Westside, Baltimore
The name is sometimes used to describe West Baltimore as a whole, although it is technically incorrect to use it as such.
Geography
Baltimore's Westside is located within the Downtown area of Central Baltimore. The Westside is generally bordered by Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard to the west, Mulberry Street to the north, Howard Street to the east, and Pratt Street to the south.
History
The Westside of Downtown Baltimore has been an area of heavy economic development over the years. The Westside was known to be the "Garment District" for the many clothing factories placed throughout the neighborhood. This name continued to have relevance up until the mid twentieth century due to the abundance of department stores throughout the Howard Street corridor. Some of these include, Hutzler's, Stewart's, Hecht's, and Hochschild Kohn's.
The Lexington Market is another commercial center that has made the Westside a cornerstone of Baltimore's shopping history.
Neighborhood revitalization
During the late twentieth century, the Westside fell into decay due to the majority of shopping being relocated to the surrounding suburban malls. Numerous efforts have been made to revitalize Baltimore's Westside, including the Baltimore Light Rail running through the center of the neighborhood on Howard Street, and the restorations of Lexington Market, Hippodrome Theater, and the Everyman Theatre.
Future
Baltimore's Westside is expected to see a rise in development and revitalization due to the construction of the Red Line subway running under the neighborhood from east to west. The Red Line will have two stations in Westside; Poppleton Station on the western edge serving the University of Maryland, Baltimore, and University Center/Howard Street serving the central part of the neighborhood. The University Center/Howard Street station will be a major transfer point for the existing Blue Line on Howard Street.