BALTIMORE—The University of Maryland Baltimorebelieves the soon-to-be vacated Social SecurityAdministration building adjacent to its campus on NorthGreene Street would be ideal for its planned campus expansion,except for one critical item—the significant cost of the property'srenovation.

UMB President Dr. Jay Perman says the “immensecost” of renovating the facility also known as “Metro West” makesit unattractive for a university-led project, despite its pendingavailability and contiguous location, according to the BaltimoreBusiness Journal.

“We have a vital interest in Metro West for all the obviousreasons: it's contiguous to our campus, it's right across from thenew pharmacy addition, and it's right across from the medicalschool,” Perman said. “Even if we didn't see ourselves as playingany role, the last thing we would want is a 1 million-square-footbuilding that lies fallow.”