PIKESVILLE, MD - December 6, 2024 - Today, Baltimore County and the community-led Pikesville Armory Foundation (PAF) announced a partnership agreement to build a state-of-the-art senior center and indoor and outdoor recreation facilities at the historic Pikesville Armory campus. The project is a significant investment in Baltimore’s northwest corridor; it represents the culmination of more than a decade of grassroots organizing efforts focused on transforming the historic 14-acre campus into a community resource and gathering place. Groundbreaking will take place in early 2026, with construction taking two years to complete.
The County’s Department of Aging will operate a 25,000-square-foot state-of-the-art Senior Center that will include classrooms, exercise facilities, a woodshop, meeting spaces, and other expanded services. The Department of Recreation and Parks will manage the more than 250,000 square feet of outdoor recreation space that includes two full size sports fields, a walking path around the perimeter of the property, three “destination playgrounds” appropriate for ages 2 and up, a pavilion, and restrooms. Indoors, the Department will operate 30,000 square feet of multisport courts for basketball, pickleball, and other uses. As part of the agreement, outlined in a memorandum of understanding (MOU), Baltimore County will commit to investing $9.5 million over the next several years to support the planning, design, and construction of these facilities at the Armory.
“Pikesville community members and stakeholders continue to be critical partners in our work to reimagine and transform this historic property into a vibrant regional hub,” said Baltimore County Executive Johnny Olszewski. “Our announcement builds on this partnership and demonstrates that – by working with our federal, state, and local counterparts - we can continue delivering modern and high-quality opportunities for our residents to build connections, stay active, and celebrate everything that makes our communities a special place to call home.”
“I am so pleased that we have reached this important benchmark in the redevelopment of the Pikesville Armory. We are at the beginning phase of a spectacular amenity that will benefit residents of all ages. The Pikesville Armory redevelopment will not only be a local amenity, but also a regional destination. Stay tuned, great things will happen here!” said Baltimore County Councilperson Izzy Patoka, the 2nd District Representative.
“We are pleased to be part of this project that will bring such a positive impact to the greater Pikesville Community and Reisterstown Road corridor,” said Baltimore County Department of Recreation and Parks Director Bob Smith. “We recognize that this region has long needed free standing recreation space for growing programs and we are extremely thankful to County Executive Olszewski and the Pikesville Armory Foundation for the vision to finally see this need met.”
“The redeveloped Armory campus will be the realization of the community vision initiated six years ago by an in-depth citizen participation process. The partnership with Baltimore County announced today will create intergenerational opportunities and benefits for the entire northwest Baltimore City and County region,” said Pikesville Armory Foundation (PAF) Board President Shelley Morhaim.
The first phase of the project to transform the Pikesville Armory is already underway, with construction to restore and renovate the property’s NonCommissioned Officers (NCO) Club building having kicked off in April 2024. The NCO Club building dates back to the 1880s and is a key component of the larger campus’s inclusion in the National Register of Historic Places. The restoration is expected to be completed by spring 2025. With this renovation, the NCO Club will continue to provide meeting and event space for community members and veterans, as well as office space for local organizations, including the Pikesville Armory Foundation.
The project released official rendering images during its groundbreaking in January 2024, which was presided over by Governor Wes Moore. The images show plans for the renovation and adaptive reuse of the main Armory building with sports courts, performance and maker spaces, cafe and community areas, among other uses. Other buildings on the site will be renovated for artists’ studios and galleries, indoor and outdoor performance venues, historical monuments, a walking labyrinth, and other spaces for community members and organizations. As planning continues, PAF welcomes continuing community input.
Added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1985, the Pikesville Armory was built in 1903 as part of the expansion of the National Guard program and has been in continuous military and community use since then. Most recently, the NCO Club building has served as a gathering place for veterans and community members. The site was the subject of a 2017 Governor’s Commission which drew on hundreds of community conversations to receive input from thousands of neighbors. The resulting direction for redevelopment of the site calls for “a multi-use venue for recreation, arts, and other community programming,” and led to the formation of the nonprofit Pikesville Armory Foundation (PAF). PAF will steward the redevelopment process and will continue a community engagement process in the coming years.
