Is the "Better" in Better Waverly just marketing?
Not at all — it's neighborhood pride, literally. The name traces back to Walter Scott's novel "Waverley," and residents added "Better" in the 1970s after asking themselves how to make Waverly, well, better. Few Baltimore neighborhoods wear their ambition in their name.
What makes the housing stock so distinctive?
The signature look — red brick rowhomes topped with green tile roofs, many with porches and front yards — was built roughly a century ago and still gives the neighborhood a rare suburban feel inside city limits.
Was there really a ballpark here?
Yes — from 1914 to 1944, the neighborhood's edge was home to Terrapin Park, a wooden stadium that hosted the Negro American League's Baltimore Elite Giants, the Federal League's Baltimore Terrapins, and a minor league Orioles club. Big-league history, small-town charm.
Any old-world quirks left over from the streetcar era?
Plenty. A trolley once ran along Gorsuch Road, and one side of Montpelier Street features seven Victorian homes built for a single family line — a walkable, living architecture tour right outside your door.
Does the neighborhood have any bragging rights today?
It does — Better Waverly marks Mile 22 of the Baltimore Marathon, nicknamed the "Eddie Murray Mile," and the adjacent Waverly Main Street corridor boasts a walkability score of 82, meaning daily errands are practically errand-free.
exactly what it delivers.