Governor Martin O'Malley announced the designation of 15 "Smart Site" projects located in communities around the State and invited nominations for future rounds. Smart Sites will focus public and private investment and green building practices in projects that will encourage smart growth and revitalization in existing Maryland communities.
The first round of projects includes developments on the Eastside and Westside of Baltimore City. The first is the East Baltimore Development Initiative. This is an 80 acre revitalization project, which will include mixed housing types, a new elementary school, transit related services, public facilities and new commercial development.
The other is the State Center Transit Oriented Development, which will enhance the 28 acre State Center campus located on Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard and North Eutaw, West Preston and North Howard Streets.
The project will take a million square feet of government office space and convert it into a mixed use, mixed income community of 3,000 residents and 8,500 workers adjacent to Light Rail and Metro.
The Governor's announcement came after a walking tour of local development projects in downtown Cambridge.
"Focusing investment in Maryland's great neighborhoods and existing communities is critical to achieving smarter growth in our State," said Governor O'Malley.
The Smart Sites initiative highlights innovative State and local partnerships that catalyze economic development in appropriate areas throughout Maryland.
