The future of Baltimore’s Inner Harbor is on the ballot this year, with voters set to weigh in on whether the once-heralded space should be amended to allow for apartments and commercial use.

On one side is a development company, backed by City Hall and former mayors, that has cast the roughly $900 million proposal as an opportunity to revitalize Harborplace.

On the other side are advocates for the city park, led by attorney Thiru Vignarajah, a past candidate for mayor and state’s attorney, who oppose what they say would amount to privatizing the Inner Harbor shoreline.

Question F, on voters’ ballots this November, survived a legal battle that reached the Supreme Court of Maryland. The high court ruled last month that election officials ought to count votes on the question, reversing a prior court’s ruling that it didn’t amount to “proper charter material” due to confusing wording.

Under the proposal rolled out late last year, MCB Real Estate would demolish the existing shopping pavilions at Harborplace and replace the aging structures with four taller buildings. The new construction would include a conjoined 32-story tower of roughly 900 apartments and one smaller structure in a large new park. The plans also call for realigned roads and off-street parking.

Mayor Brandon Scott and recent former mayors have urged support for the ballot question, calling it a chance to “bet big on Baltimore” and bring the space into the 21st Century.

But opponents, who mounted a ‘Vote F-No’ campaign, argue it’s a step toward replacing city parkland with apartments, taking the space away from residents.

The ballot question before voters asks them whether to allow the rezoning. As it is now, the city charter protects part of the Inner Harbor from development.

Here’s what to know:

Why redevelop Harborplace?

The original pavilions, developed more than 40 years ago by James Rouse’s The Rouse Co., were once a landmark destination. But they have aged and now often sit empty.

P. David Bramble, MCB Real Estate’s managing partner, bought the property out of receivership in 2022. At the time, the Baltimore developer blamed the retail attraction’s decline to out-of-town ownership and the erosion of the pavilions’ character.

According to former Mayor Kurt L. Schmoke, who issued a statement with other past mayors last week, Harborplace “no longer elicits civic pride the way it once did.”

“It’s time for a new generation of Baltimoreans to reimagine it as a vibrant destination for all of us,” Schmoke said.

Even opponents of the current proposal have said they support revitalizing the Inner Harbor. But, at least one person from the opposition group Protect Our Parks said last month, that doesn’t mean providing subsidies for private developers.

Bramble has said the proposal’s design reflects stated resident priorities including safety, waterfront access and the inclusion of local and minority-owned businesses. He also said his firm hopes to create something that will engage local residents, as well as visitors.

What could the new project look like?

Under MCB Real Estate’s vision, two tall towers would replace the existing pavilions along Light Street. The towers, of 32 stories and 25 stories, would consist of housing on the upper floors and lower floors with retail and restaurant space.

On the other side, next to the World Trade Center, another new building would have commercial space and public areas at the bottom.

Between those, along East Pratt Street, would be what’s known as “The Sail.” The striking building would lower to a point at the corner of the harbor then rise to the opposite point like a sail. The developer proposes putting a marketplace inside the building with restaurants and commerical space. The building would also feature a tiered, 50,000-square foot rooftop park for the public.

The current McKeldin Plaza would be replaced with a new park. Designs call for it to also include an amphitheater and elevated space, along with new traffic patterns for Light Street and Pratt Street.

Why does it require a ballot question?

The ballot question is part of a legislative package requested by MCB Development. Three bills were passed earlier this year with nearly unanimous support.

One dealt with creating the ballot question to change city charter, while the others amend zoning law and the city’s urban renewal plan.

The charter amendment, being put forward to voters for consideration as Question F, would expand the area of the city’s ground lease with the developer from 3.2 acres to 4.5 acres.

It would also effectively allow for hundreds of apartments, rolling back the charter amendments of the late 1970s that preserved 26 acres of open space, while allowing for shops and restaurants.

Who’s for and against the proposal?

Perhaps the latest to jump into the fray was former Baltimore Mayor Martin O’Malley, who went on to serve as governor and run unsuccessfully for president. O’Malley now serves as commissioner of the Social Security Administration.

He said Saturday on social media that he would, in his “personal capacity as citizen and former mayor” be voting against Question F.

“It’s a terrible developer grab of public waterfront parkland,” O’Malley wrote. “The Inner Harbor should be for all.”

Opponents of the development plan tried to put their own question on the ballot this November, but fell short of the required signatures in July. Their proposed question would have asked voters to preserve parkland along the Inner Harbor and ban residential development, private office space and buildings over 100 feet.

When that failed, Vignarajah, who has been representing the coalition of park advocates, filed a legal challenge just hours before Maryland offiicals were to begin printing ballots. He argued the question’s wording wasn’t clear enough for voters to consider, calling it “gibberish” and “incoherent.”

That effort also ultimately failed, with the Supreme Court of Maryland’s decision that votes on the question could be counted.

Scott, Baltimore’s mayor, supports the ballot question and overall redevelopment, alongside other past mayors. When the Maryland Supreme Court decision came down, Scott’s office said he was “thrilled” the court had seen through the “charade of opposition-at-any-cost” and called it “long-overdue” revitalization.

Former mayors Schmoke, Stephanie C. Rawlings-Blake and Bernard C. “Jack” Young have also come out in support of the question. Young said past owners had “disrespected and underserved” Baltimore.

It’s possible, though, that 2024 won’t be the last challenge for the development, even should the ballot question pass. Vignarajah said last month he expected parks advocates could “push for a ballot measure to protect our parks and repeal this pro-developer amendment in 2026.