Baltimore City Vacancies Highly Concentrated in Black Neighborhoods

By Taylor Swaak
CAPITAL NEWS SERVICE

State lawmakers approved a tax credit this year for homeowners and developers who purchase real estate in Baltimore neighborhoods where at least 35 percent of properties are vacant. Baltimore City has almost 17,000 vacant buildings. Most are in areas with predominantly African-American populations, and many were at the center of the civil unrest following Freddie Gray's death in April 2015. Gov. Larry Hogan has yet to sign the bill, which will become law unless he vetoes it.