News

In small town areas, like ours, businesses aren’t just places to shop or grab a quick bite — they’re part of the community’s heart and soul. We all know how word spreads here, whether it’s about the newest coffee shop or a kind gesture from the local hardware store owner. This unique dynamic is what […]

Don’t forget our local retailers this holiday season Usually, when talking about civic responsibility and duty, it’s in reference to following the law, paying taxes, showing up for jury duty and voting, but sometimes it can be as simple and fun as buying yourself or a loved one something nice at a local, small business. […]

Cumberland welcomes holidays with tree lighting CUMBERLAND — Live music and holiday carols echoed throughout Cumberland Friday evening. Snow flurries fell throughout Historic City Center as Cumberland kicked off the holiday season with its annual tree lighting ceremony. Hundreds gathered at the intersection of Baltimore and Liberty streets to see the tree illuminated for the […]

CUMBERLAND — Cumberland is ready to show off its holiday spirit. Following the completion of its 18-month downtown revitalization project, the city will showcase the new space with a full schedule of activities to usher in the season. The annual tree lighting ceremony will be held Nov. 29 at 5 p.m. at the Liberty Street […]

City workers prepare Cumberland’s Christmas tree Monday on Historic City Center. The tree, a 20-foot Concolor fir, was donated by Tom and Carolyn Mathews, owners of the former Intown Tree Farm. The tree was planted in 2005 by Allegany High School environmental science students, including the Mathews’ daughters, Melanie and Becky. The city’s annual tree […]

Business owners help reintroduce updated downtown CUMBERLAND — Downtown Cumberland was bustling over the weekend as the city continued its Rediscover Cumberland Community Celebration, which kicked off Thursday with the area’s ribbon-cutting ceremony. Festivities included a parade, live music and local businesses offering deals in an effort to kick off the revitalization of the district. […]

Cumberland celebrates downtown's reopening CUMBERLAND — A couple of years ago, Fred Briard moved to this city from a New Jersey township not far from Asbury Park. The retired school social worker became familiar with Cumberland from visiting his daughter, whose husband works at UPMC Western Maryland. Briard bought a house in the Allegany High […]

Vehicles return to Baltimore Street for the first time since '78 CUMBERLAND — Adam Swayne strolled across new brick pavers and sang along to “Earth Angel” played from nearby speakers as cars, including a 1957 Chevrolet, lined up downtown. The Tri-Five was one of 10 vehicles — many were vintage or antique — that became […]

CUMBERLAND — When Cumberland’s Pershing Street rings with the iconic 1980s hit “We Built This City” on Oct. 12, a new Rock the Block event will honor the downtown efforts of contractors Triton Construction and The Carl Belt Group in rebuilding Baltimore Street and the Cas Taylor Jr. Bridge. The two area contractors and Chessie […]

Progress has been ‘phenomenal,’ comptroller says CUMBERLAND — Although finishing touches were underway, Suzanne and Mike D’Atri welcomed visitors to see their new restaurant in a historic building. The couple, who own D’Atri Subs Etc on Columbia Street in Cumberland’s North End, hope to open Downtown D’Atri Pasta & Subs in the McMullen Building mid-October. […]

Grand reopening planned Nov. 14 CUMBERLAND — As work continues on the downtown construction project, plans for a grand reopening celebration are underway. Meanwhile, shops and restaurants continue to welcome customers. “We are excited about the project completion in the next six months,” said Melinda Kelleher, executive director of the Downtown Development Commission. The $16 […]

Landscaping workers prepare trees to be planted on the downtown Cumberland mall on Wednesday, part of a $16 million renovation that is expected to be finished in the fall. The project, led by Triton Construction, of St. Albans, W.Va., is updating aging infrastructure and will transform the former pedestrian mall to include a single-lane street […]

Construction continues Wednesday on Baltimore Street in Cumberland, part of a project to renovate the city’s downtown pedestrian mall. The project will result in new underground utilities and the reopening of Baltimore Street to one-way traffic. Triton Construction of St. Albans, W.Va., is completing the $16 million project designed to rejuvenate the city’s downtown.

