City design panel sees map of Port Covington

Developers and designers of the massive Port Covington project in South Baltimore gave city design officials a revised map Thursday of new roads, bike paths and sidewalks that will form the framework of the 260-acre peninsula.

Planning began several years ago on the site, but the map was redone in part to include The Baltimore Sun building after the news organization recently moved its news and business offices into its printing facility on the site, according to officials from the Weller Group, which is overseeing development. The Sun has a long-term lease on its building.

The new plan was presented to the city’s Urban Design and Architectural Advisory Panel, which must sign off on the streetscape and building designs as part of the planning process.

The design, outlined by officials from the Toole Design Group, shows wide sidewalks that can accommodate outdoor dining, bike paths and two sets of treelined streets looping around the property with multiple cross streets between buildings and parks.

The site currently houses the Sun building, Rye Street Tavern and Sagamore Spirit distillery and the first Under Armour office building on what will be the apparel giant’s eventual headquarters. The first phase of development calls for 3 million square feet of office, retail and apartment buildings.

It will begin with a three-story market building, apartments and offices. The first new building isn’t expected until late 2020 or early 2021.