We are Building a Strong, Vibrant, Exciting Community in Essex, Maryland
In the 1950s, Essex was a bustling town with a substantial commercial corridor along Eastern Boulevard. Its inhabitants were largely successful skilled factory workers. Large corporations that thrived in the WWII era like Bethlehem Steel and Lockheed Martin encouraged the economic landscape, and it was commonplace for residents to frequent the shops and services located on the streets in Essex, especially along Eastern Boulevard in the center of town.
Residents also enjoyed the Essex waterfront. And folks from areas outside of Essex owned summer homes there. With its yacht clubs and marinas, Essex was a popular destination for waterfront activities! Smart Asset, a financial technology company, ranked Essex as one of the 50 MOST AFFORABLE WATERFRONT TOWNS IN THE U.S. in 2020.
When Eastpoint Mall and Middlesex Shopping Center were built, they took long-time businesses off the main drag and provided ample parking for a vehicle-focused population. As big industry left the area, skilled factory jobs that kept the economy going in Essex naturally dwindled. A shift was underway in Essex that would change the face of Eastern Boulevard for decades to come.
In 1979, several local business leaders who wanted to revitalize the area founded the Essex Development Corporation (EDCO). Over the years, the group made several attempts to “bring back Essex.” Despite the enthusiasm for ideas, it was tough for the group to bring about the needed change.
In recent years, revitalization efforts in Essex have come back to the forefront. Eight years ago, two local residents/business owners, Cliff O’Connell (Cliff’s Hi-Tech Auto Body and Cliff’s Direct Effects) and Sam Weaver (Weaver’s Marine Service), noticed the struggle to reclaim Essex and spearheaded a renewed effort to bring about positive change to the once thriving area. They were encouraged to take their ideas to the Chesapeake Gateway Chamber of Commerce, a long-standing professional organization in the area, and from there the initiative found its footing with the formation of the Eastern Baltimore County Task Force, a committee of the Chamber.
One of the first projects the group was involved with was the renovation of the cafeteria at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel School into a Community Hall to be used for both the school and Essex community. Alongside this effort, the beautification of Eastern Boulevard started small and gained momentum.
People started seeing benches and public trash cans throughout the area. They noticed banners along Eastern Blvd. The installation of planters and pots with colorful flowers gave Essex a more vibrant look.
In 2022, the group started to consider other ways to bring vibrancy to the community. When entering Essex from Baltimore City, after crossing the Back River Bridge, all were greeted by a stark, cubist structure lovingly referred to as the Essex Cube. Though the austere piece was a part of the Essex landscape, the move was afoot to update the structure and create a more relevant and welcoming landmark to mark the entrance of Essex. The group worked diligently to garner community input and support for a new structure. The cube was removed and replaced with a more welcoming, colorful landmark sculpture that included a lighthouse in its design. The new sculpture expressed a friendly, hopeful message to greet visitors to the area and has become a familiar greeting to residents.
While these changes did not constitute all of the desired transformation, the efforts of this group were noticed and supported by the Baltimore County Executive and other local and state officials who had the power to promote the cause and help the Chamber secure grant funds for Essex. With funds in hand, it was time to get laser-focused on revitalization.
Gaining funding was the encouragement needed to fine-tune the organization and include oversight, facilitated by Chrissy Erb, who came on board to manage the Essex Development Initiative in January 2023. Adding Chrissy to the team made Essex Community Development Corporation a full-featured organization with 501c3 status. Under Erb’s leadership, the organization includes Essex business and commercial property owners, school and community leaders, representatives from area institutions, and Baltimore County Government staff. We are working together and ready to do the necessary hard work to bring lasting change to the Essex area.
Currently, the vision to transform Essex once again into the thriving urban center it once was includes plans to develop/carry out/host:
- Community Events
- Facade Improvements
- Retail Gap Analysis
- Eastern Boulevard Traffic Study
- Outdoor Movie Nights
- Security Camera Program
- Business Networking Events
Essex has significant assets that justify and support this growth. The area already has a MARC train station and two airports, Essex Sky Park and Martin’s Airport. It is home to Eastern Tech, a top-rated high school in the State! With MedStar Franklin Square Medical Center in the area, as well as the Essex campus of CCBC, Essex is open for business and ready to grow!
You can be part of this exciting moment in Essex history! We are looking for individuals and businesses that are excited about joining the project! Please contact us today to learn more.
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