By Natalie Bland and Tim Utzig
Baltimore Watchdog Staff Writers
Residents, business leaders and representatives of labor unions Tuesday urged the Baltimore County Council to approve a $78 million contract with Tradepoint Atlantic LLC (TPA) for the revitalization of Sparrows Point.
The money would be used for the construction of roads and water and sewer lines to a 3,111-acre site where Bethlehem Steel was located until 2012.
The infrastructure improvements would support the development of a warehouse distribution center that is estimated to create 10,000 new jobs and a real estate tax base worth more than $1.4 billion.
The project would require that the county spend $18 million for a new fire station and police substation, both of which would be located on land leased to the county at no cost by TPA. The county says it will issue bonds to pay for the two stations, which would take about three years to complete.
The council is likely to vote on the measure later this month.
Will Anderson, the executive director of Economic and Workforce Development for Baltimore County, highlighted that the agreement will increase tax revenues and jobs in the area. In addition to the 10,000 direct jobs that the project is expected to create, a report completed in November estimates that the development will spur 5,200 indirect jobs throughout the region.
A significant crowd of representatives from across the county attended the meeting to express their support for the bill.
Francis Taylor, the president of the North Point Peninsula Council, said the community overwhelming supports the agreement.
“We look forward to working with Tradepoint Atlantic and Baltimore County,” Taylor said.
Howard Needle and Ruth Goldstein of the group 1000 Friends of Pikesville said the development will help older communities like Dundalk and Essex.
Courtney Speed, a member of Henrietta Lacks Legacy Group and a resident of Turner-Station, noted that the area used to be one of opportunity but has since fallen behind economically. Speed said the area in East Baltimore County needs the jobs, growth and stability the project will provide.
Aaron Tomarchio, the senior vice president of administration and corporate affairs at Tradepoint Atlantic, said his company is dedicated to the community.
“In the last 18 months, Tradepoint Atlantic has had 40 community association meetings,” Tomarchio said.
Councilman Todd Crandell, R-District 7, who represents the area affected by the development, said he has received much support for the project.
“I’m sitting on 160 emails in agreement [to the contract] due to Tradepoint Atlantic’s engagement with the community,” Crandell said.
The county was notified last March that it was receiving a $20 million federal grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation to help support the Sparrows Point project. The grant requires that the county provide $30.5 million in matching funds, which will be covered by TPA.
As part of the overall plan discussed Tuesday, TPA has committed $1.5 million of those matching funds to help cover the administrative costs of managing the grant as well as for workforce development activities.
Not everyone agreed with the project.
One resident, Scott Pappas, questioned why the billion-dollar company Tradepoint Atlantic isn’t paying more.
“What is the local community getting out of this?” Pappas asked. “What is the community benefit?”
Councilwoman Cathy Bevins, D-District 6, questioned where the $18 million necessary for a new fire station and police substation would come from.
Despite some hesitation and push back from a handful of the public, the reaction was one of overwhelming support for the agreement.
Former county executive Ted Venetoulis shared his support for the agreement after noting that everyone has been touched by Sparrows Point in some way.
“It’s not easy for us to leave a legacy but this is a legacy builder,” Venetoulis said. “We’re bringing back to life a historic icon in our community.”