...continued from the old thread.

Here's a link to the old thread:
http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=426933

And away we go!

Who, here on this forum, lives in the Canton area?
If so, please read this e-mail I just recieved from Marco Greenberg. He's developing the "ICON" high-rise project in Canton.

This is his e-mail to me concerning the meeting:

Steve

Thanks for your inquiry. There was not a great turnout (on either side)
Thursday evening. The naysayers in the community gave their regular
speeches, and about a dozen supporters came to express their views.

One interesting point - traffic continues to be a "proxy" issue, as some
people quote traffic concerns as their reason for opposing the
development. However, the City's own traffic consultant has stated
publicly that our development would have a neglible impact on traffic,
particularly compared to other recently-approved projects. Of all the
potential uses of a site, residential development has the least impact
on traffic, especially peak hour counts.

There were names and faces at the meeting that I did not recognize - I
hope some of them were your friends. I have a sign-in sheet from the
meeting - can you share your friends' names with me? We've been accused
of bringing in "ringers", and I'd like to get an accurate idea of who
actually lives in the Canton area. I'd also like to add them to my
e-mail list if possible.

Thanks again for your inquiry - I'll keep you posted.

Marco


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

If you guys could help out or if you want to help out Mr. Greenberg, I can give you his e-mail and you can contact him or you can e-mail your e-mail address or whatever.
Just let me know asap.

BTW, even if you don't live there, I'm pretty sure he'd be very interested in talking with you.



Nate?......


mg@cignalcorp.com

^^Marco Greenberg's e-mail address ^^

Well, I'm not particularly enamoured with the Ikon project; highrises along the waterfront of a neighborhood of 2 story houses just looks goofy and awkward.

That said, I'm not generally with Cantonites when it comes to development. These days it seems they say they have enough development and that anymore would be overdevelopment.

I disagree. Baltimore is nowhere near that yet, not even Canton. Residents need to be very cognizant of all projects coming down the pike. What I think to gaurd against is bad development (out-of-scale, out of context, too suburban). We need more density. However, you don't have to have towers to have great density, as we've discussed before. The more quality designed development for Canton--the better. The denser, the better for rowhouse neighborhoods within the old City limits. More density means more services with shorter travel distances.

I'm not much on the traffic argument here. The City streets are designed to be quite high-capacity (thank Henry Barnes there). Boston St is practically a highway already--is was originally going to be one. It favors through traffic like nothing else. You can't even cross the street by the Sip n Bite--the traffic always gets the green! So I think they've got plenty of traffic capacity to absorb, but of course, my assessment is at least partially anecdotal here.

I'll consult with Gerry Neily, former City traffic planner, and on-line planner extraordinaire, who lives in Butcher's Hill. I'm sure he's got a more insightful thought on this.

Nate

And meanwhile, while we fight off a proposed acquisition by DC/MD Suburbs....

I used to work for the NYC Parks Dept. up in the Bronx, and one interesting initiative we were pursuing would work really well in Baltimore, I think. Don't know if anyone has heard of this before, but NY sponsored a tree census, and enlisted volunteers to take inventory of all trees and other wildlife in subsections of the city -- parks and streets. Companies sponsored the program in schools, but also as a fundraiser. Some donors would donate a nominal sum to the parks department or to a school for every tree counted. NY has several hundred thousand trees. Baltimore likely does, too. Why not have sponsors donate $1 for every tree counted to the parks department? Some of the proceeds could go to wildlife restoration, park improvements, etc. Heck, it could showcase our parks a little bet more. They're a truly undervalued asset in Baltimore

>>Its an art school. What do you expect. Baltimore needs bolder architecture anyway. No matter what someone thinks of this one, it will break people out of their shells in this city. How many more boring boxes can we stand to see in our skylines. Everytime I see that Marriott downtown, I just think to myself what could have been if someone actually used a little more "outside the 'box'" vision.

I don't like the design completely myself, but I like the statement it makes. Baltimore isn't going to be a city of the world's tallest skyscrapers. But we can be a city with strong forward thinking designs.

and again.. its MICA.. what do you expect. We're lucky to have them. UB too.<<

I like freewheeling architecture and I love MICA's other new building (the one with all of the glass). The residence building, however, is just plain ungainly and disproportioned, but not in a pleasing way. I wouldn't want a real tall building on Mt Royal but I think they could have done better.

