Baltimore City Councilman Developing Federal Hill Master Plan

Councilman Zac Blanchard aims to address public safety, infrastructure, and community needs in the neighborhood.

Apr. 9, 2026 at 5:36am

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A warm, cinematic painting of a single street lamp in a quiet urban setting, with soft light and deep shadows creating a nostalgic, contemplative mood.A serene street scene in Baltimore's Federal Hill neighborhood evokes a sense of civic pride and community resilience amid ongoing public safety concerns.Baltimore Today

Baltimore City Councilman Zac Blanchard, D-District 11, is working on a comprehensive master plan for the Federal Hill neighborhood after meeting with concerned residents. The plan will focus on five key pillars: public safety, public right-of-way, main streets, parks, and local schools. Blanchard is collaborating with the city's new planning director, community leaders, and various agencies to develop solutions around late-night safety, dirt bike deterrents, and improved transit access for students.

Why it matters

Federal Hill is a prominent Baltimore neighborhood that has lacked a comprehensive master plan, unlike other parts of the city. This new initiative aims to take a systematic approach to addressing longstanding public safety and infrastructure issues that have impacted the quality of life for residents.

The details

Councilman Blanchard said the master plan will tackle several key priorities, including improving public safety around the Cross Street Market area by coordinating efforts between the Baltimore Police Department, local bars and businesses, and city agencies like the Liquor Board. The plan will also explore physical deterrents like speed bumps and jersey barriers to deter dangerous dirt bike riding on certain streets. Additionally, Blanchard is working with the Maryland Transit Administration to reroute buses to provide better access for students at Digital Harbor High School.

  • Blanchard plans to have the key stakeholders leading the master plan's five pillars assembled by next month.
  • The event security staffing program around the Cross Street Market area has already begun, with security personnel identifying and reporting handguns to the police this past weekend.

The players

Zac Blanchard

A Baltimore City Councilman representing District 11, who is spearheading the development of a comprehensive master plan for the Federal Hill neighborhood.

Baltimore Police Department

The local law enforcement agency that will be involved in coordinating public safety efforts around the Cross Street Market area as part of the master plan.

Maryland Transit Administration

The state agency that Blanchard is collaborating with to reroute bus routes to improve transit access for students at Digital Harbor High School in Federal Hill.

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What they’re saying

“Public safety is a major pillar. I think the five pillars that we're looking at right now are: public safety, public right of way, main streets, parks in the neighborhood and then the two schools.”

— Zac Blanchard, Baltimore City Councilman, District 11

“They're breaking up fights. They identified a couple of handguns this past weekend that they communicated with BPD. So, there are things they can do and things that can be done by BPD, so having that close collaboration is important. So, I think it's off to a promising start.”

— Zac Blanchard, Baltimore City Councilman, District 11

What’s next

Blanchard plans to have the key stakeholders leading the master plan's five pillars assembled by next month to begin coordinating efforts.

The takeaway

This new master planning initiative for Federal Hill represents a comprehensive effort by the city to address longstanding public safety, infrastructure, and community needs in the neighborhood. By taking a collaborative approach with various agencies and stakeholders, Councilman Blanchard aims to develop sustainable solutions that will improve the quality of life for Federal Hill residents.