Named in honor of Baltimore Sun founder A.S. Abell and the avenue that bears his name, the Abell Community comprises nine square blocks in the heart of Baltimore city (map). Known for its 'Painted Lady' rowhouses, the community is almost entirely residential, with approximately 550 single and multiple-family row houses and three apartment buildings. We are fortunate to have a number of local community assets, both within our boundaries and nearby: Barclay School, the Waverly Library, the 32nd Street Farmers Market, and historic Huntingdon Baptist Church.

The Abell Improvement Association (AIA) works to celebrate and improve our neighborhood for everyone calling the Abell Community “home.” AIA collaborates with several neighboring associations, such as the Charles Village Civic Association, the Better Waverly Community Organization, the Harwood Community Association, and the Old Goucher Community Association.

For more information, visit the Abell Improvement Association website.

The Charles Village Civic Association was chartered in 1945 as the University Heights Improvement Association to promote business, property improvement, and single family residency in the neighborhood. The name change came in 1969 to coincide with the neighborhood's rebirth as Charles Village. Over the years, the CVCA has forged constructive partnerships with city and state official, Johns Hopkins University, and the Baltimore City Police (Northern District). Recent CVCA work has included:

Safety: weekly crime reports, active neighborhood Walkers, police regularly visit CVCA meetings for Q & A, the CVCA wins grants to improve neighborhood safety.
Traffic Control: the CVCA lobbies for and obtains traffic calming and controls for safer streets.
Land Use: The CVCA monitors and negotiates for the best development and zoning in the neighborhood.
Beautification: CVCA volunteers plant trees and flowers, obtain trash receptacles, and clean sidewalks and alleys.
Special Events: the CVCA sponsors several events every year, including the Charles Village Festival and the Snowflake Tour of Charles Village Homes. Click here for updates.
The Charles Villager: published 5 times a year, including a special festival issue; all issues are distributed to Charles Village residents. See the Villager Archivelesvillage.net/news-events for past issues.
For more information, visit the Charles Village Civic Association website.

This area shares its early history with its neighboring communities, Abell and Better Waverly. Harwood was originally part of the second “Huntingdon” tract, surveyed for John and Ashsah (Ridgely) Carnan in 1757. In the early 1840s, the Philadelphia, Washington, and Baltimore Railroad began to run a single track east and west through the neighborhood. Although the train had little impact at first, by 1878, traffic on the now double-track of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad had increased to sixty trains per day. In the 1870s, the Harwood area was known as Oxford, and was a companion to the other nearby small villages of Friendship and Homestead. Major settlement at this time existed east of York Road, where today’s 27th Street was known as Oxford Street, 28th Street as Brady Street, and Mathews Street as Frisby Street. Considerable brick and frame construction had occurred near the intersection of 25th and Barclay streets and Sumwalt Lane.

For more information, visit the Harwood Community Association.

Old Goucher is a diverse, historic community. Located in Baltimore, Maryland, between Charles Village and Charles North, the neighborhood contains the vibrant Old Goucher College Historic District. Old Goucher’s Community Association aims to connect neighbors together, build strength as a community, and collectively support growth in and around Old Goucher.

For more information, visit the Old Goucher Community Association website.

Waverly Main Street plays an important role in strengthening our neighborhoods by applying the Main Street approach to promote economic development and community revitalization. The volunteer-driven program is facilitated with assistance from Baltimore Development Corporation in efforts to improve safety, sanitation, and code enforcement, as well as funding and design services for building renovations in Waverly’s commercial district. A walk down Waverly Main Street reveals innovative building façade improvements and new signage - projects completed using grants obtained with assistance from WMS. We have all of these great things to offer:
Great restaurants and diners that have received rave reviews and draw people from all over Baltimore
Shops with just about everything you need for your clothing, beauty, decorating, and home improvement needs
Services such as dry cleaning, nail salons, hair salons, dog grooming, health care, and free mediation services
A weekly Farmers Market (year-round!) with an abundance of produce, baked goods, and prepared food.
A rich history as a village center and bustling commercial district
For more information, visit the Waverly Main Street website.