On Wednesday, Homes for America cut the ribbon on Clare Court II, a new affordable‑housing project in Baltimore’s historic Waverly/Ednor Gardens‑Lakeside neighborhood. The $31 million development adds 83 apartments that are priced for households earning between 30 % and 60 % of the area median income.
Project details and pricing
The complex sits at 3725 Ellerslie Ave. and includes five permanent‑supportive‑housing units for residents transitioning out of homelessness. The remaining units are a mix of renovated original apartments and newly built units. One‑bedroom rentals start at $1,160 per month, two‑bedrooms at $1,393, and three‑bedrooms at $1,603.
Historical context
Clare Court II occupies an eight‑acre campus first developed in 1917 by the Sisters of St. Francis of Assisi as St. Elizabeth’s Home for Female Colored Orphans. Over the decades the site served as a school for children with special needs, a residential high school, and a motherhouse for the Franciscan Sisters of Baltimore.
The current project renovated the thirty original apartments, repurposed former convent space to create twelve new units, and added a three‑story building with 41 additional apartments. Residents share updated amenities, including a business center, fitness room, kids’ nook, and a kitchen housed in the restored Stone House Community Center.
Funding and partners
Clare Court II is one of the first Baltimore projects financed through the Housing Accelerator Fund and HOME‑ARP resources. The Housing Accelerator Fund draws money from President Joe Biden’s American Rescue Plan Act of 2021. Additional financing came from the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development, Baltimore City, Cinnaire, the Weinberg Foundation, and Maryland State Bond Funds. Construction began in May 2025.
Community and official support
At the ribbon‑cutting ceremony, Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development Secretary Jake Day praised the collaboration, saying, “Building affordable housing and supporting dignified, lovable places is central to the Department’s mission to transform communities into places people want to call home.” Councilwoman Odette Ramos (Baltimore City District 14) and Delegate Regina T. Boyce (Maryland District 43A) also attended, underscoring the project’s importance to local leaders.
Local advocates have long highlighted Baltimore’s severe housing shortage—an estimated 33,000 units—as well as high vacancy rates in many neighborhoods. While vacancy reductions have been noted in several districts, critics caution that new units must remain truly affordable. Clare Court II’s rent levels align closely with the range suggested by Baltimore Beat reporter Dianté Edwards, who called for homes priced $100,000‑$250,000 and apartments renting $1,000‑$1,500.
Impact on the neighborhood
By preserving the historic character of the campus while adding modern, affordable housing, Clare Court II aims to stabilize the Waverly/Ednor Gardens‑Lakeside area and provide long‑term opportunities for Maryland families. The project demonstrates how nonprofit developers, government agencies, and private donors can work together to address both vacancy and affordability challenges in Baltimore.
Original reporting: Baltimore Fishbowl — read the source article.
