The Baltimore City Planning Commission unanimously approved Mayor Brandon Scott’s $6.9 billion Downtown RISE: A Master Plan for Downtown, seeking to develop transformative quality of life improvements throughout downtown Baltimore.
The entire three-phase Downtown RISE projects were originally announced in 2023 with the first rounds of the project focusing on public safety, cleanliness, community and economic development, infrastructure, arts, culture, entertainment and placemaking.
The newly approved third wave of the project aims to improve transportation, housing and entertainment as well as generate long-term redevelopment of the downtown region through restaurants and retailers. The living document will serve as a framework to make Baltimore’s Downtown more livable, pedestrian-friendly and vibrant guiding the downtown’s renaissance.
The $6.9 billion master plan will function as a collaboration between the mayor’s administration, the governor’s administration, the Downtown Partnership of Baltimore and a diverse stakeholder group, including but not limited to, Live Baltimore, Baltimore Development Corporation, Baltimore Convention Center and the Maryland Stadium Authority. The plan is being released for public engagement with the intent to continue the mayor’s commitment to hearing from all corners of the city to plan for the future of the downtown in partnership with all Baltimoreans.
Funding for the Downtown RISE master plan will come from stakeholders and partners as well as from existing city and state tax revenue. The plan also leverages federal and state funds through the American Rescue Plan Act.
Multiple major projects detailed in the master plan will reshape Baltimore’s city center, including upgrading the Baltimore Convention Center, restoring the Red Line transit project and redesigning the downtown street grid to make the area safer and easier to navigate. Community
infrastructure upgrades featured in the plan include new sidewalks, street resurfacing, lighting, trees and public gathering spaces at Harborplace, Eutaw Street and Pratt Street. The entire master plan builds on Project Livable, which seeks to better connect neighborhoods from the Stadium District to Harbor East through safer crosswalks, bike and scooter lanes, and small parks or plazas.
The master plan also includes a Tactics Table that outlines dozens of smaller efforts and categorizes them under four main goals. They include:
- Economic Development – This category includes incentives for converting old office buildings into housing, filling empty storefronts, and streamlining permits for small businesses.
- Infrastructure Development – This category includes modernizing traffic signals, updating parking systems, and redesigning streets for pedestrians and cyclists.
- Arts, Culture and Entertainment – This category includes efforts to create and install new public art, develop shared passes for museums and theaters, and schedule more outdoor events.
- Public Safety and Cleanliness – Initiatives under this category include additional cleaning crews, brighter street lighting, and a real-time tracking system to quickly respond to maintenance or safety issues.
With the announcement of the newly approved plan, the complete Downtown RISE project now includes both a medium-term action plan, outlining critical projects, investments, and strategies, as well as a long-term plan with comprehensive planning targets for the next chapter of Baltimore’s Downtown. The full implementation of the project is expected to continue through 2035 as some projects within the plan are already underway. The major construction phases are planned to begin in 2026 and 2027. The full Downtown RISE master plan can be found on the dedicated Downtown RISE plan website.
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