Kudos to the Supreme Court of Maryland for reversing an Anne Arundel County Circuit Court judge’s ruling and allowing Question F voting to proceed. Whatever one may think of the state of Harborplace and MCB Real Estate’s plans to tear down the once-popular retail and dining pavilions and build four high-rise buildings, including hundreds of apartments along with retail and office space and off-street parking, the voters of Baltimore should be trusted to render judgment on its future. That Question F also happens to be on ballots that have already been printed and distributed makes the decision all the more compelling.

If Judge Catherine Vitale had been upheld in her ruling last month that Harborplace was inappropriate material for the city charter, voters would have been denied their voice. They could have expressed an opinion, but the results would have been the equivalent of reader polls — potentially interesting but nonbinding. Criticism that Question F could have been more clearly worded is probably valid, but we still believe that Baltimoreans can make a well-informed choice about MCB Real Estate and developer P. David Bramble’s plans.

Baltimore’s Inner Harbor matters. There’s simply no doubt about that. Just this past week, we were delighted to learn of a planned $10 million upgrade of the Maryland Science Center over the next two years. Adding high-rises should not be allowed to diminish the harbor’s place as a gathering spot for all city residents. And from the National Aquarium to the nearby Oriole Park at Camden Yards, there remains much to see and explore in the vicinity. Making the area more pedestrian and bike friendly also has its appeal, particularly if Gov. Wes Moore comes through with promised investments in city transit.

As for opponents, we would respectfully urge them to offer an alternative between now and Election Day. While it’s reasonable to question the use of hundreds of millions of dollars in public funds for the MCB project, it remains worrisome to see how badly downtown retail has stagnated since the COVID pandemic. What would opponents have the city do instead? Just leave it alone and hope a deep-pocketed private investor will seek to restore Harborplace to its former glory? We’re ready to hear about a better alternative (but need it fast).