§ 3-4. Methods of acquiring property.

(a) In general.

Whenever the Mayor and City Council of Baltimore provides, by ordinance, for the laying out, opening, extending, widening, or straightening of any highway, street, square, lane, or alley in Baltimore City:

(1) the ordinance may provide that the Department of Transportation shall proceed to acquire the property necessary, in accordance with the City Charter and this subtitle; or

(2) the ordinance may provide:

(i) that the property necessary to be acquired for such laying out, opening, extending, widening, or straightening may be acquired by proceedings in the Circuit Court for Baltimore City under Title 12 of the Real Property Article of the Maryland Code; and

(ii) that, after the damages to be awarded have been ascertained by the proceedings, the Department of Transportation may proceed to assess the benefits for the laying out, opening, extending, widening, or straightening, in the same manner as if the damages had been assessed by it under §§ 3-5 through 3-10 of this article; and

(iii) it shall state in the report the amount of damages assessed by the proceedings in court to the various owners, and the expenses of the court proceedings, and its own proceedings.

(b) Profile map required.

Before the benefits and damages are assessed, there shall be filed with the Department of Transportation a profile map or plat showing the grade of the proposed highway, street, square, lane, or alley with respect to the abutting property, which map or plat shall be included by the Department of Transportation in the return of its proceedings.