For decades, Baltimore Street was a vibrant hub of commerce, attracting shoppers, residents, and day-trippers to Downtown Cumberland. On November 14, 2024, this historic street will celebrate its grand reopening following an extensive two-year renovation. The project features broader sidewalks, added green spaces, and a reintroduction of vehicle and bicycle traffic. This redesign signifies a major milestone in Cumberland's continuing revitalization efforts aimed at boosting business investment and fostering new growth in the area.

“The goal of the Baltimore Street Redevelopment Project was to create a more reliable and safe downtown,” shared Melinda Kelleher, Executive Director of Cumberland’s Downtown Development Commission. “Downtown Cumberland has gone through many evolutions, and we see this as the next great chapter in its history by enhancing the area with features to attract potential businesses and investors.”

Once a bustling, two-lane road lined with businesses, Baltimore Street was a key hub for commerce in Western Maryland through the 1960s, serving residents and travelers from Pittsburgh, West Virginia, and points farther south.

As indoor malls gained popularity in the late 1970s, the city bricked over several blocks of Baltimore Street, turning it into an outdoor pedestrian mall to stay competitive. Baltimore Street again saw a drastic change at the turn of the millennium as online retail grew, causing the once-thriving department stores to decline and prompting the community to explore new ways to restore the street's status as a mercantile hub.

In 2017, while planning to update aging sewer and electric lines under Baltimore Street, the City of Cumberland realized much of the pedestrian mall would need to be removed. Local leaders seized this opportunity to reimagine and enhance the area as a revitalized commercial hub.

The Baltimore Street Redevelopment Project launched to develop and execute a plan to undertake this revitalization, supported by various community partners, including Cumberland’s Downtown Development Commission, Allegany County Economic and Community Development, and the Cumberland Economic Development Corporation (CEDC).

Inspired by the Dutch "woonerf" or "living street" concept, Baltimore Street's redesign features wider sidewalks without curbs and shared spaces to encourage a seamless flow of pedestrians and cyclists. The goal of the improvements was to foster greater community connection and attract new businesses. The redesign also includes a one-way street to reintroduce automobile traffic, enhancing accessibility while maintaining the area’s pedestrian-friendly environment.

The redevelopment was made possible by funding support from the Maryland Department of Transportation, the Appalachian Regional Commission, and various state grants. Allegany Economic and Community Development contributed $500,000 to the effort from the County’s Community Enhancement Fund (CEF) and the Allegany County Commissioners directed an additional $1,000,000 to the project from the Maryland Rural Development Fund (MRDF). Another state grant of $1.67 million was provided by Governors' Office.

The project broke ground in March of 2023, starting with underground improvements led by a regional company, Triton Construction.

“The city was established in 1787, so you never know what you'll find in an urban renewal project,” says Smith. “Some maps and plans are outdated, and we were never entirely sure what we’d uncover underground. Our team had a few unexpected challenges, like discovering we needed to redesign storm sewers due to underground utility conflicts, which we only realized once excavations began.”

Kelleher notes, “Construction was difficult for the businesses along Baltimore Street during certain parts of the process, particularly in the winter when it tends to be a slow time anyway. Even though we did our best to always have sidewalks open, the renovations did affect the businesses to a degree.” She adds, “We knew that was going to be a pain point of the project, but we also knew that in the end, they just had to keep their eye on the prize and that it would pay off.”

Smith shares, “Once we started laying bricks and planting trees, the vision became more of a tangible reality. Business owners could envision the end result and were incredibly encouraging, supporting one another and recognizing the positive impact that the project would bring.”

Beyond the physical walkways and road, improvements include updated landscaping, new pedestrian signage, and new bricks around the Liberty Street parklet—where community events, such as the annual tree lighting, will take place.

Ruth Davis-Rogers, Historic Preservation Planner and Grants Management for the City of Cumberland, adds, "Downtowns are the living room of a community—a place to relax, hang out, celebrate, and be with friends and family. Baltimore Street has always been a place that holds many memories. Now, with all the new improvements and updates, it will continue to do so for many years to come while welcoming more visitors and businesses into our “home.”

The excitement surrounding Baltimore Street’s transformation also caught the attention of other business owners outside of Cumberland eager to benefit from the revitalization.

“Our goal was to attract potential businesses and investors, which is exactly what has happened. We've had thirteen new businesses open downtown since construction started and five more on the docket to open in the next few months. It’s been a long road, but we’re confident that existing and new businesses will benefit from the improvements,” said Kelleher.

Allegany County Commissioner, David J. Caporale, states, "The reopening of Baltimore Street is an important step in the planned growth of Downtown Cumberland and Allegany County. This revitalization brings the city's vision to life by boosting our local economy, creating inviting spaces, and preparing downtown for a successful future. We appreciate the hard work and dedication that made this project a reality, and we look forward to celebrating this milestone in Cumberland's history together as a community.”

While Cumberland celebrates the opening of Baltimore Street, Smith notes that this improvement is part of a more significant effort to revitalize the area. “We can't expect this one project to be all things,” notes Smith. “There are about $300 million worth of projects in the pipeline for Cumberland. While the Baltimore Street Project is important, it’s just one piece in a much larger puzzle to promote Cumberland to its full potential.”

All are welcome to join the ribbon-cutting ceremony on Thursday, November 14, and celebrate the project's official completion.

A “Rediscover Cumberland Community Celebration” will be held on Saturday, November 16. The day’s events will begin at noon and include live music on two stages, bounce houses, face painting, balloon animals, fire pits for marshmallow roasting, and a scavenger hunt.

Many local businesses and restaurants will remain open throughout Saturday’s event, welcoming visitors to enjoy the vibrant wares on the revitalized Baltimore Street.

For more information on the ribbon cutting and celebrations, click here.

Read other stories from Allegany County here.