How Redistricting Impacts North Baltimore's Neighborhoods

The Baltimore City Council approved Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake's redistricting map during its Monday night meeting.

The City Charter requires redistricting in the year following a census. The new districts will take effect on April 1.

The ideal size, based on census figures, is 44,762 people. Each district is permitted to deviate by 5 percent above or below the ideal size.

North Baltimore's new City Council districts:

District 4:

Current council member: Bill Henry

This district represents a major portion of the neighborhoods that make up North Baltimore. It includes the York Road corridor from the northern section of the Guilford neighborhood to the Baltimore City/County Line and from Charles Street to Loch Raven. Although the mayor's initial map called for removing the north part of the Guilford neighborhood, the district remains largely intact after amendments.

Projected district population: 43,948 

District 5:

Current council member: Rochelle "Rikki" Spector

This district includes almost all of Baltimore's northwest corner from Reisterstown Road stretching east through northern Roland Park and Poplar Hill. This district went almost entirely unchanged in the redistricting process, except it will now represent all of Mt. Washington and a piece of the Levindale neighborhood.

Projected district population: 43,904

District 6:

Current council member: Sharon Green Middleton

This district remained almost completely intact. The district, represented by Rawlings-Blake until 2007, is one of the most diverse in the city. It represents almost all of Roland Park but also central Park Heights. The district also included small slivers of Levindale and Mt. Washington but the odd "eagle head" on the district has been removed in the new map.

Projected district population: 45,368 

District 7:

Current council member: Belinda Conaway

This district was one of the most heavily impacted by the proposed changes. Conaway lost portions of the Remington, Charles Village and Hampden neighborhoods. The Reservoir Hill neighborhood and parts of Druid Heights were added to the district. Conaway has called the map "illegal" and accused the mayor of "packing," a strategy of placing blacks in one district to limit their voting power. She voted against approving the map on Monday. 

Projected district population: 44,337

District 12:

Current council member: Carl Stokes

The southern-most council seat to represent North Baltimore extended its reach farther north. This seat, formerly held by City Council President Bernard "Jack" Young, had represented Harwood and the southwest portion of Charles Village. The seat will now represent portions of Charles Village and Remington that were formerly part of District 7. Stokes also voted against the mayor's redistricting map. 

Projected district population: 44,233

District 14:

Current council member: Mary Pat Clarke

District 14 sits in the heart of North Baltimore with the west side of the district ranging from Waverly to Hampden. The district remained almost entirely intact except for the loss of the Penn-Lucy neighborhood and one precinct in Waverly, which will now be in District 4. Clarke objected to the change, arguing that she had developed close working relationships with Penn-Lucy residents.   

Projected district population: 43,793