Catonsville Armory Future: Share Your Ideas November 19

The old Catonsville Armory on Mellor Avenue has sat empty for years, and now neighbors get a real say in what it becomes. Southwest Visions, the nonprofit now serving as the building's steward, will hold a public engagement meeting on Thursday, November 19, from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Baltimore County Arts Guild Clubhouse, with a second meeting on Thursday, December 17.

What is the Catonsville Armory?

The armory sits at 130 Mellor Avenue in the heart of Catonsville, on the same street as the Catonsville Sunday Farmers Market. According to Southwest Visions, it was built in 1933 to replace an earlier armory on the site that burned down, and for decades it served the Maryland Army National Guard.

Southwest Visions is a nonprofit focused on southwest Baltimore County. It proposed in 2025 to act as the building's steward and work through the steps needed to see how the community could use it. WMAR-2 News reports that the property has since moved from the state, to the county, to Southwest Visions' control.

When are the Catonsville Armory community meetings?

Southwest Visions is working with the Neighborhood Design Center on these sessions. The November meeting is at the clubhouse of the Baltimore County Arts Guild.

What will happen at each meeting?

The first phase is all about ideas. Southwest Visions says it will gather thoughts on possible future uses for the site and the values neighbors want it to reflect, then draft a vision statement with a narrowed list of uses.

The second phase, including the December 17 meeting, will confirm those values and narrow the list based on what the community wants most, what is doable and what could work together under one roof. In the new year, all of the public input will be pulled together and reviewed with county and state officials, with a community input presentation planned for 2027.

Can the building be saved?

That is still being figured out. WMAR-2 News reported on October 21 that civil, structural and environmental engineers have surveyed the property. Their results will give cost estimates and help decide whether the building can be rehabilitated or would need to be rebuilt.

The armory has been a hot topic before. In 2025, the state looked at using it for a cannabis business incubator, and after neighbors spoke up the state backed away from that plan, as WMAR-2 News reported. This new process is designed so residents shape the plan from the start.

What does this mean for homeowners and buyers?

A big building like this, right in the middle of town, can shape how a neighborhood feels for decades. Whatever it becomes will matter to the homes on the surrounding streets and to everyone who uses downtown Catonsville, from Arbutus families to Halethorpe commuters. If you own nearby or are thinking about buying in Catonsville, this is a chance to add your voice early. Questions go to Southwest Visions at connect@southwestvisions.org, and you can sign up for updates on its armory page. For more on the area, see my neighborhoods guide and the Signs of People art walk, which runs along nearby Frederick Road.

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