Former Superblock properties attract 8 proposals

Properties once included in the failed Superblock project in Baltimore have attracted development proposals. The head of Baltimore’s economic development agency anticipates presenting his board with a plan before next year.

The Baltimore Development Corp. received eight development proposals for properties along Lexington and Howard streets, Colin Tarbert, the organization’s president and CEO said during a Thursday morning broad meeting.

“Which is exciting,” Tarbert said.

The corporation solicited bids to transform the vacant city-owned properties on downtown’s Westside in March. The city set July 9 as the deadline to receive submissions.  After the meeting Tarbert said he could not discuss details of the proposals.

The Lexington and Howard properties were included in one of a pair of requests for proposals the BDC issued covering 25 city-owned properties downtown, roughly between Charles Street and Lexington Market.

The request for proposals bundled the properties into three clusters. Potential developers were permitted to submit proposals to purchases and build on all three parcels, a combination of two or an individual parcel included in the individual request for proposals.

Baltimore’s Westside once served as the city’s premiere retail district anchored by major department stores and Lexington Market. In the years following World War II as primarily white middle-class residents fled the city for the suburbs, and the neighborhood fell on hard times.

Over the past 20 years Baltimore has attempted to spur renewal on the Westside with limited success. About $800 million in private and public-sector investment were made in the neighborhood between 2000 and 2010, according to an Urban Land Institute report released nine years ago.

The long-sought urban renaissance never emerged. The 2008 economic collapse played a significant role in the failure of  redevelopment efforts, such as Lexington Square Partners LLC’s ambitious redevelopment plan, referred to as the Superblock.

The collapse of the Superblock proposal, however, served as a catalyst in the BDC’s reconsidering its redevelopment strategy on the Westside. In subsequent years the corporation focused on offering smaller parcels for developers to overhaul.

A rebounding economy, the smaller parcel strategy and renewed interest in city living produced some positive results in the neighborhood. City issued request for proposals attracted developers, such as Poverni Sheikh Group, to invest in transforming dilapidated commercial properties.

But not every recent Westside request for proposal has ended in success. The former Brager-Gutman department store building was among the properties included in the solicitation issued by the city in March.

Baltimore previously sought proposals for the Brager-Gutman property, and in February 2018 the corporation’s board endorsed a plan to turn the property into a skilled nursing facility and office space.

The city, however, was unable to reach an agreement with the development team behind that proposal. Now, more than a year later, the city’s still seeking a workable development plan for the large vacant property.

The BDC’s process for selecting developments to support also has faced criticism. Activists and news organizations have complained about the board going into closed session to deliberate on proposals.