continued from thread #9.

***

http://www.hdphoto.com/pics/adv_batimore_cityscape.jpg

The CityScape team, which includes the Baltimore-based Shelter Group and Joseph Haskins Jr., CEO of Harbor Bank of Maryland, is one of three developers to respond to a Baltimore Development Corp. request for proposals for a city block bound by Mercer, South Calvert, Grant and East Lombard streets.

The city owns the property, which includes two vacant office buildings.

With the luxury apartments, the CityScape plan would also include 6,500 square feet of retail space and a 542-car garage.


a city block bound by Mercer, South Calvert, Grant and East Lombard streets

****

copied and pasted stevenw's last post here.

Lets's hope we can add 414 Light St.,Citiscape, Cordish Tower and 300 East Pratt soon. This would add over 1,500 residential units.

Maybe, just maybe, this Water Tower Place just might get the other developers rolling. :)
Let's hope so. BTW, Feb. 2nd is coming very soon. This is the date that Arcwheeler said they would reveal their plans to the city, I believe. :D

Yeah,I'm a big fan of the Water Tower project.

Maybe, just maybe, this Water Tower Place just might get the other developers rolling. :)
Let's hope so. BTW, Feb. 2nd is coming very soon. This is the date that Arcwheeler said they would reveal their plans to the city, I believe. :D
hell, i would even be happy if we got 35-40 floors out of this project (the light street project, that is). i'm just not gonna' get my hopes up with arcwheeler anymore. they really let me down alot the last time.

i'm happy to see that not only water tower, but the cordish tower, the vue, cityview, and probably many other projects in the future are starting to have height of floors in the 30's. it's going to add MAJOR density to baltimore's skyline

I really don't know if this applies here but you guys got me started with the pier 6 thing. Does anyone remember the ethnic festivals at Rash field? They were very nice and attracted a large number's of people to downtown. Why can't we do that again? Maybe it's just a nostalgia thing.

I really don't know if this applies here but you guys got me started with the pier 6 thing. Does anyone remember the ethnic festivals at Rash field? They were very nice and attracted a large number's of people to downtown. Why can't we do that again? Maybe it's just a nostalgia thing.

The ethnic festivals were one of the things that seemed to wither during the Schmoke years. I went to many of them and always enjoyed. As I recall from some people I knew who worked on organizing them, the city started charging the organizations for all sorts of items, like police overtime, electricity, rent on the ground, etc, all in the name of balancing the city budget.

The net result was to shut them down rather than gathering revunue. It was typical of the things that got lost during those years. Another one... remember when Baltimore had the US Professional Cycling Championship? The equivalent of Lance Armstrong during the 80's, Tour winner Greg Lemond, and his competitors raced on the streets of Baltimore in several nationally televised events. Again, as a volunteer, I knew organizers who said, after talks with the city government, that they would never come here again come hell or high water.

To reiterate what everyone else has said, great news about Water Tower. As for Cityscape, has it already been a year since it was announced? It doesn't seem nearly that long. Has anyone been able to come up with an e-mail or phone number for anyone involved in that project? Maybe we could try to get a little info out of them.
But I do agree, MasonsInquiries. It seems as though just about every project being proposed these days in the city is around 30 or so stories. That suits me just fine. I think the 400 foot range, give or take, it an excellent height for a building.

As for the ethnic festivals, I think they might pre-date my time mostly, but I often attend the ones up at the Towson Courthouse and I love them. Baltimore should bring that back, I'd definitely attend.

The ethnic festivals were one of the things that seemed to wither during the Schmoke years. I went to many of them and always enjoyed. As I recall from some people I knew who worked on organizing them, the city started charging the organizations for all sorts of items, like police overtime, electricity, rent on the ground, etc, all in the name of balancing the city budget.

The net result was to shut them down rather than gathering revunue. It was typical of the things that got lost during those years. Another one... remember when Baltimore had the US Professional Cycling Championship? The equivalent of Lance Armstrong during the 80's, Tour winner Greg Lemond, and his competitors raced on the streets of Baltimore in several nationally televised events. Again, as a volunteer, I knew organizers who said, after talks with the city government, that they would never come here again come hell or high water.

That is sad. :(

What a loss.

To reiterate what everyone else has said, great news about Water Tower. As for Cityscape, has it already been a year since it was announced? It doesn't seem nearly that long. Has anyone been able to come up with an e-mail or phone number for anyone involved in that project? Maybe we could try to get a little info out of them.
But I do agree, MasonsInquiries. It seems as though just about every project being proposed these days in the city is around 30 or so stories. That suits me just fine. I think the 400 foot range, give or take, it an excellent height for a building.

As for the ethnic festivals, I think they might pre-date my time mostly, but I often attend the ones up at the Towson Courthouse and I love them. Baltimore should bring that back, I'd definitely attend.

I e-mail the BDC about the status of Cityscape, if they knew, as well as 300 east pratt and one light street.
I'm not holding my breath with their responce. But it's worth a try.

Great news about the Water tower.

Flannagan may not have Baltimore transit needs at heart but he is right about one thing, building a new heavy rail line would be ruinisly expensive. I think that we can all agree that a spider web of lines like DC's metro would be great but at a 1/2 billion a mile its just not happening.

Any attempt to tack on an additional study now will just delay what needs to be done. I would prefer the light rail option. If possible they should make every attempt to use the existing charles transfer point.

Have we heard any time frame for when Cordish would like to start work on there new tower?

So how they make this heavy rail happen in Baltimore city could private funds make a efford in making this a reality?

these issues are quite the quandary, indeed. :(

I'm just not gonna' get my hopes up with arcwheeler anymore. they really let me down alot the last time.
Don't be down on Arc Wheeler. They just got control of the property last summer and they are not sitting on it. They've hired an expensive architect and thrown money into a feasibility study all in a short period of time (in the development world).

A six week delay isn't significant. In development, sometime you have a partner lined up and they back out (I.E. St. Regis) and you have to replace them or redesign your project. This takes time.

We all should make a guess on what they are going to build there. Mine is this:

1. Strictly a residential tower of 350 Condos. I don't think the building will be higher than 35 stories, but it will be slender with lots of balconies and floor to ceiling glass.
2. The first 1 or 2 floors will be retail.
3. There will be parking for 600 cars.

I'd love to know what you all think will be built there. Go out on a limb and make a guess!

I'll be very surprised, and extremely pleased, if something more is proposed. I'd love to see a 5 floor mall, 300 condos, and a 300 room boutique hotel all in a 50 or 60 story tower - but I don't think it's going to happen. They are not a large national developer and I don't think they have the track record or resources to produce more. So I'm guessing conservatively. That way I won't be disappointed when the presentation is unveiled (at least I hope so - they could propose less)!

If what I guessed is constructed it will still be very good for the city There will be one less parking lot, more high income downtown density, and another mid-sized building. There is nothing bad about that is there?

I was wondering, do you think all the Baltimore Forum chatter brought down the site yesterday? We are a rather wordy group! Thread 10 must have pushed them over the edge! LOL :)

Great news about the Water tower.

Flannagan may not have Baltimore transit needs at heart but he is right about one thing, building a new heavy rail line would be ruinisly expensive. I think that we can all agree that a spider web of lines like DC's metro would be great but at a 1/2 billion a mile its just not happening.

Any attempt to tack on an additional study now will just delay what needs to be done. I would prefer the light rail option. If possible they should make every attempt to use the existing charles transfer point.

Have we heard any time frame for when Cordish would like to start work on there new tower?

You're exactly right on this. Trying to make a case to study subway as an option almost seems like a strategy intended to stop the Red Line. I even doubt that light rail will be in the picture. I expect to see some sort of Bus Rapid Transit (which CAN be good if it's done RIGHT), but subway not only won't happen in Baltimore, but the chances aren't good for new subway projects anywhere right now due to the blooming Federal deficit.

"So how they make this heavy rail happen in Baltimore city could private funds make a efford in making this a reality?"

I don't think so. Transit always runs a a net loss, so it's hard to see why any private company would be interested in coming up with a couple billion up front in order to be a partner in a project that would only reclaim 40% of its operating costs (the current fare recovery level of MTA). To go back to the days when private companies operated the streetcars, they'd have to charge about $5 per ride. That wouldn't do much for ridership. Both transit and highways only survive because of massive subsidies.

Don't be down on Arc Wheeler. They just got control of the property last summer and they are not sitting on it. They've hired an expensive architect and thrown money into a feasibility study all in a short period of time (in the development world).

A six week delay isn't significant. In development, sometime you have a partner lined up and they back out (I.E. St. Regis) and you have to replace them or redesign your project. This takes time.

We all should make a guess on what they are going to build there. Mine is this:

1. Strictly a residential tower of 350 Condos. I don't think the building will be higher than 35 stories, but it will be slender with lots of balconies and floor to ceiling glass.
2. The first 1 or 2 floors will be retail.
3. There will be parking for 600 cars.

I'd love to know what you all think will be built there. Go out on a limb and make a guess!

I'll be very surprised, and extremely pleased, if something more is proposed. I'd love to see a 5 floor mall, 300 condos, and a 300 room boutique hotel all in a 50 or 60 story tower - but I don't think it's going to happen. They are not a large national developer and I don't think they have the track record or resources to produce more. So I'm guessing conservatively. That way I won't be disappointed when the presentation is unveiled (at least I hope so - they could propose less)!

If what I guessed is constructed it will still be very good for the city There will be one less parking lot, more high income downtown density, and another mid-sized building. There is nothing bad about that is there?

I was wondering, do you think all the Baltimore Forum chatter brought down the site yesterday? We are a rather wordy group! Thread 10 must have pushed them over the edge! LOL :)


I think that the 414 Light Street tower will consist of 400 condos, a 150 room hotel, parking for 1,000 and 2 to 3 ground floors of retail. I think it will be a tower in the range of 55 stories and 700 ft. tall. The tower will be slender with setbacks and balconies. I'm not sure on the materials that will clad the tower. I hope it's not brick. I would LOVE a lot of G-L-A-S-S. :D
Finally, I think there will be a modest, very appropriate-looking crown of some sort. I would love to see this tower built with a "goldish" stone with silver lining up the corners of the tower all the way to the top where there is a crown made to look like shimmering precious stones with light shining on them at night.The "glass" on the tower would have a "goldish" color as well.
It might not be described well enough, but from what it looks like in my head, well, it looks awesome! ;)

BTW, wada guy, did you get to upload those photos yet? :D

:) StevenW. I hope your prediction is better than mine. If you win, you get to claim the title of "Baltimore Psychic Of The Year".

While it's hard to see, look at the top of the 414 Water St. garage and you can see a bunch of things sticking up. That's scaffolding!
http://www.baltimoreguy.com/images/Photography%20Balto%205%2004.jpg

http://www.baltimoreguy.com/images/Photography%20Balto%205%2001.jpg

Also, if anyone is interested I threw up 2 more pages of Baltimore pictures on my web site today. The links to them are below:

http://www.baltimoreguy.com/5%20Photographs%20Baltimore%202006%201.htm

http://www.baltimoreguy.com/5%20Photographs%20Baltimore%202006%202.htm

Wow that building looks like it's going to be really tall!

:)
Also, if anyone is interested I threw up 2 more pages of Baltimore pictures on my web site today. The links to them are below:
SUPER pics, wadaguy!!!!!! i love those views of the zenith as well. i almost forgot that boutique hotel was also underway near camden yards. it also looks to be coming along nicely.

Awesome pix, wada guy!
And as for my, "prediction", LOL, I'll probably end up being the one who is the most far off from what the 414 Tower will end up being. :D

You don't often think of Baltimore for its natural beauty, but you do an excellent job of capturing it in your photos, wada_guy. Those skies are just beautiful. In Baltimore, it often seems that you never have the same sky twice, but it's always beautiful. Excellent photographs. You constantly seem to be improving as a photographer. I always enjoy your collections.

As for the 414 Light St. prediction, although I am an optimist, and I acknowledge that quite often I am let down by my expectations, I feel that Steven's prediction is a practical one. ARC mentioned that they had looked into 600 condos for the project, but would have to cut it down a bit most likely. Does it make sense that they would cut in in half? Probably not. I'd expect around 400 to 500. The boutique hotel was never a definite, but it is happens, I'd say 150 rooms is a good estimate - maybe a little less. The bottom floors will most likely be retail. As for how many floors this will entail, I have no idea. But I'd say it could be no less that 40. But who knows? Hopefully, we'll find out in two weeks :)

Is this house just going to end right where the water starts?

http://www.baltimoreguy.com/images/Photography%20Balto%205%2014.jpg

Baltimore is definately growing indeed!

what is the 20 story residential tower that you mentioned in Harbor East?
Also, are both Four Seasons towers now slated for 22 stories?
Is this house going to end where the water starts?

Peter. The first 2 questions came from the "Bumper Crop of Baltimore Buildings" thread. I couldn't remember how tall the building in Inner Harbor East was going to be, so I just said between 12 and 20 stories. I figured it has to be within that range.

Regarding the Four Seasons, I've read in articles that the towers will be 26, 24, and 22 stories tall. I cited the lower number.

And yes, the house stops right at the water. In fact, I appears to be cantilevered over the water. I read once who bought it but I've forgotten the name. (Old Age must be setting in) I do remember he is a local business owner of a midsized Baltimore Company.

Also, thanks for the picture compliments everyone. I'm glad you enjoyed them.

I wish I could claim credit for understanding complex photography issues such a focusing lenses, etc., but I can't. I take them all with a relatively inexpensive 5.1 Mega Pixel Sony digital camera that fits in a shirt pocket. I have to dumb them down to post them on the web so that they load fast. They look much better in large file format, but if I posted them untouched you would still be waiting for them to display.

Shedding rust

Baltimore Sun
Originally published January 17, 2006

The Baltimore region - enjoying rapid growth in the bioscience, health, defense, intelligence and financial-service sectors - has left the ranks of Rust Belt cities for spiffier, high-tech competitors, such as Seattle. That's a happy conclusion, but it should be taken with at least some skepticism given that it comes from the region's leading marketers, the Economic Alliance of Greater Baltimore, the Greater Baltimore Committee and the Baltimore Metropolitan Council.

Nonetheless, their latest State of the Region report makes a powerful case for the upswing in Baltimore's economy and outlook, starting with the notable fact that the region now boasts a greater value of academic research and development than even the Boston area - thanks to the heavy flow of federal grants to the Johns Hopkins University, the University of Maryland Medical Center and the University of Maryland, Baltimore County.

The report, released this month, ranks Baltimore against 19 other U.S. metropolitan areas, finding that Baltimore not only led in academic R&D but was in the top five in a growing number of areas, including low office vacancy rate, per capita income growth and high-tech employment. And the Economic Alliance sees an even brighter future.

With Baltimore's two biotech parks in the works (the east-side park is expected to break ground on its first building next month), a new National Institutes of Health biomedical center at Johns Hopkins Bayview, growth at the new Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services at Social Security in Woodlawn, a proposal for a public-private vaccine plant (wouldn't that be good reuse of the former Broening Highway General Motors plant site?), and of course as many as 40,000 new jobs set to come to Fort Meade, the National Security Agency and Aberdeen Proving Ground, the alliance boasts that Baltimore is at a seminal moment in its economic history - much as when it developed its port to rail system in the 19th century.

Key to such confidence is that this growth would be based on sectors (science, health, defense, intelligence) benefiting from federal funding and largely not vulnerable to outsourcing abroad. The State of the Region report also notes the region's obvious shortfalls, particularly high crime and low education levels in Baltimore. But alliance leaders boldly predict that the top regional problem soon will be managing all the growth headed this way - a reversal of fortune, indeed.

Peter the Four Seasons Hotel and Residential towers are slated for to be between 20-24 flrs. :)

^^ Thanks Wada_guy and Brian. I was under the impression that the hotel tower would be 20-26 floors, but that the residential tower would only b 16 or 17 floors. It's good to hear that they are both gonna be 20+ stories.

Shedding rust

Baltimore Sun
Originally published January 17, 2006

The Baltimore region - enjoying rapid growth in the bioscience, health, defense, intelligence and financial-service sectors - has left the ranks of Rust Belt cities for spiffier, high-tech competitors, such as Seattle. That's a happy conclusion, but it should be taken with at least some skepticism given that it comes from the region's leading marketers, the Economic Alliance of Greater Baltimore, the Greater Baltimore Committee and the Baltimore Metropolitan Council.

Nonetheless, their latest State of the Region report makes a powerful case for the upswing in Baltimore's economy and outlook, starting with the notable fact that the region now boasts a greater value of academic research and development than even the Boston area - thanks to the heavy flow of federal grants to the Johns Hopkins University, the University of Maryland Medical Center and the University of Maryland, Baltimore County.

The report, released this month, ranks Baltimore against 19 other U.S. metropolitan areas, finding that Baltimore not only led in academic R&D but was in the top five in a growing number of areas, including low office vacancy rate, per capita income growth and high-tech employment. And the Economic Alliance sees an even brighter future.

With Baltimore's two biotech parks in the works (the east-side park is expected to break ground on its first building next month), a new National Institutes of Health biomedical center at Johns Hopkins Bayview, growth at the new Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services at Social Security in Woodlawn, a proposal for a public-private vaccine plant (wouldn't that be good reuse of the former Broening Highway General Motors plant site?), and of course as many as 40,000 new jobs set to come to Fort Meade, the National Security Agency and Aberdeen Proving Ground, the alliance boasts that Baltimore is at a seminal moment in its economic history - much as when it developed its port to rail system in the 19th century.

Key to such confidence is that this growth would be based on sectors (science, health, defense, intelligence) benefiting from federal funding and largely not vulnerable to outsourcing abroad. The State of the Region report also notes the region's obvious shortfalls, particularly high crime and low education levels in Baltimore. But alliance leaders boldly predict that the top regional problem soon will be managing all the growth headed this way - a reversal of fortune, indeed.

I had been excited about the cities growth, but this article makes me really optimistic. Hopefully, Baltimore can optimize its growth during this pivotal period. Baltimore's high crime has always been a problem, and will always e a problem as long as it exists, but Baltimore's uneducated population might not be as big a problem as it seems. Sure, it would be great if the city's current residents would be able to fill these positions, but it's not like qualified people can't relocate to Baltimore to work in these places. Just look at all the people who relocated to Silicon Valley to work in technology. Also, Baltimore has some top universities, it is just that the city has been unable to retain many of these people after graduation. Perhaps this will begin to change.

Baltimore's high crime has always been a problem, and will always e a problem as long as it exists, but Baltimore's uneducated population might not be as big a problem as it seems.

Unfortunetly these two problems really do go hand in hand.

Even though it is a fluff piece from the GBC, it does sum up that Baltimore is rapidly changing. I can not think of a time since WW2 that so many jobs and population are flowing back into the city. Good, well paying, advanced jobs. I had not really thought about it but the article is correct in that many of these jobs are not outsource material further boosting the Baltimore area'a prospects.

The only downside is that Baltimore is still a branch town, corporate headquarters wise. We have only 1 fortune 500 company based here and could be losing that.

Perhaps with all of our biomedical growth a new pharmacutical giant will headquarter here (and build a new corporate headquarters tower, but now I'm venturing into StevenW pyschic territory :jk: )

Does anyone know how Baltimore will stack up with other major cities in the northeast and beyond when the new wave of hotel construction is over?

I know that Baltimore's hotels (or relative lack thereof) has been an issue in recent years, but with the Marriott CC Hotel, the new Garden Inn at Harbor East, the (possible) Westin at Harbor Point, the boutique slated to be included in the ARC Wheeler tower, the boutique underway at Camden Yards all in the pipeline and with the Extended Stay Marriott and the hotel at Redwood and Calvert recently coming online, how much have we improved relative to other cities?

Does anyone have any pics of Spanish town?

Does anyone know how Baltimore will stack up with other major cities in the northeast and beyond when the new wave of hotel construction is over?

I know that Baltimore's hotels (or relative lack thereof) has been an issue in recent years, but with the Marriott CC Hotel, the new Garden Inn at Harbor East, the (possible) Westin at Harbor Point, the boutique slated to be included in the ARC Wheeler tower, the boutique underway at Camden Yards all in the pipeline and with the Extended Stay Marriott and the hotel at Redwood and Calvert recently coming online, how much have we improved relative to other cities?

Also have to figure in the new Hilton Convention center Hotel and the Four Seasons. The CC hotel is to be 750 rooms, but the others cited are smaller in the 100-200 room range (the Westin, if built is in the 350 range). Roughly figuring, all told, 1500 - 1800 rooms could be added. That is still going to leave Balt. far behind Wash, Phila, Boston & NY.

^I meant to say Hilton CC Hotel, not Marriott CC Hotel. And I forgot all about the Four Seasons at Harbor East.

And DC_Kenny, there are some pics of Spanishtown in a Fells Point thread I posted awhile ago. There arent many though. Still worth a look though. Should be on page 2 or so.

Thanks! How is Baltimore going to be far behind those cities and it's growing as we know it?

Does anyone know how Baltimore will stack up with other major cities in the northeast and beyond when the new wave of hotel construction is over?

I know that Baltimore's hotels (or relative lack thereof) has been an issue in recent years, but with the Marriott CC Hotel, the new Garden Inn at Harbor East, the (possible) Westin at Harbor Point, the boutique slated to be included in the ARC Wheeler tower, the boutique underway at Camden Yards all in the pipeline and with the Extended Stay Marriott and the hotel at Redwood and Calvert recently coming online, how much have we improved relative to other cities?

waj, I don't think that we are anywhere near seeing an end to this new wave of construction. I mean, I think that projects will keep popping up every month or two for a L-O-N-G time. There are still prime spots in the city that have not been touched yet. Others, such as 300 east pratt, one light street and Cityscape have not even begun to show us what will be going up on their properties. The previous article above just gives me much more optimistic hope for bigger and grander projects ahead of us. :)
I can't wait for the day when, not only do we hear news of a new tallest,but, we can all hear news of a new arena, (should happen within the next 5 to 6 years I'm sure), and new big retail. :)

Perhaps with all of our biomedical growth a new pharmacutical giant will headquarter here (and build a new corporate headquarters tower, but now I'm venturing into StevenW pyschic territory :jk: )

LOL :hilarious: :D

btw, http://www.emporis.com/en/wm/ci/bu/sk/li/?id=101042&bt=2&ht=3&sro=101
says that the 4 seasons hotel portion will be 22 stories and the condo portion will be 18 stories. Check the link out. They may be wrong, though.

