Protesters calling for more affordable housing to be included in the Port Covington redevelopment disrupted a fundraiser Tuesday evening, interrupting one of the leaders of the project and escalating the conflict between its supporters and opponents.
About three people affiliated with Housing Our Neighbors, a community group focused on homelessness, were escorted out of the 1000 Friends of Maryland event, which featured presentations by representatives of Under Armour, Sagamore Development Co. and other ventures tied to Under Armour CEO Kevin Plank.
The event was held inside City Garage, one of the buildings renovated and reopened by Sagamore Development, Plank's private real estate firm. Sagamore CEO Marc Weller also said the firm is donating $5,000 to 1000 Friends of Maryland, which advocates for sustainable development.
The interruption extended a rally that greeted attendees Tuesday evening and highlighted one of the most hotly contested parts of the plan for Port Covington, a largely industrial area in South Baltimore that Sagamore plans to redevelop with mixed use development next to a new Under Armour headquarters campus.
Sagamore is seeking about $1.1 billion in public financing and grants for infrastructure in the area, which some advocates say should trigger stronger requirements for affordable housing, among other things.
"Thank you for your passion and enthusiasm but let's let this process continue," said Dru Schmidt-Perkins, CEO of 1000 Friends of Maryland, as the protesters were ushered away.