Harborplace
 A view of the complex | |
 | |
| Location | Baltimore, Maryland |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 39°17′09″N 76°36′42″W / 39.28575°N 76.61166°W |
| Address | 201 East Pratt Street 301 Light Street |
| Opening date | July 2, 1980 |
| Developer | The Rouse Company |
| Management | MCB Real Estate (as of December 20, 2022) |
| Owner | MCB Real Estate (as of December 20, 2022) |
| No. of stores and services | 17 |
| No. of floors | 2 in both pavilions |
| Parking | Garage |
| Public transit access |  at Charles Center or Shot Tower  BaltimoreLink routes 54, 63, 65, 71, 154, CityLink Brown, CityLink Navy, CityLink Orange, CityLink Purple, CityLink Yellow Charm City Circulator Banner, Purple, and Orange routes Baltimore Water Taxi |
| Website | www |
Harborplace is a shopping and dining complex on the Inner Harbor in Baltimore, Maryland.
Description
[edit]The property consists of two pavilions, each two stories in height; one along Pratt Street, the other on Light Street. The pavilions house a range of stores and restaurants, some of which once sold merchandise specific to Baltimore or the state of Maryland, such as blue crab food products, Baltimore Orioles and Baltimore Ravens merchandise, Edgar Allan Poe products, and University of Maryland Terrapins clothing.
History
[edit]Harborplace was designed by Benjamin C. Thompson and was built by The Rouse Company near the former Light Street site of the Baltimore Steam Packet Company's steamship terminal and docks. Because the land was owned by the city and was in an area designated as a park in the city charter, a citywide referendum was required to proceed with the project, championed by then Baltimore Mayor William Donald Schaefer. [1] The amendment "limited the size of any project there to the top of the U.S.S. Constellation docked in front of the Pratt Street pavilion."[2]
Harborplace opened on July 2, 1980, as a centerpiece of the revival of downtown Baltimore.[3] The Baltimore "festival marketplaces" became an "architectural prototype, despite opening several years after Quincy Market," attracting both local residents and out-of-town visitors, and spawning a series of other similar projects: Waterside in Norfolk, Portside in Toledo, and even non-waterfront projects like Philadelphia's Gallery at Market East, Washington's Pavilion at the Old Post Office, and Richmond's Sixth Street Marketplace.[4]
On the weekend of July 1, 2005, Harborplace celebrated its 25th anniversary with a ceremony featuring Maryland Governor Robert L. Ehrlich, Baltimore Mayor Martin J. O'Malley, and Baltimore Area Convention & Visitors Association (BACVA) president Leslie R. Doggett.[5]
A Ripley's Believe It or Not! Odditorium museum opened in the Light Street Pavilion on June 26, 2012,[6] and closed in May 2020.[7]
General Growth Properties (GGP) acquired Harborplace from the Rouse Company in 2004 as part its $12.6 billion acquisition of the company.[8]
In November 2012, the property was sold to Ashkenazy Acquisitions for $100 million.[9] Renovations were announced in 2015 [10] and ended in 2018, three years later than expected.[11]
On June 3, 2019, the Baltimore Business Journal reported that as of May 30, 2019, Harborplace was placed into court-ordered receivership and that Ashkenazy Acquisitions lost both management and ownership of Harborplace as a result. Deutsche Bank cited Ashkenazy's default on its loan, a $1.13 million judgment against them for "failing to maintain in good order and repair" the common areas, and that "multiple vendors" had been unpaid for months. The BBJ reported that the Baltimore Circuit Court had appointed IVL Group, LLC of Montclair, NJ to manage, maintain, lease, provide security for Harborplace, the receivership order also authorizes IVL Group to seek a new buyer.[12]
Redevelopment
[edit]In April 2022, the Baltimore development firm MCB Real Estate entered into an agreement to purchase Harborplace.[13] The deal was finalized by the Baltimore City Circuit Court in December 2022.[14]
On October 30, 2023, MCB Real Estate announced a proposal to tear down the existing pavilions and replace them with a 32-story and a 25-story apartment building, two commercial and retail buildings, and another retail building with an amphitheater.[2] To proceed, the project would require a charter amendment to allow residential development, rezoning changes, and an amendment to the city's urban renewal plan governing the Inner Harbor,[15] which was approved by Baltimore voters in 2024.[16]
See also
[edit]
References
[edit]- ^ Rocco Mitchell, Joseph; Stebenne, David L. (2007). New City Upon a Hill A History of Columbia Maryland. History Press. p. 125.
- ^ a b Simmons, Melody (2023-10-30). "Harborplace designs show 900 apartments, retail space, public parks along Baltimore waterfront". www.bizjournals.com. Retrieved 2024-06-07.
- ^ "Important dates during the history of Harborplace". Baltimore Sun. July 1, 2010.
- ^ "Formula for "Festival Marketplaces"". Washington Post. 2023-12-29. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved 2024-06-07.
- ^ "25th anniversary of Harborplace". Baltimore Sun.
- ^ "Harborplace timeline". American City Business Journals. October 23, 2012.
- ^ Simmons, Melody (May 15, 2020). "Ripley's Believe It or Not! leaving Harborplace for good". Baltimore Business Journal.
- ^ "$100 million paid for Harborplace | Ashkenazy Acquisition Corporation".
- ^ Kilar, Steve (January 15, 2013). "$100 million paid for Harborplace". Baltimore Sun.
- ^ "Photo Updates: Development Around the Inner Harbor". March 2017.
- ^ "Harborplace Renovations Coming to an End - CBS Baltimore". CBS News. 6 April 2018.
- ^ Simmons, Melody (June 3, 2019). "Harborplace put into receivership, opening door for potential new owner". Baltimore Business Journal. Retrieved June 4, 2019.
- ^ Alonso, Johanna (April 5, 2022). "Baltimore's Harborplace to be sold to local development firm". The Daily Record. Retrieved April 24, 2022.
- ^ "Court order finalizes sale of Harborplace to Baltimore investment management firm". WBAL TV. December 20, 2022. Retrieved January 19, 2023.
- ^ "Harborplace developer estimates $400M in public money needed for Baltimore's re-imagined Inner Harbor". 5 November 2023.
- ^ "Baltimore City voters approve Question F, paving way for Inner Harbor development". 6 November 2024.
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