With all these new hotels added within 2 or 3 miles of the convention center, my count is nearly 9,000 rooms. The big cities like New York, DC, Boston ,etc have 15,000 to 25,000 in there city area. My guess is that we are a medium size city once the hotels are complete in the next 3 years.


Also have to figure in the new Hilton Convention center Hotel and the Four Seasons. The CC hotel is to be 750 rooms, but the others cited are smaller in the 100-200 room range (the Westin, if built is in the 350 range). Roughly figuring, all told, 1500 - 1800 rooms could be added. That is still going to leave Balt. far behind Wash, Phila, Boston & NY.

The Baltimore Area has about 30,000 hotel rooms. That is more than Houston, Detroit and many over larger cities. Downtown probably has about 9.000 hotel rooms. If you remember the Superbowl in Jacksonville. The Jacksonville area only has 4,000 hotel rooms. Many of the people actually stayed in Daytona Beach 100 miles south becasue there was nowhere to stay in Jacksonville. If Baltimore ever gets a Huge Convention is could get a cruiseship to house the extra people. That is What Jacksonville has to do for the Superbowl. The Convention Center here has 6 hotels within 1 block of the Convention Center with about 2,300 Hotel Rooms with another 2,000 rooms within three blocks away. This is even before the convention center hotel is built.

Cool stats. :)

BTW, check out this cool link: Tremont Views and more... (http://forum.skyscraperpage.com/showthread.php?t=96709)
It's a cool Baltimore thread with some very different views. :D

Wow those views are awesome. :)

Baltimore is definately taller than DC!

Cool stats. :)

BTW, check out this cool link: Tremont Views and more... (http://forum.skyscraperpage.com/showthread.php?t=96709)
It's a cool Baltimore thread with some very different views. :D

Thanks for the thread, Steven. I love these two pics. They make Baltimore's highrises look like they go on forever.


http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v202/plinko923/East%20Coast/Baltimore/DSCN4443.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v202/plinko923/East%20Coast/Baltimore/DSCN4444.jpg

Thanks for the thread, Steven. I love these two pics. They make Baltimore's highrises look like they go on forever.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v202/plinko923/East%20Coast/Baltimore/DSCN4444.jpg

This brings to mind a question. Notice on the back side of the Fidelity Building, the one to the right of the tallest building, there is a junk disposal chute. It has been there for several months with no junk coming out of the building. Does Peter Angelos finally have some plans for this building? Will something move on that? Hotel or condos? It's such a pretty building on the front with its granite facade; one of the few buildings that survived the 1904 fire. Old tenants were kicked out a while back but nothing has moved for a while. What's up?

Baltimore is definately taller than DC!

A result of DC's height limitations. I think that except for church steeples, the monument and Capitol building, nothing can be taller than 20 feet more than the width of the street in front of it. You have to admit though, it does give DC a unique look among American cities. I always think it looks more European than other places around here.

.....The only downside is that Baltimore is still a branch town, corporate headquarters wise. We have only 1 fortune 500 company based here and could be losing that.

Perhaps with all of our biomedical growth a new pharmacutical giant will headquarter here (and build a new corporate headquarters tower, but now I'm venturing into StevenW pyschic territory :jk: )

While Constellation is the only 500 company in the city, we also have McCormick and Black and Decker in Baltimore county. The "500" problem is one that is endemic to our current economic regime in which companies gobble each other up until they become too big to digest. Baltimore's asset has always been not its few big individual corporations but its diverse economy. We generally don't fly as high as some places but we also don't fall as hard because we have significant assets in almost very piece of the economy. We have tech, medical, manufacturing, intellectual... at least one finger in every pie. Add in the massive governmental influence of being close to DC and the economy here has good prospects.

As for big, big institutions, our most valuable is Hopkins. With 15,000 employees and 5 campuses in the city, it would be hard to find a bigger corporation nor one less likely to move somewhere else. Throw in the University of MD at Baltimore for extra measure and we have a real solid, high education, good income intellectual sector that many places would drool for.

does anybody know what the construction is in front of central booking ???

does anybody know what the construction is in front of central booking ???
If you are referring to the lot on the right directly next to I-83 when heading away from downtown (near the Supermax Prison), it will be a "one stop shop for the homeless". I've seen renderings of it and it reminds me of an old train station. The designers may have picked up on that theme because there used to be a rail yard there which served the old Calvert Street Station that was located at the site of the current Sunpapers Building. The new building looks kind of nice, but then again anything is an improvement over the Supermax.

They are going to relocate the "Our Daily Bread" soup kitchen away from the cathedral across from the main Pratt Library. This will benefit all Baltimoreans because once again we will be able to use the library without wearing breathing apparatus to mask the stench. Also, at this center, there will be health clinics and other services. The city and state are picking up almost all of the tab for the new building.

I wonder if the good catholic church will demolish the old soup kitchen which is less than 15 years old and is directly next to the front of the cathedral? Perhaps they could put their "Prayer Garden" there instead of on the site of the Rochaumbeu which is, in my opinion, one of the nicest structures on Charles Street. Yea, fat chance.

You can tell Baltimore has turned the corner because in many ways, we are becoming more and more like San Francisco every day.

(They say in the article it's a "grimy neighborhood". Gee, walk less than a football field length under the express way and you're in Mt. Vernon. I hardly think that's grimy.)

Below is the article from the Sun.
Our Daily Bread's new home rising on Fallsway
Originally published January 8, 2006

For years, Our Daily Bread soup kitchen has performed its good works on Cathedral Street, just across from the Enoch Pratt Free Library in Mount Vernon. In 2004, the kitchen, operated by Catholic Charities, served nearly a quarter of a million meals to the homeless and others who could not afford to buy their own.

But the presence of the kitchen and its customers drew protests from local business owners and patrons of the Pratt. City officials and others looked for an alternative site and offered help for the kitchen to relocate.

The result promises to be a modern-day blessing - an elegant, bright and airy three-story, 52,000-square-foot building, which is under construction on Fallsway opposite the city jail. The sweeping lines and expansive presence of the planned building appear likely to change the face of what has been a grimy neighborhood.

In addition to Our Daily Bread, the building will provide a new home for Christopher Place, an 18-month-old program that claims a 95 percent job-placement rate; the St. Jude's Employment Center, a program for low-skilled workers and the Samaritan Center, which provides emergency services including eviction-prevention support, traveler's aid and referrals for health, addiction recovery and housing services.

The state and city chipped in $10 million of the $13 million cost of the building. The federal government is providing $450,000.

After Our Daily Bread moves into the new building, its current space will be taken over by My Sister's Place, a day program offering breakfast and dinner, shower and laundry facilities, and life-skills workshops to homeless women and children.

Christopher Place will move from East Eager Street. St. Jude's Employment Center and the Samaritan Center will move from West Franklin Street.

AND AWAY WE GO! :cheers1:

There is a long article in the Business section of the Sun today. It concerns the bond ratings givern by the NY financial houses to the new Convention Center Hilton Hotel. Look for construction to begin in the next several weeks. Below is the last paragraph of the article.

"Milesky expects the bonds to be priced Thursday and available for sale either the same day or the next day. City economic development officials have said they expect construction to start shortly after the bonds go to market." In an earlier paragraph, they say the hotel will open in 2008. That's less than 2 year away.

They are not going to sit on this project because the builder has a fixed price construction contract. He will want to start ASAP because he "eats" all the cost over runs.

More cranes! More cranes!

And StevenW - you can't claim the "Psychic" title yet! I was thinking, 600 Condos at 1,000 sq feet each (that's a medium/small 2 bedroom - it's what I'm purchasing at Water Street) = a 600,000 sq foot building not including hallways and public spaces. That would be the largest downtown building around. The Legg Mason building is only about 500,000 sq. feet. Yes, Light Street should be interesting.

I had been excited about the cities growth, but this article makes me really optimistic. Hopefully, Baltimore can optimize its growth during this pivotal period. Baltimore's high crime has always been a problem, and will always e a problem as long as it exists, but Baltimore's uneducated population might not be as big a problem as it seems. Sure, it would be great if the city's current residents would be able to fill these positions, but it's not like qualified people can't relocate to Baltimore to work in these places. Just look at all the people who relocated to Silicon Valley to work in technology. Also, Baltimore has some top universities, it is just that the city has been unable to retain many of these people after graduation. Perhaps this will begin to change.

You are right, you cannot teach those who do not WANT to learn.

As for big, big institutions, our most valuable is Hopkins. With 15,000 employees and 5 campuses in the city, it would be hard to find a bigger corporation nor one less likely to move somewhere else. Throw in the University of MD at Baltimore for extra measure and we have a real solid, high education, good income intellectual sector that many places would drool for.

You are absolutly correct. The various parts of Hopkins are the economic heart of Baltimore, escpecially with the growth of health and biomedical industires over the last 20 years.

I received the following announcement via email. This should help those of us who like to reasearch development news.

On Monday, January 23, 2006, Council President Sheila Dixon will announce the beginning of online access to legislation from the City Council's website (www.baltimorecitycouncil.com). This will provide convenient public access to the business handled by the Baltimore City Council. You will be able to search for pending legislation and view the legislative history of a bill as well as continue to access the meeting schedule, committee voting sessions, council journal, & council agenda. Easier access to the Baltimore City Code, Public Local Laws, the Baltimore City Charter and City Council Rules will also be vailable.

That's great news indeed, jpreston02! :) I'll be sure to check it out. :)

AND AWAY WE GO! :cheers1:

There is a long article in the Business section of the Sun today. It concerns the bond ratings givern by the NY financial houses to the new Convention Center Hilton Hotel. Look for construction to begin in the next several weeks. Below is the last paragraph of the article.

"Milesky expects the bonds to be priced Thursday and available for sale either the same day or the next day. City economic development officials have said they expect construction to start shortly after the bonds go to market." In an earlier paragraph, they say the hotel will open in 2008. That's less than 2 year away.

They are not going to sit on this project because the builder has a fixed price construction contract. He will want to start ASAP because he "eats" all the cost over runs.

More cranes! More cranes!

And StevenW - you can't claim the "Psychic" title yet! I was thinking, 600 Condos at 1,000 sq feet each (that's a medium/small 2 bedroom - it's what I'm purchasing at Water Street) = a 600,000 sq foot building not including hallways and public spaces. That would be the largest downtown building around. The Legg Mason building is only about 500,000 sq. feet. Yes, Light Street should be interesting.

Oh man, would I love this tower to be the ONE. :D Maybe you will be right on this one. :D
Feb. 2nd is not too far away.

A result of DC's height limitations. I think that except for church steeples, the monument and Capitol building, nothing can be taller than 20 feet more than the width of the street in front of it. You have to admit though, it does give DC a unique look among American cities. I always think it looks more European than other places around here.

Yep, if DC did not have the height restrictions, then WOW! What a skyline that would be! Isn't DC the 2nd largest office market in the country after NYC?

This brings to mind a question. Notice on the back side of the Fidelity Building, the one to the right of the tallest building, there is a junk disposal chute. It has been there for several months with no junk coming out of the building. Does Peter Angelos finally have some plans for this building? Will something move on that? Hotel or condos? It's such a pretty building on the front with its granite facade; one of the few buildings that survived the 1904 fire. Old tenants were kicked out a while back but nothing has moved for a while. What's up?
Wasn't he planning a mix-use of some sort there? :? condo,apartment/hotel..... ?

Thanks for the thread, Steven. I love these two pics. They make Baltimore's highrises look like they go on forever.


http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v202/plinko923/East%20Coast/Baltimore/DSCN4443.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v202/plinko923/East%20Coast/Baltimore/DSCN4444.jpg

Yeah, certain photo angles and FOG can do that. ;)

You guys remember this tower? :)

"Planning Board OKs tower in Columbia"
Proposed height protested; appeal seems likely
by A Sun Reporter
Originally published January 20, 2006

The developer of a proposed 22-story tower in downtown Columbia will begin taking reservations on the luxury units next month, but opponents of the structure are not likely to go away with a whimper.



The opponents suffered a resounding defeat Wednesday in their efforts to block the proposed residential and retail structure when the Planning Board voted, 3-1, to approve the 275-foot tower.

The opponents left open the possibility of appealing the decision. Given the intensity of the debate the development has provoked, an appeal seems likely.

"I'm happy for Howard County and happy for Columbia," Anthony F. Albanese, division president of WCI Communities, Inc., the developer, said after the vote. "I'm happy to see this new town evolve to become a real place."

He said the company would proceed with its design and file for building permits in early March. Albanese said sales pavilions will open early next month and that reservations on the units should begin "toward the middle of the month."

The company has proposed constructing the high rise on 1.46 acres on the northwest side of Little Patuxent Parkway and Wincopin Circle, across from The Mall in Columbia. The project would include 160 condominium units, a four-level underground parking garage and 10,697 square feet of retail space at the ground level.

In approving the site development plan, the Planning Board said it lacked the authority to require a scaled-down version of the project as the opponents of the development had sought.

Board member H. Gregory Tornatore, the lone dissenter, said that the tower would be so imposing that it will be incompatible with the neighborhood.

"A structure of 275 feet is not in the character of New Town Columbia," Tornatore said. A more appropriate size, he said, would be a tower of 10 to 15 stories.

Opponents had pinned their hopes primarily on two points: The high rise would be the tallest structure in the county and out of character for the neighborhood, and that the project should be delayed until work is completed on the county's master plan for downtown Columbia. That plan is expected to include height limitations.

The opponents lost on both points Wednesday.

Marsha S. McLaughlin, director of the Department of Planning and Zoning, told the board it would be inappropriate to hold WCI Communities to standards that have not been adopted.

At the heart of the debate, though, was whether the board could reverse a decision by a previous Planning Board that approved the developer's final development plan with no height restrictions.

"The board," Tornatore said, "does have authority to adjust [the] height" of the high rise.

The board majority demurred. "I don't agree that at this stage we can step back and say, 'You have to make it smaller,'" said Tammy J. CitaraManis, the chairwoman.

"I agree," said board member Linda A. Dombrowski. "You drew the gate and closed it" when the final development plan was approved. "The issue of height is not something we can change."

She indicated, though, that she is uncomfortable with the size of the proposed high rise. "The previous Planning Board blew it," Dombrowski said, by not imposing height limitations.

A last-ditch effort to block the tower failed when the board declined to accept a motion filed Wednesday by attorney E. Alexander Adams to deny approval of the developer's site development plan.

The public had until Jan. 6 to file comments. The board ruled that Adams missed the deadline and thus his motion was inadmissible.

Lloyd Knowles, a principal voice for the opposition, said after the meeting that the outcome was predictable.

"It was totally expected, except for the decision not to consider the motion of denial," said Knowles, a former Planning Board member and county councilman. "This is a legal document, and it should have been considered much differently than just comments ... I thought they would give more weight to that, and I thought they would get their attorney more involved into reviewing exactly what it was we were saying, instead of throwing it out as being inappropriate."

He said a decision has not been made whether to seek a hearing before the Board of Appeals.

Albanese, of WCI Communities, said despite the controversy he believes the high rise will be a "terrific product."

"I'm excited about the project," he said. "I think it will be a great addition to Howard County."

Nouveau furniture is moving from the Can Factory to Harbor East. Will be next to South Moon Under. They want to be part of what is becoming Harbor East Furniture Row. Arhaus Furniture will open in the Vue August 2007 and Gaines & Mchale opened next to Pazo's last year. Also, in Febuary a hand bag store (bags $200 and up) and City Sports(Sporting goods store) will open in Harbor East. Further, a men's and women's shoe store will open in Harbor East this year also(forget the name). All of this is in the Baltimore Business Journal that came out today.

Ad in Sunday Real Estate Section for Aegon Condo's at old Danny's Resturaunt site(on Charles). twelve09living.com

How tall will this condo be?

Wasn't he planning a mix-use of some sort there? :? condo,apartment/hotel..... ?

A couple years ago I heard that it was going to be a boutique hotel, then a condo, but now nothing. The chute went up a few months ago and just seems to be waiting for the dumpster to be pulled up.

How tall will this condo be?

I think 6 stories. Streuver intended to to fit in with the neighboring buildings in the vicinity. It won't be very tall but it should be a great addition to the streetscape, especially considering the state of the buildings and parking lot that currently sits on the site.

Yep, if DC did not have the height restrictions, then WOW! What a skyline that would be! Isn't DC the 2nd largest office market in the country after NYC?

It probably is. There are so many buildings there with huge footprints that have low ceilings so they can cram as many floors as possible into the street width + 20 forumla that you can't help but wonder what it would look like with no restrictions. It wouldn't be DC though. There is a certain drama that comes with the flat skyline punctuated by the Capitol and Monument that is unique to DC. You know you couldn't be anywhere else, as surely as you know that when you look up at the huge vertical buildings in NYC.

Ad in Sunday Real Estate Section for Aegon Condo's at old Danny's Resturaunt site(on Charles). twelve09living.com

Sounds nice. :)

You know, I was just thinking about how cool it would be to be on the top floor of the Schaffer tower and to see all the great views from that point. Is there any way people can go to the top floor? Or is it private? Since that last little photo shoot from top of the Tremont, it's got me thinking of what other great vantage points the city has from buildings that would be great to take pictures from. :)

Good luck mate! I think that is owned by some huge mogul...

I think the only public observation places are the world trade center and that steep hill south of Hampden

The top of the Washington Monument is another great public observation area. I also imagine you could see a lot from the Patterson Park Pagoda also when it's open. Wha do you think will become of the Top of the World Observation Deck if the WTC converts? I've heard that on a clear day you can see New York City from up there. It sounded impossible to me, but I've heard more than one person confirm it.

Another great vantage point is at City College. I believe its the highest point in the city. Great view of downtown. Other than that a great vista was the old Memorial Stadium's upper deck.

The top of the Washington Monument is another great public observation area. I also imagine you could see a lot from the Patterson Park Pagoda also when it's open. Wha do you think will become of the Top of the World Observation Deck if the WTC converts? I've heard that on a clear day you can see New York City from up there. It sounded impossible to me, but I've heard more than one person confirm it.


I don't know about seeing nyc from the top of the world trade center, but on a clear day you can see the washington monument and the capital building in DC from the top of the wbal tv towers, they showed it on tv a few times. Those towers are over 1,000 ft tall!

I don't know about seeing nyc from the top of the world trade center, but on a clear day you can see the washington monument and the capital building in DC from the top of the wbal tv towers, they showed it on tv a few times. Those towers are over 1,000 ft tall!

I would think that Philly would be seen first, WAY before NYC. :D

I got up very early Saturday morning and headed downtown with my camera. The sun was shining and I got a really good picture of the top of 414 Water Street from the Lockwood Place garage.

They are about to close the 400 block of Water Street. All the parking meters are covered! In just one week, I've see a lot of construction progress.

I.ve decided that I'm going to document the construction of this building from start to finish by taking pictures from the same vantage points every week - rain or shine!

I too saw the ad for the 1200 Block of Charles Street project in the Sun. I'm glad that's about to kick off. That will be one less parking lot on Baltimore's main street!

You know, I was just thinking about how cool it would be to be on the top floor of the Schaffer tower and to see all the great views from that point. Is there any way people can go to the top floor? Or is it private? Since that last little photo shoot from top of the Tremont, it's got me thinking of what other great vantage points the city has from buildings that would be great to take pictures from. :)

I missed my chance at that. The Shaffer building is owned by the State and the rooms in that spike are at least somewhat in use. A couple years ago my wife, who is a trainer, taught a course in one of them. She said the that view is great, although not too much different from the WTC observation level. The main thing she remarked about was how on that windy day, you had the impression that the thing was moving. Apparently the rooms are big enough to have a meeting with about 40 people.

I don't know about seeing nyc from the top of the world trade center, but on a clear day you can see the washington monument and the capital building in DC from the top of the wbal tv towers, they showed it on tv a few times. Those towers are over 1,000 ft tall!

The other place to get a great view that isn't quite as exposed as the TV towers, is in Towson, from the tops of the high rises. The hill at the center of Towson is close to 500 feet above sea level and several of those condos look to be approaching 400 feet so from the top, you would be higher than anywhere downtown. I have doubts about seeing NYC (curvature of the earth and all that) but DC seems likely and I have heard many times that you can see the Bay Bridges.

Nouveau furniture is moving from the Can Factory to Harbor East. Will be next to South Moon Under. They want to be part of what is becoming Harbor East Furniture Row. Arhaus Furniture will open in the Vue August 2007 and Gaines & Mchale opened next to Pazo's last year. Also, in Febuary a hand bag store (bags $200 and up) and City Sports(Sporting goods store) will open in Harbor East. Further, a men's and women's shoe store will open in Harbor East this year also(forget the name). All of this is in the Baltimore Business Journal that came out today.

I think this is great news Terp. I still would like to see a Crate & Barrel or Pottery Barn locate there. I think this area has really taken off. It has that "Main Street" feel about it; you know the one they are trying to replicate out in the burbs. The difference is this is real and there are at least 12 stories of residences above all these stores. It's a nasty job, but somebody has to furnish them! :)

As an afterthought, I think we are becoming more like the Europeans every day. Over there, all the money is in the cities and the slums are in the burbs (i.e. the riots in France). It's going to take a while, but I think the trend is going that way. At one time, that is how American Cities were too. Look at Mt. Vernon. It was the Greenspring Valley of it's day and Towson was a nothing.

The top of the Washington Monument is another great public observation area. I also imagine you could see a lot from the Patterson Park Pagoda also when it's open. Wha do you think will become of the Top of the World Observation Deck if the WTC converts? I've heard that on a clear day you can see New York City from up there. It sounded impossible to me, but I've heard more than one person confirm it.

