Port Covington Master Plan

Project Description

One of the largest urban revitalization projects in America, Port Covington is transforming 260 acres of formerly underutilized, industrial waterfront in the City of Baltimore into a thriving and inclusive neighborhood that expands public access to water and recreation while uplifting local ecology. Located on a peninsula surrounded by the Middle Branch of the Patapsco River, the site includes three miles of waterfront that had been degraded over the past century by adjacent land uses and neglect.

Biohabitats helped the developer realize not only its vision for Port Covington, but also the property's regenerative potential by ensuring that its Master Plan was grounded in ecological principles. These principles call for an authentic, locally attuned, high-performance landscape that celebrates water and catalyzes community stewardship.

After assessing the site on foot and by boat, the Biohabitats team characterized its ecological conditions and identified opportunities and constraints for enhancement. Based on this assessment, Biohabitats developed three overarching ecological strategies for the redevelopment: enhance both near-shore and shoreline habitat, incorporate integrated water strategies to conserve water and naturally treat stowmwater, and integrate urban ecology to maximize habitat for waterfowl, neo-tropical songbirds, and indigenous birds and bats.

Along with the full design team, Biohabitats presented the ecological principles and components of the design before the City's Urban Design Advisory Review Panel. The Master Plan was approved and adopted in 2016. Significant infrastructure improvements were made and additional buildings are scheduled for completion in 2021.