The
Downtown Sailing Center Inc. is looking to raise $500,000 to develop a marina so the nonprofit can teach the sport to people with disabilities.
Baltimore City's Board of Estimates approved a 25-year lease for the sailing center to occupy space at 1407 Key Highway, just next to the
Baltimore Museum of Industry.
Though the nonprofit had been at that location for a while, it never had a long-term lease there, Downtown Sailing Center Executive Director Kristen Berry says. Without a permanent fixture, it couldn't develop the way it wanted to or convince people to give it money to build a marina when it could get kicked out at any time.
"At the harbor it's hard to come by new space so it's an exciting development for us," Berry says.
It plans to reach out to area foundations, individuals and corporations in its fundraising efforts.
By July, it should have renderings available for city approval and construction should begin next year, Berry says. The total project will take
between 24 and 36 months.
The nonprofit served 2,500 sailors last year.
Writer: Julekha Dash
Source: Kristen Berry, Downtown Sailing Center