BCCC moves forward with plans to demolish long-vacant Bard Building

Baltimore City Community College is moving forward with a plan to finally demolish the long-vacant Bard Building downtown, but the college and state legislators disagree on future uses for the space.

The community college will use $7.4 million of state funding initially earmarked in 2021 by Gov. Larry Hogan to demolish the 169,000-square-foot building by June 2024. BCCC will initially use the land as green space while a permanent use for the property is determined. President Debra McCurdy wants to turn the location into a home for the college’s workforce development programs, science classes, and additional GED classes. Senate President Bill Ferguson, who worked to get the funds for the demolition, believes a new academic building is not financially viable and that it could be better for the college to pursue a private-public partnership if the school needs additional space.

Click here to read the Baltimore Business Journal article written by Matt Hooke