The gothic Victorian American Brewery building in East Baltimore was abandoned for more than three decades before being reborn as the offices of a non-profit organization, Humanim, that gives jobs and training to disadvantaged people. Next door, the city tore down 18 dilapidated row houses to allow the creation of a park that absorbs polluted runoff like a sponge. This green sponge keeps runoff pollution out of the Inner Harbor and Chesapeake Bay.
Produced by Tom Pelton and originally published 11/20/2013 on WYPR.org.