Block Cleared for Future UM BioPark Development

A block has been demolished in Hollins Market for a future phase of the UM BioPark. The block includes the southside of the 900 block of W. Baltimore St. and the unit block of S. Poppoleton St. It also borders Booth St. and S. Amity St.

In a letter sent to Southwest Baltimore communities in December, Jane Shaab, UMB associate vice president of economic development, said:

The UMB Research Park Corporation (RPC) has acquired the two remaining buildings in the 900 block of West Baltimore Street –

6 South Poppleton Street and 907 West Baltimore Street for use in the future development of the UM BioPark. The buildings are scheduled for demolition with work beginning early next week.   The work will take place over the course of several weeks with various crews on site removing debris and restoring the site to a flat and open development site.  Fencing is in place and all safety measures will be followed by the crews.  The demolition project will be completed in January.

We are excited to make this improvement to the BioPark.

Many thanks for working with us.

6 S. Poppleton St. was a 1,708 sq. ft. restaurant building. It was built in 1880 and most recently occupied by Sofusion. It was damaged by a fire in recent years.

907 W. Baltimore St. was a 8,832 sq. ft. building also built in 1880. It was previously the home of Naos Graphics and was once Kresge’s Department Store.

911, 913, and 915 W. Baltimore St. were also demolished in recent years by UM BioPark. JW, K Liquor was previously at 913 W. Baltimore St. and an M&A Corner Grocery was previously at 915 W. Baltimore St.

Developer Wexford Science & Technology in partnership with UM BioPark filled in a development site across the street at 873 W. Baltimore St. in 2021 and built a parking lot. A project stalled at the site after pre-development and it left a large hole in the ground for several years.

Wexford Science & Technology moved its focus to the now under-construction 4MLK project. The eight-story, 250,000 sq. ft. lab building is Phase I of a two-phase project.

Wexford has developed three properties at the BioPark along W. Baltimore St. that are all leased. These include a 120,000 sq. ft. office building at 800 W. Baltimore St., a 238,000 sq. ft. office building at 801 W. Baltimore St., and a 638-space parking garage at 1 N. Poppleton St. that is also the home of the campus police substation.

The Maryland Proton Treatment Center, the Maryland Forensic Medical Center, Community Engagement Center, and the Lion Brothers building where UMB runs The GRID are also part of the BioPark footprint.

Photo from this week

Photo from 2020

Screenshot from Google Maps Street View in 2015

About the Author: Kevin Lynch

Founder and Publisher of SouthBmore.com, longtime resident of South Baltimore, and a graduate of Towson University. Diehard Ravens and O's fan, father of three, amateur pizza chef, skateboarder, and "bar food" foodie. Email me at Kevin@InceptMM.com and follow me on Twitter at @SoBoKevin.