A large parking lot servicing Baltimore’s Penn Station, closed to the public for several years, is opening again now that Amtrak and local partners are reevaluating development plans and restructuring their partnership.
The surface parking lot just north of Penn Station, also known as the Lanvale lot, was open for the first time in years on Saturday during the Charles Street Promenade, a minor consolation prize after delayed redevelopment around the station.
W. Kyle Anderson, communications director for Amtrak, which owns the property, confirmed in an email message that the lot is soon to reopen permanently. As of Monday morning, it was not open to the public. A contractor working to upgrade lighting on the property said it’s expected to open within the next week.
The lot is bounded by Charles, Lanvale and St. Paul streets and the railroad tracks for Amtrak and MARC trains.
It was striped recently to provide 178 standard off-street parking spaces and six spaces designated for disabled drivers or passengers within a block of Baltimore’s Penn Station, the eighth-busiest Amtrak terminal in the country. It supplements a 525-space, city-owned garage at 1511 N. Charles Street that sometimes fills up.
The lot was closed during the Biden administration, after federal officials announced that Amtrak had formed a public-private partnership with a group called Penn Station Partners (PSP) to develop three new buildings on the parcel, including a new passenger station linked to the historic train station at 1515 N. Charles St.
The new train station was to rise on the east side of the Lanvale lot and be connected to the historic station by a concourse over the railroad tracks. Also proposed were two midrise structures that could contain offices or residences or a combination.
Last week Amtrak and PSP announced that those development plans for the Lanvale lot are on hold while the team restructures its partnership and reevaluates its plans and that the 1911 terminal will continue to serve as Baltimore’s main passenger station for the foreseeable future.
The station’s exterior has been cleaned, repaired and illuminated during a multi-year restoration. Maine artist Jonathan Borofsky’s Male/Female sculpture, part of the city’s public art inventory, is expected to remain on the city-owned plaza in front of the train station.
As part of the changes, Amtrak and PSP said Amtrak will make decisions about Penn Station and the Lanvale lot and PSP will remain the master developer. The reopening of the parking lot is one of the first changes rail passengers and others will see.
“Amtrak and Penn Station Partners (PSP) have successfully completed the initial phase of exterior capital improvement work for the redevelopment of Baltimore Penn Station,” the joint statement said.
“To better align with evolving strategic priorities, Amtrak and PSP have also mutually agreed to restructure their partnership as it relates to the delivery of further capital improvements to the station facilities, property management, and future development of the surrounding parcels and area,” the statement said. “This approach allows the parties to consider a more comprehensive Transit Oriented Development initiative for the station district.
“Amtrak remains fully committed to successfully advancing additional important station improvements,” the statement said. “Amtrak is working with the Federal Railroad Administration to evaluate next steps for how best to deliver phased renovations at Baltimore Penn Station alongside PSP as the Master Developer. Amtrak appreciates the support of Baltimore and the surrounding community during this transitional period as we work together to improve and preserve this treasured Charm City landmark.”.
On Saturday, drivers were charged a flat fee to park on the lot. Once the lot is open on a regular basis, Anderson said in his message, the rates will be $5 for up to two hours; $12 for up to four hours; $15 for up six hours; $20 for up to 24 hours, $15 for early birds and $175 for a monthly pass.
