Work is nearing completion on a new green space in Downtown. The green space replaces the former 169,000 sq. ft. Bard Building at 600 E. Lombard St.
The Bard Building was part of Baltimore City Community College (BCCC) and was vacant for 14 years. The lot is still owned by BCCC. The green space is temporary until BCCC develops a vision to redevelop the land.
In 2021, BCCC put out a request for expressions of interest (REOI) to find a partner to turn the building into a surface parking lot, but Senate President and District 46 Senator Bill Ferguson made a request to then Governor Larry Hogan to fund demolition costs for the building and to make it a green space “until we can figure out what comes after.”
The new green space sits adjacent to the Power Plant Live! complex and the Baltimore Holocaust Memorial. BCCC was previously looking for a developer to build on the site and had a memorandum of understanding with Power Plant Live! owner The Cordish Companies to build a 45-story tower at the site, but BCCC pulled out of the agreement in 2020.
Below is a photo tour of the new space.
Before
Today
