Eastport redevelopment plan gains approval

Goal is to transform 2 public housing areas into mixed-income neighborhood

The Housing Authority for the City of Annapolis announced last week it had received federal approval for a plan that will redevelop two Eastport public housing communities.

The Feb. 26 announcement is “a significant step forward” in the plan to redevelop Harbour House and Eastport Terrace, allowing HACA to seek grant funding to implement the next phase of the project, according to a city news release.

The next phase is implementing the ideas that were brought to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development for approval, said Melissa Maddox-Evans, the executive director for HACA. Implementation includes finding a developer, securing grant and project funding for the actual building and construction of the project and engaging the community in creating a plan for residential programming, services and relocation planning, she said.

The goal of the project is to transform Eastport Terrace and Harbour House into a 716-home mixed-income neighborhood. Creating mixed-income neighborhoods is also a larger goal of the Annapolis Ahead 2040 comprehensive plan that is currently being worked through by the Annapolis City Council.

“I am deeply encouraged by HUD’s acceptance of our final transformation plan. This marks not only a significant milestone in our journey towards revitalizing Eastport Terrace/Harbour House, but also serves as a recognition and support of our comprehensive approach to neighborhood improvement,” Maddox-Evans said in a statement. “We are eager to implement our strategies that focus on enhancing housing, supporting our residents, and strengthening the entire city. This is a momentous step in our ongoing commitment to transform and uplift our community in alignment with the highest standards set by HUD.”

In 2021, HACA worked with the city of Annapo

lis to apply for the Choice Neighborhoods Grant Initiative that is offered by HUD. This grant allocated $450,000 to plan what they envisioned for the future of public housing in Eastport. In November 2023, HACA and city officials met with residents to engage them in a charrette — one of many public meetings that were held for the project — that allowed residents to reimage what they wanted the community to look like. Residents were given tiny stacks of colored tiles and blocks that represented concepts such as duplexes, townhomes and apartment buildings. Other tiles represented community amenities, retail space, playgrounds and streets.

“Our residents deserve quality housing and we are now one step closer to making the dream shared by the City, HACA, residents, and neighbors into reality,” Mayor Gavin Buckley said in a statement. “We look forward to the next steps in the process and getting shovels into the ground”

Under the Choice Neighborhood Initiative, projects such as the one for Eastport Terrace and Harbour House have the potential to secure up to $50 million in redevelopment financing, according to a release from the city.