Kamenetz Updates Chamber on Middle River Depot

Baltimore County Executive Kevin Kamenetz is optimistic that the long-dormant will one-day be part of a vibrant economic engine for the Middle River-White Marsh corridor.

Kamenetz provided insight into the future of the property while speaking to members of the Chesapeake Gateway Chamber of Commerce Tuesday at in Middle River.

Kamenetz said he recently met with the owners of the property, who paid $37.5 million in an online government auction in 2006, about their plans for the 55-acre site. He believes they will be able to develop new retail opportunities while maintaining its historical integrity and respecting the facilities aviation legacy.

The owners have applied to get the property rezoned for mixed-use development as part of the Comprehensive Zoning Map Process.The County Council will complete the quadrennial comprehensive rezoning process in September when it votes on each request.

Most recently, the Middle River Depot had been used as a General Services Administration warehouse. An expanded , additional rail service and a new post office are just some of the ideas residents would like to see implemented at the depot.

However, there are also 1 million square feet along the buildings closest to Eastern Blvd and the MARC station that have extensive development restrictions as they are included on the Maryland Historical Trust registry.

“They have special plans,” Kamenetz said. “They should be able to play up the aircraft history and bring new retail opportunities to the location.”

Also, Kamenetz said he views the depot site, along with the adjacent Route 43 expansion as vital parts of the Baltimore County’s economic future. He continued to stress his support for moving the MARC station in Middle River to the site.

Kamenetz said the Essex-Middle River area should be a destination for people from all over the region thanks to assets like the waterfront and many of the community’s locally-owned businesses and restaurants.

“We envision this area to be a transit-oriented development,” he said. “We want this to be a place where people can get off the train from work, go to the depot and go shopping.”

In addition, Kamanetz said aviation sites like Martin State Airport and the also make the area attractive.

He reminded the audience that the will be housed at Martin State Airport June 16-17 for the “Star-Spangled Sailabration,” the state’s bicentennial celebration of the War of 1812.

Kamenetz also said he expects the to avoid the skypark’s property being claimed to deal with environmental concerns.

“I value the aviation tradition,” he said.

In other Essex-Middle River news, Kamenetz pointed out his support in his at , and Sussex elementary schools.

Those plans would help reduce the percentage of schools in the county without air conditioning to just 34 percent compared to 56 percent when Kamenetz first took office.

“We will continue this effort while being fiscally prudent until the job is done,” said Kamenetz, who is expected to be at a “thank you” party at Middleborough on Friday.