Baltimore Reduces Vacant Homes Through Affordable Housing TIF Bonds

City's investment in redevelopment partnerships helps transform blighted neighborhoods.

Apr. 2, 2026 at 6:42pm

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A close-up photograph of a shiny metal key resting on a minimalist gray background, representing the unlocking of affordable housing opportunities through redevelopment efforts in Baltimore.A symbolic key to unlocking new opportunities for affordable homeownership in Baltimore's revitalized neighborhoods.Baltimore Today

Baltimore City has made significant progress in reducing the number of vacant homes, dropping from 16,000 to just over 11,800 in recent years. Mayor Brandon Scott highlighted this progress during his State of the City address, crediting the city's Affordable Housing TIF Bond program that provides gap funding to developers to renovate and sell vacant homes at affordable prices. Neighborhoods like Park Heights and Johnston Square have seen visible transformation, with developers like Rebirth Development and ReBUILD Metro using the TIF funds to acquire and rehabilitate vacant properties.

Why it matters

Vacant homes have long been a blight on many Baltimore neighborhoods, dragging down property values, attracting crime, and limiting economic opportunities. The city's proactive approach to partnering with community groups and developers to redevelop these vacant properties is helping to revitalize struggling areas, create affordable homeownership opportunities, and improve the overall quality of life for residents.

The details

The Affordable Housing TIF Bond program allows the city to borrow money upfront using bonds and then repay the debt through the future increase in property tax revenue from the new development. So far, the city has awarded $6.8 million of the $29 million in TIF funds to six developers interested in redeveloping vacant homes. One of the recipients, Rebirth Development, has already renovated homes on Loyola Northway in the Park Heights neighborhood and is now working on 23 more vacant homes in the area. Another recipient, ReBUILD Metro, is using the TIF funds to redevelop vacant homes in the Johnston Square neighborhood and sell them at prices families can afford.

  • In his State of the City address on Tuesday, Mayor Brandon Scott announced the city has reduced the number of vacant homes from 16,000 to just over 11,800.
  • Last year, the city allowed groups and developers to apply for affordable housing TIF bonds to help fund the redevelopment of vacant properties.

The players

Brandon Scott

The mayor of Baltimore who announced the progress in reducing vacant homes during his State of the City address.

Yolanda Jiggetts

The CEO of Park Heights Renaissance, a community organization working with developers to transform vacant homes in the Park Heights neighborhood.

Shawn

A representative from Rebirth Development, a developer using TIF funds to renovate vacant homes in Baltimore.

Regina Hammond

The executive director and founder of the Rebuild Johnston Square Neighborhood Organization, which has been working to eliminate vacant homes in the Johnston Square neighborhood.

Sean Closkey

The president of ReBUILD Metro Inc., a recipient of the city's TIF funds to redevelop vacant homes in the Johnston Square neighborhood.

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What they’re saying

“There was probably about 80-85% vacancies, long-term vacancy, trees growing out of properties, major blight in this block.”

— Yolanda Jiggetts, CEO of Park Heights Renaissance

“It's just gap funding. The actual construction cost to buy a house like this and gut it out (and) renovate it costs more than what you can afford to sell it for, so it covers the difference. It allows you to sell it at an affordable price.”

— Shawn, Representative, Rebirth Development

“Those projects mean more than affordable housing projects. They mean more opportunity for those who are looking to buy homes.”

— Brandon Scott, Mayor of Baltimore

“When you get it right is when all of those players are at the table and that includes residents, the government and developers working together and that's the key for us.”

— Yolanda Jiggetts, CEO of Park Heights Renaissance

“To see what we've been able to accomplish together as a community in partnership is nothing short of amazing.”

— Regina Hammond, Executive Director, Rebuild Johnston Square Neighborhood Organization

What’s next

The city plans to continue awarding TIF funds to developers interested in redeveloping vacant homes, with a goal of eliminating all vacant properties between the train station and Johns Hopkins Hospital in the coming years.

The takeaway

Baltimore's innovative use of Affordable Housing TIF Bonds to partner with community groups and developers is proving an effective strategy to transform blighted neighborhoods, create affordable homeownership opportunities, and revitalize the city's housing stock. By aligning public investment, private development, and resident engagement, Baltimore is making tangible progress in reducing the scourge of vacant homes.