We all want a better Harborplace. It could be easily renovated with food courts and local charm in the short term with considerations longer term for better park and amenities including part or full Harborplace replacements and more pedestrian-friendly adjoining streets.

But the change the mayor and developer MCB promotes invades our public harbor park for towering private luxury housing, parking and offices (“Baltimore in 2025: Reasons for optimism | Editorial,” Dec. 31).

At this time, no one needs or will be likely to finance the project. And where is the $400,000,000 plus public financing by the taxpayers coming for all the street and park improvements that the project requires?

This project gives the developer a potential huge profit without giving anything back to the city or park.

A needed change in our laws should be that no demolition should be allowed without proof of adequate financing and approved building permit to show proper construction plans.

This would prevent a worst case where Harborplace is demolished and the city centerpiece park left with an unfinished unsightly scar like the central Charles and Baltimore Street site that we have been burdened with for years.

This is the least one could ask since the city has already given up any control on the site by hurriedly designating perpetual unlimited height, uses and density unique here for this developer.

It is important to note that this development proposal is not a popular measure especially among the public who were educated about its many weaknesses.

A 60/40% referendum margin is a very small victory given the usual referendum wins at close to 100%. The developer only won by 9% to get over 51%.

It is well known that most people just check the referendum boxes and sadly most people don’t even vote.

The developer reportedly spent around $500,000 to win compared with our volunteer group’s few thousands.

The mayor pressured many who felt that they could not speak out against the proposal and still work with the city.

We still need to change this project before the damage is done to our city.

— David Benn, Baltimore

The author is an architect and urban designer.