Sparrows Point and Maryland are Open for Business

Michael Moore, November 18, 2015

Recently, our company, Sparrows Point Terminal was in the news when a Baltimore County Councilman introduced zoning changes to help make the rebirth of Sparrows Point possible. We are grateful for the support of our local and state leaders, who understand the significance of this project and are working alongside us to meet the demands of a 21st Century economy.

Earlier this year, I chose to leave my home state of Oregon and move to Maryland because this site is one of the most exciting projects in our industry and in the world. Over the course of my more than thirty years in the shipping and industrial real estate business, I have rarely come across a project with as much potential as Sparrows Point – a truly unique site in North America.

As my wife and I moved here and established our home, we’ve been very pleased with the outstanding support of not only our neighbors in Eastern Baltimore County, but also the extraordinary level of collaboration in our partnership with Governor Hogan and County Executive Kamenetz. Together, these two leaders have worked across political lines and various levels of government to truly make this project the cornerstone of our region’s economy and bring jobs and investment to our state.

An example of this dedication is evident in the work of the Maryland Department of the Environment, which is facing a very challenging task in bringing a more than one hundred year old steel mill back into public use. Over the last two years, MDE’s work has been outstanding in protecting the environment and working with us to find solutions to make this site into the job generator that it has been for generations of Baltimoreans.

Yes, there have been challenges, but we’re ready to face them and our leaders are working with us. From monitoring the rehabilitation of the site’s land, to working to protect the health of the Chesapeake Bay, we’re thankful to have a dedicated team of environmental leaders working with us to ensure the long-term health of the site. For we know that in order to make this project last for generations, we must build a structurally and environmentally sound site from the ground up.

As the largest privately owned waterfront logistics and manufacturing multi-modal site in North America, Sparrows Point has unparalleled potential to change the future of commerce and trade in the country, and across the world. The site has incredible assets, including more than 3,100 acres of land, 100 miles of railway, a deep-water port, and access to the region’s transportation network. Together, we can redevelop the site to leverage its strengths, and make certain that Sparrows Point is fully realized as a globally recognized logistics center.

Over the next several months, we’re working to finalize our vision for the site, with input from potential future leaseholders, government and local leaders, and our neighbors right here in Baltimore. And as we transform the future of the site, we’re building connections between the rest of the country and the world through Baltimore. In the not too distant future, the Star of Bethlehem will overlook thousands of men and women going to work every day. Maryland is open for business and we are proud to be part of this state and region as we move this project forward.