Development News 20! Holy crap!

Continue doing what you do Baltimore forumers, it's obviously a beautiful thing. :banana:

And meanwhile, while we fight off a proposed acquisition by DC/MD Suburbs....

I used to work for the NYC Parks Dept. up in the Bronx, and one interesting initiative we were pursuing would work really well in Baltimore, I think. Don't know if anyone has heard of this before, but NY sponsored a tree census, and enlisted volunteers to take inventory of all trees and other wildlife in subsections of the city -- parks and streets. Companies sponsored the program in schools, but also as a fundraiser. Some donors would donate a nominal sum to the parks department or to a school for every tree counted. NY has several hundred thousand trees. Baltimore likely does, too. Why not have sponsors donate $1 for every tree counted to the parks department? Some of the proceeds could go to wildlife restoration, park improvements, etc. Heck, it could showcase our parks a little bet more. They're a truly undervalued asset in Baltimore

Contact the Parks Bureau Chief, Christopher Carroll. Try (410) 396-7939, that should get you close to his office. He's new and eager to change things up.

Nate

The McDonald's at Pulaski Highway and Highland Ave has apparently been demolished (at least it appeared to be from my night time view from the #22), if any body gives a hoot and hollar.

Wonder what garbage they'll put in it's place.

Nate

As a heads up, a Sun article today notes plans to fix Amtrak's tunnels under Baltimore. Has the railroad or anyone from DOT/FRA come up with an idea of where a new tunnel will eventually be?

I could've sworn that Hong Kong banner was there before.

And meanwhile, while we fight off a proposed acquisition by DC/MD Suburbs....

Riiiiight....if anything we're the ones being acquired. We have one page and you guys have 20. Barring any catastrophic event (see: The Sum of All Fears), Baltimore will never be "acquired" by DC. I don't think you guys realize that this is the creation of a whole new subforum, not a consolidated thread. That means Baltimore would be in the same category as New York City, LA, Chicago, Toronto and Miami on the elite list of cities with so much development that they get their own subforum.


GUYS, WE'RE GETTING A PROMOTION TO METROPOLIS HERE. LETS NOT REJECT IT!

I agree BalWash. This is an opportunity we shouldn't pass up.

Ritz-y living in demand
Luxury condos going up at Inner Harbor are pulling in buyers
By Lorraine Mirabella
Sun reporter
Originally published January 17, 2007

Move over, Boardwalk and Park Place.


The swanky Ritz-Carlton condominium project rising at Baltimore's Inner Harbor is pulling in buyers as fast as units are released for sale, and the first two mid-rise buildings are expected to be just about full when they open in the fall.

The developer credits the cachet of the luxury Ritz-Carlton brand and the project's prime waterfront location for the strong demand, even as the housing slump has stalled condo sales in Baltimore and elsewhere.

When the last batch of five were put out for sale in mid-December, including a penthouse with a price tag north of $5 million, all were gone in a day. All three of the $5 million-plus penthouses have been sold.

And despite earlier projections that it would be Washington money moving in, it's mostly Baltimore's well-heeled who are lining up for the $1.5 million-and-up residences.

About 75 percent of the buyers are "notable Baltimoreans," said Jack J. Cayre, a principal with the project's developer, Midtown Equities LLC.

"They want to live near people they're associated with - or would like to be associated with," Cayre said yesterday, as the developer marked the midway point in completing the project, placing the final steel beams on two of the buildings.

"The key that ties everyone together is lifestyle. They're looking for that lifestyle," Cayre said.

Though Cayre won't disclose the number of units sold, the Downtown Partnership of Baltimore estimates that 125 of the 192 units have sold. Cayre said he expects most of the 100 units in the first two buildings to be sold when those buildings are finished later this year.

Buyers have been a mix of local celebrities and county dwellers who want to scale down or have a place for their boats, said Michael Yerman, a broker with Long & Foster Real Estate hired to handle sales for the project.

"The Ritz is like saying Rolls-Royce," Yerman said. "We've had a lot of inquiries from around the country and from the immediate area because it's a Ritz-Carlton."

