Middle Branch Master Plan
Executive Summary and Introduction
The Middle Branch has always been Baltimore’s lesser-known harbor. Located less than one mile south of the Inner Harbor, it is completely different in character. Where the Inner Harbor is compact and deep enough to accommodate large ships, the Middle Branch is expansive and shallow. The Inner Harbor’s shoreline is bulkheaded and lined with an extensive brick promenade so that people are physically separated from the water. In contrast, the Middle Branch has limited bulkhead areas—the majority of the shoreline is green, stepped down to the water to afford greater physical access. While the Inner Harbor has no identified wildlife habitat areas, the Middle Branch has some of the best waterfront habitat in the City; Masonville Cove, along the estuary’s southern shore, is one of the best waterfowl staging areas in the State of Maryland. Both harbors suffer from water pollution, trash and the challenges of contaminants left over from former industrial developments.
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Open Space and Recreation Design and Development
Sustainable open space and recreation systems protect and enhance the social, ecological and economic viability of community open spaces. These spaces are not treated as ‘isolated’ or ‘empty’ areas between properties, but rather inter-connected elements, with each serving as integral pieces of a larger system. In the Middle Branch Plan, the water and ecological systems provide the foundation of the waterfront community. The overall goals of the Middle Branch Open Space and Recreation program are to maintain a sufficient amount and distribution of open space such that diverse uses and opportunities can be created, including natural habitat areas, passive recreation areas and active recreation areas.
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Transportation, Water Quality, Habitat Heritage and Tourism
Transportation allows people to access their needs. Sustainable transportation creates mobility while limiting emissions, waste, and noise. By its very nature it is pedestrian and bicycle friendly. Sustainable transportation facilitates efficient, affordable, easily accessible, and safe connections between and among communities and activity centers. Transportation choices are one of the foundations of healthy communities, encouraging activities such as walking, bicycling, and use of public spaces. Sustainable development is defined by multiple transportation choices and high quality transit. While currently served by one transit line, a systems approach to transportation improvements can be established that encourages transit supported development densities and greatly reduced reliance on the automobile. The Middle Branch is uniquely situated with access to many varieties of rail lines and road systems. These can provide the catalyst for improvements to increase transportation options.
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Sustainable Communities, Maintaining Our Momentum Implementation and Implementation Tables
Sustainable communities are the foundation of a healthy city. These communities have a unique sense of place, preserve natural and cultural resources, embrace local enterprise, promote stable employment, and increase social equity through the fair distribution of the costs and benefits of development.
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