More than 250 attendees stood in the space of what used to be the Target store at Mondawmin Mall to learn more on what would become of the West Baltimore building. Area residents and Baltimore City students, community leaders, business owners and employees, non-profit organizations all gathered on March 29 to hear details of how the 127,000-square-foot site will be turned into an active community hub.

The center is expected to revitalize the historic West Baltimore neighborhood and Mondawmin Mall. And unlike other developers, the site will be developed in consultation with local community leaders. Tim Regan, Whiting-Turner Contracting Company president and chief executive officer, personally acquired the 8.3-acre site, which has been vacant since 2018, for $1 million and has projected a multi-million-dollar follow-on investment in the property. That additional investment will follow as specific uses for the building are identified and associated renovations are made.

It’s not uncommon for a developer to purchase property in Baltimore City. There has been a recent surge of development corporations amassing prime realty in the city for profitability, sometimes at the cost of those who have long been residents in the community and often without them in mind. Supporters say this will be different.