That name and all it promises meant everything to Ray Ferguson, a retired director of a lab equipment company from Annapolis, and his wife, Jan, a retired owner of an interior plantscape firm. When they didn't find what they were looking for in Annapolis, the Baltimore natives looked at the Ritz, then looked no further. The couple will move into a first-floor, two-bedroom condo at the Ritz with a private lawn.



A lifestyle choice
"From a lifestyle standpoint, I don't think there's anyplace like the Ritz that would offer this kind of lifestyle - pools that I don't have to clean, hot tubs I don't have to clean, a concierge, valet parking, maid service if we need it, restaurants you can get to without getting your umbrella out, parking under our unit and getting into a private elevator," said Ferguson, who will sell a single-family home in Annapolis.
"We travel an awful lot, and when we have to leave our present house, it's a chore and when away, worry about it. This way, it's a lock-and-leave situation," he said.

So far, Midtown Equities' strategy of gauging demand and releasing only a handful of units at a time to a competitive pool of buyers is paying off. None of the released units remain unsold, Cayre said.

Midtown is betting that demand will continue to build to the end, bringing higher prices than if the units were all put up for sale at once, Yerman said

Housing experts credit the fast pace of sales to the relative scarcity of comparable upscale waterfront housing and a small percentage of available condos in an area the size of metro Baltimore.

"If you really look at the numbers, we don't have a big condo market here at all, even with the new projects coming, based on the size of the metro area and the number of new condos," said Robert Aydukovich, vice president of economic development for the Downtown Partnership. "What's available currently is a small percentage in this population."

Market seems strong
Aydukovich said sales of condos in the $200,000 to $500,000 range have been strong in new projects such as 414 Water Street downtown and The Vue in Harbor East, which has sold out.




Aydukovich believes the market for high-end condos will also remain strong in projects such as the Ritz and a comparable project set to begin construction this year, The Four Seasons Resort and Hotel. The latter is to include 104 condos but has been delayed as developers consider including a commercial component along with the hotel and condos.

Aydukovich said the partnership's research shows Baltimore's condo market is not becoming overbuilt.

The Downtown Partnership estimates downtown can absorb an additional 7,400 townhouses, condos and apartments over the next five years.

Still, the slowdown in the housing market has affected Baltimore, said William Rich, a vice president of Delta Associates, which tracks the multifamily and condo housing markets.

In the fourth quarter of 2006, Baltimore and the surrounding metro area had only 74 condo sales, compared to more than 400 in each of the previous three quarters of 2006, he said.

As a result, some developers have had to change course.

Wood Partners, developers of Avalon Village Green, a garden-style apartment complex in Pikesville that had converted to condos, switched back to rentals, he said. "I think there's more than seasonal [fluctuations] going on," Rich said. "It's a larger increase in the pipeline of condos in the market, it's over-saturated" and condos are seen as a riskier investment.

Even so, Baltimore's condo market has not suffered nearly as much as those in cities such as Washington, Miami and Las Vegas, where the condo boom was fueled by speculators before prices began to decline, Rich said.

He said the Ritz has benefited from having little competition, as other developments are still in the planning stages.

"I think the difference is that the Ritz really is just a different animal than your average condo in Baltimore," said Grant Montgomery, a vice president at Delta Associates. "And it's that it's targeted toward a particular niche of the market - and the fact that that niche has not been addressed before."




lorraine.mirabella@baltsun.com

I-95 Toll for Del.?
http://www.baltimoresun.com/business/bal-bz.hancock17jan17,0,4984205.column?coll=bal-business-headlines

Bill could alter railway structure in Baltimore


Printer Friendly | PDF | Email | digg
Dave Carey, The Examiner
Read more by Dave Carey
Jan 17, 2007 3:00 AM (2 hrs 12 mins ago)
Current rank: # 190 of 15,664 articles

BALTIMORE - The Department of Homeland Security has its sights set on making railways across America more secure, and it could mean a major facelift for railroading in Baltimore.


A proposed bill, the Surface Transportation and Rail Security Act of 2007, if passed, will provide hundreds of millions of dollars to Amtrak and other transit services to update and better secure transportation routes.

