April 27, 2024 marked the start of a new era for the former Perkins Homes, one of Baltimore’s public housing projects, now called Perkins Square, with a ribbon-cutting ceremony.
The long-awaited newly renovated Perkins Square–a project to create 103 new apartments and townhomes from the razed Perkins Homes–includes new streets and infrastructure in the East Baltimore neighborhood.
Dr. Rhonda Richetta, Principal of City Springs Elementary / Middle School, the neighborhood’s school since 1966, and several City Springs educators and families were in attendance for the ribbon-cutting. City Springs became a Baltimore Curriculum Project (BCP) neighborhood conversion charter school in 2005.
The ribbon cutting included a street party hosted by the development team, headed by St. Louis-based McCormack Baron Salazar and the Housing Authority of Baltimore City. Several Maryland elected officials were in attendance, as were Perkins families, include Sharone Henderson.
Ms. Henderson, a paraeducator at City Springs, has lived nearly 40 years at Perkins Homes and raised three children there. She and all other Perkins families were relocated for the demolition of the old project housing. In a month, she will move into her new home at Perkins Square.
When I saw it, it was like the old Perkins was never there, like it disappeared. I can’t believe the changes that are happening in our community. It was too long coming.
Both she and Dr. Richetta spoke during the ceremony. City Springs has experienced an enrollment decline when Perkins families were relocated, but new and returning residents will boost enrollment.
“How excited and grateful we are for this process,” Dr. Richetta told the crowd at the ribbon-cutting. “We understand the value of having our community living directly across the street from [City Springs.] It was challenging when our families were moved away from us, but we powered through because we believed that there was something bigger and better coming, and here we are.”
With pride and excitement, she shared that a new school is coming. “We’re going to have a world-class school for our children who live in this community.”
L. to r. Mark Edelson (State Delegate, District 46), Bill Ferguson (Senate President), Rhonda Richetta, Broke Lierman (State Comptroller), Robert Stokes, Sr. (City Councilman, District 12)
Read more about the plans for a new City Springs building –with a new athletic facility and purple track–to be built across the street from the current school building.
Read the Baltimore Business Journal’s article on the Perkins Square ribbon-cutting.
