Learn More About the Project
An Exercise in Design for the Garrett-Potee Brownfield, Baltimore, MD
Embedded Files
Site Background
The project site, a brownfield at Garrett and Potee streets, is a 17.5-acre site at the edge of the Brooklyn neighborhood next to its “Main Street” district. Since the last business on the site closed in the 1980s, the site has remained neglected and contaminated for decades. With contamination from historic use and present long-term encampments where unhoused people live, the site is a health and safety hazard. Assessment and clean-up efforts have been attempted, but the problems are complex.
This site condition impacts both the unhoused individuals and the community at large. Its overgrown, dirty, and abandoned appearance is seen every day by passing commuters, creating fear and negativity, and reducing property values in the nearby residential areas which impedes community success. With successful clean-up and redevelopment, there is potential for this site to be transformed into a community asset to meet the needs of residents and Baltimore at large.
Brownfield site. Image created by M. Finch.
Conceptual plan illustrating one potential scenario for site development. Image from Brooklyn & Curtis Bay Strategic Neighborhood Action Plan, 2005.
Action Baybrook's Involvement
Action Baybrook, a community-based nonprofit, has been gathering information about this brownfield since 2019. Part of Action Baybrook’s mission is to find solutions for vacant and problem properties, like this brownfield. Action Baybrook is well-positioned to bring the various stakeholders to the table to find a solution toward remediation and coordinate a community vision plan for redevelopment of the site. Action Baybrook also wants to ensure services are ample to support the people who live on the site, including adequate and compassionate relocation. Ultimately, we want a site redevelopment plan that is guided and approved by impacted residents and creates a healthier environment for everyone.
Supporting Larger Goals
Pursuing site clean-up and redevelopment of the brownfield has been a goal of official city plans for at least 20 years. These plans refer to the site as –
A “major opportunity […] to generate jobs and commercial activity” (2005 Brooklyn & Curtis Bay Strategic Nieghborhood Action Plan)
A “strategic opportunity” for anchoring Brooklyn’s “walkable downtown” (2016 Greater Baybrook Vision & Plan)
Preliminary Design Idea Partnership
As part of building a strategy for remediation and redevelopment of the brownfield, Action Baybrook is trying to understand feasible redevelopment options. Partnering with the West Virginia University (WVU) Advanced Landscape Architecture Design I and Land Development Principles and Practices courses in Fall 2025 is an opportunity to develop preliminary site design ideas. The course was tasked with developing preliminary site designs that included site master plans and detailed site designs for small sections of the plans. These site designs are only preliminary, meant to encourage new thinking when the community is able to carry out its site planning process in the near future.
Action Baybrook actively collaborated with the course by:
Preparing site context and resource documents,
Hosting a site visit day in Brooklyn,
Sharing the draft master plans at the Action Baybrook quarterly community meeting, and
Attending student project presentations and providing feedback multiple times during the semester.
Action Baybrook presenting during the Site Visit Day in Brooklyn for partners. Photo by K. See.
The brownfield site is currently in the research & coordination phase for developing a clean-up and redevelopment strategy. Image created by M. Finch.
Creating Pathways to Remediation Program
This project is part of Action Baybrook's Creating Pathways to Remediation Program. Through this program ABB creates concrete plans for remediation and redevelopment of environmental hazard properties.
There are three phases to the strategy process:
(1) Research and coordination,
(2) Community vision and planning, and
(3) Plan resourcing and implementation.
The brownfield site is currently in the research & coordination phase.
Contact the Action Baybrook Team
You can reach out to Action Baybrook to learn more about the Garrett-Potee Brownfield project and progress at info@actionbaybrook.org // 443-202-7341.
Page updated
Report abuse