Progress reports, milestones, and announcements about ongoing development projects
BDC 2021 Annual Report Finalized
At their 2021 Annual Meeting, held on October 25th, the BDC Board of Directors finalzied the FY21 Annual Report.
The report may be accessed below. Previous years, as well as pubilc minutes, budget and audit information, are all available under the “Documents” tab.
Port Deposit Planning Commission to Review Bainbridge Re-development
PORT DEPOSIT — A public meeting will be held Feb. 25 at 7 p.m. to review an application from Bohler Engineering and MRP Bainbridge I LLC to build four industrial buildings on a 430-acre parcel of the former Bainbridge Naval Training Center property.
Site Work Has Begun!
Site work has officially begun at Bainbridge! Yesterday, crews began initial clearing on the 422 acre Phase 1 development parcel. The photos attached show the conditions at the start and end of Day 1. The BDC Board will be providing a full update at their Annual Meeting scheduled for October 19, 2020. Please check BDC social media pages and website for meeting details (to be held virtually)!
Look for Shovels in the Ground for Bainbridge Soon
PORT DEPOSIT — Almost a year after their last presentation to the mayor and town council, members of the Bainbridge Development Corporation reported that ground could be broken on the former naval training base soon.
County, State Officials Optimistic About Bainbridge Development
“PORT DEPOSIT — Following the recent news that Amazon will open a facility in Cecil County, county and state officials say that there’s more buzz surrounding the possible development of the long-dormant Bainbridge property.
Officials were quick to note, however, that the site of the former U.S. Navy training center still requires significant investment in infrastructure and environmental remediation to be viable. County officials also did not outright dismiss a tax increase to pay for the costs, which are estimated to be at least $10 million…”
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BDC Receives Federal Grant from the United States Department of Defense for $1million dollars
The BDC is pleased to announce it has received an award of $1,000,000 from the Department of Defense’ Office of Economic Adjustment (OEA) to fund a project to aid in the redevelopment of the former Naval Training Center at Bainbridge (NTCB).
The public was notified in 2008 of the environmental contamination on-site, which has placed hurdles on future development. The general development plan approved in 2005 to create a mixed use community was prepared before knowledge of the contamination.
Additional soil sampling and analysis is necessary in order to understand the potential risks of contamination, determine an appropriate remedial strategy, and reanalyze the development plan. Project tasks include a site characterization, risk assessment, remedial strategy, reuse plan, market analysis and data map. The grant term is September 1, 2016 through August 30, 2017.
In addition to the grant award, the BDC has had other significant events take place during this calendar year, including the completion of the NTCB 5-Year Review, increased prospect interest, and the completion of the Tome School Feasibility Study. The development team, MTPM, has also completed a data center study and conducted geologic investigations to aide in the location and development of specific land uses. Political engagement and involvement in Bainbridge at all levels has experienced tremendous support.
While Bainbridge was selected as a top contender for a manufacturing facility which could have created approximately 135 jobs and $145M in capital investment, the Bainbridge site was not selected due to lack of adequate available infrastructure. The Bainbridge property continues to receive interest from prospects, and it is our priority to work with the appropriate stakeholders to ensure adequate available wastewater.
A feasibility study was completed in July for the Historic Tome School, funded in part through USDA, which reported significant challenges for its redevelopment prospects.
Any questions can be directed to Donna Tapley or Toni Lozzi at 410-378-9200.
MEETING RESCHEDULED: BDC to Unveil Tome School Report at Town Meeting
UPDATE, AUGUST 31, 3016:
The BDC presentation of the Tome School Strategic Plan Report has been rescheduled for September 20, 2016 at the Port Deposit Town Council Meeting. Once presented, the report will be avaialble publically via the “Documents” tab on the BDC website.
UPDATE, AUGUST 16, 2016:
The August 16th Town Council meeting was cancelled. The Tome School report will released during the next open public session. Once presented to the Town Council the BDC will publically release and post the report on our website.
