It’s been more than a year of delays for Baltimore’s State Center project, and now Maryland and the developer are expected to enter into formal mediation proceedings in hopes of finally resolving their dispute. This is the latest in ongoing drama for the $1.5 billion project, which should supposedly transform a 28 acre piece of midtown into homes, stores, and business offices rented by the state. It is a project that has been more than a decade in the making, but has faced nothing but delays, political arguments, and lawsuits.

The most recent action concerning the project came in 2014 under former Governor Martin O’Malley. At that time, the Board of Public Works postponed a vote concerning changes to the size of the parking garage, intending to wait until the new administration took office. Little has happened since the deferment.

The original developer agreement, which was signed into action in 2009, calls for mediation to resolve any disputes before those involved can file a lawsuit. Now that mediation is moving forward, both the current governor’s office and the lead developer are optimistic.

Currently, the State Center approvals permit 2000 residential units, 250,000 square feet of retail space, and 2 million square feet of office space, half of which is for the state. According to those in support of the development project, the older buildings would be replaced and the surrounding areas of Eutaw and Preston Streets that link midtown to West Baltimore would experience a revival. At the moment, there is little going on in the area during non-business hours. Opponents of the project are concerned about the impact on state debt, the rental rates, and the development team.