Maryland Constitution Article XI-B - City of Baltimore - Land Development & Redevelopment
Maryland Constitution – Article XI-B: City of Baltimore – Land Development and Redevelopment
This article specifically grants the City of Baltimore certain powers related to land development and redevelopment within its jurisdiction. Here's a clear summary:
🔷 Purpose of Article XI-B
To allow the Mayor and City Council of Baltimore to:
Acquire, redevelop, and dispose of land and property,
In order to eliminate blight, stimulate urban renewal, and promote economic development.
🔷 Key Provisions
1. Public Purpose
The development and redevelopment of land for public purposes is constitutionally authorized.
Public purposes include eliminating slum conditions, blight, or encouraging community revitalization.
2. Acquisition of Property
The City may acquire property by purchase, lease, gift, or condemnation (eminent domain).
This includes both vacant and occupied properties in areas designated for redevelopment.
3. Sale or Lease to Private Entities
After acquisition, the City may sell or lease land to private developers or entities.
These sales may occur below market value if the purpose is consistent with redevelopment goals.
4. Issuance of Bonds
The City may issue general obligation bonds to finance redevelopment projects.
These bonds do not require voter approval for each individual project—approval of the general program by the Legislature is sufficient.
5. Legislative Oversight
The General Assembly must authorize the total amount of bonds and approve redevelopment plans generally.
Oversight ensures fiscal responsibility while giving the City flexibility in implementation.
🔷 Why It Matters
This article was added to promote urban renewal during the mid-20th century, when cities like Baltimore faced serious blight and housing issues.
It gives the City of Baltimore broader constitutional authority than other Maryland municipalities for handling redevelopment.
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