AUGUST 8, 2016:
The BDC, in partnership with Weston Solutions and the U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Business Development Grant Program, has completed their opportunities and constraints analysis and will be publicly unveiling the Tome School Feasibility Study at the Port Deposit Town Meeting on Tuesday August 16th. This will be the first public sharing of the report.
The opportunities and constraints analysis was a detailed investigation and analysis of the economic, market and real estate data of the region, weighed with the unique opportunities and constraints at the National Historic Tome School (geography, location, environment, historic easement, etc.) to determine the highest and best use of the campus and the buildings.
Bainbridge Board Reaches out to Government Officials
“PORT DEPOSIT — It’s going to take support from all levels of government to transform the 1,200-acre former U.S. Naval Training Center at Bainbridge into an economic engine to benefit all Maryland citizens.
That’s the message delivered Monday by Bainbridge Development Corporation Executive Director Donna Tapley and Chairman Michael Pugh to representatives from Port Deposit, Cecil County, the state of Maryland and the federal government.
“We hope this meeting could help us push this project forward,” Pugh said. “We need your help.”
BDC officials briefed the delegation and others Monday on the status of the redevelopment of Bainbridge.
“Some say nothing is ever going to happen there, but I’m optimistic,” said Delegate Kevin Hornberger (R-Cecil) on Monday after a site tour and follow-up meeting at the Donaldson Brown Center ended.
About 20 officials and staff attended the meeting and tour.
“There’s really two separate sites on the property,” Pugh explained for the benefit of several participants that were seeing Bainbridge for the first time.
The largest site, which potentially could be the quicker site to redevelop, is the roughly 1,200-acre former Navy base. Despite the fact that there is site-wide soil contamination, Pugh said industrial use wouldn’t require remediation, so the BDC could attract prospects at that site right away, if it can receive county funding for sewer service in this year’s budget.
“Commercial projects would require some remediation, but not as much as is required for residential use,” Pugh said. “That’s why the plan has changed to focus on nearly 800 acres for commercial and/or industrial users.”
A 50-acre adjacent parcel, which was formerly the Tome School for Boys campus, is the other focus of development for the BDC, which has a new proposal to expand that site to include an additional 100 acres to help entice more interest.
Since the former Tome School site is on the National Register of Historic Places, it increases the cost of redevelopment, which adds another challenge, according to BDC leaders.
The only buildings that remain at the former school are in disrepair, which Pugh says has been caused from years of neglect that started when the Navy still owned the property.
Adding to the problem was a devastating fire in September that severely damaged Memorial Hall, which was thought by many to be the premier building at the Tome School site.
After years of ups and downs, the BDC is now focused on getting the U.S. Navy to pay for environmental cleanup costs. At the same time, the BDC is seeking sewer funding that will enable it to attract companies to the site sooner rather than later. In conjunction with sewer funding, officials are in the process of applying for enterprise zone designation and sustainable communities designation, which would open the door for grants and tax credits.
They are already showing business prospects the site.
“We’d like the state delegation to support improvements to the Interstate 95 interchange at Route 222, and we need funding for Tome School,” Tapley said. “We need the county’s support on the sewer and our federal delegation’s help to put pressure on the Navy.”
The BDC is waiting for the Navy’s response to a new appraisal that was done on the property in February.
“We have to hold the Navy accountable for what they did to this town and this county,” Tapley said.
State Sen. Stephen Hershey (R-Upper Shore) is concerned that the condition of the buildings at Tome School may cost too much to restore.
“One option would be to take it off the Historic Register, but Tome School is near and dear to Port Deposit,” Tapley said. “Right now, there seems to be interest to restoring it.”
Hornberger believes the state delegation has a chance to make serious changes in the county.
“This is one of the biggest opportunities we have to do something positive for Cecil County,” he said. “We’ve got over three years to figure this out.”
Pugh thanked all the officials who attended Monday’s meeting.
“There’s no reason we can’t make this happen if we all agree and go in the same direction,” Pugh said. “It’s the BDC’s mission to be an economic engine, maybe we’re a slow engine, but we have a capable development partner and new leadership.” ”
