Today, the University of Maryland, Baltimore (UMB) received approval by the University System of Maryland (USM) Board of Regents for a major step forward in the redevelopment of downtown Baltimore. The West Lexington Corridor project is a transformational, multi-phase effort to create a vibrant, mixed-use district on and around the UMB campus. It will enhance campus life, expand housing options, and marks a significant advancement in UMB’s long-term commitment to strengthen and revitalize Baltimore’s Downtown Westside.
The West Lexington Corridor project will redevelop key parcels along the 600 block of West Lexington Street into new residential, retail, and recreation spaces, and will include public-realm improvements. This milestone reflects the continuation of UMB’s strategy to activate land, unlock new private investment, and further integrate the campus into the broader Downtown Westside.
By transitioning land-banked parcels into productive development sites, UMB is helping return long-underutilized property to the City’s tax rolls, creating a powerful win for the University, the City, local businesses, and the surrounding community.
“This project is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to transform a critical avenue of our campus and strengthen our connection to the neighborhood,” said Bruce E. Jarrell, MD, FACS, president of the University of Maryland, Baltimore. “We are excited to take this next step toward creating a more vibrant, inclusive, and welcoming district that supports our students, faculty, staff, and the broader Baltimore community.”
Key features of the proposed development include:
- Collaborative partnership between UMB and Wexford Science & Technology, LLC (Wexford), and their partners GMH Communities (GMH) and Graffito SP, to develop the parcels.
- Approximately $263 million in private investment delivered over two phases.
- New multi-family residential housing, totaling more than 1,300 beds, with high-quality amenities to support graduate students, faculty, staff, and all residents who want to live in a dynamic, exciting, and thriving district.
- 25,000 sq. ft. of activated ground-floor retail, supported by a UMB-held retail master lease.
- Major infrastructure and public-realm upgrades, funded in part by UMB’s $18.4 million capital investment.
- A new recreation complex, or “third space,” featuring indoor and outdoor spaces where the community and the public can gather and socialize.
- Annual programming support of up to $300,000, contributed by Wexford, to activate the corridor.
Pending approval from the Maryland Board of Public Works and subsequent Baltimore City reviews, the project is targeted to begin Phase 1 construction in 2027, with initial openings projected for 2029.
“The West Lexington Corridor project is central to UMB’s broader Vibrancy Initiative, which focuses on placemaking, connectivity, and enhancing the campus experience,” said Jim Hughes, MBA, chief enterprise and economic development officer and senior vice president at UMB. “We look forward to continued collaboration with our partners at the City, State, University of Maryland Medical System, and local stakeholders to bring this vision to life.”
The West Lexington Corridor project continues the redevelopment momentum of Baltimore’s Downtown Westside created by two other exciting projects.
UMB is building a new $120-million, 127,000 sq. ft. home for the University of Maryland School of Social Work at West Lexington and Greene Streets which is expected to open in late 2027.
And the State of Maryland will move the headquarters of the Department of Health to the former site of the Social Security Administration at Metro West. That 1.1 million square foot facility is located on Saratoga Street just one block north of the West Lexington Corridor project. Renovation there is set to wrap up at the end of this year.
