Programs and Projects
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Since 1968, the Neighborhood Design Center has provided pro-bono planning and design services to over 1,800 community initiatives that have helped communities build new playgrounds, reclaim vacant lots and abandoned buildings, revitalize commercial districts, create community  master plans, and beautify their neighborhoods.  We do this through three program areas and various special initiatives:

Project Design Assistance

Providing architectural, site, and graphic design services for a variety of projects, including the adaptive reuse of buildings, parks and playgrounds, school gardens, and streetscapes.

Community Planning

Helping communities develop neighborhood master plans and other planning studies.
       - Northwood Plaza Shopping Center Master Plan

Education and Civic Engagement

Offering workshops, seminars, and lectures, serving on city / county coalitions, panels, and committees, and partnering with other organizations to help educate the public about the value of good design and planning.

Special Initiatives

Collaborative efforts or special partnerships in support of particular issues or civic efforts.

      - GREENDC

      - Rebuilding through Art Project

      - Prince George's County Livable Communities Initiative

      - Kenilworth Avenue Planning Study

The Value of NDC's Services

The pro-bono services that the Neighborhood Design Center provides are tools for community engagement, empowerment, and investment.  Since 2003 alone, the Neighborhood Design Center assisted over 300 community revitalization projects in our Baltimore and Prince George’s County offices.  Working along side our staff were nearly 400 volunteer architects, planners, landscape architects, graphic artists, and other design professionals who donated 23,000 hours of professional services, totaling $875,000.  As a result of the plans, drawings, and technical assistance provided by NDC, groups were able to leverage $4.75 million in grants and public funding toward realizing their projects.  This means that for every dollar that NDC receives in funding we are able to raise an additional THREE DOLLARS that goes directly to the communities we assist.  Successful projects include:

Rebuilding through Art Project (RAP) – a community art partnership between NDC, Midtown Edmonson, and artist Jay Wolf-Schlossberg Cohen – worked with students, teachers, and volunteers at Lockerman Bundy Elementary to transform the school’s library into a vibrant place.  In addition to painting murals, RAP also led an after-school arts and education program.

A team of architects helped prepare plans for turning a former firestation in Brentwood into a new Town Hall and community center.  The Town used NDC’s work to successfully secure a Community Legacy grant of $110,000 for the renovation.

In support of the Healthy Neighborhoods Initiative, NDC worked with several communities throughout Baltimore, including Garwyn Oaks, Belair Edison, and Charles Village, conduct community workshops, develop park plans, and prepare drawings for neighborhood gateway and block improvement projects.  In particular, plans for the renovated of a small park in Reservoir Hill helped to leverage a commitment of $250,000 from the Department of Recreation and Parks to improve the site.

In 2006, NDC’s Prince George’s County office assisted over 50 community groups and non-profits as part of the County’s Livable Communities Initiative - creating planting plans that helped these groups beautify schools, neighborhoods, and business districts.

NDC assisted several non-profit organizations in Baltimore and Prince George’s County develop plans for building renovation and expansion, including the Center for Cultural Education, the McElderry Park Community Association, and Metro Delta Headquarters (all in Baltimore) the Market Master’s House in Bladensburg, Abundant Life Ministries in Forest Heights, and the Glenarden Gold Room.