The Belvedere Improvement Association purchased property from War Horse Cities, which is adjacent to Belvedere Square shopping center. The property has been vacant for more than two decades and used as a parking lot for small businesses in the area.The property, located in the 5800 block of York Road, was owned by War Horse Cities, which was founded by Scott Plank — brother of Under Armour founder Kevin Plank, and is described on the Under Armour website as a “key partner” in the building and growth of the company since its founding.The Belvedere Improvement Association (BIA) was founded in 1950 and represents nearly 600 households in the North Baltimore community of Belvedere. In the late 1990s and early 2000s, BIA led the effort to revitalize Belvedere Square, focusing on small, locally owned businesses.“The purchase of this property is an historic achievement for our neighborhood and an exciting development for community-controlled spaces in Baltimore City,” said Kristy Taylor, Belvedere resident and treasurer of BIA. “Our residents now have the opportunity to be a powerful voice contributing to the future of the York Road corridor, and we are excited to continue working to improve our community.”BIA is an all-volunteer organization that advocates on behalf of its residents to preserve and build a thriving community that maintains the balance between residential and commercial interests.The property next to Belvedere Square was purchased using funds allocated through a legislative bond initiative. The purchase was led by State Sen. Mary Washington, who represents District 43, which covers much of Baltimore City, including Belvedere. BIA will develop plans for the location with input from other stakeholders.