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The Market Center Historic District is an approximately 24 block area
in downtown Baltimore that includes buildings associated with the
development of the area as Baltimore's historic retail district. The
area evolved from an early 19th century neighborhood of urban rowhouses
to a premiere shopping district featuring large department stores, grand
theaters, and major chain stores. The diverse size, style, scale, and
types of structures within the district reflect its residential origins
and evolution as a downtown retail center.
More than 400 merchants, including unusual discount stores, ethnic
food purveyors and specialty shops, plus the Lexington Market, open
since 1782, make this a culturally diverse, colorful collage of commerce
steeped in Baltimore heritage. Franklin, Liberty, Baltimore and Greene
streets.
The vitality of the area spawned additional enterprises, resulting in
hotels and theaters as well as subsidiary buildings like clubs, banks,
fire stations, a police station, and a bus station that supported
activity in the area. The district also contains office buildings and
warehouses as well and loft buildings associated with Baltimore's
wholesale clothing manufacturers. Intrusions in the district include
mid-20th century high rise garages and Lexington Market as well as
faddish, late 20th century streetscape improvements like the Lexington
Street pedestrian mall and overscale light fixtures on Lexington Street
and Howard Street.
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