This week, I approved a plan to build a new 67,000 square-foot, Class A, full-service grocery store in the Howard Park section of Northwest Baltimore. The $13.5 million development of a Shop-Rite supermarket will create jobs for people in that community, and help bring life to one of Baltimore's "food desserts."  For the first time in over a decade, residents of Howard Park and the surrounding areas will be able to walk or use public transit to shop for fresh food at a grocery store less than a mile from their homes.

This vacant store will become a new grocery store for Howard Park.

In 2000, when I was a member of the City Council representing the 5^th Councilmanic district, the Super Pride Supermarket closed and left Howard Park without a full-service grocery store.  Since then, I have worked with community members, city agencies, and grocers to bring a store back to the location on Liberty Heights Avenue. In 2004, I co-sponsored urban renewal legislation to grant the city authority to assemble the parcel of land necessary to complete the deal.

With the help of the Baltimore Development Corporation, 45 residents traveled to Philadelphia to tour a Shop-Rite to determine if that would be a good fit for the community. Last year, at the International Council of Shopping Centers conference, I met with representatives from Shop-Rite to discuss details of the agreement that would bring a Class A, full-service grocer to our city. Now, with the plans finally approved, we can begin moving forward with the construction a supermarket in Howard Park that includes fresh produce, a bakery, pharmacy, and flower market.

I am inspired by how the community worked together with me and other city officials to make this happen. Because we worked collaboratively, the entire community is going to benefit.