CommitteeBaltimore

Housing & Economic Development Committee

Track committee activity, current roster, and published meeting coverage for Housing & Economic Development Committee in Baltimore.

0 active membersNext meeting Aug 18, 2026Last meeting Jul 21, 20263 summaries in 90d

Summaries

Active roster

Latest activity

Jul 21, 2026

Municipality

Baltimore

Latest coverage

Committee recommends special tax for vacant lots and structures

Published Jun 18, 2026

Related summaries

Published meeting coverage connected to Housing & Economic Development Committee.

Briefing

Jun 16, 2026

Housing & Economic Development meeting summary

The committee opened three public hearings on whole-block disposition, vacant property reinvestment, and code enforcement inspector accountability, but recessed each to be heard at a later date; three members were present.

1 min readMunicipal coverage

Briefing

May 12, 2026

Hearing on Rental Dwelling Health and Safety Enforcement Act recessed; voting session to be scheduled

Baltimore City Council Housing & Economic Development Committee met May 12, 2026 at 5:15 PM (Virtual/Reeves Room). Attendance: James Torrence, Odette Ramos, Zac Blanchard, Antonio "Tony" Glover (present); Jermaine Jones (absent). The committee held a public hearing on Ordinance 25-0141 (Rental Dwelling Health and Safety Enforcement Act), which would update rental-licensing provisions, establish penalties, require registration information, direct the Department of Housing and Community Development to promulgate regulations, create a registry of rental inspectors, prohibit actions based on actual or perceived immigration status, set grounds for license revocation, and establish a rental dwelling receivership process. The hearing was recessed and a voting session will be scheduled.

1 min readMunicipal coverage

Briefing

May 5, 2026

Committee recommends special tax for vacant lots and structures

The Housing & Economic Development Committee voted 5-0 to recommend favorably with amendments Ordinance 25-0088, which would create a subclass for vacant lots and vacant structures and apply a special real property tax rate while requiring notice, rules, and an annual report.

1 min readMunicipal coverage

Briefing

Apr 21, 2026

Committee recessed hearings on vacant-housing strategies (April 21, 2026)

The Housing & Economic Development Committee met April 21, 2026 to consider three items addressing vacant properties, financing for vacant and abandoned properties, and tax sale reform/vacancy prevention. All three public hearings (LO25-0028, LO25-0030, LO25-0033) were recessed and scheduled to reconvene on July 21, 2026.

1 min readMunicipal coverage

Briefing

Feb 24, 2026

Housing & Economic Development Committee — Minutes, Feb 24, 2026: Hearings recessed

The Housing & Economic Development Committee met on February 24, 2026 at 5:15 PM in the Board of Estimates Chambers. Attendance was recorded (Present: James Torrence, Odette Ramos, Zac Blanchard, Jermaine Jones; Absent: Antonio "Tony" Glover). Two public hearings were scheduled—Ordinance 25-0080 (In Rem Foreclosure – Vacant Structures and Nuisance Properties) and Ordinance 25-0141 (Rental Dwelling Health and Safety Enforcement Act)—and both hearings were recessed. The meeting was open to the public.

1 min readMunicipal coverage

Briefing

Feb 17, 2026

Housing & Economic Development Committee recessed hearings on Whole Block Strategy and Vacant Reinvestment Council (Feb 17, 2026)

City of Baltimore Housing & Economic Development Committee met virtually on February 17, 2026. Five members were recorded present: James Torrence, Odette Ramos, Zac Blanchard, Jermaine Jones, and Antonio "Tony" Glover. Two public hearings—LO25-0029 (Whole Block Strategy & Disposition Timelines) and LO25-0032 (Baltimore Vacant Reinvestment Council Oversight)—were scheduled and were recessed. No further actions are recorded in the minutes.

1 min readMunicipal coverage

Briefing

Feb 10, 2026

Informational Hearing on DHCD Permit Reforms — Hearing Recessed

On February 10, 2026 at 5:15 PM the Baltimore City Council Housing & Economic Development Committee held an informational hearing to receive information on reforms to the Department of Housing and Community Development’s permit process. Representatives from the Department of Housing and Community Development, the Office of the City Administrator, the Baltimore City Fire Department, the Office of the Fire Marshal, and other parties were invited. The record shows the hearing was recessed; no formal actions or resolutions are recorded in the minutes.

1 min readMunicipal coverage

Briefing

Feb 3, 2026

Committee recommends favorable renewal of Charles Village Community Benefits District

On February 3, 2026 the Baltimore City Council Housing & Economic Development Committee met (Virtual/Du Burns Council Chamber) and voted 4–0, with one member absent, to recommend favorably Resolution 25-0102 to renew and continue the Charles Village Community Benefits District and Management Authority. Sponsors: Odette Ramos, Jermaine Jones, Mark Parker.

1 min readMunicipal coverage

Briefing

Dec 16, 2025

Baltimore Housing & Economic Development Committee recesses public hearing on Code Enforcement & Inspector Accountability — Dec 16, 2025

Committee met virtually on December 16, 2025; four members present and one absent. The scheduled public hearing (LO25-0034) on Code Enforcement & Inspector Accountability—sponsored by James Torrence and addressing inspector accountability, enforcement consistency, working conditions, and staffing constraints—was called and recessed. The meeting was adjourned.

1 min readMunicipal coverage

Briefing

Nov 18, 2025

Housing & Economic Development Committee hearing on Whole Block Strategy recessed

On November 18, 2025 the City Council Housing & Economic Development Committee met at 5:15 PM in the Pressman Board Room to consider LO25-0029 (Whole Block Strategy & Disposition Timelines). Committee members James Torrence, Odette Ramos, Zac Blanchard, and Jermaine Jones were present; Antonio "Tony" Glover was absent. Due to an audio/visual issue the hearing was held in the Presserman Conference Room and was recessed; no votes or further actions are recorded in the minutes.

1 min readMunicipal coverage

Briefing

Nov 4, 2025

Housing & Economic Development Committee — Meeting minutes (Nov 4, 2025)

Baltimore City Council Housing & Economic Development Committee met virtually on November 4, 2025. Members present: James Torrence, Odette Ramos, Zac Blanchard, Jermaine Jones, and Antonio "Tony" Glover. Public hearings on LO25-0018 (Homeless Services) and 25-0080 (In Rem Foreclosure – Vacant Structures and Nuisance Properties) were recessed; hearing 25-0088 (Property Tax – Vacant Lots and Vacant Structures) was canceled pending rescheduling. Meeting was open to the public and adjourned.

2 min readMunicipal coverage