City-owned Vacant Homes in Baltimore to Be Sold for $1

Summary

In a 4-1 vote, Baltimore’s spending board approved a program to sell city-owned vacant houses for $1 to residents who commit to renovating and living in them for at least five years.

While Mayor Brandon Scott championed the initiative as a way to curb urban blight, critics like City Council President Nick Mosby argued it lacks sufficient protections to prevent gentrification and ensure that long-time local residents have priority over well-funded speculators.