I've been in the pagoda. It has a nice view, but you can't see anything distant. It's like being about 20 feet above the roofs of the rowhouses around there. It is open to the public now and again. I happened upon it when they were having its grand re-opening. That building is so delightfully odd; a great Victorian fantasy. It isn't really a pagoda but it's hard to find another word to describe it so that's probably good enough.

wbal tower is just over 1,000 ft and the channel 45 tower is close to 1500 ft

I agree Wada Guy. A major weakness Baltimore has always had is that it does not have a shopping area for middle/upper middle class people. Harbor East is starting to give us hope. My guess is that in 5 to 7 years we may have 50 street level stores. Noveau, Arhaus Furniture, Gaines Mchale, City Sports, handbag store, mens and women's shoe store , South Moon Under is a nice start.


I think this is great news Terp. I still would like to see a Crate & Barrel or Pottery Barn locate there. I think this area has really taken off. It has that "Main Street" feel about it; you know the one they are trying to replicate out in the burbs. The difference is this is real and there are at least 12 stories of residences above all these stores. It's a nasty job, but somebody has to furnish them! :)

As an afterthought, I think we are becoming more like the Europeans every day. Over there, all the money is in the cities and the slums are in the burbs (i.e. the riots in France). It's going to take a while, but I think the trend is going that way. At one time, that is how American Cities were too. Look at Mt. Vernon. It was the Greenspring Valley of it's day and Towson was a nothing.

I agree Wada Guy. A major weakness Baltimore has always had is that it does not have a shopping area for middle/upper middle class people. Harbor East is starting to give us hope. My guess is that in 5 to 7 years we may have 50 street level stores. Noveau, Arhaus Furniture, Gaines Mchale, City Sports, handbag store, mens and women's shoe store , South Moon Under is a nice start.
If retail is good it generally keeps people "in the city".

IMHO, great retail is the "glue" that connects residents to their residences. Or it's the "magnet" that attracts people from outside the city. :D

I'm not underscoring the importance of mass transportation, quality education systems or crime levels though. :)

BTW, is there a Williams & Sonoma in town? How about a "Five Guys Famous Burgers and Fries"?

I believe there's a Williams Sonoma in Cross Keys, but I'm not certain about that. As for "Five Guys Famous Burgers and Fries" - I've never heard of it before.

BTW, is there a Williams & Sonoma in town? How about a "Five Guys Famous Burgers and Fries"?

Correct me if I'm wrong, but wasn't it reported sometime last year that a Five Guys Famous Burgers and Fries would be opening in Mt. Vernon?

BTW, is there a Williams & Sonoma in town? How about a "Five Guys Famous Burgers and Fries"?


StevenW, yes there is a Williams & Sonoma in Cross Keys and also one in the Towson Town Center Mall. As for 5 Guys, there is one in the Pratt Street Pavilion of Harbor Place and there is another one in Pikesville. There was talk of them opening on Charles St. where the Nuveau used to be and there was even a sign saying coming soon, but that was last summer and that space is still vacant, so I guess they pulled out.

Went to the grand opening of Dadaleus Books and Records in Belvedere Square and the place was mobed with people. This should really give Belvedere Square a lot more foot traffic. The owners of Cafe Zen are also opening a Tex Mex restaurant where the Gators pub used to be. Does anybody know what is going in on that little hill where the dinner used to be, in between that row of shops and the Staples on the east side of York Road?

Thanks, guys. :)
I love the Williams and Sonoma store. Every now and then I splurge and go to the Five Guys Burger and Fries. Awesome burgers, IMO. :D

I believe there's a Williams Sonoma in Cross Keys, but I'm not certain about that. As for "Five Guys Famous Burgers and Fries" - I've never heard of it before.

If you get the chance, (and you like burgers and fries), check it out. They are great, IMO.
BTW, they sell hotdogs, too. :D

There's one in DC. In the Georgetown area but it got burned down.

Hey the Ravens fans must not know about this Map. Lets post are votes for the Ravens and Orioles. http://commoncensus.org/sports.php

Correct me if I'm wrong, but wasn't it reported sometime last year that a Five Guys Famous Burgers and Fries would be opening in Mt. Vernon?

They were to open on Charles St just below the monument, but the got a space in Harborplace, Pratt St, and opened there instead.

Hey the Ravens fans must not know about this Map. Lets post are votes for the Ravens and Orioles. http://commoncensus.org/sports.php
Interesting map. :)

...Went to the grand opening of Dadaleus Books and Records in Belvedere Square and the place was mobed with people. This should really give Belvedere Square a lot more foot traffic. The owners of Cafe Zen are also opening a Tex Mex restaurant where the Gators pub used to be. Does anybody know what is going in on that little hill where the dinner used to be, in between that row of shops and the Staples on the east side of York Road?

I like the new Dadaleus store. The books are cheap but not the usual worn and cracked "closeouts" that you see in the temp and bargain book stores. Some of them are even still on best seller lists but in another format. The music is a little too archival for my tastes, but with books AND food in Belvedere Square, I can see my time there increasing, especially once outdoor Friday music comes back into season. I've been hoping that something would happen to Gator's Pub; Tex-Mex could be a hit there. In Belvedere's previous life, the Chili's that was at Belvedere was, at one point, the highest selling one in the chain.

I don't know what's happening to the property across the street from the Senator. I believe that Kefauber owns (or owned) the property, which was used to store a wrecked diner that he once had plans to restore but there isn't anything on the Senator web site about what may be happening there.

Baltimore councilman wants green standard for city-funded projects
Heather Harlan
Staff
Baltimore City Councilman James Kraft is pushing a plan to make city-funded development projects more environment-friendly.

The first-term Democrat, who represents Southeast Baltimore, said he has initiated conversations with Mayor Martin O'Malley's office and the Baltimore Development Corp. about either encouraging or requiring developers to use LEED or Energy Star guidelines on municipal projects or those in which the city is financially involved.

LEED -- Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design -- is a voluntary national standard for developing high-performance, sustainable buildings. Shepherded by the U.S. Green Building Council, the standard is considered the strongest in the country.

Energy Star is another rating system designed to reduce energy costs. Introduced by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in 1992, Energy Star is a voluntary program.

Across the country, architects and developers are beginning to focus on these "green'' standards with more regularity when designing buildings from office complexes to retail centers. The establishment of a Baltimore chapter of the U.S. Green Building Council more than a year ago shows the seeds are being planted here.


Peter Dooo, president ofthe local chapter, said Kraft teamed with his organization last spring to form the Baltimore City Green Building Task Force. The aim, he said, is to put some green requirements in place locally for municipal development projects.

"From my perspective, we would love to see the city require it," Doo said.

M.J. "Jay" Brodie, president of the Baltimore Development Corp., could not be reached for comment. The Baltimore Development Corp., the city's economic development arm, is working with the task force, Do said.

The agency plans to set up a panel of developers to solicit feedback from that contingent on the potential of green building requirements. Many developers bristle at the idea of green design because the initial building costs can be expensive.

The use of recycled materials, under-floor air distribution systems and numerous, operable windows, for example, can drive up development costs but provide energy savings.

Doo and other green building advocates believe that the long-term cost savings and health benefits of green buildings outweigh any upfront expenses.

Doo said the city may have to offer incentives to get a green program off the ground. Another option, Kraft said, is to phase in green building requirements.

In Baltimore, LEED certified buildings include the Social Security Administration Child Care Center and the Stewart's Building on the west side.

"When you look at it long term, it's hard to argue with," Kraft said.



© 2006 American City Business Journals Inc.

Hey the Ravens fans must not know about this Map. Lets post are votes for the Ravens and Orioles. http://commoncensus.org/sports.php

I voted Redskins and Orioles.

I think this is great news Terp. I still would like to see a Crate & Barrel or Pottery Barn locate there. I think this area has really taken off. It has that "Main Street" feel about it; you know the one they are trying to replicate out in the burbs. The difference is this is real and there are at least 12 stories of residences above all these stores. It's a nasty job, but somebody has to furnish them!
Im like 80% sure Pottery Barn will be opening on the ground floor retail level of the Vue. In fact, if you look at the remdering of the building, you can see the Pottery Barn logo.

There is a Five Guys in White Marsh too.

Five Guys is a chain that started in northern Virginia 10 years ago. They sell franchises and have numerous locations on the east coast. Their success is based on having a limited menu. Mostly it's hamburgers and home made french fries and the portions are huge. Having eaten there once or twice, I have no doubt they are responsible for many customer heart attacks! They are not know for health food. DCKenny, there is one in The Shops at National Place downtown and they have many other locations around DC.

:dunno: I'm rather disappointed that the 414 Water Street developers didn't have a "roof breaking" ceremony or something. The Zenith, Vue, and just about every other project had a ceremony of some kind where they invited the mayor and other dignitaries. Oh well, I'm just glad it's going up. :bowtie:

As of Sunday Water Street is fenced off and closed to traffic. Construction is coming along nicely as you can see.

http://www.baltimoreguy.com/images/Photography%20414%20Week%202%20E.jpg

THERE ARE NOT AS MANY RED BRICK TOWERS IN THE SKYLINE AS WE THINK THERE ARE

http://www.baltimoreguy.com/images/Index.jpg

Awesome shot! Thanks, wada guy. :)
I'm getting really excited about this tower. I envy you having a 30th floor residence in that tower. :uh: I know you'll be happy when you get to move in. :D I would! :D

Awesome shot! Thanks, wada guy. :)
I'm getting really excited about this tower. I envy you having a 30th floor residence in that tower. :uh: I know you'll be happy when you get to move in. :D I would! :D

Thanks StevenW. I'm not excited at all yet. Instead, all I have is anxiety because I know I have so much to do before I get there. When they started construction, I had this sense of dread come over me. It has since passed thank god. I'll be excited once it's mine and I'm moved in, unpacked, and comfortable!

Thanks for the info about 5 guys eventhough I never there. Even the other famous hamburger joint, I never ate there yet and it's in Chinatown.

Thanks for the info about 5 guys eventhough I never there. Even the other famous hamburger joint, I never ate there yet and it's in Chinatown. Also how tall is the 414 water street building is?

Thanks StevenW. I'm not excited at all yet. Instead, all I have is anxiety because I know I have so much to do before I get there. When they started construction, I had this sense of dread come over me. It has since passed thank god. I'll be excited once it's mine and I'm moved in, unpacked, and comfortable!

I know how it is about moving transitions. Not too fun. But, it will be worth it all in the end. :D

DCKenny, the Water Tower is supposed to be 341 ft. tall, if I'm not mistaken. :) Isn't that right, wada guy?

Awesome shot! Thanks, wada guy. :)
I'm getting really excited about this tower. I envy you having a 30th floor residence in that tower. :uh: I know you'll be happy when you get to move in. :D I would! :D
i can't wait to see the snapshots that wada_guy's going to take from his new home 30 floors up two years from now when the building's done. it's going to look great!

5 guys is pretty good but a little pricey...the burgers aren't bad for like $4.50 (they are double burgers, and taste a lot like johnny rockets) but they get you on the sides...regular coke $2.25...fries are like $3.00. I'd just as soon go to fudruckers where they have more choices, a fixens bar and a little more atmosphere. 5 guys is just a fast food restaurant.

Honest;y. I don't like 5 guys! Fuddruckers is way better!!

http://www.baltimoreguy.com/images/Index.jpg

This is a great skyline shot, wada_guy. There is so much detail in this picture. This is gonna be a great angle once Water Tower is finished. But it would look even better if something went up at 300 East Pratt Street.

Some news items from the Messenger. While they aren't as exciting as some big buildings, it's things like this that help to make the city a better place to live -

A bike plan may be 25 years late, but better late than never (http://news.mywebpal.com/news_tool_v2.cfm?show=localnews&pnpID=574&NewsID=690135&CategoryID=8012&on=1)

and

Will Zip Cars finally arrive in Baltimore? (http://news.mywebpal.com/news_tool_v2.cfm?show=localnews&pnpID=574&NewsID=690134&CategoryID=8012&on=1)

and, last but not least

After being empty for a while, Gator's, across the street from Belvedere Square will reopen soon as a Tex Mex restaurant (http://news.mywebpal.com/news_tool_v2.cfm?show=localnews&pnpID=574&NewsID=690137&CategoryID=8012&on=1)

My subscription ran on on the Daily Record, but there are two interesting articles today. One about the BRAC and development in Harford County and one on the development at the former site of the Holabird Towers (housing project) near I-95. Can someone post?

Here is the bike plan:

http://www.baltimorecity.gov/government/planning/images/BikeMeeting_2_2006.pdf

Speaking of which. I started by biking commute this am. First shot door to desk in 35 minutes. That inlucdes getting dressed here at work. So, not too shabby. Drive used to take about 20 minutes door to desk. but drive home used to take upwards of 30 to 40 minutes. So the biking home will be much nicer. It was actually rather pleasant this morning despite the cold.

Work to begin on city biz park
Developer expects industrial, office, retail tenants at site
By JEN DeGREGORIO
Daily Record Business Writer

A group of Baltimore developers will soon begin transforming the site of a former public housing project in Northeast Baltimore into a $32 million industrial business park. Hollander Rock LLC — a firm headed by Dean Harrison, Mark Levy, Mark Shapiro and investor Ronald Lipscomb — bought the 56-acre Hollander Ridge public housing site for $4 million late last month.

Built in the mid-1970s, the now-demolished complex once contained 1,000 public housing units. In 2003, the federal Department of Housing and Urban Development approved the disposition of Hollander Ridge by the Housing Authority of Baltimore City.

Hollander 95 Business Park will rise from the ashes of that failed public housing site, bringing roughly 500,000 square feet of space for industrial, office and retail uses. The project will create a projected 460 jobs, according to statistics from the Baltimore Development Corp., the city’s economic development agency.

“It’s going to be a very attractive, heavily landscaped business park,” said Shapiro, a principal of Baltimore-based Shapiro Co. The site, which abuts the Rosedale community in Baltimore County, consists of two properties, at 7200 Pulaski Highway and 1602 62nd St. Hollander Rock plans to begin site work in the coming weeks and expects to deliver the first two buildings, each about 80,000 square feet, by this time next year, Shapiro said.

After the first two buildings, another six buildings will be built-to-suit, depending on demand, he said. While Hollander Rock expects industrial tenants, Shapiro said he would not be surprised if one or more purely office buildings were built.

Located in a state-designated Enterprise Zone with easy access to Interstate 95, the park is expected to generate a good deal of demand. Six acres that face Pulaski Highway would likely be dedicated to some sort of retail component, with options ranging from a hotel to a convenience store and gas station.

Hollander Rock has not yet decided whether it will develop the retail portion or sell it to an end user, Shapiro said. He said the group has fielded a number of inquiries, although he declined to name any companies.

GI Plastek, a plastics manufacturer based in Newburyport, Mass., was expected to be an anchor tenant for the development. But that has changed, Shapiro said. “With the shape that this project has taken, we think this is going to be a little more high-end … than GI Plastek.”

“We’re looking for smaller industrial tenants,” which would take between 20,000 and 25,000 square feet of space each, Shapiro said. The buildings will include free, on-site parking, he said.

The Maryland Transportation Authority has reserved the right to purchase seven acres of the Hollander Ridge site to expand Interstate 95 to 12 lanes, running about 10-miles between Route 43 in White Marsh to just inside the city line. Kelly Melhem, a spokeswoman for the authority, did not know when the highway widening would begin. Officials at the BDC did not return phone calls for comment.

Public, private steps to capitalize on BRAC jobs
By JAMES MOSHER
Daily Record Business Writer

Opus East LLC plans to build this 2 million-square-foot development at Aberdeen Proving Ground, and three county governments in that area are rolling out a coordinated marketing effort, all in order to accommodate the thousands of new jobs heading to Maryland as military bases elsewhere shift their operations to Aberdeen and Fort Meade.

At least one Maryland developer is moving ahead with plans for a huge new office and laboratory complex in Harford County, aimed at capturing some of the thousands of jobs destined for Maryland because of military base realignments. And three county governments will announce details today of a marketing strategy in an effort to ease the transition of scores of companies into their jurisdictions.

Opus East LLC, the Rockville-based unit of Minneapolis-based Opus Group, is anticipating the additional jobs and offices likely to be clustered around the Aberdeen Proving Ground military installation. The company is collaborating with Army and APG officials on a development known as the Government and Technology Enterprise, or G.A.T.E. The planned 2 million-square-foot project will include office, laboratory, and research and development facilities, according to an Opus East brochure.

Opus is negotiating with the Army Corps of Engineers for 200 acres at the proving ground where G.A.T.E. would be built, according to Gail Chrzan, vice president of corporate services at CB Richard Ellis, Opus’ Baltimore-based leasing agent. Opus hopes to sign an agreement by the end of this month, Chrzan said. If all goes according to plan, Opus will break ground in March or April and CB Richard Ellis will begin negotiations in June with companies interested in leasing space, Chrzan said.

Interest is strong, Chrzan said. “We’ve had wonderful interest from six or seven major firms that want to be up there,” she said. County officials have a plan to capitalize on the interest that Opus is already reporting. Baltimore County Executive James T. Smith Jr., Harford County Executive David R. Craig and Nelson K. Bolender, president of the Cecil County Board of Commissioners, will gather today in Aberdeen to tout the “Chesapeake Science & Security Corridor.”

The 10:30 a.m. event will feature unveiling of a logo and brochure that economic development officials will send to U.S. Army contractors slated to move to the Aberdeen and Fort Meade areas over the next few years, according to Fronda J. Cohen, communications director of Baltimore County’s Department of Economic Development.

“Our message is, ‘When you’re ready to relocate, we’re ready for you,’” Cohen said. The initiative has a Web site at www.marylandready.com. Plans also include sharing resources, she said. Economic development officers began major work on the campaign last summer, Cohen said. Baltimore County, whose officials were charged with designing and printing the brochure, may become home to many defense firm offices, thanks in part to its geography, she said.

“Baltimore County is conveniently located right in the middle between [Aberdeen and Fort Meade],” Cohen said. Baltimore County will likely have plenty of office space available. A 1,000-acre project known as Baltimore Crossroads@95 is slated to include 2.2 million square feet of flex/office space. The Route 43 highway extension project, slated to be finished later this year, will provide access to buildings in the Crossroads development as well as connect White Marsh to the Middle River business district, home to plants owned by Bethesda-based Lockheed Martin Corp., the world’s largest defense contractor.

Several contractors will be relocating from Fort Monmouth, N.J., because of the Base Realignment and Closure, or BRAC, process. BRAC Commission recommendations were finalized in November when President Bush and Congress accepted proposals, many of them first suggested by the Pentagon. The Greater Baltimore area could gain as many as 60,000 government and civilian jobs in the defense, homeland security and information technology sectors because of BRAC, according to estimates by the Maryland Department of Business and Economic Development.

Here is the bike plan:

http://www.baltimorecity.gov/government/planning/images/BikeMeeting_2_2006.pdf

Speaking of which. I started by biking commute this am. First shot door to desk in 35 minutes. That inlucdes getting dressed here at work. So, not too shabby. Drive used to take about 20 minutes door to desk. but drive home used to take upwards of 30 to 40 minutes. So the biking home will be much nicer. It was actually rather pleasant this morning despite the cold.

Congratulations! Has the car turned up yet?

I've heard several times that the water tower is going to be 341 ft. Is that with the garage height included? Because the garage its self is close to 100 ft alone. So is the apartment tower 341 ft alone? If you add the one hundred ft of the garage to the 341 ft then that gives us a 441 ft tower! In a few renderings it has looked as if water tower will be almost the height of Commerce tower which is 454 ft.

^^ My guess is that Water Tower will be closer to 441 than 341. It looks much to close to the height of Commerce Place to be 341, and the fact that it is 31 floors alone is indicative of a taller height than 341.

Is it cheaper to build on top of an existing structure like they are doing at Water Tower or is it cheaper to start from scratch?

yeah, but that many floors: 31, is counting the garage levels too. And, it's not hard to believe that it will be 341 ft. to me. Average residential floor to floor ratio is around 9 to 11 ft. per floor, so 31 total levels around 10 ft. each floor is 310 ft. add the little crown of about 31 ft. and you have 341 ft. of height. That's not that bad. Don't get me wrong, I would love it if it were 441 ft. but I don't think it will be.

wada guy can probably tell us the exact height since he has a condo on the 30th floor. :D They had to tell him, I would think.

And Peter, I think it would be cheaper to build on top of the garage, IMO.

Is it cheaper to build on top of an existing structure like they are doing at Water Tower or is it cheaper to start from scratch?

Foundation work is expensive and time consuming. Assuming that the existing structure is suitable, it should be much cheaper to build on an existing structure.


The Maryland Transportation Authority has reserved the right to purchase seven acres of the Hollander Ridge site to expand Interstate 95 to 12 lanes, running about 10-miles between Route 43 in White Marsh to just inside the city line. Kelly Melhem, a spokeswoman for the authority, did not know when the highway widening would begin. Officials at the BDC did not return phone calls for comment.

I have heard that MDOT is planning on compleatly replacing the I95/I695 interchange to accomdate expansion, this would mean not just replacing bridges, but a whole new design, to accomdate future growth.

Here is the bike plan:

http://www.baltimorecity.gov/government/planning/images/BikeMeeting_2_2006.pdf

Speaking of which. I started by biking commute this am. First shot door to desk in 35 minutes. That inlucdes getting dressed here at work. So, not too shabby. Drive used to take about 20 minutes door to desk. but drive home used to take upwards of 30 to 40 minutes. So the biking home will be much nicer. It was actually rather pleasant this morning despite the cold.

Jeff, have you moved to a different residence since you took those pictures on top of the roof overlooking the Harbor, about 4 or 5 years ago I think? :?

BTW, good link. Thanks. :)

Foundation work is expensive and time consuming. Assuming that the existing structure is suitable, it should be much cheaper to build on an existing structure.



I have heard that MDOT is planning on compleatly replacing the I95/I695 interchange to accomdate expansion, this would mean not just replacing bridges, but a whole new design, to accomdate future growth.


