EXISTING STATION AREA PLANS

 

“In spite of much public planning and community participation, the area has not seen significant redevelopment activity or neighborhood revitalization.”

(2015 Plan - see below)

 
 
 
 
 

“The Station is Critical…. Vacant Houses are an Opportunity…. Cut Red Tape…. Think Big…. Start Small…. Market the Area”

 

In Detail

2015:

West Baltimore MARC Station Area Redevelopment Strategy

(Funder: City of Baltimore, April 22, 2015)

 
 

Some Key Findings -

  • The Station Is Critical: “The existing MARC service is a foundation for future TOD…. The multimodal connectivity and improved regional accessibility provided by a Red Line/MARC transfer underpins the potential long-term opportunity at the West Baltimore station.”

  • Stand-Up a Project Lead: “Establish a ‘Project Lead’ both internally and externally to streamline information and advocate for these goals and objectives.”

  • Cut Red Tape: “Streamline the development process.”

  • Start Small: “Focus on small-scale , infill residential development with the station area.”

  • Think Big: “‘Land Bank’ the parking lots and other sites closest to the MARC station for future development…. In a mature market, these sites would be ideal for large multifamily residential buildings with ground floor retail.”

  • Change the Profitability Equation: “Programs that hold additional promise in spurring redevelopment are homeownership incentives and PILOTs (Payments in Lieu of Taxes).”

  • Unify the Vision: “There are many groups with interests that overlap with the MARC station area, but few if any organizations that feel ownership over the whole area…. Encourage organizations to work together to pursue meaningful change.“



2011:

West Baltimore Station Area Advisory Committee Report

(Funder: State of Maryland Mass Transit Administration, November 1, 2011)

 
 


Some Key Findings -

  • The Station Is Critical: “The SAAC is concerned that the West Baltimore MARC Station is not a station but merely two platforms with shelters. The SAAC feels that the West Baltimore MARC station is unique because of the intermodal nature of this station, including access to the MARC trains, which service much of the east coast. The SAAC’s long-term vision for the West Baltimore MARC Station calls for a regional intermodal transit hub that is the center of a larger Transit Oriented Development (TO D). To foster future market-driven TOD, the SAAC believes that it would be appropriate to design this station as a station, not merely a stop.”

  • Vacant Houses Are an Opportunity: “The SAAC noted that the many weaknesses in the community also presented opportunities. Though vacant, the rowhouses in the area have a nice architectural character; the renovated co-ops at 900 Fulton Avenue were mentioned as an example of the redevelopment potential for vacant rowhouses.”

  • Cut Red Tape: “The zoning and land use regulations/infrastructure need to be set in place to support the development of TOD around the station.”

  • Start Small: “Stable neighborhoods like Evergreen and Smallwood should be reinforced by having their weaknesses like vacant houses addressed first…. The existing Edmondson Avenue and West Baltimore corridors could be incubators for locally owned small businesses that fulfill the needs of the community.”

  • Think Big: “The Ice House and MARC parking lots are sites that are suitable for TOD…. The SAAC understands much of the redevelopment around this station will be market-driven. The SAAC encourages future efforts that would enhance the viability of this TO D area and encourages public-private partnerships and other tools to encourage TO D redevelopment.”

  • Change the Profitability Equation: “Master Planning and/ or a PUD should be considered at the time of development to ensure a comprehensive approach to development.”

  • Station Vision Statement: “The West Baltimore MARC SAAC envisions their future Red Line Station to be a regional intermodal transit destination and major TOD opportunity, as well as a commercial center for the surrounding communities. The SAAC is committed to creating a greater sense of place by leveraging the new MARC Station and Red Line to foster new development and create a better community. This vision is in keeping with the previous master planning efforts that include: the West Baltimore MARC Transit Centered Community Development Plan and the West Baltimore MARC Parking Lots Expansion. The SAAC desires a genuine MARC Station, not merely two platforms with shelters.“


2008:

West Baltimore MARC Station Area Master Plan

(Funder: City of Baltimore, November 2008)

 
 


Some Key Findings -

  • The Station is Critical : “Use the MARC station and other transit to bring about community development…. MARC can create opportunities for workers from these job centers to move to West Baltimore and take the train to their jobs…. The existing station is aging, unattractive, and functionally inadequate. The station could be remade as a more positive addition to the public realm, supporting the creation of great station area neighborhoods.”

