As the federal government prepares to sell its 1.9 million-square-foot General Services Administration Depot in Middle River, the Essex-Middle River Renaissance Corp. is dreaming of possible uses - and asking elected officials to delay the sale long enough to give the best ideas a chance to succeed.
"There's all sorts of change coming our way," board member Hal Ashman said. "No one wants to see the biggest eyesore in Baltimore County remain like that."
Members of the group voted March 14 to ask Sens. Paul Sarbanes and Barbara Mikulski, and Rep. Dutch Ruppersberger, to intervene while they try to locate financing for a transaction similar to the county's purchase of Kingsley Park, a rundown apartment complex in Essex.
In that case, the county paid the owner $2.2 million and assumed $800,000 in debt, while the federal Department of Housing and Urban Development forgave $11 million in loans.
Also last week, members of the group considered seeking historic designation for the 50-acre depot complex, north of Eastern Boulevard near Martin State Airport and just east of the planned terminus of Route 43 extended, a $68.2 million road from White Marsh to Middle River.
Albert Kahn, a noted industrial architect, designed the complex, in which Glenn L. Martin Co. workers built B-26 "Marauder" bombers during World War II.
While the property already is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, recognition as a national landmark could enhance its protection, group members agreed. The federal government plans to sell the depot by early summer, at auction or over the Internet, county officials said at the renaissance corporation meeting March 14.
Meanwhile, county officials hope to meet with Struever Bros. Eccles & Rouse and other developers known for transforming historic buildings into usable space. It's also possible that the federal government will let Baltimore County share in marketing the property, but "at the end of the day, the GSA's charge is to take the highest bid," said Bill Jones, redevelopment and waterfront specialist for the county's Department of Economic Development.
The Army now leases 400,000 square feet in the complex for two years, with three one-year extension options, according to county officials - a circumstance that could affect any sale.
In a discussion of potential uses for the complex, community members agreed that it should have multiple uses, which could include:
- A hands-on vocational school.
- A museum with display space for historic airplanes.
- An indoor soccer field or ice skating rink.
- Light manufacturing.
- Homes.
- Shops.
- An exhibition hall available for trade shows.
In October, during a visit by an Urban Design Assistance Team, schoolchildren drew amenities they would like to see in Middle River, including pools, playing fields, ice- and roller-skating rinks and even amusement parks.
Many of the children's suggestions are potential uses for the GSA Depot, renaissance corporation members agreed.
The Essex-Middle River Renaissance Corp. will meet at 7 p.m. April 11 at the Essex branch library on Eastern Boulevard. Members of the public are welcome.
