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Baltimore Alliance Voice Concerns About Port Covington Project

BALTIMORE (WJZ)—The $5.5-billion Port Covington Project headed up by Under Armour's Kevin Plank is expected to fuel economic growth in the city, but an alliance of community groups are worried that they will be shortchanged.

That alliance called Baltimoreans United In Leadership Development (BUILD) is worried a $500-million investment by Baltimore won't be paid off as promised.

"Without a full vetting of the deal and without a negotiation of an agreement that benefits all of Baltimore," said Rev. Andrew Foster Connors, BUILD co-chair.

BUILD has demands it wants negotiated, including Baltimore sharing in the profits of Port Covington, local hiring with 51-percent of workers coming from the city and neighborhood reinvestment totaling as much as the city invests in Port Covington.

"We are calling for a meeting with Mr. Plank as the principal decision maker to meet with us to negotiate the terms we have laid out," said Rev. Glenna Huber BUILD co-chair.

Kevin Plank was not in town Tuesday, but Tom Geddes, the  CEO of Plank Industries was. He invited members of BUILD inside their facility and took delivery of the group's demands.

Plank's development firm addressed BUILD's concerns in a statement saying they share similar desires and community partnerships are on the way.

"We strongly share their desire to make sure that Port Covington benefits as many city residents as possible, which is why we have made unprecedented city-wide commitments and will shortly be announcing a partnership with our neighboring communities," said Marc Weller, the president of Sagamore Development.

In regards to profit sharing, Sagamore says they intend on entering into a profit-sharing agreement with the City, however the structure and terms cannot be determined until bond issuance.

Sagamore also says they are determined to maximize opportunities for City residents, but some of BUILD's "formulaic provisions are unrealistic."

"We are determined to maximize local hiring, and we are working with partners to build an unprecedented robust workforce-development program that will support not only the redevelopment for Port Covington but other projects in the city and beyond, with the focus on opportunities for City residents," said Weller. "We have also signed the Fair Chance pledge and intend to make every effort to smooth the path to employment for returning citizens. Unfortunately, the formulaic provisions that BUILD seeks are entirely unrealistic and would make financing the redevelopment impossible."

Baltimore City Council has yet to decide if it will back a $500-million investment in Port Covington.

BUILD is comprised of 50 community organizations throughout Baltimore.

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