The West Baltimore Innovation Village District is a neighborhood district of Baltimore City that will specialize in attracting startup companies and other employers to West Baltimore. Following the Death of Freddie Gray and the subsequent 2015 Baltimore protests, government leaders decided to launch the innovation district as a way to attract redevelopment and revitalization to the areas hardest hit by the protests. The district includes the neighborhoods of Mondawmin, Coppin Heights, Penn-North, Reservoir Hill and Bolton Hill.[3]

West Baltimore Innovation District
Innovation district
MICA Gateway Building
Country	United States
State	Maryland
City	Baltimore
Launched	January 18, 2016[1]
Area
• Total	6.8 sq mi (18 km2)
Time zone	UTC-5 (Eastern)
• Summer (DST)	EDT
ZIP code	21217[2]
Area code	410, 443, and 667

Background

Efforts to form the district originated from the community organization known as the Mount Royal Community Development Corporation (MRCDC).[4] Similar innovation districts have been formed in neighborhoods like University City in Philadelphia and the South Boston Seaport District.[5] The West Baltimore Innovation District neighbors the nearby Station North Arts and Entertainment District and includes access to numerous forms of transportation including the Baltimore Metro Subway and Baltimore Light Rail.

Neighborhood attractions

• Coppin State University
• Druid Hill Park
• Howard Peters Rawlings Conservatory and Botanic Gardens of Baltimore
• The Maryland Zoo in Baltimore
• Mondawmin Mall
• Maryland Institute College of Art

Transportation

• Mondawmin Metro Station
• Penn–North Metro Station
• Upton / Avenue Market Metro Station
• State Center Metro Station
• Cultural Center Light Rail stop
• University of Baltimore — Mt. Royal Light Rail stop
• North Avenue Light Rail stop

References