Margaret Baylor, 78, has been living along Jefferson Street in East Baltimore since 1963. The view from her front steps has changed dramatically over the passing decades.

“When [the community] was up, it was beautiful,” said Baylor. “When it was down, it’s what you see now.”

As she witnessed the assembly of Baltimore Gas and Electric Co., Mayor Sheila Dixon and Chesapeake Habitat from her familiar front steps, she said she was pleased with what she saw. “I’m looking forward to new neighbors. I’m tired of looking out and seeing this.”

BGE announced Tuesday it will contribute $500,000 to Chesapeake Habitat for Humanity to rehabilitate 100 homes in the Monument-McElderry-Fayette community of East Baltimore.

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Phase 1 of Chesapeake Habitat’s efforts will be to remodel 15 homes by summer 2009. Eighty-five additional homes will be restored over the next five years. Energy conservation will be the prominent focus. Refurbished homes will have improved insulation, high-performance windows and upgraded central air conditioning.

Dixon and BGE President Ken DeFontes presented the contribution.

“When driving down here, I saw a woman on a step trying to tie her son’s shoe,” Dixon said.” I looked at that woman and I thought how long people here have looked at property like this.”

Dixon praised the East Baltimore community for its resilience and the program for promoting a healthier and safer environment. Dixon also rebuffed the notion of the investment incentive as tax-based.

“Its rejuvenating that BGE can have this vision of reason,” said Mike Mitchell, executive director of the Chesapeake Habitat, “to not to look at what’s before them, but to see what can be done.”

Mitchell said the new homes will be an asset to the surrounding community. “I think the homes will catalyze investment and interest for numerous people to move in,” Mitchell said, “and it affords anyone buying that wasn’t with simple or decent housing plans to do just that.”

BGE’s community outreach contributions in 2008 will total more than $7 million and reach more than 20,000 customers, according to the company.

anthony.fair@baltimoreexaminer.com