Poppleton Media Coverage, 2021 – 2025
Compiled by Nicole King, nking@umbc.edu
A Place Called Poppleton
Check out the Baltimore Traces website: https://baltimoretraces.umbc.edu/poppleton/
Media/Films
Films from Poppleton Filmfest – April 2, 2022 at The Charles Theater, Baltimore, MD
Sean Yoes, DISRUPTION: Baltimore’s Highway To Nowhere (2021)
Baltimore Heritage, Five Minute Histories: Sarah Ann Street Alley Houses (2021)
Maria Morte Costea, UMBC grad student, We are You and You are Us (fall 2021)
Charles Cohen, Eyesore Productions, Poppleton in the Balance: Save Our Block (summer 2021)
For more on Cohen’s documentary see: The Making of the Documentary, The Sonia Eaddy Playbook, When Winning is Not Enough
News Media Coverage: 2021
Mark Reutter, “Ground down and depopulated, Poppleton makes a last stand,” Baltimore Brew, July 10, 2021.
Fern Shen, “A rally to save Poppleton draws supporters, but nobody from City Hall,”
Baltimore Brew, July 11, 2021.
WMAR, “West Baltimore residents hold ‘Save Our Block’ block party in Poppleton community,” July 11, 2021.
Fern Shen, “City razes historic house in Poppleton two days after Save Our Block rally,” Baltimore Brew, July 13, 2021.
Mikenzie Frost FOX45, “Poppleton community faces silence from City leaders while eminent domain plans continue,” July 15, 2021.
Jaisal Noor & Lisa Snowden, “Battleground Baltimore: Who gets to stay in the city. The Real News Network,” July 16, 2021.
Fern Shen, “Poppleton residents see intimidation in developer’s letter,” Baltimore Brew, July 20, 2021.
Hallie Miller, “As Baltimore’s Poppleton neighborhood braces for change, residents liken it to a ‘family’ being broken apart,” Baltimore Sun, July 23, 2021.
Melody Simmons, “Poppleton’s Center\West developer pushes back against project criticism,” July 23, 2021.
WBAL, 11 TV Hill, “Center/West development — its beginnings & debate,” September 26, 2021.
Jaisal Noor & Brandon Soderberg, “Battleground Baltimore: Poppleton residents declare ‘Black Neighborhood Matter,” The Real News Network, November 5, 2021.
Jaisal Noor & Brandon Soderberg, “Eminent Domain is violent: Poppleton residents show the City what development looks like for Black Baltimoreans,” The Real News Network, December 15, 2021.
2022
WMAR, “Bridging the Gap: Sarah Ann Street,” February 17, 2022
Fern Shen, City moves Eaddy house off Poppleton historic district map, Baltimore Brew, March 8, 2022
Fern Shen, “Amid demolition and stalled development, Poppleton remains in limbo,” Baltimore Brew, March 14, 2022.
Giacomo Bologna, “Baltimore family wins rare — though small — victory in fight to protect Poppleton home from demolition,” Baltimore Sun, April 12, 2022.
Brittney Verner, “Poppleton community fights to preserve the history of their neighborhoods,” WMAR, April 12, 2022.
Emily Opilo, “Baltimore residents call for cuts to police funding at final Taxpayers’ Night before budget vote,” Baltimore Sun, May 26, 2022.
Fern Shen, ““Those guys that robbed me – the police came after the fact” Baltimore Brew, May 27, 2022.
Callan Tansill-Suddath, “Police budget; Poppleton project permeate Taxpayers’ Night,” WYPR, May 27, 2022.
Stephen J.K. Walters, Ph.D. “Urban Renewal, Redlining, and Race Jun 10, 2022. Originally published in City Journal (Spring 2022).
THE WIN TO SAVE OUR BLOCK: Reset on Redevelopment in Poppleton: Summer 2022
City Announces Updates to Poppleton Redevelopment Project – PRESS RELEASE
Monday July 18th, 2022
Press conference:
https://www.facebook.com/CharmTVBaltimore/videos/426704996174724/
Fern Shen, “Victory for Poppleton: The Eaddys can stay, the Sarah Ann houses will be saved and rehabbed,” Baltimore Brew, July 18, 2022.
Hallie Miller, Sophie Kasakove and Adam Willis, “Residents win fight to save Poppleton properties from redevelopment project,” Baltimore Banner, July 18, 2022.
Giacomo Bologna, “Sonia Eaddy wins decadeslong fight to save her home in Baltimore’s Poppleton neighborhood: ‘This victory is for us — all of us’” Baltimore Sun, July 19, 2022.
“Woman wins decades-long fight to save her home in Baltimore,” reprinted in Washington Post, July 20, 2022
Marcus Dieterle, “Eaddy family can keep their Poppleton home; Black Women Build to restore Sarah Ann Street houses,” Baltimore Fishbowl, July 18, 2022.
Melody Simmons, “Center/West developer, residents strike agreement on disputed demolition,” Baltimore Business journal, July 18, 2022.
