Closer Look At the Millions Spent On Charm City Bus Terminal
How much will a new Greyhound Bus Terminal cost taxpayers when it’s finally completed and located south of M&T Bank Stadium in the city’s Carroll Camden neighborhood of Baltimore City — 8 million, 10 million — or even more?
That depends on who you talk to, and who ultimately ends up paying for it.
While the secretive Baltimore Development Corp. and city officials such as Mayor Sheila Dixon tout the $200 million, southwest redevelopment project know as the Gateway South, which is where the new terminal will be located, taxpayers trying to make sense of it find themselves twisting and turning through a mazed melodrama of lawsuits, settlements, campaign contributions and unknown government subsidies.
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The ongoing saga of the new Greyhound Bus Terminal is just one, small example of many Unfree State will continue to follow.
Our interest was piqued when the city agreed to pay Warner Street Inc. $7.8 million earlier this year for a piece of property included in the 11-acre project, after being sued by the owner when Baltimore tried grabbing the land by condemning the property using eminent domain.
In the suit against the city, filed in federal court, the owner alleged that Baltimore decided to redevelop the site in order to provide a new location for Greyhound Lines Inc. because it wanted the bus company’s old terminal on Fayette street for its west side redevelopment project known as the superblock, according to the Baltimore Business Journal.
The total outlay taxpayers will eventually pay for this bus terminal is somewhat of a mystery at this point. The only mention of funding for the project found in city documents – is that the terminal will be funded by a “federal earmark with city matching funds.”
The only facts we know for certain about the new Greyhound Terminal is the $7.8 million dollar settlement the taxpayers will end up paying for the property it will sit on, and the following political contributions made by Greyhound to the campaigns of city and state elected officials, according to the Maryland Board of Elections:
Mayor Sheila Dixon: – $250 – 3/22/2004
– $250 -3/22/2004
– $4,000 -6/03/2003
Total: $4,500
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Gov. Martin O’Malley – $1,000 – 8-15-2001
Total: – $1,000
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State Sen. Catherine E. Pugh – $500 – 6/30/2003
– $200 – 4/24/2003
Total: – $700
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City Council Member Helen Holton – $250 – 4/19/2003
– $250 – 8/21/2003
Total: – $500
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City Council Member Edward Reisinger – $100 – 2/25/2004
– $60 – 7/29/2003
– $100 – 4/09.2003
Total: – $260
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Del. Melvin Stukes – $200 – 6/05/2003
Total: – $200
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Council Member Bernard “Jack” Young – $200 – 7/07/2003
Total: – $200
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Crossposted On UnfreeState.com
