Baltimore residents challenge misleading Harborplace ballot question

In Baltimore, twenty residents have filed a petition to challenge a ballot question regarding the future of Harborplace, a significant development project planned for the Inner Harbor. The developer, MCB Real Estate, has proposed a nearly billion-dollar project that would replace existing concrete pavilions with a mixed-use complex, including residential towers. The residents argue that the language of Ballot Question F is convoluted and misleading, potentially confusing voters about the implications of removing public parkland for private development. The lead counsel for the residents, Thiru Vignarajah, expressed concerns that the ballot language is designed to mislead voters into approving the measure without fully understanding its consequences. He emphasized the importance of clear language, especially when it involves the conversion of public parkland into private property. The current ballot question, as stated by the Maryland State Board of Elections, outlines the areas affected and the intended uses, which include commercial and residential developments. Residents have been attempting to review the ballot question for months prior to its release in September, countering claims that they waited until the last minute to act. Former Baltimore City councilman Tony Ambridge highlighted their ongoing efforts to seek clarity on the language used in the ballot. The petition aims for judicial review before the elections scheduled for November, as the residents hope to ensure that voters are adequately informed. Both Mayor Brandon Scott and MCB Real Estate's David Bramble have acknowledged that voting on such measures is part of a broader process for the project. Bramble described the development as a once-in-a-generation opportunity to reshape the city’s trajectory, while residents remain concerned about the potential loss of public parkland.