In April 2022, NIIF joined with Neighborworks Capital to provide a $1.5 million loan (NIIF $750,000) to support the build-out of the new Mill on North Food Hall. The Food Hall is sponsored by Neighborhood Housing Services of Baltimore and Coppin Heights CDC and will be housed at the Walbrook Mill Apartments, a new mixed-use development at 2636 East North Ave. located adjacent to Coppin State University.
The 7,235 square foot food hall will occupy the first level of the 65-unit apartment building, along with a full-service Truist bank branch. It will feature seven local businesses (six food vendors and a bar operator), all of which are minority owned and operated by local residents with significant ties to the community. The Mill on North Food Hall will provide a high-quality, sit-down eatery for the Coppin students and the surrounding Coppin Heights community which lacks adequate restaurant and food services.
“Our commitment is to ensure the residents and businesses of West Baltimore meet the needs of the neighborhoods that have suffered from years of systematic disinvestment. This project will help revitalize the Coppin Heights community, create community spaces and offer food to meet the ends of the community,” said Dr. Gary D. Rodwell, Executive Director of Copping Heights CDC.
“We are proud to partner with NIIF to finance The Mill on North Food Hall. This transformational project would not have been possible with the tremendous support of partners like NIIF who share our vision to bring economic justice to West Baltimore,” says Dan Ellis, Executive Director of Neighborhood Housing Services of Baltimore.
Based in Silver Spring, MD, Neighborworks Capital is a national non-profit CDFI that supports NeighborWorks America’s member organizations in all 50 states, Puerto Rico, and the District of Columbia with capital they need to provide affordable homes and strengthen communities..