Mayor Brandon Scott says the two Harborplace pavilions at Pratt and Light streets should come down even if the developer is not ready to start building, a position that raises the odds of a cleared, empty lot at the center of the Inner Harbor. For Baltimore residents, the next two weeks matter: the city’s spending board could vote as early as Oct. 21 on the lease and a tax break that will shape what replaces the 1980 landmark, and when.
Scott made the comments Wednesday, Oct. 14, during an onstage interview at The Baltimore Banner’s Impact Maryland event at M&T Bank Stadium, The Banner reported. Asked directly whether demolition could leave vacant land downtown, the mayor acknowledged it could.
What exactly did Mayor Scott say about Harborplace?
According to The Banner, Scott said the pavilions “have to go” regardless of the redevelopment’s timing, argued that “shopping malls are dead,” and conceded that tearing the buildings down first is “technically” a risk. He compared the aging pavilions to the city’s vacant-housing problem and said clearing the site would make it more attractive to investors.
“We don’t need another vacant in the city of Baltimore.”
Mayor Brandon Scott, as quoted by The Baltimore Banner, Oct. 14, 2026
Scott also said the city will reconfigure Pratt and Light streets to favor walkability and families over suburban commuters, whatever happens with Harborplace’s schedule. The Banner noted that developer MCB Real Estate has not finished raising money for the project; an MCB spokesperson did not respond to its request for comment.
Where does the $900 million Harborplace project stand?
MCB, a Baltimore firm led by P. David Bramble, bought Harborplace out of receivership and was picked by the city about three years ago. Its plan calls for demolishing the pavilions and building two residential towers, an office building, shops, restaurants, a park and an amphitheater. The project was once estimated at $900 million, including at least $500 million in private money and about $400 million from government sources, The Banner reported. City voters approved housing on the site in 2024.
MCB has aimed to finish by 2031, and construction is expected to take five years or more, Baltimore Fishbowl reported. Demolition was once targeted for the fourth quarter of 2026, but no date has been announced. A lawsuit seeking to stop the project is also pending; we covered it when it was filed in September.
Harborplace timeline: key dates
| Date | What happened |
|---|---|
| July 2, 1980 | Harborplace opens; about 100,000 people attend, according to a preservation group’s nomination |
| 2024 | Baltimore voters approve allowing housing on the Harborplace site |
| April 2026 | State law creates a new downtown PILOT process run by the Baltimore Development Corp. |
| Aug. 28, 2026 | BDC board gives preliminary, closed-door approval to Harborplace tax relief |
| Sept. 30, 2026 | Cuples Tea House closes in the Light Street Pavilion |
| Oct. 2, 2026 | Inner Harbor Coalition nominates Harborplace for the National Trust’s endangered places list |
| Oct. 14, 2026 | Scott says the pavilions must be demolished regardless of timing |
| Oct. 21, 2026 | Earliest regular Board of Estimates meeting where the lease could be considered |
| Oct. 25 and Oct. 31 | Life in Charm City and Neighborhoods Urban Goods scheduled to close |
| End of 2026 | MCB has told tenants the pavilions will stay open until then |
How big is the Harborplace tax break?
The incentive is a payment in lieu of taxes, or PILOT. A draft lease reported by Baltimore Brew would have MCB pay 5% of the city property taxes otherwise due through 2051, and the Brew estimated the savings at about $200 million over 25 years, FOX45 reported. The deal still needs approval from the Board of Estimates.
The process has drawn scrutiny. The city law department told The Banner on Oct. 8 that no formal application exists for the tax break, even though the BDC’s chief had said one was submitted; a BDC spokesperson later called MCB’s filing a “proposal” made before the application was formalized. Economist Anirban Basu told FOX45 he questions why the city is offering so much relief, while Scott has argued that developers say downtown projects are not worth doing without incentives.
What happens to Harborplace shops and restaurants?
Tenants are already leaving. Baltimore Fishbowl counted several October departures, while others, including Angeli’s Pizzeria, Creatively Black Baltimore and LAMESA Raw, said they hope to stay through the end of the year. MCB has told tenants the buildings will remain open until then. If you have a favorite spot, check its hours before you go, because some businesses now open only on certain days.
Why do preservationists want to save the pavilions?
Designed by architect Benjamin Thompson and developed by James Rouse’s company, Harborplace became a national model for turning an old industrial waterfront into a public gathering place. In its first year it drew roughly 18 million visitors, according to the Inner Harbor Coalition, which asked the National Trust for Historic Preservation to list it among America’s most endangered places. The coalition warned the buildings could be demolished before a fully financed replacement is ready, the same scenario Scott now says he is willing to accept.
What should Baltimore residents watch next?
- Oct. 21: The Board of Estimates meets; the amended lease, which would expand MCB’s site from 3.2 to about 4.5 acres including McKeldin Square and part of Light Street, could be on the agenda. A special meeting is also possible.
- The PILOT vote: Terms have not been made public in final form. Board of Estimates agendas are posted in advance on the city’s website.
- A demolition date: MCB has not announced one. Scott says it does not have to wait for full financing.
- The lawsuit: A court ruling could affect the timeline.
For now, the pavilions are open, and the promenade around them remains public. This weekend, Pratt Street near Harborplace is also closed for the Baltimore Running Festival; see our street-by-street closure guide.
Featured image: Harborplace’s Light Street Pavilion on the Inner Harbor. Photo: Toohool / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0.