The Kingsley Park Renaissance Project is the first development project in Baltimore County to follow the process established by the county’s landmark Renaissance Redevelopment Pilot Program legislation. The 7-day Charrette phase of the project concluded on the evening of June 6, 2005. That evening, the final version of the Charrette plan was presented to an excited audience at Mars Estates Elementary School. After the presentation, the plan was heartily endorsed by Essex-Middle River-area residents through a vote, as required by the renaissance legislation. A pattern book (PDF) was prepared which contains design and building standards and requirements for the property agreed to during the Charrette. The Pattern Book was approved by the Baltimore County Planning Board on October 20, 2005, following extensive public review. On March 16, 2006, the Planning Board adopted minor amendments to the Pattern Book that were requested by staff to facilitate the public sale of the property. The property will be sold at a public sale to a qualified developer who will be required to develop the site according to the Pattern Book. Baltimore County has initiated a process to qualify interested developers to bid on the project. This process is being handled by the purchasing division of the County's Office of Budget and Finance. Visit the Current Solicitations page for an application and contact information for the buyer. For additional information, please call Jackie MacMillan at 410-887-3495 or Ray Heil at 410-887-8022. A pattern book (PDF) has been drafted that refines the agreed upon Charrette plan and presents more detailed physical, visual and architectural specifications. The pattern book, available online via the link above, is also available for viewing in the following County government offices: Office of Community Conservation
6401 York Road, 2nd floor
Baltimore, MD 21212 Office of Planning
401 Bosley Avenue, rm. 406
Towson, MD 21204 Dept. of Permits and Development Management
111 W. Chesapeake Ave.
Towson, MD 21204 The Kingsley Park Renaissance Project is the reality of the Renaissance that County Executive Jim Smith envisioned when he initiated the Renaissance Redevelopment program, established in November of 2004. The legislation gives the community unprecedented influence over the design of specific sites in Opportunity Areas designated by the County Council. Seventh District Councilman John Olszewski, Sr. and Sixth District Councilman Joseph Bartenfelder joined forces with the County Executive to move the Kingsley Park project forward. Excited voices filled the room. It was May 31, 2005, the first day of a weeklong community design Charrette. Members of the Essex-Middle River community had assembled at a local school to work on a plan for the redevelopment of the 18-acre property that was formerly the site of the Kingsley Park apartments. Pouring over large aerial photos and using cut-outs of houses and house lots, community residents worked in groups of 8 to 10, discussing their ideas with friends and neighbors. Among the things Charrette participants wanted for a new neighborhood at the site were:
A variety of housing types and sizes at affordable prices, including senior apartments - Different lifestyles, ages and incomes
- A network of short walkable streets
- Small greens and gathering places
Everyone in the community was invited to participate in the Charrette. During the Charrette, community residents worked with a professional design team, including planners, architects, urban designers and an artist, to shape the plan that best represented the community’s vision for the redevelopment of Kingsley Park. On the first day of the Charrette, community residents worked in small groups to generate concepts for the new development. The design team worked with these concepts, synthesized ideas, prepared drawings, and presented them to the community at a “pin-up” session the following evening. The designers listened to the community’s reactions, and went back to work, further synthesizing and refining design concepts for another pin-up session. As the week continued, plans came together through a series of intensive design team work sessions followed by pin-up sessions with the community, and consensus was reached on a specific plan for a new neighborhood at the Kingsley Park site. Please visit the links below to learn more about early phases of the project. For additional information, contact: Jackie MacMillan, 410-887-3495, jmacmillan@co.ba.md.us
Ray Heil, 410-887-8022, rheil@co.ba.md.us Why a Charrette for Kingsley Park? | Housing Income and Price Options | What Happens After the Charrette? | Charrette Schedule |
 (Need PDF help?)
Revised June 12, 2009 | 
Courthouse 