- Sowebo
Sowebo (South West Baltimore) is a community-chosen name for a historic area in the South West of
Baltimore City.Sowebo encompasses the neighborhoods of Union Square and
Hollins Market . At one point, the area suffered from decades ofurban decay but, in recent years, this community has seen increasing gentrification. On its main thoroughfares , West Lombard Street, Hollins Street, West Baltimore Street and South Carey Streets, spacious three-story row houses predominate. Most are pre- and post-Civil WarItalianate in style, but there are many examples of Early VictorianGreek Revival and Late VictorianRomanesque Revival [http://www.cr.nps.gov/nr/travel/baltimore/b3.htm] . A majority of these homes have ten- to fourteen-foot ceilings, tall distinctive windows, wood floors, and plaster walls. Exteriors are brick and mortar facades with cornices and marble steps. Side streets and alley streets (common inBaltimore ) there are an additional variety of two-story and two-story-with-atticrowhouse s.An uncommon synergy prevails in Sowebo as residents, both longtime and newly-arrived, work together through various committees and forums to enhance the area’s quality of life [http://www.union-square.us] . An annual arts festival, called the [http://www.soweboarts.org/festival.html Sowebohemian Arts Festival] , is held in the streets around
Hollins Market on the Sunday afternoon of theMemorial Day weekend.The University of Maryland's BioPark is a recent addition, with portions still under construction. The state-of-the-art facility contrasts greatly with historic Sowebo, which is listed on the
National Register of Historic Places (The Union Square/Hollins Market District [http://www.cr.nps.gov/nr/travel/baltimore/b3.htm] ), as is theH.L. Mencken house [http://www.cr.nps.gov/nr/travel/baltimore/b4.htm] , which is located in the neighborhood at 1524 Hollins Street.Photographer
Martha Cooper moved back to her hometown ofBaltimore in 2006 and bought a home close to Hollins Market from the artistJohn Ellsberry where she has become the unofficial "community photographer" forSowebo . She launched her project with $3,300 of state funds granted through the nonprofit housing organization Southwest Visions. The photo project, with or without more funding, could continue for the rest of her working life, she says. [http://www.baltimoresun.com/features/custom/aetoday/bal-ae.cooper08jul08,0,4548744.story?track=rss] ]External links
* [http://www.union-square.us Union Square Online]
* [http://www.soweboarts.org Sowebo Arts Inc.]
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