Downtown Baltimore's Westside - The West Has Zest!

WestSide Renaissance, Inc. was founded in 2000 to lead a consortium of private and public sector stakeholders through the transformation of the Westside of Downtown Baltimore into a thriving urban community.
WestSide Renaissance, Inc. includes more than 35 partners working collaboratively to revitalize one of Baltimore City's greatest cultural and retail centers by developing and re-developing residential, commercial and retail space while preserving the historic facade of the Westside of Downtown Baltimore.
The boundaries of Downtown Baltimore's Westside spans the sub-districts of the University of Maryland campus to the Central Business District , Seton Hill to Mount Vernon , Lexington Market to Charles Center , and the Maryland State government complex to Camden Yards.
Through the end of 2002, a total investment of $750 million dollars has been secured through private and public sector investments.
Through 2007, it is expected that the total investment in Downtown Baltimore's Westside will exceed $1 billion.
The master plan for Baltimore's westside includes a mixed-use neighborhood with a strong focus on residential development that includes the following:

Increased public safety through the establishment of a Baltimore Police Department Substation (2001) providing 24/7 crime prevention services with officers on foot, on bikes and in cruisers throughout the community
An infrastructure is being installed to meet the demand for fiber optics and increased demands on electric power and provide state-of-the-art communications systems for companies requiring the most sophisticated connective systems available
Reconstructed sidewalks and streetscapes to accommodate residents, workers, shoppers and visitors
Design guidelines and building standards developed by the Baltimore Development Corporation (BDC) and WestSide Renaissance, Inc. partners aim to preserve the significant historic structures that support in the Market Center Historic District and ensure architectural compatibility

Enhancements to the public transportation infrastructure to provide a comprehensive east-west transit link in Baltimore
Once complete, the Westside of Downtown Baltimore will generate $10-20 million annually in tax revenues for Baltimore City collected from personal income, real property, business property, energy, parking and hotel taxes.
The State of Maryland is expected to collect $11 million in annual tax revenues. The revitalization efforts support the State of Maryland's continued support of urban redevelopment in Baltimore City.