Sean Streicher, CBS News: Poppleton homes spared from demolition after residents lead 18-year battle, July 18, 2022
Barry Sims, WBAL: New development for Poppleton neighborhood allows woman to keep home , July 18, 2022.
Chris Berinato, FOX 45: Deal reached to preserve Sonia Eaddy’s home in Poppleton, July 18, 2022.
Sheridan Wall, “After Decades-Long Fight, A Poppleton Family Will Keep Their Home,” Bloc by Block News, July 21, 2022.
Lisa Snowden, “Black Neighborhoods Matter: Poppleton’s Sonia Eaddy Fought City Hall and a New York Developer–and Won,” Baltimore Beat, August 9, 2022.
- Brian Charles, “Land Grab: Why a Desperate City Kept Cutting Deals with a Developer Who Didn’t Deliver,” Baltimore Beat, August 9, 2021.
WYPR Midday with Tom Hall, Saving Poppleton: How an urban development conflict was resolved, July 27, 2022.
Charles Cohen, “Opinion: After her eminent domain win in Poppleton, Sonia Eaddy’s fight is just beginning,” Baltimore Banner, August 17, 2022.
Ashley McDowell, ‘I think it’s essential’: Poppleton community receiving new renovations WMAR, October 13, 2022.
Fern Shen, Poppleton residents, who thought they scored a win in July, now feel left out, Baltimore Brew, November 3, 2022.
Jaisal Noor, The Grassroots Fight for Housing Justice in Baltimore, Yes Magazine, December 27, 2022.
CBS, Baltimore’s Sonia Eaddy and Nicole King receive award for efforts to save historic Poppleton, February 4, 2023.
February 2023 – Administrative complaint with HUD (US Department of Housing and Urban Development) against Baltimore City, Mayor Brandon Scott, and the City Council for consistent violations of the Fair Housing Act – see https://econaction.org/in-the-news/poppleton-housing-complaint/
Giacomo Bologna, Former residents of Black neighborhood want feds to investigate displacement in Baltimore, Baltimore Sun, February 13, 2023.
Hallie Miller and Sophie Kasakove, Former Poppleton resident, nonprofit allege Fair Housing Act violations in federal complaint, Baltimore Banner, February 13, 2023.
Melody Simmons, Poppleton residents, activists file federal unfair housing complaint against city, Baltimore Business Journal, February 13, 2023
Wambui Kamau, Kristen Mosbrucker, Baltimore Poppleton residents attorneys’ file Fair Housing Act complaint against city with HUD, WYPR, February 13, 2023.
Barry Simms, Poppleton residents file complaint, citing Fair Housing Act violations, WBAL, February 13, 2023.
Brittney Verner, Poppleton residents file complaint after their community hasn’t improved, WMAR, February 13, 2023.
Robert Lang, Poppleton residents file complaint against city, citing Fair Housing Act violations, WBAL NewRadio, February 13, 2023.
AP, LOCAL NEWS, Baltimore’s Sonia Eaddy and Nicole King receive award for efforts to save historic Poppleton, February 16, 2023.
Jack Watson, West Baltimore residents share concerns at ‘Highway to Nowhere’ meeting, WMAR, Feb 15, 2023.
Lea Skene, Black Baltimoreans fight to save homes from redevelopment, AP, February 18, 2023.
Fern Shen, Ravaged by redevelopment, a West Baltimore neighborhood fights back with a HUD complaint, Baltimore Brew, February 23, 2023.
Center West coverage:
Press Release (Paid Content), Arctaris Leads $70Million Investment in Southwest Baltimore Revitalization Initiative, Baltimore Business Journal, March 3, 2023.
Giacomo Bologna, City-backed apartment complex in West Baltimore owes $425K water bill, May 12, 2023.
Giacomo Bologna, Records reveal mounting problems at a city-backed apartment complex in West Baltimore, Baltimore Sun, May 26, 2023.
Giacomo Bologna, ‘Disrupted and destroyed lives for essentially nothing’: the traumatic legacy of a West Baltimore neighborhood’s redevelopment, Baltimore Sun, August 4, 2023.
Giacomo Bologna, Poppleton residents say Baltimore should scrap its deal with La Cité: ‘We want that land back’ Baltimore Sun, Sep 22, 2023.
Lorraine Marabella, La Cité’s Poppleton development gets investment from T.D. Jakes, entrepreneur and religious leader, Baltimore Sun, February 29, 2024.
La Cité PR:
La Cité Development Secures Major Funding Commitment to Support Edgar Allan Poe House & Museum. Press release, August 1, 2023.
La Cité Development Announces Major Updates to Poppleton Redevelopment Project Press Release, August 24, 2023.
La Cité Development Receives Capital Investment from T.D. Jakes to Accelerate Efforts in Addressing Housing Crises in Baltimore, Press Release, January 28, 2024.
