City asks architecture firm Ayers Saint Gross to design a new plan for the Inner Harbor

Jess Mayhugh — Thu, 16 Jan 2014 13:00:00 +0000

McKeldin Plaza

In The Plan
By changing
the intersection at Light and Pratt Streets to a “T,” McKeldin Plaza can
be expanded for more retail pavilions, cafe seating, a large garden,
and water features.

What We Think
Reconfiguring
this intersection is one of the most complicated endeavors in this
project, admits Ayers Saint Gross. But, if they pull it off, we hope the
additional retail pavilions will feature local stores and no more
chains.

Pedestrian Bridge

In The Plan
A
proposed 800-foot pedestrian bridge that would connect Harbor East and
Federal Hill, and would open when needed to allow for visiting ships.

What We Think
The
Greater Baltimore Committee——which has been pushing this idea for
years——says that it would cost $30-60 million. While this is a hefty
price tag, and residents can already use the water taxi for this route,
we love the idea of connecting the two ’hoods.

West Shore Park

In The Plan
Provides
an elevated lookout for boat watching, a new finger pier to dock
commercial ships, a stage, a ticketing station, and a bike share.

What We Think
West
Shore Park (along with Peerce’s Park) is probably the best example of
positive, recent change in the Harbor. With these improvements (we
especially love the bike share), the rest of the Inner Harbor should
take West Shore’s lead.

Kayak Launches

In The Plan
Various
kayak launching points at the Maryland Science Center, World Trade
Center, Pier 5, and Harbor East. The inlet between Pier 5 and 6 lends
itself to a kayak course.

What We Think
The
idea of additional kayak launching points is a great one for
residents——more so than just the touristy dragon boats. This will also
help better connect the overall 10-mile waterfront promenade throughout
the city.

Rash Field

In The Plan
Taking
cues from Brooklyn Bridge Park and Waterfront Seattle, officials want
to redesign Rash Field as a 24/7 public space with an open lawn, a barge
pool, public beach, and playgrounds.

What We Think
While
we love the idea of more green space——including wetlands and
bio-retention fields——we understand the concerns of residents who use
Rash Field for beach volleyball, as that space would now be
significantly smaller.

Source

City Has Big Plans For Inner Harbor Redevelopment

Ron Cassie — Wed, 13 Nov 2013 14:30:00 +0000

A pedestrian bridge connecting Federal Hill and Harbor East is just one of the highlights of an ambitious Inner Harbor redevelopment plan released by city officials today.

Joining with the Waterfront Partnership of Baltimore and the Greater Baltimore Committee, the city is pitching an overhaul of Rash Field, including adding a beach, barge pool, and kayak launch there. Plus, more parks, playgrounds, green space, and new bike-sharing stations around the rest of the Inner Harbor—as well a renovation of the outdated, existing promenade infrastructure.

Plans also call for a stage at West Shore Park, a new ampitheater and outdoor café’s at Harborplace, and an expansion of Pierce’s Park at Pier 5 and 6.

There is no timetable or budget, yet, for the proposed pedestrian bridge, which would include a turnstile design to allow tall ships.

Forty years after the Inner Harbor promenade was completed in 1973, city leaders say it’s time to reinvigorate Baltimore’s most valuable tourist—and local—attraction. “It’s overdue for attention,” said Donald Fry, president and CEO of the Greater Baltimore Committee at a press conference announcing the plan, put together by Ayers Saint Gross.

The Inner Harbor plan can be found here.

Laurie Schwartz, executive director of the Waterfront Partnership, said reducing parking lot space around the water and planting more grass, trees, and underwater seagrass beds will help support the Waterfront Partnership’s goal of a “swimmable, fishable” harbor by 2020.

In addition to attracting more tourists—14 million people visited the Inner Harbor in 2012, generating $2.3 billion in economic activity—the redevelopment effort will benefit local families as well, Schwartz noted. She added that 21,000 children under the age of 15 live within a half-mile of the Inner Harbor.

Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake, who once worked at the Inner Harbor, echoed Schwartz. She said “greening and softening” the harbor, adding playgrounds, bike sharing, public amenities, parks, and programs, will not just continue to attract tourists, but help retain residents and attract new families.

Said Schwartz in a statement:

“In 1973, when the Inner Harbor public promenade was completed, it set the framework for all development to follow. Heralded as a model of urban waterfront redevelopment, the Inner Harbor has treated our city and state well but after 40 years, it needs to be refurbished and updated so that it remains a viable asset.”