Baltimore-based developer Greenberg Gibbons has officially taken control of the long-vacant former Frederick Brick Works site, setting the stage for a $450 million mixed-use project across roughly 65 acres on the city’s east side. The sale marks the latest move in a yearslong push to overhaul an industrial stretch that has loomed at the edge of downtown for decades.
Deal and development plan
According to Washington Business Journal, Greenberg Gibbons paid $16 million for the property and is planning a $450 million mixed-use development branded Brickworks across the roughly 65-acre tract. The outlet reports the deal closed June 30, 2026, and describes the project as one of the largest private developments the city has seen in recent years. With the purchase complete, the developer has started moving technical work and permitting into the next phase while continuing to refine the overall plan.
Site history and approvals
The City of Frederick project page notes that the Brickworks property sits at the corner of East and South streets and describes the site as roughly 61+ acres. City records show that the Planning Commission signed off on a master plan in October 2023 that calls for about 1,260 residential units and 130,000 square feet of commercial space. According to the city, that approval came with nine conditions, including a three-acre public park and a requirement that the Maryland Department of the Environment provide environmental certification before construction can begin on any remediated section. Those conditions remain in play as Greenberg Gibbons advances toward final site plans.
Cleanup and permitting
State files trace a long industrial history at the site, which remains under brownfields oversight. The Maryland Department of the Environment has accepted portions of the Brickworks property into its Voluntary Cleanup Program and posted detailed response action plans. Those documents spell out sampling, capping and other remediation steps that must be completed and certified before permits are issued, along with protections for workers and nearby residents during earth-moving and construction. The timing of MDE approvals and related city permits will largely determine when construction crews can actually break ground.
What will be built and local reaction
Planning filings and local reporting show a master plan organized into multiple lots, with a mix of multi-family buildings, townhomes and a grocery-anchored retail core. Some “gateway” lots have already secured final site approvals. As reported by The Frederick News-Post, commissioners and residents at a May 2025 hearing weighed in on parking ratios, forest conservation and which national grocer might ultimately land on the retail pad.
On its project page, Greenberg Gibbons highlights a goal of “clean up an environmentally contaminated site” while adding jobs and new retail as a gateway into downtown Frederick. The firm presents Brickworks as both an environmental remediation effort and a major piece of downtown-focused economic investment.
Timeline and what to watch
Washington Business Journal reports that the developer hopes to start construction soon, but MDE certifications and remaining city reviews will dictate the schedule. In the coming months, key indicators to watch include Voluntary Cleanup Program certificates, final site plan filings and actions by the city council, all of which would signal that vertical construction is close. Local stakeholders say the project’s remediation strategy and transportation plans are likely to remain front and center in public discussions as Brickworks moves forward.