City Cancels the LDDA w/La Cite after they miss the financial deadline: June 2024
Giacomo Bologna, Will Poppleton ever be rebuilt? City-backed developer blows financing deadline Baltimore Banner (5/22/24)
Matti Gellman, Baltimore City terminates NYC developer’s deal to rebuild Poppleton Baltimore Banner (6/3/24)
City terminates Poppleton redevelopment agreement BBJ (6/3/24)
After 19 years of minimal progress, Poppleton developer’s agreement is terminated by the city Baltimore Brew (6/3/24)
After nearly two decades of delays, Baltimore terminates Poppleton redevelopment deal Baltimore Sun (6/4/24)
Baltimore officials pledge commitment to Poppleton after LaCite agreement terminated WYPR (6/2/24)
Jayne Miller, Poppleton Resident Speaks on Terminated Developer’s Deal To Rebuild Neighborhood, WBAL Radio, June 8, 2025.
Poppleton developer accuses Baltimore of breach of contract Baltimore Sun (6/21/24)
City, developer spar over future of Poppleton project BBJ (6/25/24)
The future of Baltimore’s Poppleton: Years of delays with more on the horizon Baltimore Sun (7/5/2024)
Giacomo Bologna, Why Baltimore chose an untested developer for its huge — now failed — Poppleton project Baltimore Banner (7/31/24)
Hallie Miller and Giacomo Bologna, Water bills & Sheila Dixon nudges: Emails show rancor between Poppleton developer and city officials Baltimore Banner (7/31/24)
Giacomo Bologna and Matti Gellman, Poppleton investor sues for control as West Baltimore project flounders Baltimore Banner (8/13/24)
Giacomo Bologna, Poppleton residents sue the developer and city leaders behind stalled revitalization plan Baltimore Banner (8/21/24)
Poppleton residents challenge eminent domain in civil rights lawsuit Baltimore Sun (8/21/24)
Black Church Food Security Network aims to tackle food insecurity in Baltimore and beyond, WBAL, September 5, 2024.
Nicole King w/Eaddys, Gunns, and Walkers, “Profiles of Poppleton Residents,” Baltimore Beat, October 9, 2024.
Lee O. Sanderlin and Hallie Miller, Baltimore gave out developer tax breaks. Is the city seeing the benefits? Baltimore Banner,
WMAR, City leaders announce start of construction for Greater Model Aquatic Center, December 13, 2025.
Melody Simmons, Center\West apartment complexes hit the market, Baltimore Business Journal, December 17, 2024.
Giacomo Bologna, Poppleton apartment complex for sale as investor wants its money back, Baltimore Banner, December 19, 2024.
MSN, Baltimore’s ‘Highway to Nowhere’ gets $85.5M in federal funds for redevelopment, Jan. 12, 2025.
Melody Simmons, Developer moves ahead with $800M Poppleton project, Baltimore Business Journal, January 24, 2025.
Lorraine Marabella, Court removes Poppleton developer from long-stalled West Baltimore project, Baltimore Sun, February 12, 2025.
Giacomo Bologna, Judge orders investor to take control of delayed Poppleton development, Baltimore Banner, February 13, 2025.
Giacomo Bologna, How a New York developer made millions off its struggling West Baltimore project, Baltimore Banner, February 17, 2025.
Mark Reutter, EXCLUSIVE: La Cité is sued by city for unpaid water bills, Baltimore Brew, March 31, 2025.
Mark Reutter, Second lawsuit is filed by city against Poppleton developer La Cité, Baltimore Brew, April 7, 2025.
Hearing: April 9, 2025
Baltimore residents in court fighting to restore their Poppleton community, WJZ/CBS, TV Spot on YouTube
Giacomo Bologna, Judge weighs fate of one of Baltimore’s most controversial land deals, Baltimore Banner.
Fern Shen, Developer hollowed out Poppleton for private gain, residents’ lawyers tell a federal judge, Baltimore Brew.
Lorraine Marabella, Dismissal sought in civil rights lawsuit over Poppleton eminent domain, Baltimore Sun.
Dismissal: June 18, 2025
Giacomo Bologna, Judge dismisses Poppleton’s lawsuit of last resort against city, developer, June 18, 2025.
Fern Shen, “‘We live with what they did to us every day,’ Poppleton leader says after lawsuit against city and developer is dismissed,” Baltimore Brew, June 18, 2025.
MacKenzie River Foy, The residents of Poppleton’s Center/West apartments may be the only ones who can hold Dan Bythewood accountable, Baltimore Beat, September 9, 2025.
Appeal:
Giacomo Bologna, Poppleton’s lawsuit of last resort gets second chance, Baltimore Banner, January 28, 2026.
Ian Round, Poppleton development lawsuit dismissed by 4th Circuit, Daily Record, May 6, 2026.
Giacomo Bologna, After years of fighting it, Poppleton developer pays $1 million water bill, May 22, 2026.
Ghostery Store
Matti Gellman and Giacomo Bologna, “An entrepreneur had big plans for a West Baltimore grocery store. Then rent came due,” Baltimore Banner, July 17, 2025.
Poppleton Rec Reopens
Fern Shen, “Poppleton’s recreation center has reopened. But can the city bring back people to use it?” Baltimore Brew, June 16, 2025.