According to Radio Chesapeake, Cambridge Waterfront Development Incorporated (CWDI) has selected Baltimore-based MacKenzie Commercial Real Estate as the exclusive broker to market and attract developers for the Cambridge Harbor project.
MacKenzie is a full-service regional real estate firm with a diverse portfolio. Its website currently lists more than 30 properties available for sale or development, making the over-30-acre Cambridge Harbor site on the Choptank River the largest in its offerings. It would also stand out as one of the few waterfront properties listed by the company.
During a recent CWDI board meeting, members announced the selection of a broker but did not name MacKenzie at the time. They also revealed that a hotel brand had agreed in principle to operate a proposed hotel at the site, though the name was withheld pending final contracts. According to Radio Chesapeake, that brand is Tapestry Collection by Hilton, positioned as an upscale boutique option, above mid-tier brands like Hampton Inn or Tru by Hilton, but below luxury lines such as full Hilton or Curio Collection.
CWDI explained that it was not yet publicly identifying the broker or hotel partner because contracts were still being finalized. According to Radio Chesapeake, sources indicate that CWDI President Angie Hengst and board member Tim Crosby plan to handle the final hotel negotiations themselves, without legal counsel.
This decision raises questions, as CWDI has previously spent hundreds of thousands of dollars on legal services from the firm Miles & Stockbridge for meeting attendance and advisory support. It remains unclear why the organization is opting for volunteer-led negotiations on complex commercial real estate deals without professional legal representation.
Under a 2022 agreement with the City of Cambridge, CWDI committed to sharing public summaries of all developer proposals for Cambridge Harbor before selecting any. Despite frequently emphasizing its “community-first” approach, CWDI did not disclose the broker selection process, including the requirements issued to potential brokers, their responses, or the list of firms considered.
CWDI Secretary and Treasurer Frank Narr, a longtime participant in Cambridge’s waterfront efforts, has stated that the organization plans to comply with the city’s public disclosure rules once developer proposals are received.
Board members anticipate that developer submissions will begin arriving in early 2026.
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