Housing and Community Development Archives

Allegany Finalizes Agreement for 65-Home Redevelopment in Cumberland

Allegany County has finalized a development agreement with D.R. Horton to transform the former Allegany High School property into a 65-home residential community, expanding local housing options and returning the site to productive use. The Village Crossing at Campobello project will include at least 44 attached homes and 21 detached homes, with anticipated prices ranging from about $180,000 to under $300,000. The agreement allows D.R. Horton to acquire residential lots in phases as the redevelopment…

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October 15, 2026

Finance and Procurement / Housing and Community Development

The Briefing Room: Breaking Down Private Equity in Housing

Private equity has become an increasingly prominent part of the housing conversation, but its role is often more complicated than the headlines suggest. In Episode 13, Dom and Terry break down how private equity fits into housing finance, why investors are drawn to the market, and where that capital can help support housing production and preservation. Tune in to the Conduit Street Podcast weekly, wherever you get your podcasts! Subscribe to the Conduit Street…

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October 14, 2026

County News / Housing and Community Development / Information Technology / Planning and Zoning

Baltimore County Launches Toolkit To Support Community-Led Revitalization

Baltimore County has launched a new resource to help community organizations navigate planning, permitting, and other steps involved in improving public spaces and strengthening neighborhoods. The Baltimore County Department of Planning has introduced a new Placemaking Toolkit designed to help residents, neighborhood associations, Main Street groups, and other community organizations turn ideas for public spaces into projects. The toolkit provides step-by-step guidance on navigating permitting requirements, selecting project sites, engaging residents, and hiring artists or…

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October 8, 2026

County Budgets / County News / Economic Development / Finance and Procurement / Housing and Community Development / Planning and Zoning

The Briefing Room: The 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act

For much of this series, the housing conversation has centered on what states, counties, developers, and lenders can do to make projects work. But this summer, the federal government reentered the debate in a significant way. Tune in to the Conduit Street Podcast weekly, wherever you get your podcasts! Subscribe to the Conduit Street Blog and stay in the know!

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October 6, 2026

County News / Housing and Community Development / News You Can Use

Governor Launches New Permitting Team, Housing Initiatives

Governor Wes Moore signed two executive orders that could affect how counties handle permitting, development review, and housing production, including a new State-local permitting effort that will begin with Baltimore City, Montgomery County, Wicomico County, and the Town of Thurmont. The Permitting and Licensing Acceleration Team, or PLAT, will review State permitting, licensing, and certification processes and work with local governments on ways to reduce delays. The first round of work will focus on building…

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October 1, 2026

Economic Development / Housing and Community Development / State Budget and Fiscal Issues

The Briefing Room: A Ton of Talk About TIFs

Tax Increment Financing (TIF) can be a powerful tool for supporting development, but it can also be one of the more misunderstood pieces of local economic and housing policy. In Episode 11, Dom and Terry break down how TIF works, why jurisdictions use it, and how future tax revenue can help finance infrastructure and other improvements needed to enable development. Tune in to the Conduit Street Podcast weekly, wherever you get your podcasts! Subscribe to…

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September 30, 2026

County News / Economic Development / Housing and Community Development / News You Can Use

Community Development Conference Heads to Baltimore County This October

Community development professionals from Maryland and across the country will gather in Baltimore County this October for four days of training, networking, and discussions on housing, economic development, homelessness, and community resilience. The National Association for County Community and Economic Development (NACCED) will hold its 51st Annual Educational Conference and Training October 5-8, 2026, at the Sheraton Baltimore North Hotel in Towson. Hosted in partnership with Baltimore County, this year’s conference, “Harnessing Momentum, Driving Change,”…

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September 23, 2026

County Budgets / Economic Development / Housing and Community Development

The Briefing Room: Baltimore City’s War on Vacancy

For decades, vacant and abandoned properties have been one of Baltimore City’s most persistent challenges. Now, the numbers are moving in a different direction. Vacant homes have fallen from more than 16,000 to fewer than 12,000 during Mayor Brandon Scott’s time in office, while census estimates show Baltimore gaining residents for the first time in a decade. Tune in to the Conduit Street Podcast weekly, wherever you get your podcasts! Subscribe to the Conduit Street…

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September 22, 2026

Housing and Community Development / News You Can Use / Planning and Zoning

Webinar To Explore How Local Governments Can Turn Comprehensive Plans Into Zoning Action

A comprehensive plan may set a community’s long-term vision, but putting it into practice often comes down to local zoning. An upcoming Maryland Department of Planning webinar will use Chestertown as a case study to explore how local governments can better align zoning regulations with comprehensive planning goals. Implementing Comprehensive Plans Through Zoning: How Local Governments Are Advancing Sustainable Land Use will be held virtually on Wednesday, September 23, from noon to 1:30 p.m. The…

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September 16, 2026

Finance and Procurement / Housing and Community Development

The Briefing Room: All Bangers, No Mash

Housing’s biggest challenges rarely have a single solution. What happens when you stop talking about the housing problem and start kicking the tires on possible solutions? In Episode 9, Dom and Terry are joined by Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development Secretary Jake Day for a rapid-fire look at some of the ideas gaining attention in the housing conversation. Tune in to the Conduit Street Podcast weekly, wherever you get your podcasts! Subscribe to…

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September 15, 2026