That's really wild! I'd love to see the new design concept, wouldn't you? :D

Some news items from the Messenger. While they aren't as exciting as some big buildings, it's things like this that help to make the city a better place to live -

A bike plan may be 25 years late, but better late than never (http://news.mywebpal.com/news_tool_v2.cfm?show=localnews&pnpID=574&NewsID=690135&CategoryID=8012&on=1)

and

Will Zip Cars finally arrive in Baltimore? (http://news.mywebpal.com/news_tool_v2.cfm?show=localnews&pnpID=574&NewsID=690134&CategoryID=8012&on=1)

and, last but not least

After being empty for a while, Gator's, across the street from Belvedere Square will reopen soon as a Tex Mex restaurant (http://news.mywebpal.com/news_tool_v2.cfm?show=localnews&pnpID=574&NewsID=690137&CategoryID=8012&on=1)


Thanks for the links, scando. :)

yeah, but that many floors: 31, is counting the garage levels too. And, it's not hard to believe that it will be 341 ft. to me. Average residential floor to floor ratio is around 9 to 11 ft. per floor, so 31 total levels around 10 ft. each floor is 310 ft. add the little crown of about 31 ft. and you have 341 ft. of height. That's not that bad. Don't get me wrong, I would love it if it were 441 ft. but I don't think it will be.

wada guy can probably tell us the exact height since he has a condo on the 30th floor. :D They had to tell him, I would think.

And Peter, I think it would be cheaper to build on top of the garage, IMO.

I wanted to get home and look at my notes before I weighed in on this. Indeed, the height is 341 feet from the tip of the pyramid above the elevator shaft to street level.

When I reserved the unit on the 29th floor I asked how high it was and they showed me the architectural elevation plan for the entire building. The floor of my unit was 292 feet from street level. The pyramid top was 341 feet from street level.

All the ceiling heights for the units in the building will be 8 feet except for the top 3 floors and bottom 2 floors (of new construction), where they will be 10 feet tall. The building will be 31 stories tall. The top floor balconies are not covered which is why I took a 30th floor unit. I like to be able to sit on the balcony when it rains and not get wet.

Hey, I wish it were higher too! Still, that makes 414 Water Street the 15th tallest Baltimore building. It's right between Harborview (342 feet) and, believe it or not, the Fallon Federal Office Building (338 feet) acording to Emporis.

What's the next tallest building in Baltimore?

SOMEBODY WAS IN A BAD MOOD THE OTHER DAY AND GOT OUT HIS POISION PEN :angel:

I know most of you have been to this site and are as frustrated with it as I am.

http://www.godowntownbaltimore.com/

The below e-mail was sent by myself to the Downtown Partnership people. For those of you who have not seen this site, if you follow the "Development and Investment" link, then the "Downtown Baltimore Development Search Engine" link, you can get a list of all the downtown Baltimore Projects that are planned, under construction, or recently completed. It's very interesting to view the results. It would be even more interesting if they were accurate!

~~~~~~~~~~

Subject: Are you people ever going to update your web site?

To Whom It May Concern,

I use the Downtown Development Project Search portion of your web site
all the time. It seems as though nothing has changed in your development
database in over a year. Projects that are currently under construction
(like Water Tower) are still listed as "Planning". Projects that have
long been completed (like the Afro Americn Museum) are listed as "Under
Construction".

I have to say, I think it is an embarrassment for an agency like yours
not to keep its web site up to date. How difficult is it to do a
monthly update?

You are supposed to be an ambassador for Baltimore City and encourage
new development, yet the face you present to the public can best be
described as OLD and NON-FUNCTIONAL. If you can't administer that
portion of your web site correctly, then I would strongly suggest you
eliminate it. If you think that nobody notices the lapses, you are
wrong.

In other words, do it correctly or don't do it at all.

Sincerely, :devil:
~~~~~~~~~~

Which led to the below response. I design computer systems for a living and I don't buy the response one bit. Usually you keep the old system functional while the new one is designed, tested and then deployed. But hey, he took the time to respond and he said I was correct. You can't ask for anymore than that.

Thank you for your comments. Your observations are correct and we
couldn't agree more. We are currently in the process of upgrading our
database which drives the development project search information. This
is a costly and time-consuming effort. We are also re-designing the
website itself to make it more user-friendly and easier to navigate.
Barring the unforeseen technical issues, these changes will be rolled
out in the coming months.

Because of these changes, we have not been able to update the site as we
have in the past. We decided to leave the development information up
since much of it is still accurate. You can find more recent
information in the Downtown Development Report, available in the
newsroom section of the site. And we are preparing to release the 2005
State of Downtown Report at our upcoming Business Over Breakfast meeting
on February 16. I hope you can join us for that event (RSVPs are on the
site).

In the meantime, you can call our VP for economic development if you
need any information or have suggestions for ways to improve our data
delivery. His name is Bob Aydukovic, 410.244.1030.

Michael Evitts :dizzy:
Director of Public Relations
410.528.7719
mevitts@dpob.org

I have heard that MDOT is planning on compleatly replacing the I95/I695 interchange to accomdate expansion, this would mean not just replacing bridges, but a whole new design, to accomdate future growth.[/QUOTE]

YES THEY ARE GOING TO WIDEN BOTH HIGHWAYS AND THAT WONT START UNTIL THEY FINISH REPLACING AND WIDENING ROSSVILLE BLVD BRIDGE. CONSTRUCTION HAS ALREADY BEGUN!

SOMEBODY WAS IN A BAD MOOD THE OTHER DAY AND GOT OUT HIS POISION PEN :angel:

I know most of you have been to this site and are as frustrated with it as I am.

http://www.godowntownbaltimore.com/


I've been generally disappointed in the site. I guess I didn't expect much from a site that still has a space for the DASH buses, which have been gone for a long time. I think they could do a lot better at promoting downtown businesses and events.

Yeah, I've heard this responce before. Should write some music for it. :lol:
Now take your exact letter and address it to the Baltimore Development Corp.
They are worse. Check out their "development" area. Nothing but the same message: "Coming soon."
It's been "coming soon" for well over a year or more now. They told me that they are understaffed and are trying their best. Yeah, right. :blahblah: :sly: :rant: :no: :poke: :doh: :| :soapbox: :fiddle: :down: :hm: :dunno: :drool: :ohno: :weird: :runaway:

Since we occasionally pass by discussions on Baltimore transit, here's a question - while waiting for the subway today, I noticed that the stations have a bunch of posters advertising the Motor Trend car show in February. Fun event, I always go but I can't help but notice that one of ths sponsors of the event is MTA, which has its logo on the poster and offers discounted tickets to the CAR show. Am I the only one who thinks it is weird that MTA is promoting a car show? Aren't they supposed to promote transit? Is their idea of transit to buy a new Explorer?

Sounds like somebody at the MTA may be hitting the bottle a little bit too much..... :drool:

BTW, if our country gets involved more and more with this whole "Iran" situation, then gas prices will soar to about 5 dollars a gallon from what the "experts" are saying. That will be a great oportunity for the MTA to ask for more money for expansion. :D ;)

Jeff, have you moved to a different residence since you took those pictures on top of the roof overlooking the Harbor, about 4 or 5 years ago I think? :?

BTW, good link. Thanks. :)

Nope. Same house. I spoke with an architect friend of mine about possible designing a 3rd floor addition on top of my house and a 3 floor addition out the back to maximize my house size within the limits of my zoning. We need more room for the kiddo and maybe for another god willing. Schools are getting better and I see no reason to move to the suburbs. My bike ride is about 15 minutes. The other 20 consists of changing into my shirt and tie etc.

the ride was good again today. A bit cold, but this is definitely a doable life change. I acutally like that I am not in a car despite the inconvienence of transpoprting my clothes and getting dressed at work. I may use the forum at my riding blog :)

Regarding I-95. My firm is doing the design. Its pretty impressive....If I see anything really cool that I am allowed to share, I will.

Regarding I-95. My firm is doing the design. Its pretty impressive....If I see anything really cool that I am allowed to share, I will.

My wife works for Balt. Co. planning and has some renderings and plans for the work , I'll see if I can get a copy.

Nope. Same house. I spoke with an architect friend of mine about possible designing a 3rd floor addition on top of my house and a 3 floor addition out the back to maximize my house size within the limits of my zoning. We need more room for the kiddo and maybe for another god willing. Schools are getting better and I see no reason to move to the suburbs. My bike ride is about 15 minutes. The other 20 consists of changing into my shirt and tie etc.

the ride was good again today. A bit cold, but this is definitely a doable life change. I acutally like that I am not in a car despite the inconvienence of transpoprting my clothes and getting dressed at work. I may use the forum at my riding blog :)

Regarding I-95. My firm is doing the design. Its pretty impressive....If I see anything really cool that I am allowed to share, I will.

Regarding the design, sounds good, Jeff. :)

As for the bike ride your doing, that is really great. Fresh air and you get to keep in shape. I try to walk as much as possible around town, here. It's great walking as well as bike riding. Yeah, you can blog using this forum, but be careful. A lot of businesses are investigating blogs of their employees to see if they are "talking" to much. ;)

My wife works for Balt. Co. planning and has some renderings and plans for the work , I'll see if I can get a copy.
Sounds good, Maudibjr. :)

Not too much news as of late, it seems, except of course for the start of Water Tower which is big news. But we should be hearing about 414 Light Street is just about a week. Any word on when the Four Seasons will get underway?

Hey guys,
It looks as though they are starting to make way for the convention hotel. I drove past there tonight and they have started clear the parking lots.

I think someone said that the 4 seasons would start around springtime.
Maybe, hopefully I am wrong. :D

And I am very excited about some news on 414 light street. :)

Hey guys,
It looks as though they are starting to make way for the convention hotel. I drove past there tonight and they have started clear the parking lots.

Yeah, finally a lot of all these projects we've been waiting for to start are finally starting. :)

^this is awesome! In the coming months Baltimore will have a skyline full of cranes.

Anyone checked out the West Shore Park lately? Is that anywhere near completion? Also, what is going on with Silo Point?

I was wondering if anyone knows the status of the Mayfair Theatre on Howard Street, next to the Congress Hotel. I thought Streuver Eccles and Rouse were going to renovate it into apartments with some street level retail but I havent heard anything about it for awhile and havent seen the building for a bit.

http://www.baltimoredevelopment.com/popups/initiatives/westside/mayfair.htm

I was wondering if anyone knows the status of the Mayfair Theatre on Howard Street, next to the Congress Hotel. I thought Streuver Eccles and Rouse were going to renovate it into apartments with some street level retail but I havent heard anything about it for awhile and havent seen the building for a bit.

http://www.baltimoredevelopment.com/popups/initiatives/westside/mayfair.htm
All I know is that the roof caved in. If someone doesn't do something with that structure soon, there won't be much left to work with! :?

Oh, I got contacted by an Emporis editor through this site and they have now updated the 414 Water Street information in their database They also corrected an error with regard to the Federal Building, which they had as being 28 stories tall (sould have been 16).

All I know is that the roof caved in. If someone doesn't do something with that structure soon, there won't be much left to work with! :?

Oh, I got contacted by an Emporis editor through this site and they have now updated the 414 Water Street information in their database They also corrected an error with regard to the Federal Building, which they had as being 28 stories tall (sould have been 16).

Yeah, that sucked :bash:

Anyone checked out the West Shore Park lately? Is that anywhere near completion? Also, what is going on with Silo Point?
They are working very hard on this project. I walked by on MLK day and they were working during the holiday. The city wants it complete by the time the Volvo ocean race gets here in April (I think it's April). They've laid down some of the walk ways and the grading looks to be complete.

It's been so mild this winter that I think they will easily be able to meet the deadline.

Draft of first city master plan in 30 years looks to 2012
Eric Siegel -- Urban Chronicles
Originally published January 26, 2006
Increase housing for those with moderate incomes and create a loan program for low-income homeowners in historic districts to renovate their properties.
Create transit hubs in areas where people have few cars and increase the number of water taxi stops.

Plant more trees and establish wireless technology zones in select parts of the city.

These are among the dozens of development strategies for the city over the next six years that are laid out in a draft copy of Baltimore's comprehensive master plan.

Prepared by the Department of Planning and promoted as a business plan as well as an urban development outline, the document is the city's first statement of broad goals and how to achieve them in more than 30 years.

Building on work that began in the late 1990s and stalled with a change in mayoral administrations, "Live*Earn*Play*Learn: A Business Plan for a World Class City" comes three months after a series of fall open houses held for residents.

It is scheduled to be presented to the Planning Commission next Thursday and to the public at nine community meetings throughout the city from late February through April 1. The commission is scheduled to consider a final draft April 20; it then goes to the City Council for adoption.

Though the master plan does not specify how much money is to be designated for each item, planning director Otis Rolley III said it provides a blueprint for the spending of $2.4 billion in capital funds from city, state and federal sources from 2007-2012.

"It's a transparent document to figure out how and why investments are made," he said.

Equally important, according to Rolley and other planning officials, is that the adoption of the plan will pave the way for a two-year overhaul of the city's zoning code, which was established in the early 1970s.

Planners contend that the zoning code is outmoded, resulting in the need for nearly 100 separate urban renewal plans and prompting an excessive number of appeals.

"People are appealing zoning codes because the codes don't work," Rolley said.

Modernization of the zoning code is one of the strategies of the master plan. More specifically, the plan advocates the creation of mixed-use residential and commercial districts; bioscience development districts to take advantage of the biotech parks in East Baltimore and West Baltimore; and special districts to encourage and manage growth around transit stops.

It also recommends a pair of changes that would make it easier to open outpatient drug treatment centers and group homes - changes that planners and others say are need to bring the city into compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act. Those changes were proposed last year but never passed into law.

Baltimore, which has a population of just under 642,000, could "comfortably absorb" another 172,200 residents, according to the master plan.

If Baltimore got its share of projected state population growth through 2020, the city's population would grow to more than 734,000, the plan says.

Besides Park Heights and East Baltimore, where major redevelopment activities are planned or under way, the report mentions Greater Southwest and Greater Rosemont on the west side as potential "priority growth areas" where public money could leverage private investment.

While the 1990s master plan draft - which was released but never adopted - was criticized for lacking specificity, the new plan is often rich in details. For example, it recommends installing 10 devices over three years at major storm drains to capture trash that is washed off the streets, keeping it from entering the water system and winding up as a polluting eyesore in the Inner Harbor.

Some of the ideas for improving the city for current residents and attracting new ones have already been suggested, including, for example, a trolley to run along Charles Street and a citywide bicycle path.

Others, such as the creation of a regional transportation board to manage bus and light rail service in the Baltimore, would require state action.

A few, such as coordinating drug treatment and job training programs and giving preference in awarding contracts to firms with apprentice programs, would require no funding.

The document also offers a cautionary note: "Not every goal or policy in this plan will be accomplished within the specific six-year time frame."

The draft plan is scheduled to be available next week at public libraries and on the Web at www.liveearnplaylearn.com.

The first in the series of community meetings is scheduled from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Feb. 21 at Pimlico Middle School, 3500 W. Northern Parkway.

http://www.citypaper.com/news/story.asp?id=11385

Feature | Development
Harbor Next
The Homely Middle Branch is Set to Become An Urban Ecotopia (But Don’t Talk to Speculators, and Don’t Touch the Water)

Photos by John Ellsberry

LOOKING TO THE FUTURE: Developer Patrick Turner is pursuing plans for a grand retail and residential development to be known simply as "Westport."

IN MY BACKYARD, PLEASE: (opposite page) The Westport Community Council's K Thompson welcomes development in the struggling neighborhood

The old BGE building at the center of Turner's project.

INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION: Developer Rod Womack is building luxury condos adjacent to Cherry Hill.

A sample of the view near the site of Womack's Waterview Overlook project.

Tom Chalkley
Open a larger version of the map.

By Tom Chalkley
Take the ramp onto I-395 near Camden Yards and in moments you’ll overlook a wide, seemingly empty stretch of water known as the Middle Branch of the Patapsco River. Compared to the Patapsco’s long South Branch and its Northwest Branch (which includes the Inner Harbor), the Middle Branch seems more like a lake than a river. It flows, very slowly, south from the mouths of the Gwynns Falls and several other culvert-bound streams that drain West Baltimore; tides permitting, it oozes under the Vietnam Veterans/Hanover Street Bridge and joins the Patapsco’s much busier main channel. Aside from the green swath of Middle Branch Park on the south shore, the waterfront west of the bridge is a patchwork of industrial sites, scruffy woods, and brownfields, interspersed with unglamorous public properties—the BRESCO incinerator, the city Animal Control headquarters, the Department of Public Works garage. All these enterprises turn their backs to the murky river, as do the nearby neighborhoods of Cherry Hill and Westport. Despite five miles of shoreline, nearby freeways, and a five-minute drive to downtown, Middle Branch has remained a secluded backwater, home to wading birds and rowing teams.

But this dingy, peaceful waterfront is set to undergo a radical makeover. A handful of private developers have bought big chunks of Middle Branch real estate, setting off a ripple of investment buying in the nearby neighborhoods. Some of the remaining industrial parcels lining the water are just waiting for good offers. Five or six years from now, if all goes as planned, the riverbanks will be crowned with glittering condominiums, townhouses, shopping arcades, and entertainment venues. Where factories once belched smoke, well-heeled taxpayers will be stacked 10 stories deep. The homely Middle Branch will become, of all things, a prestigious address; the names “Harbor West” and “Inner Harbor West” have been floated and quoted in promotional fliers and business media.

But developers and planners alike insist that this won’t be the Inner Harbor all over again. For 25 years, city agencies and nonprofit groups have been planning and pushing to make Middle Branch a model of environmentally sensitive urban design, entirely different from what architects call the “hardscape” of the William Donald Schaefer-era harbor. Key to this vision is the recently completed Gwynns Falls Trail, which winds along roughly half of the Middle Branch shoreline, linking parks and neighborhoods as it reaches from Harbor Hospital to the Inner Harbor and seven miles north along the Gwynns Falls. The “green harbor” concept, enshrined in the city’s master plan for the area, has already been endorsed—with certain exceptions—by two key private developers, Patrick Turner of Henrietta Corp. and A. Rod Womack of CIMG Corp. Fortunately, the roar of backhoes and jackhammers doesn’t seem to disturb the resident population of herons, ducks, and coots.

For now, at least, this vision of an upscale, eco-friendly waterfront has achieved an almost unheard of degree of consensus among the disparate interest groups that ring the water. Environmental advocates and community leaders, who might be expected to fret about possible negative impacts, voice sentiments that range from cautious optimism to outright cheerleading. K Thompson, president of the Westport Community Council, says Turner’s grand-scale plan for the area is “a win-win situation if he can even hold up his end.” Yet there are bound to be losers, as there have been in every neighborhood bordering the Inner Harbor. At the greatest risk are the lowest-income renters who, if displaced, will have the hardest time finding decent housing elsewhere.

In the end, the most daunting problem with the heralded Middle Branch renaissance might be the river itself. Middle Branch is fouled by sewage, choked with trash, and laden with toxic silt washed from a watershed that totals over 70 square miles. As real estate, Middle Branch is getting ready to soar; as a body of water, it has nowhere to go but up.



In retrospect, it seems inevitable that new development would come to Middle Branch. Andrew Frank, executive vice president of the Baltimore Development Corp., sums up the location’s appeal as “water and access”—access, that is, to freeways, light rail, and the Ritchie Highway corridor. Proximity to downtown Baltimore, Frank says, is less important than nearness to what he calls “the East Coast’s spine”—that is, Interstate 95. If you contemplate the mere geography of the place, building condos here seems like a no-brainer.

In fact, the economic revival of Middle Branch has been attempted before. In 1988, when The Sun purchased 61 acres for a new production plant in Port Covington, northeast of the Hanover Street Bridge, the city expected other industries to follow. Land was cleared, new roads were built, but nothing happened. Not long before, Constellation Real Estate Group, then Baltimore Gas and Electric’s real-estate arm, had bought more than 100 rowhouses in the Westport area, speculating that the Middle Branch area would soon take off. But when the savings-and-loan system collapsed at the end of the ’80s, it took the real-estate market with it. Some of Constellation’s investment properties were renovated in the early ’90s, but even some of these have been abandoned since then, succumbing to the general decline of the Westport area.

Efforts to create a cleaner, greener Middle Branch have experienced similar starts and stops. A century ago the shoreline was largely devoted to boating and recreation, but industry encroached in the 1920s and kept encroaching; by 1970, nearly the entire waterfront west of Hanover Street was industrialized or consigned to wasteland. A reclamation plan was published by the city’s Planning Department in 1978; in 1980, the city cleared out a huge auto graveyard on the river’s south shore and created Middle Branch Park and later the Baltimore Rowing and Water Resource Center. In 1989, the state of Maryland dedicated the Vietnam Veterans’ Memorial on the eastern end of Middle Branch Park, near Harbor Hospital. The park, however, remains an isolated amenity, best known to rowing teams and powerboaters.

The budding green-tinted real estate boom in Middle Branch is the result of several factors that came together about five years ago. After a more than a decade of stagnation, the city had started retaining young professionals and attracting new upper-middle-class residents from surrounding counties. Fells Point, Federal Hill, Canton, and Locust Point saw (and still see) massive construction of upscale housing and office space. Ultimately, developers pushed so far into traditional port territory that port interests pushed back: In 2004, the City Council created the “Maritime Industrial Zoning Overlay District,” defining a limit to residential development along a line that jogs from the east side of Canton, across the harbor to Locust Point, sidestepping sites that have already been claimed for condo and townhouse construction. The city had pretty much run out of Inner Harbor waterfront, forcing developers and planners to look again at the homely Middle Branch.

Coincidentally, the Gwynns Falls Trail, which began construction in 1998, entered its final phase of development in 2002, extending from Carroll Park through Pigtown to Middle Branch Park and the Inner Harbor, and was officially declared complete in June 2005. The product of a 15-year collaboration between city agencies and two nonprofit groups, the local Parks and People Foundation and the national Trust for Public Land, the trail is the backbone of a broader “greenway” composed of parkland and playgrounds.