  • Stand-Up a Project Lead: “The West Baltimore MARC Transit-Centered Community Development Strategy recommends that the community create a non-profit community development corporation to assist in the implementation of the strategy and to take advantage of the current and future MARC and Red Line investments.”

  • Start Small: “Smaller scale opportunities also exist, such as infill projects and streetscape / infrastructure improvements. These projects will be equally important in igniting and furthering development momentum throughout West Baltimore…. Design streets to tame traffic and make West Baltimore more livable.”

  • Think Big: “Cultivate large-scale economic development opportunities… Large-scale opportunities exist with availability of large sites, good land configuration, and adjacency to prime neighborhood assets. If redeveloped, these areas could trigger additional investment, providing a ripple effect through West Baltimore.”

  • Change the Profitability Equation: “To attract developers to West Baltimore, the community and the City must work together to encourage positive change and, thereby, reduce risks. Examples of positive change include infrastructure and streetscape improvements, beautification efforts, increased police presence, stricter property code enforcement…. facilitating development through public subsidy, faster project permitting, and effective public-private coordination.”

  • Market the Area: “A marketing strategy for West Baltimore that highlights emerging positive trends could also encourage further revitalization.”


2006:

West Baltimore and Transit-Centered Community Development: A Review of Community Plans and Exploration of Development Opportunities

(Funders: Ford Foundation and Empower Baltimore Management Corporation [Federal Govt], March 2006)

 
 

Some Key Findings -

  • The Station is Critical : “MARC Station should be considered as a high priority for transit-oriented development, including rehabbed homes, new homes, and new retail and service uses that would serve the needs of potential commuters…. Make [it] an attractive and pedestrian-friendly transit hub and encourage transit-oriented development around it. Emphasize that the station should be pedestrian friendly with strong physical and visual links to the neighborhoods…. Tying the Edmondson Avenue business area to the MARC station with physical and visual connections.”

  • Start Small: “Success will require: Supporting non-physical components of neighborhood plans such as “clean and safe” (sanitation and security) strategies, employment and training, greening and open space management, youth support and health services.”

  • Think Big: “Plan Strategies include: attracting new homebuyers or renters to capitalize on long-range opportunities presented by regional transit planning….Affordable housing near mass transit work hand-in-hand, as these residents are most in need of mass transit, and mass transit depends upon a density of housing units as close as possible to stations to achieve success. ”

  • Plans Examined as Part of this Study:

    • Operation ReachOut Southwest (OROSW) , September 2002

    • Midtown Edmondson Community Plan, June 2004

    • Greater Coppin Heights/Rosemont Revitalization Plan, draft February 2005

    • Land Use Redevelopment Plan for the Western Portion of Harlem Park, June 1999

    • Harlem Park/Lafayette Square Land Use Master Plan, September 2001

    • Poppleton Land Use Master Plan, March 2002

    • A Housing Strategy for the Empowerment Zone, March 2003

2004:

MARC West Baltimore Station Study and West Baltimore Quality Community Survey

(Funder: State of Maryland Mass Transit Administration, 2004)

Some Key Findings -

  • The Station is Critical : “MTA recognized the value of the Station to both the regional transportation system and surrounding neighborhoods in West Baltimore.”

  • Start Small: “Improve lighting on the platform… Install safety fence near the platform… Improve lighting under the bridge… Introduce a neighborhood shuttle bus… Improve pedestrian and bicycle connections to surrounding neighborhoods.”

  • Think Big: “Create a Greater West Baltimore Town Center around the existing MARC station on Franklin Street… Redevelop West Baltimore with a mixture of single-use and mixed-use commercial buildings…. Redevelop the existing parking lot and area around the MARC station as mixed-use parking/retail structures with ground floor mixed-use retail and parking above… Parks and plazas should be dominant features of the redevelopment plan of West Baltimore. ”

Other Plans and Evaluations: