By ROSE WAGNER, BALTIMORE SUN

Dust rose from the debris of Perkins Homes in East Baltimore as demolition began Thursday on one of the affordable housing development’s six remaining buildings, the latest step in the city’s plan to redevelop 244 acres of land stretching from Perkins, to Somerset and Oldtown Mall.

The $1 billion project, known as the Perkins Somerset Oldtown Transformation Plan, aims to create a mixed-income housing community of an estimated 1,882 units, including new affordable housing to replace the 629 soon-to-be demolished Perkins Homes units.

The city has partnered with Beatty Development on the mixed-use project that also will include market-rate apartments as well as provide space for a school, a grocery store, a health clinic and two public parks.

“With these bricks starting to come down, we are witnessing the end of an era,” said Janet Abrahams, CEO of the Housing Authority of Baltimore City, in a news release. “The future of this community holds great promise as one of inclusion. You will see the manifestation of that promise very soon.”

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