From the outset, the trail’s boosters touted its potential contribution to economic development, both as a transportation route and as an attractive urban amenity. The claim seemed far-fetched at the time. City planners, however, saw the hike-and-bike path as a key to reviving long-neglected plans for Middle Branch. “It’s the organizing principle of the whole thing, like the promenade is to the Inner Harbor,” Chris Ryer of the city’s Planning Department says. Ryer, whose résumé includes stints with the Trust for Public Land and the Washington Village/Pigtown community center as well as an earlier planning job, has been involved with the trail project since the mid-’90s.

A small number of urban naturalists had always recognized the Middle Branch’s value as a unique natural resource. Despite pollution, the shallows swarm with fish and creatures that eat fish, including snapping turtles and several species of heron. Human beings, too, angle for the branch’s fish and crabs (a practice that’s fraught with hair-raising health risks—but more on that later). Water birds rarely seen elsewhere in Baltimore are attracted to the Middle Branch’s solitude.

Only recently have development officials and entrepreneurs recognized the market value of this accidental wildlife sanctuary—especially when packaged with the convenient hike/bike route and that $500,000 skyline view. “We used to think that economic development was a matter of opening the checkbook and [saying], ‘How much do you need to make this work?’” says BDC’s Frank. “Now we realize it’s about ‘live, work, play.’ What matters is having places where the companies and their employees want to be.”



The “new” Middle Branch was born and took its first awkward steps in 2000, when the Starwood Ceruzzi development firm proposed building a “big box” retail campus—now occupied by Sam’s Club and Wal-Mart—on the vacant southeast corner of Port Covington. After nearly a decade of inactivity on the site, BDC was all too eager for the retailers to move in. “It’s still seen as the poster child for how not to develop the waterfront,” Frank acknowledges. “We’re constantly reminded [by urban planners] that the way we did it was wrong.” One piece of the final development deal, however, was a requirement that the developer create a buffer of vegetated shoreline around the site instead of an Inner Harbor-style bulkhead. Besides being more attractive than concrete, the parklike border is designed to absorb runoff from the site’s vast roofs and parking lots.

If any one local business pioneered the “new” Middle Branch, Frank says, it was Nick’s Fish House, which opened in the spring of 2004 after two years of intensive renovation, investment of more than $2 million, and what part-owner Dick Leitch sums up as “a lot of red tape.” Tucked into the shore between the Hanover Street Bridge and Locke Insulators, the former Dead Eye Saloon has been restored to evoke nostalgia for the bygone maritime Baltimore, with awnings, ceiling fans, and retro graphics. Unlike Sam’s Club and Wal-Mart, the restaurant relates naturally to the water; there’s even a small marina on the site.

Leitch, one of “a half-dozen” partners in the project, credits co-owner Tom Chagouris, owner of Nick’s Inner Harbor Seafood at Cross Street Market, as “the guy who first paid attention to this area. . . . When the Dead Eye Saloon went out of business, we’d just stand around and look at it and see all the potential it had. The biggest reason we wanted it is because of the natural beauty of this location.” Other than the Sam’s Club/Wal-Mart site, nothing else was happening on the Middle Branch at the time, but Leitch says he and his partners had “the feeling that this area would eventually thrive.”

While the seafood restaurant was taking shape, a different kind of fish house was being contemplated for the other side of Hanover Street. Prior to 2000, the National Aquarium, faced with an expiring lease in Fells Point, had begun scouting a new waterfront location for its animal storage and care facility. Encouraged by BDC, the Aquarium favored the site now occupied by the Department of Public Works’ central garage, immediately northwest of the bridge. Two obstacles nearly killed the plan: Years of garage use had left the site tainted by automotive wastes, and the federal Environmental Protection Agency refused the Aquarium’s request for clean-up funds. The city, meanwhile, didn’t know where to relocate its garage, which services the DPW’s entire fleet. Rather ingeniously, the Aquarium got around the soil-pollution problem by opting to redevelop the existing garage building, thus avoiding the need to disturb the tainted ground beneath. The local architectural firm of Ayers Saint Gross is now in charge of converting the vast shed into a “green building” that incorporates passive solar energy design and other features to save energy and water. The DPW garage operation will relocate to Monument Street in East Baltimore.

The new facility, called the Center for Aquatic Life and Conservation, will store “reserve” stocks of fish and invertebrates and house sick or injured animals. Although DPW hasn’t yet vacated the site, Aquarium spokeswoman Molly Foyle says the project is still on target for the 2008 deadline imposed by the expiring lease. The waterfront’s promoters are already pointing to it as a sign of things to come. “The Aquarium gives [Middle Branch] a landmark, marquee value, like a major tenant,” Cherry Hill businessman Alvin Lee says. Although the Center for Aquatic Life will not be open to the general public, the National Aquarium is doing its bit for the green shoreline by establishing an educational park on what is now a weedy, unbuildable peninsula made of material dredged in the construction of the Harbor Tunnel.



The tall sign for Nick’s Fish House, facing the Hanover Street Bridge, is still the most visible physical evidence that things are about to change around Middle Branch. Relatively few drivers see the trailer parked on Waterview Avenue, promoting the future WaterView Overlook’s “119 townhomes and luxury condominiums.” Fewer still detour through Westport to watch the demolition of the former Carr-Lowrey glass factory. The property is part of Henrietta Corp.’s plan for a 30-acre mixed-use complex that developer Pat Turner plans to call, simply, “Westport.” More than anything else on the drawing board, these two projects promise to alter the sleepy character of Middle Branch.

WaterView Overlook is the brainchild of Rod Womack, a real-estate developer and former restaurateur, who three years ago partnered with Philadelphia-based Pennrose Development Corp. to renovate what is now called the Chateau, a mixed-income structure on Druid Park Lake Drive. Two years ago, a real-estate broker suggested that Womack take a look at a steep wooded hillside on Waterview Avenue, adjacent to Cherry Hill. “I didn’t see it at first,” Womack admits. “But then I drove back and saw the view . . . [and] I realized how close we were to 295 and 95. And how many places in the city can you live . . . where you could actually fish, right across the street?”

Womack’s zeal for the Middle Branch area is partly based on his advance sales: About half of his 119 units are committed, he says, many of them to buyers from the Washington area. When the halfway point was reached, Womack adds, he stopped preselling. Assuming 60 units priced upward of $300,000, that’s at least $18 million. According to the CIMG web site, the WaterView complex will cost $35 million to create. “At first, I was a fool,” Womack smiles. “And now they’re saying, ‘You’re a visionary.’”

Womack, who is African-American, acknowledges that race was probably a factor in his acquisition of the hillside, simply because potential white developers might have been leery of working so close to Cherry Hill, which is predominantly black and lower-income. Womack began courting the community even before getting his development permits. This past Dec. 9, he invited local businesses and nonprofit groups to an informal first meeting of what he calls the Harbor West Business Alliance. His agenda: strategies for “security, cleaning up the waterway, and ways to increase retail.”

For their part, Cherry Hill leaders and activists hope the new wave of development will bring jobs, new investment, and a more positive image to their neighborhood. Cathy McClain, executive director of the umbrella group Cherry Hill 2000, says that since her organization started in 1994, overall crime in Cherry Hill has dropped by 38 percent, “and it’s going down about 2 percent a year.” An entire block of gang-infested buildings has been demolished. “It’s now so rare to hear gunfire,” McClain adds, “that we get immediate police response.”

Alvin Lee has previously served as board chairman of Cherry Hill 2000 and the Gwynns Falls Trail Council. He has met both Womack and Turner and is generally positive about both men’s schemes for the area. The prospect of a property-value shock does not worry him. “My neighbors have lived here 30, 40, 50 years. Very low turnover,” he says. “The fear was always that Harbor Hospital would be the 800-pound gorilla [affecting property values], but that’s never happened.”

If Cherry Hill leaders seem less than panicked about displacement issues, it may be because so many local residents are shielded from the direct effects of property-value hikes, at least in the near term. Only 27 percent of the local households own their homes; most of the rest are renters receiving some form of housing subsidy. According to McClain, the neighborhood has “the largest concentration of public housing east of Chicago.” To protect homeowners living on fixed incomes, McClain’s organization and other neighborhood groups are working with City Councilman James Kraft (D-1st District), to pass a targeted 3 percent ceiling on annual tax increases.

Gregory Countess, a housing advocate at the Legal Aid Bureau of Maryland, warns against complacency. “You’ll have people in Cherry Hill that say, ‘This is great, it’ll bring money into Cherry Hill.’ But the question is, down the road, what pressures will it put on public-housing stock? Where do people who need that housing go?” He adds, “I hear there’s already a sizable population of homeless in Cherry Hill.” Given the stark economic disparity between Cherry Hill and the future residents of WaterView Overlook, Countess predicts that a stout fence will guard the latter.

Ultimately, the biggest obstacle to Womack’s vision may prove to be his closest neighbor. Dr. Charles Cao owns Middle Branch Marina, directly across the street from the WaterView Overlook site. A retired physician and boating hobbyist, Cao bought the marina in 1999 for “a very good price” at auction. At the time, he says, he was just looking for waterfront property; he had no idea that Middle Branch would catch fire as real estate. Now he’s eager to get in the game and has been working with a developer on a plan to put some kind of residential structure, possibly a condo tower, where the marina now floats.

On the surface it would seem that such a project would be prohibited by Maryland’s Critical Areas Act, which, in essence, restricts construction within 1,000 feet of the waterline throughout the Chesapeake Bay and its tidal waters. Cao, hinting that his rights to the riverbed pre-date the 1984 Critical Areas law, points out that there has been a marina on the site since the 1920s. Even so, he would have to get approval from both the City Council and state Critical Areas Commission to proceed with his plan.

The other objection to Cao’s idea comes, naturally, from Womack. Townhouses might not be a problem, Womack says, but a tower would block WaterView Overlook’s raison d’être, the panoramic view. Womack says his attempts to talk business with Cao have been fruitless.

Womack has far better relations with fellow developer Patrick Turner, whose massive Westport project will be part of Waterview's panorama. “We’re pretty much on the same page as to what needs to happen to turn this area around,” Womack says.



Tall and rangy, with long hair and a beard, Turner looks more like an aging rock star than an urban empire builder. A developer since the mid-’80s, he’s amused to hear that some development watchers say that he “came out of nowhere”—he explains that he has preferred to “stay under the radar.” Nonetheless, some of his recent projects in South Baltimore have generated buzz and controversy: his stillborn proposal for a disaster-themed “Crash Café” on Key Highway, his conversion of the beloved Southway bowling alleys to loft apartments (where wood from the bowling lanes has been turned into countertops), and his eyebrow-raising plan to turn the old Archer Daniels Midland grain elevators in Locust Point into the Silo Point condominiums. His less visible projects include conversions of the old McHenry movie theater into high-tech offices and the South Baltimore General Hospital building into 67 condos.

Turner says that he’d had his eye on Middle Branch for several years when, in 2003, the bankrupt Carr-Lowrey glass factory finally closed its doors. The property went to auction in October 2004, and Turner bought it for nearly $7 million. A year later, Turner bought the long-abandoned former BGE generating station, just north of Carr-Lowrey; the final cost, he says, is “a moving target” because of site’s many environmental and logistical challenges (such as the railway on top of the building, complete with 23 wooden cars that were used to shuttle coal).

Turner pooh-poohs rumors that he plans to extend his holdings north and south to control the entire Westport waterfront. He confirms, however, his plan to buy the derelict turnstile bridge that extends across Middle Branch just south of the I-95 ramps. He wants to extend the hike/bike trail across it, past the proposed Aquarium park and over the Hanover Street Bridge to reconnect with the Gwynns Falls Trail.

Drawings for the Westport site are “in the works right now,” Turner says, but he confirms that the project will involve a combination of housing, retail, and office space. An effort will be made to preserve the enormous BGE building. The Gwynns Fall Trail, which now follows Kloman Street through Westport, will be moved over close to the water. “We’re selling a lifestyle,” he says. “It’s an urban neighborhood, but it’s going to feel like a mini Chesapeake Bay.”

Working with a team of environmental-minded architects and landscape designers, Turner says Westport will be “a model for the country” in the way it reconfigures the post-industrial waterfront. Runoff from paved surfaces be channeled into “bio-swales”—catchment areas that filter water into the soil instead of pouring it into storm drains. Along the Carr-Lowrey frontage, which abuts a protected heron rookery, the Turner team intends to create a wetland planted with native vegetation. “It’ll look phenomenal,” he gushes.

The sheer ambition of Turner’s enterprise and his lavish promises to the community have prompted some observers to question whether—and how—he can deliver. Turner points to his track record and says that he’s “spent 20 years becoming highly bankable.” He laughs, “They said I’d never convert those grain elevators into condos, either.” (The future Silo Point building is still at a very early stage of redevelopment.)

Turner, like Womack in Cherry Hill, has put considerable effort into wooing neighborhood groups. He has promised to build an all-new community center on Annapolis Road, proposed widening Wenburn Street to connect the Westport neighborhood with the waterfront, and warned residents local residents not to sell to speculators.

His efforts have been so successful that he has won over the leaders of two community groups representing factions that often don’t see eye to eye. Linda Towe, who volunteers with Project TOUUR, a group uniting Westport, Mount Winans, and Lakeland residents, praises Turner’s “innovative ideas” and his engagement with the community. Says K Thompson of the Westport Community Council, “I think he’s the best thing since bubblegum.”

Speculation, however, appears to have swept through Westport regardless of multiple warnings. “A lot of boarded-up homes were auctioned off for $11,000 or 12,000 when nobody knew what was happening,” Thompson says. Towe tells of homeowners who have sold their homes for “a little bit of nothing—most of them under $30,000.” In at least one instance, Towe says, an owner wound up renting her house back from the people she sold it to.

By this point, BDC’s Andrew Frank says, “If you want to find investment property in Westport, you’re probably a year too late.” For better and for worse, it seems, change will come to this scrappy neighborhood more dramatically and more rapidly than in the more organized, institutionalized Cherry Hill.

The Westport enterprise may mark the climax of Middle Branch development, but it won’t be the end of the story. More projects are in the works. Struever Bros., Eccles, and Rouse has bought 6.5 vacant acres at Port Covington to be used for townhouses. And at the north end of the branch, adjacent to Russell Street and south of M&T Bank Stadium, BDC has exercised eminent domain over an 11-acre parcel dubbed “Gateway South,” presently occupied by Maryland Chemical Co. and the nonprofit architectural salvage company Second Chance Inc. Earlier this month, BDC issued a “request for qualifications,” seeking development firms capable of carrying out the sort of large, mixed-use project that BDC thinks is right for the area. The winning proposal will have to include a permanent bus depot to replace the temporary Greyhound station.



Directly in back of the Gateway South parcel, the narrow, swampy northern neck of Middle Branch provides a microcosm of what’s best and worst about this urban waterway. While waterfowl thrive in the marshy environment, shoals of floating trash have accumulated around the outfalls of multiple storm drains. Yellow plastic booms, installed to strain floating debris at the mouth of Gwynns Falls and in one of the outfall canals, appear to have been overwhelmed by their duties. On the shore, planners have opted to preserve the wooded areas that took root here over several decades of neglect. Up to the end of 2004, this obscure patch of greenery hosted a tiny population of squatters who had built themselves huts from scrap lumber and packaging materials. The squatters moved out as the Gwynns Falls Trail moved in. Prefab steel bridges across two of the outfall canals here created some of the final links in the trail system.

Last September, a DPW-sponsored clean-up drive mobilized 500 volunteers and collected 17 tons of trash from the downstream end of Middle Branch—cups, bottles, tires, plastic bags, and things too nasty to name. The haul was a powerful reminder that this would-be wildlife sanctuary is, in effect, a gigantic collection pond for the storm drains of West Baltimore. Yet generations of Baltimoreans have gone fishing and crabbing in these tainted waters, and in a few years hundreds if not thousands of yuppies and empty nesters may be enjoying the litter-strewn view and, in summertime, Middle Branch’s septic aroma.

Cosmetic improvements will be hard enough to achieve. William Stack, DPW’s point man for stream pollution, notes that booms and experimental “netting devices” installed along Gwynns Falls are “just a tool, just like street sweeping or public education . . . not a panacea like everyone thinks they are.” Rather than focus exclusively on catching trash that’s already in streams, DPW and the Parks and People Foundation are carrying out a pilot program to keep trash off the streets in “Watershed 263,” the section of West Baltimore that drains into Middle Branch behind the Gateway South parcel. Stack says the effort combines regular street sweeping with grass-roots education and anti-litter campaigns. Meanwhile, DPW’s solid waste division is planning to increase its efforts in Middle Branch, eventually deploying a “skimmer” boat like those that ply the Inner Harbor.

Trash removal, however, won’t affect the Middle Branch’s most serious environmental hazard. Like all of Baltimore’s streams, Gwynns Falls and other tributaries are heavily polluted with raw sewage from aged, leaky pipes. The problem arises from Baltimore’s decision, early in the 20th century, to lay sewer lines alongside natural streams, exploiting the slope of the land so that sewage would flow downhill to treatment plants. As those pipes have cracked, many have leaked directly into the adjacent streams. At other points, rainwater pours into the sewers, contributing to backups. Accumulations of grease, hair, and debris also cause backups, which can result in explosive sewage spills during heavy rain.

Sewage in water poses grave health threats to anyone who comes in contact with it, such as the Baltimoreans who still catch crabs and fish in Middle Branch. Ellen Silbergeld, an avid angler and professor of environmental health sciences at Johns Hopkins University’s Bloomberg School of Public Health, began to study the risks of urban fishing several years ago. Bacteria, she notes, can be killed by cooking, but simply handling fish pulled from the Middle Branch poses dangers. According to Silbergeld’s research partner Kellogg Schwab, disease-causing organisms in sewage-tainted water include not only fecal bacteria, but also viruses and protozoans, small doses of which can cause acute gastrointestinal illness. Some, such as the protozoan cryptosporidium, can be fatal to people with weakened immune systems. Unlike fecal bacteria, which can’t survive long outside of mammalian intestines, hardy viruses and protozoa can linger in water and sediments for weeks or months. Cryptosporidium can even survive in swimming pools.

The only way to end sewer leaks is to replace sewer pipes, at great expense. In 1999, the EPA ordered Baltimore to replace the majority of its sewer lines. The mandate forced a hike in city sewer rates, which is applied directly to the cost of replacing pipes. The total cost of the Gwynns Falls/Middle Branch watershed repairs is $53.1 million.



The deal-makers at BDC like to thank “the market” for the new rush toward development in Middle Branch, and for the subsequent investment, jobs, and tax revenues that may eventually flow to the city. But the character of that development has already been strongly influenced by other forces, particularly the long-haul efforts of park advocates and city planners, and the values and visions of the developers themselves, including the folks at BDC. When times are good, the market may seem like magic; in reality, as the BDC-ers know, it’s a lot of hard work to make that magic happen where you need it.

Market forces won’t mitigate the harm done to those who are too poor or uninformed to survive the domino effect of rising property values. There are no purely market-driven incentives for anyone to build low-cost housing. Michael Sarbanes, director of the Citizens Planning and Housing Association, now chairs a City Council-appointed task force that’s looking for ways to require developers of upscale housing to build low-cost units, too. “The way it is now, new development actually reduces the amount of affordable housing,” Sarbanes says. “You want it to be the other way—that as development gets rolling, it produces affordable housing.” It won’t happen unless government wields its stick—and/or offers carrots.

And what can the laws of supply and demand do about stream pollution? It took a federal mandate to force the replacement of Baltimore’s decrepit sewers. Cleaning up the Middle Branch’s vast watershed is a social and political problem. Community groups upstream could adopt sections of Gwynns Falls. Well-heeled, highly empowered condo dwellers could become a new, effective constituency for the river. Or not.

Finally, what the market gives, it can also snatch away. Today’s vision of castles on the Middle Branch depends on continuing prosperity, at least for some, and continuing confidence in the prospects of Baltimore City. A new mayor, a shock to the economy, and who knows? The shorebirds and rowing teams could have the river back to themselves.

I was just coming here to post that article, vivo :) It's a long one, but it's worth the read. It definitely leaves you feeling like something special is gonna happen at Harbor West/Westport/etc.

great article, indeed. :)

http://www.citypaper.com/sb/89224/feature_map-big.jpg

http://www.citypaper.com/sb/89224/feature_map-big.jpg
any opinion on the wal mart/sams club in the pic? at least some retail for the poor.

I honestly wouldn't mind the wal mart. I guess that would p;ut me at odds with some people here.

Anyone checked out the West Shore Park lately? Is that anywhere near completion? Also, what is going on with Silo Point?
last time i was down in silo point, they were just about finished with knocking down all the silos. i'm so glad that those things are gone. those silos really had a creepy look when you got up close to them. good riddens!! it's going to make that project look so much better.

I honestly wouldn't mind the wal mart. I guess that would p;ut me at odds with some people here.

I wouldn't mind seeing one either, but I think it should be an "urban" wal-mart.
Make it taller around 3 to 4 floors and not as wide/land-consuming. :D

I wouldn't mind seeing one either, but I think it should be an "urban" wal-mart.
Make it taller around 3 to 4 floors and not as wide/land-consuming. :D

The Walmart and Sam's Club are already there and have been for a few years. A LOT of shoplifting goes on at the Walmart. Jeff would know the numbers, but quite a majority of this area's crime stats are due to that place.

I wouldn't mind seeing one either, but I think it should be an "urban" wal-mart. Make it taller around 3 to 4 floors and not as wide/land-consuming. :D

I've never seen a 4 floor Walmart but there is a 2 storey one east of Towson. I had always wondered about how they would do it but between pairs of up/down escalators there is a special one for towing shopping carts up and down between floors. Somehow though I can't say that I don't wish for SOMETHING other than a Walmart.

extra wide/long escalaters accomidating shopping carts. :) That would be wild. But, I was refering to this kind of wal-mart in the downtown area.

