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The New Harborplace

Harborplace, the former jewel of Baltimore’s Inner Harbor, is slated for a $900 million overhaul. The plans for its future have drawn both enthusiastic support and intense criticism.

In this series, The Baltimore Banner will unpack how we got to this pivotal moment in Harborplace’s history and what it will take to reshape it into a cherished landmark of the 21st century.

Part 3

Part 2

Part 1

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Photo collage shows David Bramble on left, with map of Baltimore and photographs of row houses in background. Many bright yellow circles mark specific locations on the background map.
The developer of Harborplace bought 128 rowhomes in East Baltimore
Two months before his firm finalized the purchase of Harborplace, P. David Bramble spent $14.3 million on a deal with a much lower profile.
Giacomo Bologna
Apr 10, 2024
The family photo is included in the book, "A Dwelling-House and other Conveniences: A History of Maryland's Government House."
Harborplace redevelopment plans could erase McKeldin Square. Some McKeldins aren’t pleased.
Family members of Theodore McKeldin, remembered as the “father of the Inner Harbor,” want to preserve his waterfront memorial amid Baltimore-based MCB Real Estate's plans to overhaul Harborplace.
Lillian Reed
Jan 25, 2024
MCB Real Estate released renderings of a redeveloped Harborplace on Oct. 30, 2023, that show new buildings with residential units and new park spaces.
Commentary: Decision on Inner Harbor redevelopment an affront to city residents
The Baltimore Planning Commission’s decision on land use related to Harborplace redevelopment shows disregard for residents downtown and across the city, Amy L. Bernstein, an author who lives downtown, says.
Amy L. Bernstein
Jan 11, 2024
MCB Real Estate released renderings of a redeveloped Harborplace on Oct. 30, 2023, that show new buildings with residential units and new parks.
Letters: Make reimagined Harborplace accessible to people with disabilities
Developers of a reimagined Harborplace must ensure accessibility for people with disabilities, says Lydia Moro, who works for a disability-led advocacy group.
Jan 3, 2024
MCB Real Estate released renderings of a redeveloped Harborplace on Oct. 30, 2023.
Commentary: Harborplace plan can spark reenvisioned downtown waterfront
The Harborplace redevelopment plan can set Baltimore on a course for further development to create a more welcoming downtown waterfront area, Steve Ziger, a partner with Ziger|Snead Architects, says.
Steve Ziger
Nov 14, 2023
Krystal Gonzalez, who lost her 18-year-old daughter, Aaliyah Gonzalez, in the Brooklyn Day mass shooting, pauses during remarks at a City Council hearing Sept. 13.
Letters: Millions for Harborplace, but Baltimore’s biggest needs unmet
The millions planned for Harborplace redevelopment will do nothing to address Baltimore’s greatest needs, says Krystal Gonzalez, whose daughter was shot and killed at a Baltimore-area block party.
Krystal Gonzalez
Nov 10, 2023
MCB Real Estate wants to tear down the Harborplace pavillions and replace them with a large-scale mixed-use development, including two residential towers, offices, retail, a redesigned road network and a park.
City residents have plenty of questions about proposed Harborplace overhaul
P. David Bramble and other members of MCB Real Estate fielded questions about their plans to overhaul Harborplace from a gathering of about 200 residents in Federal Hill on Monday night.
Lillian Reed
Nov 7, 2023
MCB Real Estate released renderings of a redeveloped Harborplace on Oct. 30 that show new buildings with residential units and new park spaces.
I’m a veteran of Harborplace. I’m not sure the new designs are for me.
If you didn’t grow up here, those old, faded green buildings at Pratt and Light streets might seem useless, an empty shell of yesteryear. But back in the day, they were the town square.
Leslie Gray Streeter
Nov 6, 2023
MCB Real Estate released renderings of a redeveloped Harborplace on Oct. 30 that show new buildings and park spaces.
‘Eyesore’ or a ‘much-needed face-lift’? What readers think of the Harborplace redesign
The design includes a large new housing development with two towers. Readers are not feeling it.
Penelope Blackwell
Nov 1, 2023
MCB Real Estate released renderings on Oct. 30 of a redeveloped Harborplace that show new buildings with residential units and new park spaces.
5 things we noticed about the plans to overhaul Harborplace
Some of what’s new is obvious, like the two residential towers, but here are five more big changes we noticed in the plans.
Pamela Wood, Hallie Miller and Emily Sullivan
Oct 31, 2023
Harborplace renderings show massive residential units envisioned by the developer.
Harborplace developer pitches 900 residential units, rooftop park at Inner Harbor
MCB Real Estate wants to rezone the Inner Harbor to allow for residential development.
Hallie Miller, Adam Willis and Brenda Wintrode
Oct 30, 2023
An illustration of design plans for the upcoming Harborplace development includes an aerial gondola system.
Is that — a gondola? Harborplace plans (maybe) include aerial cable cars.
Is the aerial gondola system hidden in the back of Harborplace renderings a real project or an Easter egg? MCB Real Estate won't say.
Emily Sullivan
Oct 31, 2023

About this project

Reporting by Ramsey Archibald, Giacomo Bologna, Cody Boteler, Hallie Miller, Leslie Gray Streeter, and Adam Willis.

Illustrations by Alex Fine. Design and development by Ryan Little, Emma Patti Harris and Zuri Berry. Audience, social and reader engagement by T.J. Ortenzi, Stokely Baksh and Krishna Sharma.

Editing by Kimi Yoshino, Andrea McDaniels, Richard Martin, Rachel Cieri Mull, John O'Connor, Ryan Little, Carrie Mihalcik, and Caitlin Moore. Copy editing by John McIntyre.

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