A city-owned repair facility on Key Highway could be the site of Baltimore’s next big waterfront development.
The Baltimore Development Corp. has issued a request for proposals (RFP) from groups interested in buying and redeveloping the Fire Department Repair Shop at 1407 Key Highway, a low-rise building on a 2.4 acre parcel next to the Baltimore Museum of Industry.
“The Property represents one of the most significant waterfront redevelopment opportunities in the City of Baltimore,” the RFP states.
The deadline for bids is noon on May 22. The property consists of about 1.54 acres of fast (dry) land and about nine-tenths of an acre of submerged land. The 43,321-square-garage building on the site dates from 1963 and is not protected by any landmark designation, but prospective bidders are encouraged to “be sensitive to the industrial heritage of the Key Highway corridor” and “incorporate design elements that acknowledge this history where appropriate.”
The parcel is designated for Mixed Use and public land uses under the Key Highway South Urban Renewal Plan. That means it could house residences, offices, stores or a combination. Prohibited uses include drive-in restaurants, gas stations, pawn shops and funeral parlors.
The urban renewal plan states that the maximum total building height for the parcel is 140 feet, or about 14 stories, but additional height may be allowed depending on how much open space is provided.
The property falls within the ‘Waterside Area” defined in the renewal plan. “Buildings in this area are encouraged to be tall, slender towers on a low-height base to create generous open space and views of and access to the waterfront,” the plan states.
This is one of the first offerings of city-owned land by the BDC, the city’s economic development agency, since Otis Rolley III became president and CEO last year. Officials say the repair shop can be relocated to make way for other uses that can take advantage of the waterfront location. The parcel also falls within one of the city’s Opportunity Zones, where investors may be eligible for certain federal tax incentives.
“The intent of this RFP is to promote the redevelopment of the Property in a fashion that will achieve the City’s objectives including the creation of a premier waterfront mixed-use development, job creation, tax generation, public waterfront access, and a development that fits within the context of the surrounding community,” the RFP states.
“As a waterfront parcel with direct frontage on the Inner Harbor branch of the Patapsco River, this Property carries particular importance to the city,” the RFP continues. “The successful redevelopment of this site will advance Baltimore’s long-term vision for an activated, publicly-accessible harbor shoreline…Respondents should recognize the unique responsibility and opportunity that accompanies waterfront development in Baltimore and should propose projects of commensurate quality, ambition and public benefit.”
According to the RFP, BDC officials are aiming to review the proposals and select a developer in the third quarter of 2026. The chosen developer would then receive an exclusive negotiating privilege that would enable it to complete its purchase of the property and move ahead with construction.