"GREAT NEWS!" :D
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BDC must go public, appeals court says
Ruling opens books, meetings of agency
By John Fritze
Sun Reporter
Originally published January 27, 2006

In a case that could expand how far citizens may tread into the backroom world of city development deals, a Maryland appeals court has ruled that Baltimore's economic development agency must open its books - and its doors - to the public.



The Baltimore Development Corp., which for years has made key decisions about city development projects in private, must be treated as a public entity and conform with the state's Open Meetings and Public Information acts, the Court of Special Appeals of Maryland ruled.

The quasi-government agency, which has close ties to City Hall, was in the spotlight last year for overseeing negotiations on a $305 million convention hotel project to be subsidized by city bonds.

Financing for the project was approved by the City Council in September.

The decision, which referred to the BDC's argument for secrecy as "technically correct" but beyond the scope of what the law intended, could force the agency to open its meetings to the public, disclose agendas and minutes from those meetings and release development proposals filed by private real estate firms.

"You always had the feeling that you were a second-class citizen when you were in contact with the BDC," said John C. Murphy, the lawyer who filed the lawsuit against the agency in 2004. "This is going to put them into the realm of being a responsible public agency, where they should have been a long time ago."

Legal experts said the case would have virtually no effect on other quasi-government agencies because the court decided not to publish the decision, meaning it sets no precedent beyond the BDC's operations.

Also, Ralph S. Tyler, the city solicitor, said the existing open records law - even when followed - exempts many functions performed by the BDC.

Discussions about buying property for a public purpose, for instance, do not have to be conducted in public.

"If the decision stands, the BDC will have to evaluate its operation and see that it complies" with the law, Tyler said. "Many of its activities are activities that would be exempt ... for obvious reasons."

The city has about six weeks to seek an appeal with the Court of Appeals, Maryland's highest court, on the decision, which was released Tuesday.

The original lawsuit was filed by nine businesses slated to be condemned as part of a multimillion-dollar redevelopment of downtown's west side.

The business owners argued that a decision by the BDC board to recommend developers to Mayor Martin O'Malley was made, illegally, in secret.

Development officials countered that the BDC is a nonprofit corporation, is separate from city government and therefore is not subject to the state's open government laws.

In March last year, a Baltimore Circuit Court judge agreed.

In its reversal this week, the Court of Special Appeals explored a nuanced debate over whether BDC's board is separately elected or appointed by the mayor.

The distinction is critical because state law defines a public body as a multimember board or commission appointed by the governor or the chief executive officer of a political subdivision, such as a mayor.

BDC's 15-member board "elects" its members, but those members must first be nominated by the mayor.

The board can reject a nominee, but it may not appoint a new member without first receiving mayoral approval.

The development corporation's bylaws also require the commissioner for the city's Department of Housing and Community Development, currently Paul T. Graziano, and the city's director of finance, Edward J. Gallagher, to serve on the board. Both of those positions are appointed by the mayor.
The court found the connection between City Hall and the corporation's board too close to ignore. And in debatable cases, the decision repeatedly notes, the law requires government to err on the side of openness.



"The argument that the board of directors 'elect' the members of the board is technically correct, but also visionary," the decision reads. "The board elects only from individuals who are recommended by the mayor."

Tyler said he could not comment on whether the BDC could revise its bylaws to skirt the ramifications of the decision.

State and federal governments have enacted public records and open meetings laws to ensure citizens may observe the actions of elected leaders. However, those regulations sometimes conflict with other laws that protect privacy and confidential business information.

This decision will not factor into that debate, however, because the court chose not to report the case. The effect of an unpublished opinion binds the parties involved but cannot be used by other attorneys when making separate claims, said Bill Reynolds, a professor at the University of Maryland School of Law.

BDC President M.J. "Jay" Brodie referred questions about the decision to Tyler, whose office represents the corporation. An official with Philadelphia-based Carmel Realty Associates, the lead plaintiff on the case, did not return calls seeking comment.

The development corporation was formed in October 1991 and has a "mission to retain and expand existing employers and attract new ones," according to its Web site. As part of that effort, the corporation often works in concert with the city to exercise government's powers of condemnation, or eminent domain.

"It's really inconceivable that the agency carrying out the eminent domain function would not be subject to the public meetings law," said Murphy, the attorney. "The interest of the people being affected is so compelling."



john.fritze@baltsun.com

City bond sale moves hotel forward
Heather Harlan
Staff

Baltimore's long-awaited convention headquarters hotel project took a step forward Thursday when the city sold $301.7 million in revenue bonds for an average interest rate of 5.008 percent, according to the municipal Bureau of Treasury Management.

The rate on the $247.5 million in senior revenue bonds was 4.842 percent, said Stanley J. Milesky, who heads the Bureau of Treasury Management. The interest rate on the $54.2 million in subordinate bonds was higher at 5.792 percent.

Still, Milesky said the sale "exceeded our expectations." The city was anticipating a 5 to 5.25 percent rate on the senior lien bonds and a 6 to 6.25 percent rate on the subordinate bonds, he continued. "This means it's going to cost us a lot less to pay back the interest on the bonds,'' said Milesky, before adding he was unsure of the exact total savings.

But the Baltimore Business Journal first reported in December that the hotel may cost millions more than initially planned as a result of rising interest rates on bonds. At the time, the city said the anticipated rate had risen to 5 percent -- a figure that bond analysts explained could add anywhere from $600,000 to $1 million annually, over 30 years, to the controversial project.

Last year, the Baltimore City Council approved a package of bills allowing the city to use up to $305 million in bonds to finance the planned 756-room convention headquarters hotel. Planned for a city-owned lot outside Oriole Park at Camden Yards and fronting Pratt Street, the 19-story Hilton is slated for completion in 2008.

Even though the bond sale will not close until Feb. 8, Milesky said preliminary work is expected to begin immediately on the hotel site.
"You will probably see Hensel Phelps out there,'' he laughed. Hensel Phelps Construction Co. is a general contractor and construction manager.

Irene Van Sant, project analyst director for the Baltimore Development Corp., said Hensel Phelps is already on the site, preparing for clearing and demolition. She described the sale and the ability to forge ahead with the hotel as "a good day for Baltimore.''

last time i was down in silo point, they were just about finished with knocking down all the silos. i'm so glad that those things are gone. those silos really had a creepy look when you got up close to them. good riddens!! it's going to make that project look so much better.

Yes, most of the silos have been knocked down. If I remember my camera this weekend, I'll take some pictures to post.

However, not all the silos will be knocked down. The developer is retaining some to integrate into the new building that will rise on the same spot where the silos stood. That also means it can still technically be called Silo Point :)

As for the Pulte homes, many folks have already moved in while they work diligently to complete the rest.

Yes, most of the silos have been knocked down. If I remember my camera this weekend, I'll take some pictures to post.

The silos have gone? :eek: Yes, please do take some pictures; I probably won't be able to get down there for a while. I have to admit to being strangely fond of them. I'm sure I would feel different if I lived right under them, but they were such a unique sight, looming over the rowhouses like they did. It will look strange without them.

The silos have gone? :eek: Yes, please do take some pictures; I probably won't be able to get down there for a while. I have to admit to being strangely fond of them. I'm sure I would feel different if I lived right under them, but they were such a unique sight, looming over the rowhouses like they did. It will look strange without them.


Interesting news about Silo Point

I think that I remember reading on this forum actually that orignally the developers had planned to keep the silos and build a new structure inside of them. But I think that when they started doing the actual work, they discovered that they couldn't keep all of the silos as they had hoped. Also I remember that some of the Locust Point residents that live in those older townhouses complained that the windows of the new silo residences would be looking right into their back yards. But I wasn't aware that they where going to raze most of the silos. Maybe they'll only keep the ones that are away from that street where the people complained and keep the ones that are closer to the water. I also think that they need them to get the historic tax credits. Can anyone fill us in on the details?

I too haven't been down there in a while but I read in the paper that those new houses (McHenry Point) were selling very well and that the majority of them had been sold even before the deveopment was finished. Some pictures of the Silo would be great to see. It does look very ominous there by itself.

Weren't some of the silos going to be used for parking? :?

i was downtown today and decided to go to the top of the world at the trade center and the view was beautiful. i also saw big trucks moving in parts of what looked like sections of a crane to the watewr tower site. construction there is moving along nicely. the inner harbor park is also coming along nicely. well i'll have some pics very soon from the trade center.

QUICK - JUST LIKE A BUNNY!
:drunk: :angel: :applause:
Robert you are indeed correct. The 414 Water Street crane is indeed going up. In less than 1 week they poured a huge slab of concrete which takes up half of Water Street. It is about 20 feet in from Gay Street. They have installed 2 sections of the tower crane and 3 more sections are sitting there. The two sections that are installed already make the crane as tall as the garage if you can believe that.

So the mystery is solved. The crane will go up the side of the building and will be anchored to it (I hope). I got some good pictures of it in the 4 o'clock hour today and I'll post the best one when I get home.

I think this is going to be one of those cranes that gets taller as the building goes up. You know, the kind where they insert sections into the top. I just don't see how they can construct a 400 foot tower crane now with just that slab of concrete and an anchor or two supporting it against the garage.

By the way, it's white.

Also, the convention hotel site is now surrounded with a large chain link fence. This was indeed a week of progress in Baltimore.

Ind. company buys GM Broening plant

Developer plans industrial park on 184-acre property
By Lorraine Mirabella
Sun reporter
Originally published January 27, 2006

Industrial developer Duke Realty Corp. has purchased General Motors' shuttered Baltimore van assembly plant and plans a $150 million project to demolish the 70-year-old factory and make way for an industrial park.

Duke, an Indianapolis developer of industrial, office, retail and health care projects, disclosed it had bought a 184-acre Baltimore site in a news release about Mid-Atlantic acquisitions but did not identify it as the GM property.

The statement, which focused on properties in Virginia, said only that the land could accommodate about 2.8 million square feet of new bulk warehouse development to serve port-related business.

A Duke spokesman confirmed that the site was the GM plant, but declined to elaborate on the company's plans.

"We did buy GM's assembly plant on Broening Highway," said Tom Wiser, a spokesman for Duke, who said the sale closed Wednesday. "We own the site and will be developing it."

A GM official also confirmed the sale to Duke, but declined to talk about the developer's proposal or how GM made its selection.

"We're very excited about having Duke on board, and we know they'll do a great job," said John K. Blanchard, executive director for GM Worldwide Real Estate.

He said GM and Duke officials expect to release details during a news conference with Gov. Robert L. Ehrlich Jr. and Baltimore Mayor Martin O'Malley planned for Feb. 3 at the plant.

State economic development officials, who appeared caught by surprise by the Duke press release, did not respond to requests for further comment. City officials did not return phone calls.

James P. Lighthizer, a principal with Chesapeake Real Estate Group and the local broker for GM, estimated the redevelopment costs for Duke at about $150 million, including land acquisition, factory demolition, environmental cleanup and construction of warehouse and distribution space.

"We found a lot of port-related users interested in acquiring both warehouse space and land for outside storage and parking at the GM property," Lighthizer said. Port customers have shown interest in leasing space and buying land on which to build their own facilities, he added.

The Sun reported in September that GM had narrowed its selection of a buyer to Duke and two other finalists. In its request for development proposals, the automaker had not specified uses for the site. But the request discouraged development of housing in such a highly industrialized area, next to Seagirt Marine Terminal on the city's eastern fringe.

At the time, Maryland officials said preliminary plans from the finalists meshed with the state's vision for an industrial-office business park that could bring in 3,000 to 5,000 jobs.

Aris Melissaratos, Maryland's secretary of business and economic development, said then that he expected a new owner to demolish the 3.2 million-square-foot GM auto plant, which closed in May, and redevelop the site, most likely with about 2 million square feet of offices and distribution and manufacturing buildings.

Melissaratos said that redevelopment also would probably include about five midrise office buildings on what is now a parking lot along Holabird Avenue and Broening Highway. He said the offices could become the base for port-related management currently housed in the Inner Harbor's World Trade Center, which the state plans to sell, and a new headquarters for the Maryland Transportation Authority.

Duke did not mention office construction in its announcement yesterday.

The market will determine whether other uses are considered, Lighthizer said.

"The market will determine that ultimate build-out," he said. "If someone had an office or flex requirement, one would think they would try to accommodate that.'

Other industry experts said they expect to see strong demand from warehouse and distribution businesses because of a shortage of industrial land close to the Interstate 95 corridor. The GM site should also be attractive because of its accessibility to the port of Baltimore, real estate experts said.

"It's a terrific redevelopment opportunity," said John Blumer, a managing director for commercial real estate firm CB Richard Ellis in Baltimore. "Everyone in distribution up and down the East Coast wants to jump on I-95, but the I-95 distribution corridor is just running out of land."

In some cases, Blumer said, distribution businesses that serve the Baltimore region are being forced to look for space as far away as West Virginia. "Being close to the port is just huge," Blumer said. "We think there will be a terrific demand for distribution product in that location."

F. Brooks Royster III, executive director of the Maryland Port Administration, said yesterday that he was not aware of Duke Realty's plans for the GM site. Port users, such as importers or exporters, have a great need for distribution centers that move goods through the port, he said.

"We're anxious to see it developed with a maritime aspect," he said. "We hope to see commercial development there that would augment the port."

Duke, founded in 1972, is the largest publicly traded office and industrial property owner in the country. The GM plant acquisition fits into Duke's strategy of expanding into new markets, Denny Oklak, Duke's chairman and chief executive, said in yesterday's announcement.

"The Baltimore transaction will allow us to further expand our plan to capitalize on the growth of port and intermodal distribution activity," he said in the release.

The company owns more than 115 million square feet in a dozen markets, mostly in the Midwest and Southeast. Retail development makes up a small part of the company's business, along with a growing pipeline of health care development. The company's in-house construction company builds all Duke-owned buildings as well as projects for customers throughout the country

Another bit of news: New Visitors Center (http://www.baltimoresun.com/business/bal-fort0127,1,1220837.story?coll=bal-business-headlines)

By the way, it's white.
hmmmm, ya' don't see too many white cranes nowadays, or do we? i'm just glad to finally see that these projects are finally emerging. GO CRANES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
:cucumber: :banana: :carrot: :pepper: :banana2:

Yeah, nothing really "gets me going" like seeing cranes! :D ;)
BUT, especially in the downtown area. :)

BTW,
----


Barbs fly in the Senate over development bill
By Jill Rosen
Sun reporter
Originally published January 28, 2006
A day after Gov. Robert L. Ehrlich Jr. pleaded for legislative civility in his State of the State address, a verbal smackdown broke out on the Senate floor - hardly the resurgence of "good will" the governor was hoping for.

Sen. Richard F. Colburn, a Dorchester County Republican, aimed a tirade at Baltimore County Democrat James Brochin, who sponsored an emergency bill that could effectively quash a billion-dollar development in Colburn's district.



In a verbal assault in which Colburn quoted Abraham Lincoln and Benjamin Franklin and coaxed himself aloud to keep his cool, the senator berated Brochin for the bill, which, he said, could cost Dorchester County a desperately needed economic boost.

"I'm gonna try to remain calm. It's difficult to do," Colburn began at the close of an otherwise mundane Senate session. "It's difficult to know if local courtesy really exists anymore."

He continued: "I'm telling myself not to take it personally, but maybe I'll just put a few liquor bills in for Towson or something like that."

Brochin's bill would prohibit development on conservation areas located within 1,000 feet of a major tidal tributary.

If it passes, the legislation would block the construction of the $1 billion Blackwater Resort, a 3,200-home subdivision with a golf course and conference center planned for Cambridge.

The development is proposed for farmland and wetlands near the entrance to the Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge, one of the region's largest wildlife preserves.

The bill is "emergency" legislation because the Cambridge City Council has scheduled a public hearing Feb. 9 on whether to change the zoning of part of the development site from a "resource conservation area" to an "intensely developed area."

"The city and the county agree on this development - they're in total agreement," Colburn said with exasperation. "Now somebody is gonna put a bill in to stop the project? Somebody who knows better than the citizens of Dorchester County?"

As he continued to passionately defend the development and poke at Brochin, Colburn stressed - repeatedly - how he was going out of his way to respect the Senate's rules of decorum. Others, he preached, should follow his example:


"We need to treat each living senator with the sensitivity we instinctively use to treat each senator who has passed away."


"I'm gonna try to treat everyone with respect this year - even reporters."


And, quoting Franklin: "Dirt may stick to a mud wall, but not to polished marble."

"The senator from Baltimore County is not my enemy," Colburn said at the peak of his lecture. "We're gonna be friends. I'm just gonna try to defeat his bill. Despite what's gonna transpire with this bill, I'm gonna try not to be a vengeful person."

After Colburn took his seat, Senate President Thomas V. Mike Miller complimented the senator's diplomacy, saying, "Your remarks did the Senate good, senator."

Brochin wasn't so impressed.

He stood on the opposite side of chambers to return fire at Colburn. Brochin said his proposal did not violate the legislature's long-standing practice of local courtesy - where senators defer to colleagues representing a city or county on matters affecting just that area.

"I didn't just put a bill in to hurt the senator from Dorchester County," Brochin said. "This wasn't Democrat versus Republican. This was a policy issue, and it was clear to me."

Brochin said that last fall he sat down with Colburn to discuss Blackwater, telling him that he was going to oppose the development.

His "mistake," he told the chamber, was originally submitting a bill that would only prevent the planned Cambridge development. His current bill would protect wildlife areas statewide.

"I'd hoped we could agree to disagree," Brochin said. "And we did until this moment on the floor."

jill.rosen@baltsun.com

we will see the Four Seasons and than the Cordish Tower next to go up.
Also, we shoud get some good news soon from Canton Crossing Condo's.

QUICK - JUST LIKE A BUNNY!
:drunk: :angel: :applause:
Robert you are indeed correct. The 414 Water Street crane is indeed going up. In less than 1 week they poured a huge slab of concrete which takes up half of Water Street. It is about 20 feet in from Gay Street. They have installed 2 sections of the tower crane and 3 more sections are sitting there. The two sections that are installed already make the crane as tall as the garage if you can believe that.

So the mystery is solved. The crane will go up the side of the building and will be anchored to it (I hope). I got some good pictures of it in the 4 o'clock hour today and I'll post the best one when I get home.

I think this is going to be one of those cranes that gets taller as the building goes up. You know, the kind where they insert sections into the top. I just don't see how they can construct a 400 foot tower crane now with just that slab of concrete and an anchor or two supporting it against the garage.

By the way, it's white.

Also, the convention hotel site is now surrounded with a large chain link fence. This was indeed a week of progress in Baltimore.

Hey Guys,

Hampden is really on the upswing. Clipper Mill and this Rotunda project looks terrific. 400 condo's, apts, and townhouse plus 50,000 sq ft of new retail, expanded Giant, etc...

we will see the Four Seasons and than the Cordish Tower next to go up.
Also, we shoud get some good news soon from Canton Crossing Condo's.

I am very excited about seeing those Canton Crossing Condos. Coming south on 95, it is neat to first catch a glimpse of Natty Boh, then rounding the corner and seeing the new First Mariner building. Once the condos and development are complete, it will be a skyline unto itself, and its going to make that whole area look very attractive from I95. :)

Wow! :)
Its great to see many of these most anticipated projects kick off at the same time. As I said before there will be a skyline full of cranes in the next few weeks, zenith, convention center hotel, water tower, the vue tower, etc. I can't wait to hear news about 414 light street. We should be hearing something on that soon right?

agenda website for Feb 2nd. I'm not sure what this means.

Wow! :)
Its great to see many of these most anticipated projects kick off at the same time. As I said before there will be a skyline full of cranes in the next few weeks, zenith, convention center hotel, water tower, the vue tower, etc. I can't wait to hear news about 414 light street. We should be hearing something on that soon right?

maybe it's time for an e-mail to arcwheeler again to see if the Feb. 2nd date is still a go. Anybody with me? :)

News on the City Jail:

Read about it here. (http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/local/bal-md.booking28jan28,1,6442183.story)

News on the City Jail:

Read about it here. (http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/local/bal-md.booking28jan28,1,6442183.story)

This may sound picky-picky but many of these new articles refer to that hell-hole as the "city jail", "Baltimore's booking center", etc, as though the city govt has something to do with it. You have to read down in the article to get to the fact that the booking center is a State facility. It was built not too many years ago to be the be-all-and-end-all for incoming arrestees, who would be booked, see a judge and be released or transfered to pretrial custody within 24 hours. Even the "Baltimore Circuit Court" is part of the State. It would be good if they made it clear near the top of this and other articles that the State is responsible for this mess, kinda like the MTA

Hey Guys,

Hampden is really on the upswing. Clipper Mill and this Rotunda project looks terrific. 400 condo's, apts, and townhouse plus 50,000 sq ft of new retail, expanded Giant, etc...

I'm real glad to see these things happening. Living right up the road, I patronize a lot of these businesses and eagerly await more. The Clipper Mill development is starting to look good as I pass by on the light rail. Here's hoping that the new Rotunda development will being some more good retail into that underutilitized lot. I'd like to have a couple good places to eat before taking in a movie and from what I have heard that tiny Giant (strange wording there) will be as large as the SuperFresh on the next block. This is unique in Baltimore, a neighborhood that has two full service supermarkets and a movie theater as well as lots of street level retail and eateries within a short walk.

I would love to know what is going on with Cityscape. I hope it is not another 300 East Pratt that takes decades to build.

Cordish/Paterakis always come through so the Four Seasons and Cordish Tower are next to start.

maybe it's time for an e-mail to arcwheeler again to see if the Feb. 2nd date is still a go. Anybody with me? :)

You know what, I think I read an article in the BBJ or the Sun paper about Town & Country the company behind 300 East Pratt Street being bought out by another real estate company. This may or may not mean the end of 300 east Pratt St. Did anyone read this article?

Yeah, I read that article. And, I did e-mail Arcwheeler yesterday. Maybe you guys could too. Might get a quicker responce. :)

Could these projects coming to Baltimore attraction more people to live in this city like more immigrants especially latinos, etc. Also more people from the counties to boom the population?

Yes, that's possible.

