Design plans unveiled for Baltimore Harborplace redevelopment
BALTIMORE -- MCB Real Estate, state and city leaders unveiled design plans on Monday for the reimagined Baltimore Harborplace.
It's an effort to revitalize the cornerstone of the Inner Harbor.
"Harborplace is the beating heart of Baltimore – the place that is uniquely Baltimore that brings us all together. In recent years, it has reflected the mood of the City but not the hope of the City," said Harborplace Managing Partner Davd Bramble. "This project and this design activate the waterfront in a way that ensures it is for everyone in our City, our region and our State. We prioritized listening to the community to hear what they wanted and married it to what could actually be built. I'm so proud to share these plans with all of Baltimore because we deserve an internationally renowned waterfront that belongs to all of us."
MCB, a Baltimore-based developer, acquired Harborplace in April 2022, promising to revitalize the once-vibrant waterfront mall that has since become vacant.
A successful redevelopment could mean a significant boost to downtown tourism.
MCB says the new Harborplace will be a multi-use space for living, gathering, recreation, eating, shopping, and even an amphitheater.
"To have that and to hear it first hand that this is what they plan to do, it's a great thing," Baltimore resident Clarence Thomas said. "It's a great thing for Baltimore. I support it 100 percent.
The project entails the construction of four new buildings:
- A 200,000-square-foot commercial building on Pratt Street, with an open public ground floor with publicly available conference spaces
- A 200,000-square-foot retail and commercial building that will house food and beverage options, including a 50,000-square-foot publicly accessible rooftop park on Pratt Street
- An 8,500 square foot retail building in a 30,000 square foot park and 2,000 seat amphitheater, bounded by Light and Pratt Streets
- A conjoined residential tower on Light Street with a stepped down design (32 stories and 25 stories) to maximize views. The building will include approximately 900 dwelling units, retail and commercial uses.
"This is an important and major step forward to ensuring that we can fulfill a generational promise," Maryland Gov. Wes Moore said. "Harborplace is an important lynchpin of bringing a sense of, not only commerce to Baltimore but also of community. This is going to be Maryland's decade but in order to do that it must be Baltimore's time."
Bramble previously said the existing pavilions will be demolished to make way for a revitalized mixed-use waterfront.
"Designed for environmental resiliency more public and park space, better water views and access and a gathering place where people will want to shop and work and linger and enjoy," Bramble said.
MCB launched a robust community process earlier this year that engaged tens of thousands of residents from Baltimore City and the entire region to solicit ideas for what a new Harborplace should look and feel like.
Small dinners, door-to-door canvassing, large-format public forums and neighborhood association presentations all provided inputs that informed the ultimate designs.
"The redevelopment of Haborplace will be a foundational investment in Baltimore's future – not just for downtown, but for every neighborhood across the city. I could not be more proud of the work we've done to partner with Dave Bramble and MCB Real Estate on helping make this process a reality," said Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott. "After helping to shake it loose from receivership to make this transformation possible, the City of Baltimore has worked with Dave and his team every step of the way as they've engaged tens of thousands of residents and made this process inclusive and authentically Baltimore. We will look back on this moment as a pivotal turning point for our city, with gratitude that we've taken on this challenge in partnership and with every Baltimorean from every part of the city in mind."
Neighbors and tourists alike say it's a much-needed face lift to Baltimore's Inner Harbor.
"We want to see jobs, tourism, and what do tourists want? We want things right? The possibilities are endless," a visitor said.
Though this project is still in its beginning phases, Mayor Scott says it has his full support in uplifting the city of Baltimore.
"We will not stop until this project comes to fruition so that the world can see that Baltimore is back and we are back and better than ever," Mayor Scott said.
There's no word just yet on a construction timeline.
Developers say they are working on securing entitlement and zoning approvals.
All design images are available at www.ourharborplace.com/theproject.
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