This project, also known as Ordinance 23-18, will allow new developments that will completely change the purpose of the dock as well as the character of the city. Some of the new developments include sprawling green space, mixed-use areas for community events, a system of pathways for pedestrians and cyclists, as well as flood barriers to protect against rising sea levels.
Naturally, all of these changes don’t come without a hefty price tag. The entire development is projected to cost about $50 million—a huge undertaking for the city. To stay organized and keep progress in check, a City Dock Action Committee was formed with Elieen Fogarty, former city planning and zoning director, as the lead.
This was due to advisement from Mayor Josh Cohen in 2010 who reached out to the Planning Department with his idea of a committee. However, the $50 million cost covers the dock along, it’ll cost an additional $30 million for the Hillman Garage to be rebuilt.
PHASES OF ORDINANCE 23-18
For the beginning phases of this development, the plan is to completely remove and rebuilt the Noah Hillman Garage.
Since a majority of the dock space was used for parking, one of the primary concerns of local businesses was that it would be taken away. However, the first step in Ordinance 23 18 is to destroy and ultimately completely rebuild the Noah Hillman Garage so that it can fit even more than the 400 cars it already fits.
Before the garage is rebuilt, the plan is for the city to assemble a financial authority to pay for the plan. Annapolis county and city officials will introduce legislation to the Maryland General Assembly that details the steps for financing this new development.
Once the financial authority is established, the next phase would begin in January 2021— Hillman would be destroyed and rebuilt and rebuilding the new dock would begin and take a little over 3 years.
TIMELINE
In the detailed plan released by the CDAC, it states that the “Master Plan could be implemented in 20 years. It’s not linear, it’s strategic and depends on funding and the ability to link short-term projects with a longer-term vision.”
The projected timeline includes prioritizing the flooding problem, as well as parking. Additional components of the time frame of this development include capital investments, capital funds to leverage grants, converting parking to public spaces, and utilizing underground space for utility lines that run above Dock Street.
The Master Plan is a huge development that started in 2010 and is expected to be completed in just under five years—by 2024.