Could these projects coming to Baltimore attraction more people to live in this city like more immigrants especially latinos, etc. Also more people from the counties to boom the population?

I posted an article several days ago that stated that Baltimore's population could return to around 750,000 by 2020. I would have thought this to be a very generous estimate, but we'll have to see. Baltimore as already "turned the corner" so to speak, but it has quite a few more corners to that it could also turn in the future. The sky is the limit with Baltimore's potential.

Wow! :)
Its great to see many of these most anticipated projects kick off at the same time. As I said before there will be a skyline full of cranes in the next few weeks, zenith, convention center hotel, water tower, the vue tower, etc. I can't wait to hear news about 414 light street. We should be hearing something on that soon right?........and let's not forget the crane that's up at 1000 aliceanna street. we STILL haven't recieved a rendering for this residential tower. i believe it was going to be somewhere around 10-12 stories. hell, it's gonna' be damn-well built by the time we actually get to see what it looks like.....lol.

........and let's not forget the crane that's up at 1000 aliceanna street. we STILL haven't recieved a rendering for this residential tower. i believe it was going to be somewhere around 10-12 stories. hell, it's gonna' be damn-well built by the time we actually get to see what it looks like.....lol.

LOL :lol:

Could these projects coming to Baltimore attraction more people to live in this city like more immigrants especially latinos, etc. Also more people from the counties to boom the population?

Most of these projects are pretty pricy. They don't seem likely to be in the range that would be possible for immigrants (except possibly foreign doctors, etc). The most likely clientele appears to be the usual range of young kidless professionals and empty-nest baby boomers. My impression is that a significant percentage are suburbanites who want to shed the lawns and extra rooms and be in the middle of things. If this development continues, it might turn the corner on the population, but larger increases don't seem likely until the education system turns around and those young professionals can start to stay in the city once they have kids. The wild card on this seems to be the Latino population. I have the impression that they may be undercounted in the official numbers. They are not the people who are buying expensive waterfront property, but they have been appearing in large numbers, moving into some areas, starting new business, etc and the "official" numbers don't appear to match my seat-of-the-pants feeling about how many have moved into the area.

........and let's not forget the crane that's up at 1000 aliceanna street. we STILL haven't recieved a rendering for this residential tower. i believe it was going to be somewhere around 10-12 stories. hell, it's gonna' be damn-well built by the time we actually get to see what it looks like.....lol.

I hope that this isn't like those movies that go straight to the cineplex without being seen by critics. Maybe they don't want us to see what it looks like.

Better read this:

Cooling on Condos? (http://baltimore.bizjournals.com/baltimore/stories/2006/01/30/story3.html)

Plus:

$190M over budget! (http://baltimore.bizjournals.com/baltimore/stories/2006/01/30/story2.html)

and...

Camden Crossing (http://baltimore.bizjournals.com/baltimore/stories/2006/01/30/focus5.html)

And lastly:

Harbor East News (http://baltimore.bizjournals.com/baltimore/stories/2006/01/30/tidbits1.html)

You know what, I think I read an article in the BBJ or the Sun paper about Town & Country the company behind 300 East Pratt Street being bought out by another real estate company. This may or may not mean the end of 300 east Pratt St. Did anyone read this article?
Unfortunately, the 300 East Pratt Street lot does not belong to Town and Country. It is actually controlled by Harvey Schulweis who is the majority stock holder of Town and Country. He controls it via a separate corporate entity. In reading about the initial announcemet of Town and Country's acquisition, one of the publications made it clear that the Pratt Street parcel was not affected by nor included in the sale. It was either the Sun, Daily Record, or Baltimore Business Journal where I read that.

Better read this:

Cooling on Condos? (http://baltimore.bizjournals.com/baltimore/stories/2006/01/30/story3.html)
I don't think there is anything really negative in this article. I simply think they are saying what had been a red hot maket is now a balanced market. The couple of projects they cite as giving "incentives" are small projects where just a few of the least desirable units remain. For example, almost all of the the Revels units in Mt. Vernon were sold before construction started.

I really don't think that the prices of condos will deflate. There is just to much demand for that to happen. I think they will continue to appreciate at a rational rate which, to me, is 5 to 10 percent a year. If inflation were 10 percent a year, we'd all be up in arms! An appreciation rate of 20 to 25 perecent a year is too much and can not be sustained for years on end.

This is one of those articles where there is no news to report, so you write something like this to fill up the blank space in the paper so that the ads can be next to something!

Unfortunately, the 300 East Pratt Street lot does not belong to Town and Country. It is actually controlled by Harvey Schulweis who is the majority stock holder of Town and Country. He controls it via a separate corporate entity. In reading about the initial announcemet of Town and Country's acquisition, one of the publications made it clear that the Pratt Street parcel was not affected by nor included in the sale. It was either the Sun, Daily Record, or Baltimore Business Journal where I read that.

Or look at it on the bright side - a CA firm just started a bidding war for Town and Country. So obviously Schulweis is going to paid handsomely for all of his stock. Maybe that means he'll now have more money, and more time, to concentrate his efforts on 300 East Pratt. Eh, who am I kidding, it'll be another 10 years... :)

I hope that this isn't like those movies that go straight to the cineplex without being seen by critics. Maybe they don't want us to see what it looks like.

It's definitely been seen, and approved, by the city if contruction has already begun. So I guess that means the project is too small to make the papers and the developer/architect is just not putting the design on the Internet for our sleuth's to find...

If you google 1000 Aliceanna St. this is what comes up. Is this not the project?

http://media.expedia.com/hotels/1000000/570000/566700/566607/566607_3_s.jpg

That's the Courtyard Marriott, is it not? :? :?

btw, no answer yet from Arcwheeler. Peter, maybe you should give it one more try.... :D You seem to have better luck getting through to them and getting a quick responce. :D :)

........and let's not forget the crane that's up at 1000 aliceanna street. we STILL haven't recieved a rendering for this residential tower. i believe it was going to be somewhere around 10-12 stories. hell, it's gonna' be damn-well built by the time we actually get to see what it looks like.....lol.


The only renderings we have of that place is on the harboreast site...when you click on the "aerial views" and see the rendering of the entire project

If you google 1000 Aliceanna St. this is what comes up. Is this not the project?

I know that the courtyard by marrriot is already built but I am not exactly sure what building is build referred to

Also, you can mostly make out the general renderrings from this aerial
http://sberspace.com/_images/harboreastaerial.jpg

The two closer buildings at south eden steet are under constuction. A crane has been set up there.

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y138/TheSmooshie/100_0508.jpg

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y138/TheSmooshie/100_0509.jpg

Response from Martin O'Malley.

>>> "Mayor Martin O'Malley" <mayor@baltimorecity.gov> 01/30/06 10:25 AM >>>

300 E. Pratt has all the approvals it needs to move forward with the
exception of final design approval and Board of Estimates approval of
the PILOT agreement. The owner says he intends to build the project;
however, the timetable is uncertain.

Cityscape is still in the preliminary due diligence period. We have
extended the development team's Exclusive Negotiating Privilege another
90 days. We'll know more in March/April.

-----Original Message-----
Sent: Thursday, January 26, 2006 2:45 PM
To: Mayor Martin O'Malley
Subject: 300 East Pratt and Cityscape(Shelter Group)


Dear Mayor,

Are any of the above properties going to break ground soon for
residential buildings. The properties could really stimulate more people
living in the city and create a 24 hour environment.

that's a nice responce. :)
Thanks, fanofterps! :)
I guess, to his knowledge, 300 east pratt is still moving forward, albeit at a lethargic snail's pace. ;)

Cityscape has been given more and more time.... :| Hope it's for a good reason. I want this project to start asap like I do for the 300 east pratt tower.

btw, thanks for posting those pics, fluffyhorse. :)

That SOB O'Malley!!! Just joking. Sounds good though. And that previous picture isn't 1000 Aliceanna. StevenW, you're right.

Yeah, I had my doubts that it was 1000 Aliceanna, but it pops up all over google as being such. Oh well.

That is better news than I had expected concerning both 300 East Pratt and Cityscape. If 300 East Pratt has all the approvals save for the final design, does that mean that it's already been decided what will go on the site (for example 400 condos and street level retail, etc.)?

btw, no answer yet from Arcwheeler. Peter, maybe you should give it one more try.... :D You seem to have better luck getting through to them and getting a quick responce. :D :)

As you requested, I sent them another message. I'll let you know when/if they respond.

I know that the courtyard by marrriot is already built but I am not exactly sure what building is build referred to

Also, you can mostly make out the general renderrings from this aerial
http://sberspace.com/_images/harboreastaerial.jpg
yeah, i was referring to those "twin towers" right next to 1400 lancaster. the reason i was inquiring about what it was going to look like was because i heard right before they broke ground that funds were an issue and they had to scale it down a bit from 12 to 10 stories. i just figured there was a possibility that the renderings would've changed along with the "downscaling", but i guess not.

Thanks for the pix fluffy:

I was thinking, the two Four Seasons towers in the aerial picture look to be almost as tall at The View and the Marriott. Then it dawned on me, those units may be coming with 12 or even 15 foot ceilings as opposed to the standard 8 foot ones. Someone paying that amount of money for a luxury unit would most likely expect - and get - higher ceilings since ceiling height defines "luxury" in the burbs.

Also, all you southern view 414 Water Street buyers, 300 East Pratt Street (The Old News American block) will take out a big chunk of your panorama if it is built. Yes, it will be higher than 26 stories James. It looks as thought some decision on that project will be coming soon.

I want to live, and have a huge terrace, at the vantage point of this rendering. Yes, this is the view I aspire to have only I'd like to be a few floors higher! Now, all I have to do is pick 6 numbers in the correct order!

http://sberspace.com/_images/harboreastaerial.jpg

GM TO EXPAND ALLISON HIRING

Maryland dignitaries to visit White Marsh for announcement by CEO tomorrow
By Paul Adams
Sun reporter
Originally published January 31, 2006
The chairman and chief executive of General Motors Corp. is due to make an announcement tomorrow at the company's transmission plant in northeast Baltimore County that could mean jobs for an undetermined number of workers who were displaced when the company closed its van manufacturing plant in Southeast Baltimore last spring.

That would be welcome news locally for a company that posted a sizable annual loss last week and whose struggles, along with those of "Big Three" brethren Ford Motor Co. and DaimlerChysler AG, have stirred broad concern about the future of the American auto industry.

Though details are scarce, local labor leaders say they have been told the company is going to produce a new transmission at the 400,000-square-foot plant, which currently employs about 380 union workers. The new product will be produced alongside the heavy-duty truck transmissions the plant already makes, but the company has not said how many jobs might be created, said Fred Swanner, president of Local 239 of the United Auto Workers union.

In a possible sign of the project's magnitude, GM is sending its chairman and CEO, G. Richard "Rick" Wagoner Jr., to White Marsh tomorrow to reveal details of the plan at a news conference. Gov. Robert L. Ehrlich Jr., U.S. Sen. Barbara A. Mikulski, state economic development officials and other dignitaries are expected to attend.

A General Motors spokeswoman declined to provide further details yesterday. "Hopefully, it means jobs for us," said Brian Woollen, a former electrician at the Broening Highway plant and one of the tens of thousands of GM workers who are on a waiting list for jobs elsewhere within the company. "I think a lot of us feel like we're in limbo."

Rumors about an expansion of the Allison Transmission plant have been circulating for days among hundreds of GM workers who lost their jobs when the Broening Highway plant closed in May. But most have been skeptical of news that GM will bring new jobs to Maryland. Many say the prospect of more jobs seems at odds with recent headlines pertaining to the U.S. auto industry. GM and Ford recently announced plans to eliminate a combined 60,000 workers and demolish dozens of unprofitable assembly plants to cut costs in the face of competition from foreign automakers.

On Friday, GM reported a larger-than-expected $8.6 billion loss for 2005 as sales of its popular sport utility vehicles plunged. The loss is the automaker's largest since 1992, when the company was in the red by $23.5 billion. The same economic forces have buffeted the White Marsh truck transmission plant since GM began production there in March 2001. Maryland lawmakers and then-Gov. Parris N. Glendening said they had assurances that the plant would double in size, perhaps as early as 2002.

The state and Baltimore County earmarked $3.2 million in incentives to finance the expansion, it was reported at the time. But those promises were linked to expected growth in market demand, which didn't materialize. Industry analysts said the heavy truck business fell off as buyers postponed purchases in the face of a slowing economy.

Fuel-efficient models
Conditions have since changed, industry experts say. Businesses that rely on big trucks are finally replacing their aging fleets, and higher gas prices also are helping sales of newer, more fuel-efficient trucks. "There's a lot of growth in the heavy truck business and, therefore, it's a time when you make hay," said David Cole, chairman of the Center for Automotive Research in Ann Arbor, Mich.

Allison Transmission has a global list of customers and is among the more prosperous divisions in GM, Cole said. He wouldn't be surprised to see Allison form a partnership with a competitor. "They are one of the dominant producers in the world [in the truck area]," he said.

Cole said Wagoner is making himself more visible as GM struggles to restructure its business plan and stanch the red ink. But if he's coming to White Marsh, it's a safe bet he's going to announce a significant investment in capital and jobs, Cole said. For GM workers who lost their jobs in May, it could mean the difference between uprooting their families to chase a job across the country and staying in Baltimore. Many of the displaced workers have left for jobs with out-of-state GM plants. Others are waiting and hoping for new work. The union contract gives local workers preference for any new jobs at the transmission plant.

"It's going to allow a thousand people to reassess what they're going to do because now they will have an opportunity to stay within the contract and GM and not leave the area, and those were not thought to be options," said Bill Barry, director of labor studies for Community College of Baltimore County. "It's a new, promising possibility for a lot of them."

Jump at chance
Bruce Kendall, 55, a welder who worked at GM's van assembly plant for 16 years, says he'd jump at a chance to work in White Marsh. "The bad part of losing your job is having to move to another plant," he said. Kendall is pessimistic that he has enough seniority to land a job at the plant, assuming it does expand. "But that would probably be the greatest news anybody could hear," he said.

Thanks for the pix fluffy:

I was thinking, the two Four Seasons towers in the aerial picture look to be almost as tall at The View and the Marriott. Then it dawned on me, those units may be coming with 12 or even 15 foot ceilings as opposed to the standard 8 foot ones. Someone paying that amount of money for a luxury unit would most likely expect - and get - higher ceilings since ceiling height defines "luxury" in the burbs.

Also, all you southern view 414 Water Street buyers, 300 East Pratt Street (The Old News American block) will take out a big chunk of your panorama if it is built. Yes, it will be higher than 26 stories James. It looks as thought some decision on that project will be coming soon.

I want to live, and have a huge terrace, at the vantage point of this rendering. Yes, this is the view I aspire to have only I'd like to be a few floors higher! Now, all I have to do is pick 6 numbers in the correct order!

http://sberspace.com/_images/harboreastaerial.jpg

Yes Four Seasons does look be about the height of the Marriot Waterfront. That area will be a city unto itself when completed. I wonder how will the Four Seasons look at night? will it be illuminated? I can't wait to see. I think we need more towers on the westside of the harbor. 414 Light Street will help spark that boom in my opinion :) Right now the skyline extends more east.

From ARCWheeler:

Dear Mr Smith,
Thank you for your interest in our Baltimore project. Right now we are
in a preliminary design phase and still working out many of the details.
Please check our website on occasion for updates as they are posted.
The hearing has been rescheduled for Feb. 16.
Have a nice week,
Jill



Jill Johnson
Director of Operations
ARCWheeler
30 S. 17th Street, Suite 1620
Philadelphia, PA 19103
P(215) 825-7718

From ARCWheeler:

Dear Mr Smith,
Thank you for your interest in our Baltimore project. Right now we are
in a preliminary design phase and still working out many of the details.
Please check our website on occasion for updates as they are posted.
The hearing has been rescheduled for Feb. 16.
Have a nice week,
Jill



Jill Johnson
Director of Operations
ARCWheeler
30 S. 17th Street, Suite 1620
Philadelphia, PA 19103
P(215) 825-7718



Rescheduled yet again :bash: :baaa:

Thanks, Peter. :)
Somehow, you always get through. They may have "banned" my e-mail address or something. :D
As Brian just said, "Rescheduled yet again!" :|
Next it will be (rescheduled) for sometime in March...... :|

:wallbash: :wallbash: :wallbash: :wallbash: :wallbash: :wallbash: :wallbash:

Also, all you southern view 414 Water Street buyers, 300 East Pratt Street (The Old News American block) will take out a big chunk of your panorama if it is built. Yes, it will be higher than 26 stories James. It looks as thought some decision on that project will be coming soon.http://sberspace.com/_images/harboreastaerial.jpg

wada guy, what do you exactly mean when you say, "Yes, it will be higher than 26 stories"? And, also, what do you mean when you say, "It looks like as though some decision on that project will be coming soon"? Have you heard anything from someone on the ,"Inside"? :D ;)

^^ I just know what the mayor said as reported on the previous page. I believe you saw it. Every rendering of 300 East Pratt that has ever been published, and as you know there have been sooooo many of them over the years, has been in the mid 30 to low 40 story range with regard to height. A regular reader has purchased a unit on the 26th floor of my building hence the remark.

Here is my weekly up date of H2O Street for all you out of towners. Behold Z crane!

http://www.baltimoreguy.com/images/Photography%20414%20Page%201%2022.jpg
It isn't finished yet. They are still installing the boom. I got tired of watching.
http://www.baltimoreguy.com/images/Photography%20414%20Page%201%2025.jpg

http://www.baltimoreguy.com/images/Photography%20414%20Page%201%2025.jpg
now, this is what "dreams" are made of!!!! this is beautiful, fellas'!!! go cranes go!!! and the location i was referring to over in inner harbor east was the crane on south eden street, NOT 1000 aliceanna. thanks fluffy horse!!!

as close as 2009, baltimore's going to have a whale of a skyline. it would be REALLY nice if both 300 pratt street and 414 light street had height atleast in the upper 30's to possibly add some much needed density . also, baltimore has enough "flat, top-surfaced" buildings. it's time to throw a couple of pointy crowns in the mix.

I agree, some crowns are needed in my opinion. :)

FROM wada guy:

"I just know what the mayor said as reported on the previous page. I believe you saw it. Every rendering of 300 East Pratt that has ever been published, and as you know there have been sooooo many of them over the years, has been in the mid 30 to low 40 story range with regard to height. A regular reader has purchased a unit on the 26th floor of my building hence the remark.

Here is my weekly up date of H2O Street for all you out of towners. Behold Z crane!"

---------------------------

First of all, I like your reference to water street as H2O Street. Very cool! :D
Secondly, I was just hoping that this, "regular reader", would have had some specific insight as to when the 300 east pratt street tower might be announced and what it may look like or how many stories it would have. Nah, I know you wouldn't hold out on us like that. ;) :D :D :D

Response from Martin O'Malley.

>>> "Mayor Martin O'Malley" <mayor@baltimorecity.gov> 01/30/06 10:25 AM >>>

300 E. Pratt has all the approvals it needs to move forward with the
exception of final design approval and Board of Estimates approval of
the PILOT agreement. - (The owner says he intends to build the project;
however, the timetable is uncertain.) -

Cityscape is still in the preliminary due diligence period. We have
extended the development team's Exclusive Negotiating Privilege another
90 days. - (We'll know more in March/April.) -

-----Original Message-----
Sent: Thursday, January 26, 2006 2:45 PM
To: Mayor Martin O'Malley
Subject: 300 East Pratt and Cityscape(Shelter Group)


Dear Mayor,

Are any of the above properties going to break ground soon for
residential buildings. The properties could really stimulate more people
living in the city and create a 24 hour environment.
---------------------------------------------------------
Notice the phrase, "The owner says he intends to build the project;
however, the timetable is uncertain."
No offence but that's been the responce I've been given for over the past 2 years or so. :bash: :wallbash:

Does the Water Tower project fill the entire block, and if not, what else is on that block?

Does the Water Tower project fill the entire block, and if not, what else is on that block?there is some older buildings about a couple of floors each at the back end of the site.

AWESOME NEWS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

FINALLY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

AWESOME NEWS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


Harbor may get tallest building
$300 million project has hotel, condos, spa
By Lorraine Mirabella
Sun reporter
Originally published February 1, 2006



A Philadelphia developer plans to build what would be the tallest tower in Baltimore on one of the last undeveloped parcels along the Inner Harbor, a multimillion-dollar project to include luxury condominiums, a boutique hotel and retailers such as a spa and a gourmet grocer.



ARC Wheeler Group, a joint venture of Clifton, N.J.-based ARC Properties and Philadelphia-based Wheeler Group, is scheduled to make its first formal presentation of plans for the Light Street tower Feb. 16, when the project will go before the city's Urban Design and Architecture Review Panel.

Company representatives said yesterday that the developer hopes to close on the 2-acre site, in a prime location between the Hyatt Regency and Harbor Court hotels, within two months and begin construction this summer, with completion by 2009. The site, once home to a McCormick & Co. spice plant, is now a parking lot operated by its owner, Central Parking Corp.

The developer envisions a tall, slim tower, with 200 to 250 luxury condominiums, shops and a hotel that could compete on a national level as destination lodging. Though it has not been determined how tall it would be, the developer expects it to soar higher than any other building downtown, said Jon Laria, an attorney at Ballard, Spahr, who is representing ARC Wheeler. At a projected 1.2 million square feet, the project would dwarf nearby structures.

The 529-foot, 35-story Legg Mason Building at 100 Light St. is the city's tallest, followed closely by the art deco Bank of America building at 10 Light St. Along the Inner Harbor, the T. Rowe Price headquarters at 100 E. Pratt St. has the most space, with about 656,000 rentable square feet.

The nine-story Montgomery Park, the sprawling, redeveloped Montgomery Ward catalog warehouse in Southwest Baltimore, is the city's largest, with 1.194 million square feet.



An 'elegant building'
The ARC Wheeler project will be designed by New York architect Robert A.M. Stern and probably will be tall and slim as opposed to shorter and broader, Laria said.
"That's what the harbor deserves," he said. "It will be a very elegant building."

