A New Canvas for Baltimore: Hoen Lithograph Building Renovations Will Bring Jobs, Business

One of Baltimore City’s most historic buildings is receiving a facelift that will allow it to serve Baltimoreans of all ages. With $400,000 in Project C.O.R.E. funding awarded during the program’s FY16 round, Strong City Baltimore is working to repurpose the Hoen Lithograph Building, a vacant property located along E. Biddle Street in the Collington Square neighborhood.

The building has been vacant for more than 35 years. Its primary tenant, Hoen & Company, was known as the oldest continuously operating lithographer in the United States, and occupied the building from 1902-1981, when the company filed for bankruptcy. The renovation will be undertaken by Cross Street Partners and City Life. As one of the anchor tenants in the building, Strong City Baltimore will use the awarded funding to help subsidize the necessary project costs, making rental rates affordable for the nonprofits and other organizations they hope to attract.

The offerings in the Hoen Lithograph Building, once all necessary work is complete, will be diverse and directly beneficial to the community. Among the businesses and services present will be a cafe, event space, an adult literacy center, and a bookstore, along with a workforce incubator that will offer job training and employment opportunities for community members.  Additionally, the partners anticipate that the building will come to serve as a gathering place for the community, offering safe and productive outlets for Collington Square and beyond.

“A New Canvas for Baltimore” is a regular series covering Project C.O.R.E. (Creating Opportunities for Renewal and Enterprise). Project C.O.R.E. will clear the way for new green space, new affordable and mixed use housing, and new opportunities for small business owners in Baltimore City. The initiative will generate jobs, strengthen the partnership between the City of Baltimore and the State of Maryland and lead to safer, healthier and more attractive communities. For more information on Project C.O.R.E., visit http://dhcd.maryland.gov/ProjectCORE/.