BALTIMORE CITY, Dec. 23, 2015 – New York based developers La Cite and their co-development partner Flaherty & Collins delivered holiday cheer in the form of nearly 3,000 lbs of food to families in the Poppleton neighborhood of West Baltimore on December 22nd. Local recipients of the pop-up food market’s fresh produce were grateful yet not surprised by the genuine act of kindness stating that the developers have been receptive and communicative during the ongoing revitalization process taking place in their neighborhood. As Chardonay James, a local resident, stated, “It was very helpful to the community. It was a good outreach for the families in need.”
La Cite’s President Dan Bythewood, Jr. explained, “While we are developers, we are also capable of looking beyond real estate. We recognize the needs of people and strive to make a difference in whatever ways that we can, especially during the holiday season.” Also assisting in the effort was Gather Baltimore: Fighting Hunger/Reducing Waste Food Program which made a large donation of farm-fresh fruits and vegetables, and the Allen A.M.E. Church which provided their facilities as the distribution center. An expansive spread of fresh produce was presented to more than 150 local families in this known food desert which included 300 lbs of potatoes, 250 lbs of onions, 300 lbs of chicken, 150 loaves of bread, lettuce, collard greens, squash, and all of the fixings for a wonderful holiday feast and plenty of leftovers.
The intention, which was successfully achieved, was to provide enough healthy food to feed each family for three days. “By offering only fresh fruits, vegetables and protein, recipients are able to cook and control <the> amounts of salt, sugar and fat in their food as we combat diseases common to our culture, <such as> diabetes, hypertension, and high cholesterol,” explained Yvonne Gunn, a Poppleton resident and community leader.
In attendance and eagerly lending their helping hands were Baltimore’s City Council President Bernard C. “Jack” Young and local community groups includingThe Urban Business Center of Poppleton, Poe Homes Public Housing Association, Vintage Gardens Housing Association, Hollins House Senior Housing Development, James McHenry Elementary School, Poppleton NOW Community Association and the Department of Social Services. An honorable mention was also given to Baltimore City Councilman William “Pete” Welch.
In the spirit of progress and giving back, La Cite and Flaherty intend to start construction on a 261 unit two building mixed-income property in West Baltimore in 2016. Their overall mixed-use development is projected to deliver in excess of 1,500 units of housing over four phases, with the hope of securing a national grocery chain to serve the neighborhood.
The property will be La Cite and Flaherty’s first multifamily affordable housing development in Baltimore’s Poppleton community. It is part of the Poppleton master-plan rezoning which involves a multi-state agency funding effort to infuse the area with cultural, retail, entertainment, and residential uses. As Flaherty & Collin’s Michael Peters emphasized, “Our hope is to intertwine real estate, technology, education and genuine relationships for a strong future with the community.”
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About La Cite
La Cite Development, LLC is a real estate development corporation investing in strategic real estate ventures throughout the eastern seaboard, as well as specific markets elsewhere in the United States and abroad. The predominant focus of La Cite’s interests is on residential and mixed-use properties spanning from rehab to new construction, with investment primarily being placed within the residential marketplace.
About Flaherty & Collins Properties
Flaherty & Collins is one of the Midwest’s largest and most experienced developers of multifamily properties. They are leaders in development, construction and property management specializing in both market-rate and affordable housing developments, public/private partnerships and mixed-use, urban in-fill developments. Since 1993, Flaherty & Collins Properties has completed over $2 billion in development and have an ongoing pipeline of a half-billion in development. Additionally, Flaherty & Collins manages nearly 15,000 multifamily units in 13 states across the nation with a strong presence in the Mid-Atlantic and DC region.
For more information, contact Brie Bythewood, La Cite Communications, at 646-674-0065.
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