and the District of Columbia serving over 25,000 residents. For more information, please visit About The Henson Development CompanyTHE HENSON DEVELOPMENT COMPANY, INC. (THC), a 100% family owned and operated minority-owned business enterprise, is a fully integrated real estate developer, consultant and program manager based in Baltimore, Maryland. The president and founder of THC is Dan Henson, a successful developer who has a distinguished private and public sector career in housing. Founded in 2000, the company is committed to providing full service real estate development services in urban and progressive communities. THC has had particularly detailed experience with re-energizing former public housing developments into mixed-income, mixed-use communities for more sustainable and stable communities, offering a comprehensive vehicle to revitalize neighborhoods that nurture and support an improved quality of life for the families who reside there. THC has worked on or is currently working on real estate development projects totaling over $600 Million – 3,000 units in Baltimore, Maryland, Washington, D.C. and Florida. Additionally, THC serves as a consultant on numerous assignments across the country. View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE NHP Foundation
CBS News
24-04-2025
- Sport
- CBS News
Baltimore ultra-marathon swimmer Katie Pumphrey completes six-hour swim in Inner Harbor
Katie Pumphrey, a Baltimore open-water ultra-marathon swimmer, is preparing for another long-distance challenge, her third English Channel crossing. Pumphrey completed a six-hour swim on Thursday in Baltimore's Inner Harbor as she looks to qualify for a chance to swim the English Channel in July. "This morning, we're out for a six-hour training swim, really excited to kick off my 2025 season here, my open-water swim season," Pumphrey said. In 2024, she completed a historic 12+-hour swim from the Chesapeake Bay to the Inner Harbor. "The English Channel is salty, rough, big wave water" The water temperature was just right for this swim in the Inner Harbor, at about 59 to 60 degrees. As crazy as it sounds to hear about anybody swimming in the Inner Harbor, Pumphrey wants to encourage others to open water swim while she chases another ultra marathon. Pumphrey is using this six-hour swim as a qualifying practice for her third English Channel crossing. "I'm just really excited to swim around," Pumphrey said. "It doesn't matter how far we go for this six-hour, it's just time." Pumphrey is gearing up for a jam-packed spring and summer in various waters, stroke by stroke, working to represent Baltimore in her long-distance swimming challenges. "The English Channel is salty, rough, big wave water; it's a 21-mile stretch between England and France," Pumphrey said. "You don't swim in a straight line, however, because of those changes in current and tide, and you plan to swim in an S, so my 2015 and 2022 English Channel swims were closer to 36 to 37 miles." While the Inner Harbor's waters are calm in comparison to the choppy English Channel, Pumphrey is pumping each stroke to also show other Baltimoreans that our Harbor is safe to swim. "More and more is happening, I'm really excited for this to be a more regular thing," Pumphrey said. "Open water swimming should be done with a lot of safety in place and with all things in mind. Our Inner Harbor is a beautiful place for open water swimming." Pumphrey is expected to swim the Bay to Harbor ultra swim in June, which is an annual 12 to 13-hour swim that celebrates the progress toward a cleaner and more swimmable Inner Harbor. The 24-mile journey will begin at Sandy Point State Park near the Chesapeake Bay Bridge.
CBS News
05-04-2025
- Politics
- CBS News
Longtime Baltimore Elections Director Armstead Jones dies at 71
Armstead Jones, a longtime elections director in Baltimore City, died at the age of 71 on Saturday. The news comes just hours after he announced his retirement on Friday. A member from Baltimore City government confirmed his death with WJZ on Saturday evening. "His contributions to the growth, knowledge and development of this staff and new board members will sustain many of us as we move forward in this progress," Scherod Barnes, President of the Baltimore City Board of Elections, said. Jones started working in elections in 1995 as a board member. He became president of the Baltimore City Board of Elections in 2003 and later the director, according to the Baltimore Banner. He managed city elections during many changes, like changing the election calendar and moving to more mail-in voting during the pandemic, which was challenging for election leaders in the state. "Armstead has been a fixture at the Baltimore City Board of Elections," Michael Summers, Chairman of the Maryland State Board of Elections, said in a statement after Jones announced his retirement. Recently, Jones took breaks from his job because of health issues, including being away during the preparation for the 2024 primary and being in the hospital during the 2022 governor election. "Serving as Director of the Board of Elections in Baltimore for 18 years was an honor and a responsibility I never took lightly," Jones said in a final statement after announcing his retirement. "I'm deeply grateful to the people of this city for trusting me to protect their voice and help shape a more accessible, transparent, and fair democratic process." "Armstead Jones, Sr. was an institution himself," Mayor Brandon Scott said. "He had just completed thirty years of service to the Board of Elections, nearly 18 of them as chair, overseeing countless fair and free elections. In recent years, as poll workers across our country were under attack, Mr. Jones stood cool, calm and collected on behalf of all Baltimoreans and our right to vote. The Board of Elections today is a credit to his work to recruit and train the very best—and his legacy will forever live on in Baltimore politics." Representative Kweise Mfume took to X to acknowledge Jones's death as well: "Within hours of announcing his retirement, Baltimore Elections Director Armstead Jones died at the age of 71. He was an old school friend and real soldier who loved his job and cherished his City. Rest in peace AJ, with God's grace and power"
Yahoo
05-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
DraftKings, FanDuel Face Major Lawsuit Over 'Shady Practices'
Prominent sportsbooks DraftKings and FanDuel are facing a major lawsuit as the city of Baltimore has accused the two sportsbooks of deceptive and unfair practices to target and exploit vulnerable gamblers. The lawsuit, which was filed on Thursday, claims that the two sportsbooks use misleading promotions to attract bettors and then leverage data and analytics to keep problem gamblers betting. Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott issued a statement on the lawsuit, calling out the two sportsbooks for "shady practices." "These companies are engaging in shady practices, and the people of our city are literally paying the price," Scott said in a statement via ESPN. "DraftKings and FanDuel have specifically targeted our most vulnerable residents -- including those struggling with gambling disorders -- and have caused significant harm as a result. This lawsuit is a critical step to hold them accountable and protect all Baltimoreans." The lawsuit explains that the companies lure bettors in with "bonus bets," which are credits that can only be used at the sportsbook. These credits often expire shortly after sign-up, encouraging frequent betting and risk-free winning immediately after sign-up. "Defendants are not interested in people merely dipping their toes in the water: They want bettors to bet, in significant amounts, over and over," the complaint states. "Some get hooked, and that's the point." The lawsuit alleges that the companies collect data on bettors and use that data to identify those most likely to gamble more. The lawsuit says that users identified as the most likely to continue gambling are sometimes given exclusive offers and checked in with "to keep these players betting as much as possible." The lawsuit claims that these practices from the sportsbooks are so well known in the gambling industry that sharp bettors "have learned to mimic the behavior of problem gamblers" in order to receive rewards and maintain higher betting limits. When reached for comment by ESPN, FanDuel said it would not comment on the allegations while DraftKings did not provide a statement.
