Baltimore neighbors share feedback on Inner Harbor redevelopment plan
The Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE) held a public hearing on Wednesday evening to gather feedback on Baltimore's billion-dollar Inner Harbor redevelopment project.
The major makeover of the city's top tourist destination is set to begin in fall 2026. The Developer, MCB Real Estate, is planning to turn the downtown area into a multi-use living, dining and shopping space. The project is expected to cost about $1 billion.
During Wednesday night's meeting at Digital Harbor High School, MDE officials shared more information about the project and heard feedback from the community.
A public comment period for the project ends on April 8.
The focus of Wednesday's MDE public hearing
The MDE and MCB Real Estate focused on the impacts to the water itself.
The project includes several floating docks, wetlands, piers, and floating docks. It also will raise the main promenade by three feet to reduce flood concerns. A lower promenade will be added to allow public water access.
"In fact, the promenade flooded earlier today. And so in order for us to deal with this, in order for us to deal with sea level rise and resiliency," said Adam Genn, the lead principal on the project for MCB Real Estate.
The public comment portion featured three comments from virtual participants.
While comments were supposed to be on topic, many people are still concerned about the development at the harbor.
Some said they do not want skyscrapers built there. Others were calling for more entertainment space and to have live events like concerts.
Inner Harbor redevelopment plan
The Inner Harbor Park and Promenade (IHPP) Redevelopment Project includes the addition of 900 new apartments, a 2,000-seat amphitheatre, an expanded waterfront promenade and a 50,000 square-foot rooftop park.
The plan also includes two connected residential towers located on the water along Light Street, one of which would be 32-stories and the other would be 25 stories.
"The harbor needs to have open space for children and also families to be able to come down," Baltimore resident Janice Stewart said. "I'm not opposed to the retail space, but I am opposed to buildings being too high."
Under the redevelopment plan, the iconic Harbor Place Pavilions will be demolished and replaced with new retail and public spaces.
The project also includes work in the State Tidal Wetland near Pier 3 at the National Aquarium, along the promenade and to the eastern end of the Rash Field Shoreline, developers said. The work will include the addition of floating docks, fixed piers and boardwalks for pedestrians, and a floating wetland to enhance the water quality.
Baltimore is expected to break ground on the project in the fall of 2026 and complete the project by 2031.
City leaders and developers have held several town halls, during which some community members raised concerns about transparency. However, the mayor and developers argued that it's time for a change.
