Pikesville Armory Foundation Receives Federal Grant

April 7, 2022 JMORE Staff

Representing the federal government, Sen. Benjamin L. Cardin (left) and Rep. John Sarbanes (right) present a ceremonial check for $2.4 million to the Pikesville Armory Foundation.

The renaissance of the historic Pikesville Armory property recently took a step closer to becoming a reality.

Last Monday, Apr. 4, the Pikesville Armory Foundation received a $2.4 million grant from the federal government. It was presented to the foundation’s president, Shelley Morhaim, by Sen. Benjamin L. Cardin (D-Md.) and Rep. John Sarbanes (D-Md.)

The foundation has also received grants from the state, Baltimore County and local groups totaling more than $7 million.

The foundation is led by the Veterans of the Pikesville Military Reservation, the Greater Pikesville Recreation Council, 1000 Friends of Pikesville, the Boys & Girls Clubs of Metropolitan Baltimore and the Greater Baltimore Chamber of Commerce, with input from various community groups.

In attendance at the ceremony were State Sen. Shelly L. Hettleman (D-11th); Delegates Dana M. Stein (D-11th), Jon S. Cardin (D-11th) and Lisa M. Belcastro (D-11th); Baltimore County Councilman Israel “Izzy” Patoka (D-2nd); Baltimore County Council President Julian E. Jones Jr.; Samantha F. O’Neill representing Baltimore County Executive John Olszewski Jr.; and other supporters of the armory project.

“The redevelopment of the Pikesville Armory is going to be a transformational project that helps to reshape the Reisterstown Road corridor and region for generations to come,” Patoka posted on social media. “In the years to come, the Armory has great potential to a regional gathering hub, bringing together a center for community development, cultural arts, recreation, open space, historic preservation and so much more. The possibilities are endless.”

Pikesville Armory Foundation President Shelley Morhaim celebrates the federal grant with Baltimore County Council President Julian E. Jones Jr. (Provided photo)
Rep. John Sarbanes (right) chats with Pikesville Armory Foundation supporter Barry F. Williams. (Provided photo)
Shelley Hettleman (center), president of the Pikesville Armory Foundation, celebrates with a pair of supporters Lisa G. Radov (left) and Cheryl Pasteur. (Provided photo)
Community leaders came together at the historic Pikesville Armory property for the federal government’s $2.4 million grant. (Provided photo)
Shown here at the ceremony are (left to right) Shelley Hettleman, president of the Pikesville Armory Foundation, Rep. John Sarbanes and Sen. Benjamin L. Cardin. (Provided photo)
Sen. Benjamin L. Cardin (left) catches up with Pikesville Armory project supporter Howard Needle. (Provided photo)

Located at 610 Reisterstown Rd., the armory — a 60,000-square-foot former military storage facility on 14 acres of land — could serve as an economic and cultural engine for the Pikesville/Reisterstown Road corridor.

The armory was built in 1903 and added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1985. It was decommissioned in 2016, and a process commenced to determine its future usage.

After months of meetings with community groups, focus groups, interviews and public surveys, the decision was reached that the armory would be utilized as a cultural arts, recreation, open space and community development.

The next steps for the project are pre-development studies and design. The first phase will be the renovation of the non-commissioned officers’ club facility to become a venue for veterans’ meetings and community events, as well as the creation of Armory Park along the front acreage, which will include public art and walking trails.

The next phase will include multi-purpose fields and parking areas in the back portion of the campus, and the redevelopment of the main armory building and other structures.

For information about the project visit pikesvillearmoryfoundation.org.