True, yuppiefication of the downtown area is in a full swing, which is not necessarily a bad thing because it is the economic engine of urban renewal. Baltimore has a lot of artist and housing cooperatives (I live in one of them, see http://www.potomacassoc.com/WHMH.htm - my home is behind the sign in the first pic, next to the car parked in the background) that offer affordable alternatives to conventional home ownership. It is a great place to live if you like urban life and diversity - my only complaint is public transportation that really sucks.
Wojtek