New York Times
04-04-2025
- Business
- New York Times
Baltimore sues FanDuel, DraftKings over promo tactics, lack of safeguards
A lawsuit the city of Baltimore filed Thursday accuses prominent online sportsbooks FanDuel and DraftKings of utilizing user data to target and feed gambling addictions. It also alleges the companies have gone out of their way to avoid implementing user safeguards required in other countries where they operate. Advertisement The lawsuit, which includes Baltimore's city solicitor Ebony Thompson as a plaintiff, points to Maryland Sports Wagering Regulations, arguing the companies have violated a ban on practices 'that may adversely impact the public.' 'DraftKings and FanDuel have sought to guarantee their profitability by cheating, hoping to hook, and then ultimately exploit, as many users as possible,' the lawsuit said. Baltimore's mayor Brandon Scott issued a statement to multiple outlets regarding the litigation: 'These companies are engaging in shady practices, and the people of our city are literally paying the price. DraftKings and FanDuel have specifically targeted our most vulnerable residents — including those struggling with gambling disorders — and have caused significant harm as a result. This lawsuit is a critical step to hold them accountable and protect all Baltimoreans.' According to the lawsuit, bettors in Maryland wagered more than $5 billion between July 2023 and June 2024, and wagers from the state have eclipsed $3.7 billion since October. FanDuel and DraftKings collectively control 70 to 75 percent of online sports betting in the United States overall, according to a March report by LinkedIn. 'FanDuel does not comment on specific allegations in pending litigation,' the company said Friday. 'We are confident the company operates in accordance with all laws, including those established and enforced by the State of Maryland's Lottery and Gaming Control Commission.' DraftKings declined to comment on the lawsuit. At the center of the complaint is the companies' selective use of user data. Both sportsbooks collect extensive banking and personal information to inform how and when to encourage people to bet more. However, Baltimore officials said neither company uses that information to assess whether users are forming unhealthy habits or making risky wagers they cannot afford. The lawsuit argues that dissonance illustrates how the companies prioritize profits over harm reduction. Advertisement 'Given the amount of data they have on their consumers, Defendants' failure to do income verification checks allows them to profess ignorance or, at best, remain willfully ignorant, that many so-called 'high rollers' in their VIP programs are demonstrating the hallmark signs of a gambling disorder,' the lawsuit said. 'This, in turn, allows them to cloak themselves in plausible deniability and claim that they do not know whether members of their VIP programs have such disorders, all while collecting troves of behavioral data that allow them to target the most vulnerable.' The suit also criticizes the torrent of promotional offers both sportsbooks use to lure in gamblers. The text messages, notifications and push alerts users receive create 'the false idea that users are obtaining 'free bets,' or otherwise taking on substantially less financial risk than they actually are,' the suit said. Such practices could be particularly harmful for those struggling with addiction, teens and others who may not look deeper into the offers' fine print, according to the suit. The lawsuit additionally cites a 2016 study published in the Journal of Gambling Studies that found partners of 'problem gamblers' are 10 1/2 times more likely to be hospitalized with physical injuries versus partners of 'problem drinkers.' It also said children of individuals with gambling problems are two to three times more likely to be abused than those from other households. 'As some researchers have suggested, the same behavioral data that can be used to identify problem gamblers and build tools to most efficiently exploit those gamblers can also be used to create socially responsible tools that can help combat the addictive behavior of these same individuals,' the lawsuit said. Additional safeguards the Baltimore officials would like to see include financial vulnerability checks and stronger protections for people under 25, which are mandatory for sportsbooks in the United Kingdom. Advertisement The city is asking the court to order that FanDuel and DraftKings implement similar measures in the U.S. as well, alongside financial penalties for violations of the Baltimore city code. Editor's note: The Athletic has a partnership with BetMGM. The Athletic maintains full editorial independence. Partners have no control over or input into the reporting or editing process and do not review stories before publication.
