Baltimore City Councilman Vows to Create Federal Hill Master Plan Amid Safety Concerns

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

Apr. 9, 2026 at 2:57pm

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A warm, nostalgic painting of a single street lamp post in a quiet urban setting, with soft light and deep shadows, conceptually representing the community-driven effort to improve the Federal Hill neighborhood.A serene street scene in Baltimore's Federal Hill neighborhood, where a new master plan aims to address public safety and quality of life concerns.Baltimore Today

A Baltimore City councilman is working on a master plan to ensure public safety in the Federal Hill neighborhood after meeting with concerned residents. Councilman Zac Blanchard, D-District 11, said the plan will focus on five key pillars: public safety, public right of way, main streets, parks, and local schools. Blanchard has been in discussions with the city's new director of planning and community leaders to organize efforts around these priorities.

Why it matters

Federal Hill is a historic and vibrant neighborhood in Baltimore, but residents have raised concerns about public safety, particularly around the Cross Street Market area. The master plan aims to take a comprehensive approach to addressing these issues and improving the overall quality of life for the community.

The details

As part of the master plan, Blanchard is working with Baltimore Police Department leadership, local bars and businesses, and city agencies like the liquor board to improve late-night security around the Cross Street Market. This includes funding an event security staffing area to help break up fights and identify potential weapons. Blanchard is also collaborating with the mayor's office to explore physical deterrents, like speed bumps and jersey barriers, to discourage dangerous dirt bike riding in certain areas. Additionally, he is working with the Maryland Transit Administration to reroute buses to provide better access for students at Digital Harbor High School.

  • Blanchard has been in discussions with the city's new director of planning and community leaders to organize the master plan effort.
  • Blanchard hopes to get the master plan process underway by next month.

The players

Zac Blanchard

A Baltimore City councilman representing District 11, who is leading the effort to create a master plan for the Federal Hill neighborhood.

Baltimore Police Department

The local law enforcement agency that is collaborating with Blanchard and community stakeholders to improve public safety in Federal Hill.

Maryland Transit Administration

The state agency that is working with Blanchard to reroute bus lines to better serve 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

“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

What’s next

Blanchard plans to bring together the leaders of each of the five master plan pillars to organize the next steps in the process, with the goal of getting the plan underway by next month.

The takeaway

The Federal Hill master plan represents a comprehensive, community-driven approach to addressing public safety, infrastructure, and quality of life issues in this historic Baltimore neighborhood. By collaborating with local stakeholders and city agencies, Councilman Blanchard aims to create a shared vision that will improve the overall livability and vibrancy of Federal Hill.