Two parcels of unused property in Calvert County are being revitalized with help from state government funding.

In the community of Prince Frederick, the space that once held the Louis L. Goldstein National Guard Armory building has been demolished to create an open-air pavilion. The multi-use project will provide the region with a space for farmers markets, arts and entertainment, community events, and more, and is planned to be in walking distance to a variety of upcoming housing options.

The Armory Pavilion will become a central gathering space for the community, while preserving the history of the armory with a memorial. The pavilion, which will be owned and operated by Calvert County government, is expected to break ground in mid 2025. Three grants have supported different stages of the redevelopment project, including:

• $60,000 from the Maryland Department of Commerce’s Rural Maryland Economic Development Fund  for a feasibility study to explore design and engineering work to help solicit requests for proposals;
• $100,000 from the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development’s Strategic Demolition Fund  (a State Revitalization Program ) for architectural design and predevelopment costs;
• And an additional $2 million from Maryland Commerce’s rural fund to help finance the construction.

An adjacent site, located across the street at the former Calvert Middle School site , is also being developed. Armory Square will be a 12 acre, 110,000 square-foot commercial space including a variety of retail, services, and restaurant establishments. Led by developers Generation Properties and MCB Real Estate, the project broke ground this spring and its anchors will include ALDI, Michaels, and Sneade’s Ace Home Center.

A $40 million investment in the community, Armory Square is anticipated to create more than 300 new jobs and generate $300,000 in annual tax revenue, according to Calvert County government. Construction is expected to be completed by the end of next year.

“We are very excited about the Armory Pavilion project, which will revitalize the vacant Armory location and ultimately become a centrally located community gathering place and entertainment center in the heart of our Prince Frederick Town Center,” said Julie Oberg, director of the Calvert County Department of Economic Development . “It is a complementary development use of the Armory Square commercial venture currently under construction across the street that will allow for the full development of a parcel of land that has been vacant for many years.”

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