Laria said ARC Wheeler has strong relationships in the financial community and is confident it would get funding for the project.

A spokesman for Mayor Martin O'Malley said the project, with an estimated cost of about $300 million, would represent a huge private investment in the downtown.

"We would welcome that kind of private development on a long-vacant piece of land," Rick Abbruzzese said yesterday.

But he cautioned that the project, which is at a preliminary stage, would undergo thorough review during the design and approval process.

M.J. "Jay" Brodie, president of the Baltimore Development Corp., who met with representatives of ARC Wheeler last summer after they signed the contract to buy the property, declined to comment on the project yesterday.

Brodie has said previously that under the urban renewal plan governing the Inner Harbor, a developer could build about 1 million square feet of space for a range of uses, including a hotel, offices, shops, housing and a garage. He and others at the BDC encouraged the developer to consider including ground-floor retail space to lend liveliness at street level.

Kirby Fowler, president of the Downtown Partnership, said the developer's plans mesh with the goal of creating a 24-hour downtown.

"Every project we've been working on in the last two years has been a mixed-use project, and we continue to encourage developers to have mixed-use projects," Fowler said. "I feel like we've crossed an important threshold in downtown, where more and more people will begin to move in, and it will feed on itself.

"One of the benefits of allowing for greater height is the possibility of getting some high-quality architecture, and I believe this project could deliver on that potential," Fowler said.

Baltimore is primed for an upscale, signature project as waterfront condo development is booming and hotel/condo projects by Ritz Carlton and Four Seasons are under development, Laria said.

"There is room in this market for all of these projects," he said. "The idea that you could have projects of this prominence, a Ritz and a Four Seasons, indicates that Baltimore is ready for this quality of development. We think it's here."
Laria said market studies show a deep market for luxury condos.



"It's a reflection on Baltimore as a place to live, and on people's willingness to come here and be part of the city," he said. "The idea is to create an extremely upscale condo environment with all those other services."

ARC Wheeler is in discussions with several hotel operators. Laria said the developer envisions a destination hotel that could compete nationally with luxury hotels in other cities.

"It would have a strong urban feel and is a product that doesn't exist in Baltimore today," he said.

The developer is studying the market to determine the best mix and type of retailers, which would probably be a mix of national and local stores, Laria said.

"We have to make sure the retail makes sense to support the uses on the site as well as to provide the amenities" for the condo residents and hotel guests, he said.



A few hurdles
Though zoning allows commercial uses, the city's planning commission must approve the design. After the nine-story McCormick building was razed in 1989, the city agreed to allow a new building to rise higher there, as long as it met other restrictions on the site, including a standard known as "floor area ratio."
The former McCormick site, similar to many commercial properties in Baltimore's central business district, has a floor area ratio of 14-to-1, which means a structure may rise 14 stories if the entire lot is covered, or 28 stories if 50 percent of the lot is covered, or a variation on that formula.

As a result, city planners say, the maximum allowable height of a replacement building on the McCormick site would depend on the lot coverage, the number of square feet proposed and other factors. The city's Board of Municipal and Zoning Appeals can vote to waive the restriction.

Requirements in the Inner Harbor West urban renewal plan have led to buildings of similar height facing the Inner Harbor along Pratt and Light streets.

"Any way you look at it, it's probably true that what the market can absorb in the uses they put on the project will govern the height more than the zoning does," said Martin Millspaugh, a former chief executive of the BDC's predecessor, the Charles Center - Inner Harbor Management, which oversaw early Inner Harbor redevelopment.

A new building on the McCormick site would be subject to setbacks established in the Inner Harbor West urban renewal plan and subsequent amendments. Under the restrictions, the building would have to be set back from Light Street, rather than rise along the property line.



lorraine.mirabella@baltsun.com
Sun reporters Edward Gunts and June Arney contributed to this article.

-------------------------------------


OMG! OMG! OMG! :eek2: :eek2: :eek2:

Congratulations.......

StevenW - "BALTIMORE PSYCHIC OF THE YEAR!"
:bow: :bow: :bow: :bow: :bow: :bow: :bow: :bow: :bow: :bow: :bow: :bow: :bow: :bow: :bow: :bow: :bow: :bow: :bow: :bow: :bow: :cheers2:

to Crane City!!!!!

The DAILY RECORD'S view!

Deal close for $300M harbor tower
Philadelphia developer plans luxury condos, hotel and retail space
By JEN DeGREGORIO
Daily Record Business Writer

A Philadelphia developer is close to buying one of the Inner Harbor’s last undeveloped properties and building a $300 million luxury condominium, hotel and retail project, The Daily Record has learned. In negotiations for about a year, ARC Wheeler LLC expects to finalize a deal in the next few months for the surface parking lot at 414 Light St., according to the developer’s lawyer, Jon M. Laria of Ballard Spahr Andrews & Ingersoll LLP.

Once home to a McCormick & Co. Inc. spice factory, the property is located just across the street from Harborplace and the Maryland Science Center. “It’s the last great Inner Harbor site that is undeveloped,” Laria said. “It’s going to just be a really marquee project.”

The former News American site on Pratt Street is the only other major parcel that is undeveloped, said J. Kirby Fowler, president of the Downtown Partnership of Baltimore. Laria would not elaborate on a sale price for the former McCormick property, but the land has an estimated value of $14.9 million, according to the State Department of Assessments and Taxation.

New York-based architect Robert A.M. Stern will design the project, which will include 200 to 250 luxury condominiums, on-site parking, a gourmet grocery store and a hotel, the brand and size of which have not yet been decided. A spa also could be part of the project, Laria said.

A number of hotel chains have expressed interest in doing business on the ARC Wheeler site, Laria said, but he declined to name any of those companies. Laria expects the condominiums and hotel to take the shape of a tall, slender tower rather than a long, squat building that would act like a wall along Light Street.

Stern’s firm, which designed recent additions to Sheppard Pratt Hospital in Baltimore, is still finalizing plans that will be presented to the city’s Urban Design and Architectural Review Panel on Feb. 16. The company did consider office space for the site, but Laria said there “was no market” for offices.

“Both the condominium market and the hotel market remain extremely strong,” Laria said. He was not sure how much each condominium would cost. But given the location and pricing of other nearby projects, the condominiums likely wouldn’t come cheap.

Less than a half-mile south of the site, condominiums in the Ritz-Carlton Residences on Key Highway are selling for $5 million each. That project by Midtown Baltimore LLC is still under construction. “I think they just have tremendous faith in Baltimore’s circumstances and future,” Laria said of ARC Wheeler, which he said has never developed a project in Baltimore before.

Ground-level retail will be a major component of the project, as Baltimore development officials have said they want to make sure Light Street remains pedestrian-friendly, Laria said. “We’ve been pushing for street-level retail in every building,” Fowler said. “From the Harbor Court [Hotel] to Pratt Street, you can almost envision a very walkable retail area that of course includes Harborplace.”

“No. 1 on the retail list is to get a gourmet grocery store that would serve the project but also be an amenity for the neighborhood,” Laria said. Baltimore development officials have lauded the entry of such upscale projects along Baltimore’s waterfront, welcoming new residents and their contribution to the city tax base.

Neighbors, however, caution that the city should beware of too much of a good thing. “We understand why everyone would want to capitalize on the waterfront property,” said Keith Losoya, president of the Federal Hill Neighborhood Association. “But what we are very afraid of is that the pricing of the properties that are being built right now will tilt the demographics of the community to a non-diverse, very affluent community,” Losoya said.

Losoya said the neighborhood association generally opposes towers along the waterfront but judges projects on individual merits. He said the association would wait to see ARC Wheeler’s final design before taking a stance on this project.

AWESOME NEWS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

FINALLY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

AWESOME NEWS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


Harbor may get tallest building
$300 million project has hotel, condos, spa
By Lorraine Mirabella
Sun reporter
Originally published February 1, 2006



A Philadelphia developer plans to build what would be the tallest tower in Baltimore on one of the last undeveloped parcels along the Inner Harbor, a multimillion-dollar project to include luxury condominiums, a boutique hotel and retailers such as a spa and a gourmet grocer.



ARC Wheeler Group, a joint venture of Clifton, N.J.-based ARC Properties and Philadelphia-based Wheeler Group, is scheduled to make its first formal presentation of plans for the Light Street tower Feb. 16, when the project will go before the city's Urban Design and Architecture Review Panel.

Company representatives said yesterday that the developer hopes to close on the 2-acre site, in a prime location between the Hyatt Regency and Harbor Court hotels, within two months and begin construction this summer, with completion by 2009. The site, once home to a McCormick & Co. spice plant, is now a parking lot operated by its owner, Central Parking Corp.

The developer envisions a tall, slim tower, with 200 to 250 luxury condominiums, shops and a hotel that could compete on a national level as destination lodging. Though it has not been determined how tall it would be, the developer expects it to soar higher than any other building downtown, said Jon Laria, an attorney at Ballard, Spahr, who is representing ARC Wheeler. At a projected 1.2 million square feet, the project would dwarf nearby structures.

The 529-foot, 35-story Legg Mason Building at 100 Light St. is the city's tallest, followed closely by the art deco Bank of America building at 10 Light St. Along the Inner Harbor, the T. Rowe Price headquarters at 100 E. Pratt St. has the most space, with about 656,000 rentable square feet.

The nine-story Montgomery Park, the sprawling, redeveloped Montgomery Ward catalog warehouse in Southwest Baltimore, is the city's largest, with 1.194 million square feet.



An 'elegant building'
The ARC Wheeler project will be designed by New York architect Robert A.M. Stern and probably will be tall and slim as opposed to shorter and broader, Laria said.
"That's what the harbor deserves," he said. "It will be a very elegant building."

Laria said ARC Wheeler has strong relationships in the financial community and is confident it would get funding for the project.

A spokesman for Mayor Martin O'Malley said the project, with an estimated cost of about $300 million, would represent a huge private investment in the downtown.

"We would welcome that kind of private development on a long-vacant piece of land," Rick Abbruzzese said yesterday.

But he cautioned that the project, which is at a preliminary stage, would undergo thorough review during the design and approval process.

M.J. "Jay" Brodie, president of the Baltimore Development Corp., who met with representatives of ARC Wheeler last summer after they signed the contract to buy the property, declined to comment on the project yesterday.

Brodie has said previously that under the urban renewal plan governing the Inner Harbor, a developer could build about 1 million square feet of space for a range of uses, including a hotel, offices, shops, housing and a garage. He and others at the BDC encouraged the developer to consider including ground-floor retail space to lend liveliness at street level.

Kirby Fowler, president of the Downtown Partnership, said the developer's plans mesh with the goal of creating a 24-hour downtown.

"Every project we've been working on in the last two years has been a mixed-use project, and we continue to encourage developers to have mixed-use projects," Fowler said. "I feel like we've crossed an important threshold in downtown, where more and more people will begin to move in, and it will feed on itself.

"One of the benefits of allowing for greater height is the possibility of getting some high-quality architecture, and I believe this project could deliver on that potential," Fowler said.

Baltimore is primed for an upscale, signature project as waterfront condo development is booming and hotel/condo projects by Ritz Carlton and Four Seasons are under development, Laria said.

"There is room in this market for all of these projects," he said. "The idea that you could have projects of this prominence, a Ritz and a Four Seasons, indicates that Baltimore is ready for this quality of development. We think it's here."
Laria said market studies show a deep market for luxury condos.



"It's a reflection on Baltimore as a place to live, and on people's willingness to come here and be part of the city," he said. "The idea is to create an extremely upscale condo environment with all those other services."

ARC Wheeler is in discussions with several hotel operators. Laria said the developer envisions a destination hotel that could compete nationally with luxury hotels in other cities.

"It would have a strong urban feel and is a product that doesn't exist in Baltimore today," he said.

The developer is studying the market to determine the best mix and type of retailers, which would probably be a mix of national and local stores, Laria said.

"We have to make sure the retail makes sense to support the uses on the site as well as to provide the amenities" for the condo residents and hotel guests, he said.



A few hurdles
Though zoning allows commercial uses, the city's planning commission must approve the design. After the nine-story McCormick building was razed in 1989, the city agreed to allow a new building to rise higher there, as long as it met other restrictions on the site, including a standard known as "floor area ratio."
The former McCormick site, similar to many commercial properties in Baltimore's central business district, has a floor area ratio of 14-to-1, which means a structure may rise 14 stories if the entire lot is covered, or 28 stories if 50 percent of the lot is covered, or a variation on that formula.

As a result, city planners say, the maximum allowable height of a replacement building on the McCormick site would depend on the lot coverage, the number of square feet proposed and other factors. The city's Board of Municipal and Zoning Appeals can vote to waive the restriction.

Requirements in the Inner Harbor West urban renewal plan have led to buildings of similar height facing the Inner Harbor along Pratt and Light streets.

"Any way you look at it, it's probably true that what the market can absorb in the uses they put on the project will govern the height more than the zoning does," said Martin Millspaugh, a former chief executive of the BDC's predecessor, the Charles Center - Inner Harbor Management, which oversaw early Inner Harbor redevelopment.

A new building on the McCormick site would be subject to setbacks established in the Inner Harbor West urban renewal plan and subsequent amendments. Under the restrictions, the building would have to be set back from Light Street, rather than rise along the property line.



lorraine.mirabella@baltsun.com
Sun reporters Edward Gunts and June Arney contributed to this article.

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OMG! OMG! OMG! :eek2: :eek2: :eek2:


WOW!!!!!!!

My heart just skipped a beat! This is awesome and a dream come true. I can't wait to see renderings! :banana: :dance: :pepper:

Definitely is great news. Start construction by summer? Wow, these ArcWheeler folks must really have their act together. Tall, slender & elegant, I don't think we could have asked for anything better.

Though I don't know why the Record quoted this Keith Losoya character. This is a city project, not a Federal Hill project. I heard a touch of NIMBYism in him.

They also said that the tower would dwarf nearby structure's, meaning Harbour Court and Legg Mason:) Just how tall do you guys think this tower will be? I'm guessing at least 600ft because in order for a tower to dwarf another tower it has to be at least a couple hundred feet taller. Damn I am soo excited :yes: And I'm even more excited that construction could possibly start by this summer :eek2: . Just Unbelievable.

Definitely is great news. Start construction by summer? Wow, these ArcWheeler folks must really have their act together. Tall, slender & elegant, I don't think we could have asked for anything better.

Though I don't know why the Record quoted this Keith Losoya character. This is a city project, not a Federal Hill project. I heard a touch of NIMBYism in him.

I agree, not sure what his problem is with a project that isn't in his neighborhood. Plus he is worried about Federal Hill becoming an elite, non-diverse area. HELLO BUDDY, that happened about 10 years ago, so get over it.

Well its about time!!!!!!!
200-250 condos a hotel an retail in a slender tower on that small plot of land MAN this building must atleasted be 800 feet tall. Most slender building usully are.This biulding might be has tall as the Comcast Center. Now all we need is something big to come out of the superblock.

:) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :)
FANTASTIC NEWS!

I really hope this happens in the timeframe they're hoping for and doesn't get held up by red tape.

BTW, can anyone post a picture of the old McCormick building? In 1989 I was an 8-year-old living in the UK so I never saw it, and didn't have much luck Googling for it.

Well its about time!!!!!!!
200-250 condos a hotel an retail in a slender tower on that small plot of land MAN this building must atleasted be 800 feet tall. Most slender building usully are.This biulding might be has tall as the Comcast Center. Now all we need is something big to come out of the superblock.

If this building is as tall as they say than Baltimore's skyline will finally have a focal point. And that classic shot from federal hill of the skyline will become obsolete. There will be a few new vantage points which in my opinion will be from the south west coming into the city (which is my favorite view of the skyline) and from the east south/east coming into the inner harbor. Man if we get a 800 foot tall tower I might just faint :nuts:

While this is definately great news just remember that it has to be approved by the BDC. Let's hope they don't shrink it to a 6 story brick building with some sailboat crap at the top of it.

YES!!! I have a feeling this, 414 Light St., will go through! The Sun article highlights some city officials who seem content with the idea. Excellent stuff!

Great news! I don't really think we need to worry about the BDC hurting this project all that much, if at all. The BDC is very pro-development. I'm surprised there are only 200-250 condos slated. Can you imagine if they went with the 600 that one forumer stated they were looking at? Baltimore might have gotten the world's tallest building ;) The thing I am most impressed about is the square footage. It is more than double any other building on the Harbor and even more than Montgomery Park, which for those of you who aren't familiar with it is MASSIVE. This is just great news. It seems like everything about this project is golden.

DEAR ARCWHEELER: I WANT A BAR AND RESTAURANT UP TOP! Please share the view since I know I won't be able to afford a unit in the clouds! I clean up nicely and I'll wear a coat and tie. I promise! :dance2: :dance2: :cheers1: :spam1: :carrot: :eat: :drunk: :cheers: :dance2: :dance2:

^^ Maybe if you save up long enough you can reserve a room in the hotel for a night

^^ Maybe if you save up long enough you can reserve a room in the hotel for a night
All depends on where the hotel is located in the project. It could be on the lower floors like at Harbor Court/Intercontinental. :)

I won't celebrate too loudly until a shovel is put into the ground, but this is looking promising. :applause: :applause:

Can you imagine what things would have looked like on this side of the harbor if the "Believe" team hotel project had been chosen instead of the one that will be built?

Be sure to vote in my poll on the Northeast page!! How high will it go?

I can't wait to see this tower rise. Hopefully this gets approved very quickly so they can stick with their summer start date.

I can't wait to see this tower rise. Hopefully this gets approved very quickly so they can stick with their summer start date.


hey guys, out of the 3 towers that are under construction right now which one do you think will be completed first? The Zenith, Water Tower, or The Vue? I think water tower will be done first, because they are moving right along with this project. :)

Can you see me drooling from here?

The thing I can't figure out is the shape of the tower. 1.2 million sq. feet is a huge amount of area on a relatively small plot. I am guessing that there will be a fairly large base taking up the entire block with a very tall slender tower on top.

I can't wait to see the renderings.

I would say The Vue.

hey guys, out of the 3 towers that are under construction right now which one do you think will be completed first? The Zenith, Water Tower, or The Vue? I think water tower will be done first, because they are moving right along with this project. :)

I think it will be pretty close between the Vue and the Watertower with an edge to the Vue. The vue has compleated its foundation work and is starting to rise while the Watertower dosn't have to build a foundation.

I think Water Tower would be completed first then Zenith, the Water Tower already has a foundation which they can build on. The Vue may take more time.

Check this out I did some research and found out that the Bloomberg Tower complex was 1.3 million sq. ft which included the 54 story tower and the smaller 6 story tower. If 414 Light st is 1.2 million sq ft which is all in one slender tower then it should be atleast 850 ft tall. Atleast!!

This is one of the most exciting days on this site in the nearly two years I've been involved. There are some hurdles yet to be cleared. The BDC approval is always tricky. They have to put their finger prints on this. They could lop a few floors just for the sake of loping. There appears to be needless restrictions on the ratio between the footprint and the height. These restrictions are not based on any rationale other than someone decided so. Also the building has to be recessed from Light Street. Why?

I hope the BDC doesn't discourage this vital private investment in the city. This sounds like an excellent project and well thought out.

I am wondering how they will construct this large tower. Will there be a multi-story base for the retail, spa and hotel upon which the tower will rise? It could be a recessed tower from a wide base, Narrowing as it rises. Whatever, this is the piece de resistance of all the projects proposed or built since this posting began.

Great New for Baltimore

I wonder how this will impact the progress or lack thereof on 300 E. Pratt St. and 1 Light Street that have been vacant lots for ages now? I really wish that these other 2 developments get started soon. Boy, downtown Baltimore will be a really changed place from a decade ago once all of these developments get built.

I just hope that the Federal Hill/Otterbein community people don't throw water onto the fire here, as has happend so many times before. It would look really bad for Baltimore if this magnitude of private development gets chased away by these small minded provincial NIMBY's!

This is very very exciting. I given the location of the site, and its buffer distance from community groups, I do not think that the City officials will need to listen to the gripes of the community groups on this one. That site is in the downtown district more or less and the neighborhoods are well insulated from its impacts. Traffic will be mostly from Conway street to get to 95. Its close to the marc rail so dc workers who live there can commute without cars. Street level retail will energize the area even more and get rid of that dead spot. I just can believe how exciting this will be. 1.2 million sf is bigger than the vue and look how immense that is and its tower component is 22 stories. If you look at the site areas, it looks like the vue is closer to 3 acres so its more spread out. I think if the tower turns out to be a 20,000 sf foot print sitting on top of a 6 story 60,000 sf footprint hotel, we will be looking at a 48 story tower on top of structured parking. So, this could top 600 ft. So exciting. Can’t wait to see the renderings after the udarp meetings on the 16th

Congratulations.......

StevenW - "BALTIMORE PSYCHIC OF THE YEAR!"
:bow: :bow: :bow: :bow: :bow: :bow: :bow: :bow: :bow: :bow: :bow: :bow: :bow: :bow: :bow: :bow: :bow: :bow: :bow: :bow: :bow: :cheers2:

lol :LOL:

Hey, you know, each one of us should write the Mayor, BDC, the City design committee and let them know how STRONGLY we support this tower at 414 Light Street. We should give well thought out explainations as to why this tower NEEDS to be built and how it shouldn't be "tampered" with at all.
At the same time, we should also e-mail Arcwheeler and thank them and tell them they have our support and to "hold their ground" with this tower. AND, if there is anything that we can do to help show our support to (Whomever), then we will do all we can. :)
Am I speaking to strongly about this for anyone? :?
I just think this is the crucial time that we need to show everyone who has an "effect" on this tower that we are here to support this project so we can get a headstart on any and all NIMBYs and help the Urban design committee that they should not interfere with this tower's scale at all. That goes for the BDC as well. :D
That's my two cents........ :)

^good idea Steven

^Thanks. :) Anyone else? :D

http://www.baltimoresun.com/media/mapimage/2006-02/21730601.gif

i may be passing through baltimore on my roadtrip from houston to upstate NY. :banana: