The Future of Baltimore's Harborplace
MCB spent over $400,000 in its campaign to win voter approval of Question F
The citizens group opposing Question F says it raised a fraction of that amount – $3,700
Above: Proposed MCB apartment towers, to replace the Light Street Harborplace Pavilion, that voters approved through Question F. (MCB Real Estate)
In the days before the November 5 election, MCB Real Estate poured another $167,000 into the ballot committee that successfully lobbied Baltimore voters to approve Question F, which permits the developer to build high-rise apartments on public parkland at the Inner Harbor.
Altogether, MCB advanced $407,561 to Baltimore for a New Harborplace, which undertook TV advertising, online media buys, robocalls, robotexts and paid campaign workers to push for the removal of a 1967 restriction on multi-family dwellings at the Inner Harbor Park.
The group’s recent spending was disclosed in a post-election finance report filed last night with the State Board of Elections.
Enough for Lawn Signs
By contrast, Keep the Inner Harbor Park Public, a citizens’ committee opposed to Question F, said it raised $3,700 between mid-October and November 12 – and spent nothing.
The bulk of its funding ($3,000) came from the Inner Harbor Coalition, which argued that the Inner Harbor should remain open to the public and “not become luxury apartments and offices that are, by their nature, limited in access.”
There were also small contributions from Federal Hill resident Cynthia Conklin ($300) and former City Councilman Jody Landers ($400), according to last night’s disclosure report.
Reached today by The Brew, Committee Chair Anthony J. Ambridge said the group had roughly $4,000 in bills, enough for printing lawn signs and leaflets, that haven’t yet been paid.
He said the group would file an amended report with the Elections Board to account for these expenses.
Baltimore residents received texts (left) and Facebook ads (right) urging a “yes” vote on Question F by Baltimore for a New Harborplace, which never mentioned it was financed by the private developer MCB.
Full-Court Press
Question F was approved by a 60-40% vote, which represented a close margin for ballot questions that are typically supported by 80 or 90% of city voters.
MCB, which purchased the Harborplace pavilions out of receivership in 2022, won Mayor Brandon Scott’s support to enlarge the pavilion’s footprint on public land by 40% to accommodate a high-rise apartment complex, retail structure and office building.
The issue before voters was whether to allow multi-family dwellings and off-street parking on public land along Light Street next to the Inner Harbor.
Baltimore for a New Harborplace was formed last June by Mayor Scott’s former campaign treasurer, Leland Shelton, who is MCB’s director of government relations.
It was staffed fully by MCB associates, including Jon M. Laria, a prominent real estate attorney who has served as MCB’s City Hall lobbyist, and Jonathan Sandoval, MCB’s development director.
On October 24 and 25, the developer funneled $157,475 to Baltimore for a New Harborplace, followed by a $10,000 infusion on November 1.
The committee forwarded $117,000 to Fells Group, a media relations and corporate advocacy group headed by Jonathon Rowland; $40,000 to Victoria Research, a Takoma Park pollster; and $10,000 to Adrian Harpool, a campaign operative for former Baltimore Mayor Bernard C. “Jack” Young.
The largest single expenditure went for TV advertising ($75,000) followed by $42,475 going to undisclosed buys, including extensive advertising in the Baltimore Sun and Baltimore Banner.
Two pro-Question F ads that appeared in the Baltimore Banner.
On election day, 20 MCB officers and paid associates fanned out to polling stations under the coordination of Liam Davis, a former City Council candidate now working for the Fells Group.
On the day before the election, the Baltimore Banner quoted Laria accusing Ambridge of using a racist meme involving a Facebook image of MCB’s co-founder, F. David Bramble.
Ambridge said he regretted using the image but called the accusation a smokescreen to distract the public from focusing on a “five-acre land grab” and “the backroom deal” struck between Bramble and Mayor Scott to increase the size and scope of MCB’s apartment and office complex.
PRIOR BREW COVERAGE:
• The Future of Baltimore’s Harborplace (2022-present)