The "Middle East"

The interest of Johns Hopkins Hospital has exerted a steady influence on the surrounding neighborhood since the 1950s. According to Dr. Marisela Gomez, Johns Hopkins has controlled the development of the “Middle East” neighborhood with help from city planning agencies and outside foundations. Developers have promised to include prior residents in new neighborhoods in order to secure consent for their projects—then abandoned these promises once construction is underway.
Here, we see a little material regarding the development of the Middle East neighborhood in the 1950s. Then, we examine the changes taking place today under the auspices of the East Baltimore Revitalization Initiative.


Download the packet of classroom materials:

 Cui Bono? (pdf)

Cui Bono (n): a principle that probable responsibility for an act or event lies with one having something to gain.

 

 
  • “If EBDI fails, then my presidency at Hopkins fails.” -- Johns Hopkins University president Ronald J. Daniels, February 23, 2012 (Baltimore Brew)
  • "Hopefully, this is the last time we’ll have to demolish a neighborhood in order to save it." -- Scott Levitan, Forest City VP and director of its Middle East project (New York Times)

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