Brady PieperMaryland and the City of Baltimore are resolving decades worth of litigation that has stalled a capital improvement project in the heart of downtown for almost 20 years.
The Maryland Board of Public Works is approving a $58.5 million settlement to resolve legal disputes related to the redevelopment of the State Center in Baltimore City. This agreement marks a significant step forward in what has been a nearly two-decade-long battle to reimagine and revitalize the state-owned property.
“The delays caused by the ongoing litigation have created questions about the future of State Center, delayed critical planning and blocked much-needed investment and redevelopment in the City of Baltimore,” Maryland Governor Moore said in a press release. “We now have the opportunity to begin to define a new vision for the State Center in partnership with the community.”
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The State Center complex, originally proposed for redevelopment in 2006 under then-Governor Robert Ehrlich’s administration, was envisioned as a public-private partnership to modernize and transform the site. However, after selecting a developer, legal challenges surfaced, and the project was ultimately canceled in 2016 by the Larry Hogan administration.
In 2022, the state planned to transfer ownership of the complex to the City of Baltimore, but that transfer was also halted due to continued litigation.
The newly approved settlement, which will be paid in two installments, represents a major resolution to the long-standing disputes that have plagued the project. The first installment of $40 million will be distributed before Dec. 9, with the remaining $18.5 million to be paid no later than July 1, 2025, following the Maryland General Assembly’s 2025 session.
With the new settlement in place, the state intends for the resolution to help avoid further costly and prolonged litigation.
Offered new life, the State Center project has long been seen as an opportunity to revitalize the surrounding neighborhoods and boost economic growth in Baltimore.
The State Center complex, which houses several state government offices, has the potential to accommodate more residential, commercial and public spaces that could serve as a catalyst for further investment in the nearby communities. Located near local transit hubs and community centers, the project would provide opportunities for both economic and community growth and renewal.
As the State Center complex project is set to enter the new planning and design stage, the governor’s office will convene a working group that will include state and city leaders, as well as community stakeholders, to review existing development plans, conduct outreach and ultimately propose a new direction for the area.
Their goal is to ensure that the final development plan reflects the needs and priorities of the local community, while also fostering economic growth and revitalization.
“The prolonged delays surrounding the future of State Center have not only wasted taxpayer dollars but also hindered opportunities for progress,” Treasurer Dereck Davis said in a press release. “Today’s decisive actions offer hope for a long-overdue transformation, paving the way for a visionary redevelopment that will bring positive and meaningful change to the citizens of Baltimore City.”
Photo courtesy Baltimore Heritage from Baltimore, MD, USA, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons
