Upton Mansion
Afro Charities and the AFRO American Newspaper’s critical investment in Upton Mansion will transform a source of blight in the historic Upton Community into an economic anchor and destination for the study and celebration of Black history and culture.
Client
Afro Charities, AFRO American Newspapers Company
General Contractor
Commercial Construction
Owner’s Representative
Cross Street Partners
Design
Ziger | Snead
Financing
The Community Builders, Reinvestment Fund, Neighborhood Impact Investment Fund, US Bank, Discover
Bringing a Century of Archives Home to Baltimore
Built in 1838, Upton Mansion stands as the last remaining Greek Revival country house in Baltimore City. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places and contributing to the Old West Baltimore Historic District, the building has played a dynamic role in the city’s history—serving as the home of Maryland’s first radio station, the Baltimore Institute for Musical Arts, and later the BCPS Upton School before becoming vacant in 2006.
In 2020, Afro Charities was awarded the opportunity to transform the long-vacant, City-owned property into the permanent home of the AFRO American Newspaper Archives—preserving a 132-year legacy from the nation’s longest-running African American family-owned newspaper.
The revitalized campus will house AFRO American Newspapers and Afro Charities, alongside a public research center for the archives. The project will also feature gallery and exhibit space, a recording studio, digitization labs, leasable offices for mission-aligned organizations, and welcoming community gathering space.
Our Advisory Role
Cross Street Partners was engaged by Afro Charities as a Development Consultant and Owner’s Representative to guide the rehabilitation of Upton Mansion. Our Development Advisors led building acquisition, real estate due diligence, procurement of project partners and consultants, and structuring of a complex capital stack —including grants, state and federal historic tax credits, New Markets Tax Credits, and bridge debt.
Through strategic layering of these funding sources, Afro Charities is positioned to achieve debt-free ownership at the end of the seven-year NMTC compliance period.
As Owner’s Representative, Cross Street Partners has partnered closely with Afro Charities to assemble the design and engineering team and work alongside General Contractor, Commercial Construction, to bring the organization’s generational vision for the campus to life.