Some downtown surface areas will be complete by summer CUMBERLAND — Liberty Street will be temporarily open to traffic as roadway and parking paver work is roughly 95% complete, Matt Idleman said. The city’s deputy director of engineering provided an update on the downtown construction project at a town hall Tuesday. “We want to get […]

Workers install pavers in the western block of Baltimore Street on Friday, part of a $16 million renovation of the downtown mall being completed by Triton Construction of St. Alban’s, W.Va. Workers this week installed concrete curbs on a portion of South Liberty Street, poured a crosswalk at the intersection of North Liberty and Frederick […]

24 years later, frst-grader’s seedling now 30-foot holiday highlight CUMBERLAND — When Courtney Koelker brought home a pine seedling from her first-grade class and was eager to plant it in the yard, her parents’ initial reaction was to explain that the tiny plant might not live. Fast forward 24 years and 30 vertical feet later, […]

NEWS RELEASE MARYLAND DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT NEW CARROLLTON, MD (APRIL 29, 2025) - Three Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development-supported projects were recently recognized by the Maryland Economic Development Association for their impact on communities in Baltimore City, along with Western and Southern Maryland. The annual MEDA Awards, sponsored by Miles […]

This morning state and local officials gathered for a ribbon-cutting ceremony that revealed an all-new look to the historic downtown of one of Maryland’s most celebrated cities. After a process that stretched across a decade – from initial dreaming to final implementation – downtown Cumberland has begun the next chapter in a story that’s been unfolding since the nation’s infancy.

The quarterly Town Hall Meeting to provide updates for the Baltimore Street Project will be held on Wednesday, September 27 at 11AM. Questions must be submitted by 4PM on Tuesday, September 26 to melinda.kelleher@cumberlandmd.gov. This will be a virtual meeting on Webex that can be accessed at this link: https://cumberlandmd.webex.com/cumberlandmd/j.php?MTID=m3edd8691056b66c36bee6fbe5cdbc4b8

City officials are looking to dispose of, or find homes for, nearly 100 items on the downtown mall that must be moved before renovation work gets underway in April.

Watch the Reimagine Cumberland Town Hall for Baltimore Street Project!

A February town hall will address business owners’ questions and concerns about the impact of the Baltimore Street renovation project.

Cumberland’s mayor and City Council voted unanimously Tuesday to accept a $14.6 million bid from Triton Construction, Inc. to complete renovations to the downtown mall, which are expected to take 18 months.

CUMBERLAND, Md. — City officials remain confident they can fill a funding gap of roughly $2 million after reviewing contractor bids Wednesday for the Baltimore Street Access Project.

Watch the Reimagine Cumberland Kick-off Event!

CUMBERLAND, Md. — The Cumberland Economic Development Corp. offered updates Tuesday on several key projects including the downtown renovation, Cumberland Gateway and the future of 19 Frederick St.

The forty-five years between 1895 and 1940 brought about the most change in the history of downtown Cumberland.

CUMBERLAND — Officials say additional funding sources for proposed renovations of the downtown pedestrian mall should materialize over the next 18 months.

This image taken from video depicts Cumberland’s downtown mall once the space is renovated. The designer of the Baltimore Street Redevelopment Project unveiled the look of the future mall in a video.

City officials will unveil the finished design drawings Tuesday for a newly imagined downtown mall streetscape.

CUMBERLAND — A new website for the city’s downtown district is expected to launch in the spring, Downtown Development Commission Executive Director Melinda Kelleher said Thursday during the group’s virtual meeting.

While city leaders continue to express optimism about the proposed Baltimore Street Redevelopment Project, Cumberland Mayor Ray Morriss is suggesting that we may need to curb our enthusiasm somewhat.

The upcoming Baltimore Street Project will transform Cumberland’s Historic City Center into a major catalyst for economic development and community health and resiliency.

City officials remain confident the $9.5 million Baltimore Street Redevelopment Project will get underway this fall despite a current funding gap of more than $2 million.

Cumberland City officials voted this week to seek bond funding that would include $1 million for the Baltimore Street Redevelopment Project.

Cumberland City officials voted this week to seek bond funding that would include $1 million for the Baltimore Street Redevelopment Project.

With the hope that groundbreaking can take place sometime next summer, city officials are urging the owners of properties on the downtown mall to take advantage of available utility upgrades when renovations get underway.

Cumberland Economic Development Corporation representatives say they hope that renderings of the redesigned downtown mall will actually look like those projections, upon completion, and will generate enthusiasm among stakeholders and the general public.

CUMBERLAND — A work group formed during Thursday’s Downtown Development Commission meeting is intended to offer all involved in the Baltimore Street Redevelopment Project a centralized way of working together to answer questions and close the project quickly, Cumberland Economic Development Corp. Executive Director Matt Miller said.

CUMBERLAND — City officials are urging the owners of properties on the downtown mall to take advantage of available utility upgrades when renovations get underway.

CUMBERLAND — Now is the time to consider addressing issues of accessibility before renovations begin on Baltimore Street in the city’s downtown, officials said during Thursday’s meeting of the Downtown Development Commission.

