Hello, Neighbor: Stirling Street

Historic Stirling Street’s some 40 gabled-roof, brick rowhomes have stood nearly two centuries and were originally built to serve the working class, including Black and white factory workers, tradesmen, and merchants from the nearby Old Town Mall. This was ground zero for Baltimore’s 1970s Dollar Homes Program, in which residents bought up the Federal-style dwellings for cheap and rehabilitated them, sparing them from urban renewal destruction. Today this City-protected historic district shines as an example of preservation and community stewardship—a gem in the heart of Downtown Baltimore.

Shop: While residents tap their feet awaiting the long-promised commercial revitalization of Old Town Mall, they’re as close as a city dweller can get to the Sunday Baltimore Farmers Market underneath the JFX. Daily grocery options include North East Market, Streets Market downtown, Whole Foods in Harbor East, and assorted delis and stores in neighboring Little Italy.

Dine: Walkable options include Little Italy (Amicci’s, Sabatino’s, Isabella’s, and many more), what’s left of Corned Beef Row (Attman’s, Weiss Deli), and newer additions across President Street at Power Plant (Underground Pizza, Poyoteca) or the Inner Harbor (Miss Shirley’s, Capital Grille, fast casual chains).

Play: Dunbar High School’s football field is just across Monument Street if you enjoy some good hometown football (go Poets!). There’s no shortage of pools, playgrounds, basketball courts, and smaller green spaces nearby (Madison Square Park, Johnston Square Park, Ambrose Kennedy Park), plus the newly renovated Chick Webb Recreation Center around the corner. This neighborhood is particularly close to world famous waterfront views at the Inner Harbor promenade.

Arts & Culture: History buffs can appreciate Stirling Street’s rich roots shared with neighboring Old Town Mall, a 208-year-old historic marketplace that has risen and fallen in waves of rehabilitation and disrepair. For arts and entertainment, residents are well positioned to catch a concert at Pier Six Pavilion on the water or CFG Bank Arena, not to mention theater (Hippodrome, Chesapeake Shakespeare Company, Center Stage) downtown and in Mount Vernon.

Neighbor Spotlight
Earle Driver Jr., 59, is a native Baltimorean who has lived on Stirling Street since 1997.

“My parents are from Baltimore. My father went to Dunbar and I was born here. I actually grew up in Indianapolis but then when my mother relocated, we came with her and moved back to Baltimore. Even as a child, walking to Old Town when it was a very vibrant commercial area, we used to walk by Stirling Street and be like, ‘Wow this is really special.’

“When I first moved here, a lot of the original owners were still present, but most have since either passed away or relocated. I like to consider myself the second generation of owners that have been on Stirling Street since its revitalization. Everybody knows pretty much everybody. I even have personally walked and knocked on each door just to introduce myself.

“It’s a very strong sense of knowing your history and letting people know that this isn’t just another neighborhood. It really has some context to it.”

Neighborhood Stats
Occupancy Rate: 92 percent; Median Monthly Mortgage Cost: $1,789; Estimated Rent: $1,120; Walk Score: 84; Bike Score: 98; Transit Score: 80

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau Data from 2024 for Census Block Group 2805.003, which includes some surrounding blocks outside of Stirling Street; Walkscore.com