At the former site of the Bethlehem Steel mill in Baltimore, long after that business shut down, a new business is sprouting.
Gotham Greens, which has greenhouses in New York and Chicago, announced plans to build a hydroponic greenhouse on a vacant parcel of land near the former mill, now part of Tradepoint Atlantic, a 3,100-acre multi-modal global logistics center.
The initial phase of the Gotham Greens project is for a facility occupying more than 100,000 square feet at the site, scheduled to begin production in early 2019, according to a news release.
The leafy greens will supply retailers, restaurants and other foodservice operators in the mid-Atlantic region, according to the release.
“We’re honored and humbled to join the rich heritage of Maryland farmers, growers and food producers,” Gotham Greens co-founder and CEO Viraj Puri said in the release.
“Urban agriculture, at its core, is about reconnecting with the community through food, jobs, and economic development.”
State and local officials also applauded the economic development aspect of the planned greenhouse development.
“Their unique approach to urban agriculture, in an area once known for steelmaking and ship-building, will be an asset to the community and our state’s economy,” Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan said in the release.
The company has a total of 170,000 square feet of production in three greenhouses in the New York area and one in Chicago.
