The former VFW building at 8123 Harford Road in Parkville is on track for a major second act as the EPICENTER community center and the Parkville campus of Mountain Christian Church. Organizers say a public groundbreaking is scheduled for March 25, kicking off a fundraising push for services that focus on hunger relief, youth programming, and support for people experiencing homelessness.
What’s Planned at the Site
As reported by Baltimore Fishbowl, the EPICENTER Community Center is set to break ground on March 25 and is slated to feature a community café, a choice-style food pantry, hot showers for people experiencing homelessness, youth classrooms, and community green space. The groundbreaking marks the launch of the public phase of a $1.1 million initiative, which sits inside a larger $9 million transformation that Mountain Christian Church is raising funds for. "This moment represents far more than the start of construction," EPICENTER executive director Darrell McDavid said in a statement to Baltimore Fishbowl.
Funding and Timeline
A State of Maryland bond initiative fact sheet for "Epicenter at Parkville" lists the project and shows that the grantee will lease the building from Mountain Christian Church under a 10-year lease with renewal options. It estimates the existing structure at roughly 12,000 square feet with planned additions and an expected construction completion date of Dec. 31. The fact sheet also notes a $100,000 legislative bond request and a mix of private pledges, grants, and county funds among proposed funding sources, per the State of Maryland filing.
A Building With Local History
The Harford Road building first opened as the Colony Theatre in the 1940s, according to Baltimore County preservation records. It later became home to VFW Parkville Post 9083 and was sold amid membership declines in 2022, a sale reported by the Baltimore Business Journal and carried by WBALTV.
Next Steps for Neighbors
Organizers with The EPICENTER and Mountain Christian say they are gathering community input and plan to post updates and volunteer opportunities on their sites. The EPICENTER maintains a Parkville page that includes a survey, and Mountain Christian lists a "Parkville Promise" giving initiative on its site. Community members who want details or who hope to share their priorities can find project information on The EPICENTER and on Mountain Christian Church.