The chosen development team - Seawall and Onyx Development - bring a Baltimore-centric approach to community-led development, with a focus on adaptive reuse and mixed use projects. Seawall has more than 15 years of experience working in Baltimore and is known for food halls and public markets such as Lexington Market and R. House, teacher apartments, nonprofit office space at Miller’s Court and Union Mill, and creative community hubs like the Union Collective. Onyx Development is a Black and female-owned firm led by Rian Hargrave and has completed a number of residential and commercial projects in Baltimore. The project team also includes Ziger/Snead Architects, landscape architects Unknown Studio, and general contractor Wilhelm Builders.
Project updates and announcements will be posted at transformpikesvillearmory.org.
About the Pikesville Armory Foundation (PAF)
The Maryland nonprofit corporation Pikesville Armory Foundation is stewarding the redevelopment of the historic Pikesville Armory. PAF's highly engaged board is composed of local leaders from various groups including the arts, parks and rec, education leaders, military veterans, architecture and development, with each member bringing their expertise to the project. This project intends to create a community hub that will celebrate the diversity of Pikesville and northwest Baltimore.
About Onyx Development
Onyx Development is a Baltimore-based, women and minority-owned development firm founded by Rian Hargrave. They specialize in community-centered development and are currently at work on the redevelopment of historic rowhomes with a focus area of Southwest Baltimore, and as a consultant to other mission-driven projects.
About Seawall
Seawall is a community organization made up of passionate social entrepreneurs who believe in re-imagining the real estate industry as we know it. We believe that all facets of the built environment should be used to empower communities, unite our cities, and help launch powerful ideas that create important movements. Combining decades of real estate development experience and non-profit community work, we have formed a socially conscious development company. Seawall has focused its energy and resources on providing discounted apartments for teachers, collaborative office space for non-profit organizations, community-driven retail, launchpads for chefs, and creative space for charter schools.
Seawall’s history of success is due in large part to deep relationships with neighborhood residents and business owners, as well as demonstrated and continuing commitment to responsible, inclusive development that is responsive to neighborhood needs and wants.
Contacts:
Katie Marshall, 513-708-9210, katie@seawall.com
Kristin Zeminski, 443-857-6718, Kristinz@pikesvillearmoryfoundation.org
Click here for rendering images of the transformed Pikesville Armory
Click here for current images of the Pikesville Armory
Pikesville Armory Foundation, Onyx, and Seawall representatives can be made available for interview upon request.
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The Pikesville Armory Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization (Tax ID# 85-4196251). Donations are tax-deductible to the extent allowed by the law. A copy of our 501(c)(3) status is available upon request by contacting us at P.O. Box 212, Stevenson, MD 21153 or emailing info@pikesvillearmoryfoundation.org
For more information on how to support the Pikesville Armory Foundation, please contact us:
- Rachel Trask at RachelT@pikesvillearmoryfoundation.org
- Maria Abreu at MariaA@pikesvillearmoryfoundation.org
The Pikesville Armory Foundation is committed to promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion in our programming, education and employment. We will not tolerate discrimination, biases, harassment, or bullying of any kind. Regardless of race, socio-economic status, age, disability, religion, sexual orientation, nationality, gender, or marital status, we are an organization that celebrates the richness of our community.
This project is funded in part by the Maryland Historical Trust through its Historic Preservation Capital Grant Program. Project contents or opinions do not necessarily reflect the views or policies of the Maryland Historical Trust.
The Pikesville Armory Foundation is committed to promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion in our programming, education and employment. We will not tolerate discrimination, biases, harassment, or bullying of any kind. Regardless of race, socio-economic status, age, disability, religion, sexual orientation, nationality, gender, or marital status, we are an organization that celebrates the richness of our community.
This project is funded in part by the Maryland Historical Trust through its Historic Preservation Capital Grant Program. Project contents or opinions do not necessarily reflect the views or policies of the Maryland Historical Trust.