In a continued effort to clear the site for development - including a potential slots casino - Baltimore officials yesterday approved spending $1.7 million to relocate Maryland Chemical from its facility along the Middle Branch.
The Board of Estimates unanimously approved the expense, which city development officials said is part of a larger, $3 million relocation - paid for with federal money. Maryland Chemical, a 54-year-old chemical distributor, is moving to Fairfield.
Last year, the city selected Cormony Development and its partners to build up to 1 million square feet of offices and a sports complex with indoor and outdoor playing fields in the warehouse district. The city purchased the property in 2005.
Though that project is underway, Mayor Sheila Dixon's administration recently offered the location for a slots casino if an expansion of gambling is approved in a statewide referendum next year.