Baltimore leaders press Senate to back Downtown RISE PILOT allowing payment‑in‑lieu‑of‑taxes for redevelopment

Senate Bill 756 would authorize payment‑in‑lieu‑of‑taxes agreements for qualifying projects inside the Downtown RISE District, proponents told the Baltimore City Senate delegation on Monday.

Otis Rowley of the Baltimore Development Corporation said the measure sets clear parameters for eligible properties and creates a faster, more transparent pilot approval process, cutting timelines from as long as 9–18 months to an estimated 3–9 months. Rowley said the city could receive more overall revenue from redeveloped property through income, sales and hotel taxes than it would forego under pilot payments.

Shalonda Stokes, president and CEO of the Downtown Partnership of Baltimore, called the downtown core the city’s “historic commercial core” and said declining commercial assessments and reduced office occupancy have left downtown investment unfeasible without incentives. Stokes said the pilot would stabilize assessed values while enabling conversions to mixed use and hospitality.

Representatives of anchor institutions also urged support. Bruce Gerald of the University of Maryland, Baltimore, described a university‑led “vibrancy initiative” to reactivate campus parcels and said the legislation would improve feasibility for complementary projects near UMB. Jennifer Dribben, interim president and CEO of the National Aquarium, said the attraction brings about 1.2 million visitors annually and generates roughly $430 million in economic activity; she argued that increased downtown amenities would extend visitor stays and spending.

Delegation members asked questions about foreclosure‑related vulnerabilities and the bill’s revenue assumptions. Chair closed the SB 756 hearing without a vote and moved to other agenda items. The delegation did not take final action on SB 756 at this meeting.

Next steps: the bill will await further review and any committee action outside this hearing.