State and city leadership converged Tuesday for a new plan that will address vacant properties in Baltimore a larger scale.Baltimore has more than 13,000 vacant structures and more than 20,000 vacant lots.Maryland Gov. Wes Moore signed an executive order called “Reinvest Baltimore” that essentially creates a blueprint to address blight block by block.A $50 million funding commitment will get the initiative going. The first goal is to take care of 5,000 vacant properties in the next five years.”This is what today means. It is those who’ve been laboring for so long, you now have historic public investment aligning with your work,” said Rev. George Hopkins, co-chair of Baltimoreans United in Leadership Development (BUILD).The governor’s signature officially established the new program aimed toward revitalizing city neighborhoods and maximizing economic potential. Community, corporate, philanthropic and government leaders will come together under a new council’s leadership to coordinate investments to get homes either …