CUMBERLAND — Delays in the design process will delay construction that was slated to begin in October on the Baltimore Street pedestrian mall.

The Cumberland mayor and City Council voted on Tuesday, Jan. 5, 2021, to seek $4.5 million through a bond sale to cover the cost of a variety of projects, including $1 million for the Baltimore Street Redevelopment Project.

CUMBERLAND — Some downtown business owners say the upcoming $9.4 million renovation of the pedestrian mall needs to include a plan to attract new businesses to the town center.

Officials see October 2020 as the likely starting point for the beginning phase of the $9.4 million Baltimore Street Access Project.

CUMBERLAND — The renovation of the downtown Cumberland mall is expected to begin next summer, according to officials.

CUMBERLAND — The Baltimore Street Redevelopment Project has been awarded a $3.2 million grant, according to a press release issued Monday by the Cumberland Economic Development Corp.

CUMBERLAND — A preliminary estimate on the renovations planned for the downtown Cumberland pedestrian mall has the project costing $8.7 million.

CUMBERLAND — A preliminary estimate on the renovations planned for the downtown Cumberland pedestrian mall has the project costing $8.7 million.

We were among those for a time who resisted the idea of tearing up the bricks on the downtown pedestrian mall and reopening Baltimore Street to traffic. But we also knew that something had to change, and the solution would have to involve more than just “Let’s open the mall and see if business starts […]

The Cumberland Economic Development Corporation is pleased to announce that the City of Cumberland has been awarded an additional $3,174,027 to its previous Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP) grant of $2,040,000 announced in January 2018.

CUMBERLAND — Officials hope the new City Center design plans, once implemented, will ultimately increase investment and reduce crime.

CUMBERLAND — New design plans for the downtown mall have been finalized and are under consideration by the mayor and City Council.

Click here to view the Baltimore Street Redevelopment Plan.

CUMBERLAND — The Cumberland Economic Development Corp. is moving forward with plans for a study that could result in a redesign of the city center from Baltimore Street to Fort Cumberland Homes.

CUMBERLAND — Cumberland Mayor Ray Morriss and the City Council voted unanimously Tuesday to accept new design plans created for the downtown pedestrian mall.

CUMBERLAND — Officials with the Cumberland Economic Development Corp. gave an update Monday on renovations proposed from the downtown pedestrian mall south through the Maryland Avenue corridor.

CUMBERLAND — Citizens were able to offer ideas for a new look and feel for the downtown pedestrian mall at Saturday’s “Reimagine Cumberland” workshop.

CUMBERLAND — A public workshop has been scheduled for Nov. 10 to allow input from citizens on the future look and design of the space currently making up the downtown pedestrian mall.

CUMBERLAND — The Cumberland Economic Development Corp. and the Downtown Development Commission recently released a joint announcement on the hiring of a Frederick-based firm to create new design plans for the downtown mall.

CUMBERLAND, MD, August 20, 2018 – The Cumberland Economic Development Corporation (the “CEDC”) and the Downtown Development Commission (the “DDC”) are pleased to announce the hiring of Cochran Studio, Inc. (“Cochran”) to prepare a streetscape design plan and public art plan for the Baltimore Street Redevelopment Project (the “Project”).

The downtown pedestrian mall is shown in this file photo.

CUMBERLAND — Another $300,000 in federal funding will help with roadway improvements to Baltimore Street in the city of Cumberland, U.S. Sens. Ben Cardin and Chris Van Hollen announced Wednesday.

CUMBERLAND — Another $300,000 in federal funding will help with roadway improvements to Baltimore Street in the city of Cumberland, U.S. Sens. Ben Cardin and Chris Van Hollen announced Wednesday.

CUMBERLAND — The mayor and City Council approved a design concept Tuesday for the addition of a street through the downtown pedestrian mall.

CUMBERLAND — New design plans for the downtown mall, featuring a street with 21 parallel parking spaces, were on display at Tuesday’s City Council meeting.

This Times-News file photo shows the former M&T Bank building on the downtown Cumberland pedestrian mall.

The city of Cumberland received a $250,000 grant Wednesday from the Appalachian Regional Commission for improvements on Baltimore Street — shown here on Wednesday, Jan. 11, 2016 — and surrounding streets.

The Sage-McCormick study team has been tasked with objectively studying four strategic development sites for the City of Cumberland.

Renderings for the redesigned Baltimore Street mall were debuted to the public Tuesday morning during a virtual event that featured both live and pre-taped portions and was streamed on the city website, as well as on the newly-launched website for the city center.