Baltimore City Community College wants a whole new look for its downtown campus. What that look will be is anyone?s guess.
The college late Monday released a request for proposals to redevelop its 1.16-acre site at 600 E. Lombard St., seeking to increase revenue as it searches for a location for a third city campus.
BCCC President Carolane Williams said the redevelopment could include mixed-use elements such as retail, office and even residential, but said the college would maintain some classes at the site.
“We?re open to all ideas from developers for what the site can be,” Williams said. “I think it?s probably going to depend on the creatively of the developer.”
The school is no stranger to the downtown real estate game: It leased its Lockwood site on Pratt Street to developers who turned it into a shopping center, with national retailers including Best Buy and Filene?s Basement.
Williams said revenue from that deal has allowed the college to rent space for a continuing education center below the Harbor Park garage across Market Place, and offer classes at a Reisterstown location.
BCCC has begun looking at locations for a third city campus to join its main campus on Liberty Heights Avenue and the harbor campus, Williams said.
The school hopes to locate the new facilities somewhere in the city?s southeastern area, and funds from the harbor campus? redevelopment could support that effort.
Proposals are due Sept. 26, and a tour for interested developers has been scheduled for July 31.
Williams said the existing building, more than 32 years old, needs a makeover.
“There?s a lot of wasted space in that building,” Williams said. “Architecturally, it wasn?t a good design for an education building. Huge hallways, small classrooms, cubbyholes that lead nowhere.”
However, she said the college would maintain a presence at the location, possibly focusing on business- and industry-training classes.
One developer is already interested in the BCCC project. The Cordish Co., which has developed property around the campus including Power Plant Live!, has begun evaluating the college?s request, company Vice President Jon Cordish said.
“The site is definitely something we?re taking a look at,” he said.
