Donnie Fair says he?d love to see the West Covington neighborhood in South Baltimore redeveloped. But he wants it done right.
“The sentiment is no one is opposed to urban renewal and economic redevelopment,” said Fair, president of the South Baltimore Improvement Committee. “But no one wants to see the city acquire these private properties through condemnation.”
The Baltimore Development Corp., the city?s development arm, appears to be pushing the West Covington Urban Renewal Plan because Baltimore-based sports apparel maker Under Armour has considered the site as a possible home for its new headquarters, Fair said. Under Armour expects to outgrow its Tide Point headquarters in the next few years.
BDC President M.J. “Jay” Brodie has said it?s in Baltimore?s best interest to keep a fast-growing and expanding company like Under Armour within the city limits. He has also cautioned, though, that if the city acquired the West Covington properties, Under Armour would still go have to through a public bid process for the land and compete with other interested parties.
Tai Foster, a spokesman for Under Armour, said company executives had no comment on the matter at this time.
The city is looking to acquire several parcels of land, totaling about 50 acres, in the West Covington area, either by purchase or condemnation, for redevelopment. The sites include three businesses ? Schuster Concrete Co., Allied Waste Services and Atlantic Forest Products ? and seven homes along McComas Street.
At the Planning Commission?s Jan. 17 meeting, Brodie called the West Covington renewal plan “one of the most important economic projects dealing with the future of the city.” Brodie acknowledged “controversy is something we have to deal with” when undertaking such aggressive redevelopment plans.
In the middle of December, residents and businesses owners received letters from the city saying their properties could be condemned for redevelopment.
Jack Ruppert, of Ruppert Homes, said he signed a contract three years ago to purchase the 13 acres owned by Atlantic Forest Products in hopes of building several hundred homes on the site.
If the city takes control of the land, Ruppert said he?s prepared himself by hiring a land-use attorney.
“It?s been very frustrating,” Ruppert said. “Through all of this, we?ve been very cooperative with the planning department.”
