Design plans for the Baltimore Harborplace redevelopment have been revealed

BALTIMORE — MCB Real Estate, state and city leaders on Monday unveiled design plans for the reimagined Baltimore Harborplace.

It’s an effort to revitalize a cornerstone of the Inner Harbor.

“Harborplace is the beating heart of Baltimore — the unique place in Baltimore that brings us all together. In recent years, it reflects the mood of the city but not the hope of the city,” said Harborplace Managing Partner David Bramble. “This project and this design revitalizes the waterfront in a way that ensures it’s for everyone in our city, region and state. We’ve prioritized listening to the community to hear what they want and tied it to what can actually be built. “I’m so proud to share these plans with all Baltimoreans because we deserve a famous waterfront Globally, it belongs to all of us.”

MCB, a Baltimore-based development company, It acquired Harborplace in April 2022and promised to revitalize the once-vibrant waterfront mall that has since sat vacant.

A successful redevelopment could significantly boost downtown tourism.

MCB says the new Harborplace will be a multi-use space for living, gathering, entertainment, dining, shopping and even an amphitheater.

“To get that and hear firsthand that this is what they plan to do, it’s great,” Baltimore resident Clarence Thomas said. “It’s great for Baltimore. I support it 100 percent,” he added.

The project includes the construction of four new buildings:

• A 200,000-square-foot commercial building on Pratt Street, with an open public ground floor and conference space available to the public.
• The 200,000-square-foot retail and commercial building will feature food and beverage options, including a 50,000-square-foot publicly accessible rooftop garden on Pratt Street.
• An 8,500-square-foot retail building on a 30,000-square-foot park and a 2,000-seat amphitheater, bounded by Light and Pratt streets.
• Contiguous residential tower on Light Street with a staggered design (32 floors and 25 floors) to maximize views. The building will include approximately 900 residential units and residential and commercial uses.

“This is an important, key step toward ensuring we can deliver on the promise of generations,” said Maryland Governor Wes Moore. “Harbor Place is an important cornerstone of bringing a sense of not only commerce to Baltimore but also community. This will be Maryland’s decade but in order to do that it must be Baltimore’s time.”

Bramble previously said the existing wings would be demolished to make way for a multi-use waterfront.

“It is designed for environmental resiliency, providing more public space and parks, better water views and access, and a gathering place where people want to shop, work and play,” 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 get ideas for what the new Harborplace should look like.

Small dinners, door-to-door voting, large-scale public forums, and presentations to neighborhood associations provided input that helped shape the final designs.

“The redevelopment of Habourplace will be an essential investment in Baltimore’s future – not just for downtown, but for every neighborhood across the city. I couldn’t be more proud of the work we’ve done in partnership with Dave Bramble and MCB Real Estate to help,” said Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott. In making this process a reality.” “After helping eliminate receivership to make this transformation possible, the City of Baltimore worked with Dave and his team every step of the way as they engaged tens of thousands of residents and made this process inclusive and authentic to Baltimore. “We will look back on this moment as a pivotal turning point for our city, with gratitude that we have met 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 facelift for Baltimore’s Inner Harbor.

“We want to see job and tourism opportunities, and what do tourists want? We want things right? The possibilities are endless,” one visitor said.

Although this project is still in its early stages, Mayor Scott says he has his full support in lifting up Baltimore.

“We will not stop until this project comes to fruition so the world can see Baltimore back and better than ever,” Mayor Scott said.

No word yet on the construction timeline.

The developers say they are working to secure entitlement and zoning approvals.

All design images are available at www.ourharborplace.com/theproject.

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