Phillips Packing House
The Eastern Shore Land Conservancy and Cross Street Partners are tackling an ambitious project to rehabilitate and reuse the historic Phillips Packing Plant in Cambridge into The Packing House mixed-use development. Preservation Maryland will support the effort by identifying funding to support the critical repair of the iconic smokestacks and increasing public awareness of this important preservation project on Maryland’s Eastern Shore.
THE PROBLEM
Action is needed to stabilize the structure and smokestacks before Cambridge loses a culturally and historically significant landmark.
THE FIX
Plans are in the works for the abandoned 60,000 square foot packing house to be repurposed as a food and farming exchange, which will provide a variety of venues for the production, process, and sale of Maryland Eastern Shore branded culinary products. Preservation Maryland will support the effort by identifying funding to support the critical repair of the iconic smokestacks and increasing public awareness of this important preservation project on Maryland’s Eastern Shore.
HISTORY & SIGNIFICANCE
The Phillips Packing Company has a long, rich history. The Packing Company employed thousands of Cambridge residents and was responsible for supplying K and C rations to U.S. troops during World War I and II. Factory F was the largest fruit cannery in the United States at the time. It also canned sweet potatoes, lima beans, white potatoes, and tomatoes. At the turn of the century, nearly a million bushels of oysters were shucked annually in Cambridge, second in volume nationwide only to Baltimore. Even now, long after its closure, the Packing House smokestacks provide a well-defined, visual landmark.
THREATS & GOALS
Action is needed to stabilize the structure and smokestacks before Cambridge loses a culturally and historically significant landmark. Plans are in the works for the abandoned 60,000 square foot Packing House to be repurposed as the Food and Farming Exchange, which will provide a variety of venues for the production, process, and sale of Maryland Eastern Shore branded culinary products.
Updates
OCTOBER 2016
The plan is to rehabilitate the Phillips Packing House Building into a mixed-use center for local food production, micro-brewing, non-profit organizations and companies/institutions seeking a collaborative work environment.
SEPTEMBER 2019
International experts are nearing completion of structural repairs to the iconic smokestacks of the Phillips Packing House in Cambridge, Maryland visible all the way from Route 50.
RESOURCES
Packing House Leasing Brochure
Cross Street Partners
Vision Book: Revitalizing The Packing House, Cambridge, MD
Cross Street Partners
Made in Maryland: History of the Phillips Packing and Seafood Company
Preservation Maryland
NEWS
10/12/2018
Preservation Group Announces Phillips Packing House a New Preservation Project
The Chestertown Spy
06/08/2018
Phillips Packing Company building seeking tenants for a financial closing
WMDT ABC47
02/05/2018
Cannery Park construction begins
Dorchester Banner
01/25/2018
Cannery Park coming to Cambridge
Dorchester Star
07/31/2017
Phillips Packing Company building could re-open soon
WMDT ABC47
10/27/2016
Historic Phillips Packing Plant Open to New Tenants
Preservation Maryland
10/20/2016
ESLC: Future of Phillips Packing Plant at stake
Dorchester Banner
02/02/2016
ESLC seeking to revitalize Cambridge ‘Packing District’
MyEasternShoreMD
09/14/2015
New Preservation Coalitions Request Support of Governor Hogan
Preservation Maryland
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