Construction Photo Tour: The ‘Riverside Abattoir’ Development on Light Street

written by Kevin Lynch | April 17, 2026 | SouthBMore.com

Construction is underway at the Riverside Abattoir project at 1900 Light St. in Riverside/South Baltimore. The 34,500 sq. ft. historic building was the former Heinz Riverside Abattoir slaughterhouse building.

The office and retail project is owned by Stephen and Cheryl Wilhide and they are working with development company Urban Pastoral Collective. The property was the home of their company Wilhide Draperies Inc. (WDI) until 2017 when it relocated to Southwest Baltimore.

The project was first announced in 2018. Since then it has acquired $3.3 million in Federal and Maryland historic tax credits. It also acquired a City of Baltimore Commission for Historical and Architectural Preservation (CHAP) 10-year property tax credit.

Construction is in process to make the building “a warm-lit shell” to prepare the building for tenant buildouts. Stephen Wilhide told SouthBMore.com they have some letters of intent, and additional interest, but are still looking to attract more tenants to the project.

The Wilhides are hoping to have several restaurants, including a coffee shop, as well as fitness concepts, additional retail users, and office tenants. The Willhides are working with Lee & Associates on leasing the Riverside Abattoir.

The construction, led by Elite Contracting Solutions, will add a new roof, new windows, new skylights, a new concrete slab, new utilities, expanded sidewalks with planters, repointed exterior brick, and restored “Heinz Riverside Abattoir” signage to the building.

The building has original features such as exposed brick, columns, skylights, rafters, mezzanines, and a conveyor system. A historic boiler will be cleaned up and displayed.