This proposal calls for widened and expanded Amtrak tunnels in Washington, D.C., New York City and Baltimore that serve both business commuter travelers and commercial train traffic.

The draft legislation calls for fire and life-safety improvements in the system of tunnels.

The bill “is fundamentally about the reauthorization of Amtrak and developing a federal-state partnership on funding the [Northeast] Rail Corridor development,” said Ross Capon, executive director of the National Association of Rail Passengers. “The whole issue with Baltimore is another matter. That is, we’d like bigger tunnels for freight to get through, but definitely there is funding and there would be funding in [the bill], if it was appropriated.”

According to Capon, this bill and its proposed rail security measures already have been approved in previous sessions of the Senate. The bill, however, has died in the House of Representatives.

The proposed work to the tunnels running under Charm City would split money allocated for the Northeast Corridor. This would be $63.5 million in 2008, $30 million in 2009 and $30 million in 2010. Capon told The Examiner that much of the money would go to enlarging the size of the tunnels. That would allow larger freight cars and make it easier for passengers and emergency crews to move through the tunnels in case of emergency.

Amtrak declined to comment.

dcarey@baltimoreexaminer.com

I'm coming out of the closet - again. I LIKE BRICK! :)

Since no one said "NO", here they are.

We'll start with the "high road".

http://www.baltimoreguy.com/photogallery/03%20Baltimore%20Events/05%202007%20The%20Great%20Ravens%20Disaster/Ravens%2001.jpg

http://www.baltimoreguy.com/photogallery/03%20Baltimore%20Events/05%202007%20The%20Great%20Ravens%20Disaster/Ravens%2016.jpg

And continue to the party!

http://www.baltimoreguy.com/photogallery/03%20Baltimore%20Events/05%202007%20The%20Great%20Ravens%20Disaster/Ravens%2002.jpg

http://www.baltimoreguy.com/photogallery/03%20Baltimore%20Events/05%202007%20The%20Great%20Ravens%20Disaster/Ravens%2012.jpg

Looking north.

http://www.baltimoreguy.com/photogallery/03%20Baltimore%20Events/05%202007%20The%20Great%20Ravens%20Disaster/Ravens%2013.jpg

And south.

http://www.baltimoreguy.com/photogallery/03%20Baltimore%20Events/05%202007%20The%20Great%20Ravens%20Disaster/Ravens%2014.jpg

My "stump" of a building.

http://www.baltimoreguy.com/photogallery/03%20Baltimore%20Events/05%202007%20The%20Great%20Ravens%20Disaster/Ravens%2011.jpg

Yes folks, if mass transit RUNS WHERE PEOPLE WANT TO GO, they use it. The trains bring the faithful. All the people you see actually got off that train.

http://www.baltimoreguy.com/photogallery/03%20Baltimore%20Events/05%202007%20The%20Great%20Ravens%20Disaster/Ravens%2017.jpg

Lastly, some city pride!

100 East Pratt Street.

http://www.baltimoreguy.com/photogallery/03%20Baltimore%20Events/05%202007%20The%20Great%20Ravens%20Disaster/Ravens%2021.jpg

The Mechanic Theater Stage.

http://www.baltimoreguy.com/photogallery/03%20Baltimore%20Events/05%202007%20The%20Great%20Ravens%20Disaster/Ravens%2020.jpg

McKelden Plaza during the game. Everyone was watching TV but me. I couldn't take it!

http://www.baltimoreguy.com/photogallery/03%20Baltimore%20Events/05%202007%20The%20Great%20Ravens%20Disaster/Ravens%2019.jpg

OUCH!

Abandonment Issues: JHU Policy Students Get Handle on Baltimore City's Vacant Property Problem
Here is the link to the article.
http://www.jhu.edu/~gazette/2007/16jan07/16aband.html

http://www.jhu.edu/~gazette/2007/16jan07/images/16houses.jpg
A trio of abandoned houses in a 'micro' neighborhood studied by one student team.
By Kevin Sottak
Institute for Policy Studies

In 1950, Baltimore was the sixth largest city in America, with a population approaching 1 million. Today, Baltimore is the nation's 18th largest, with a population just over 600,000. The good news for residents and city officials is that the city's decades-long population decline has recently abated; the bad news is that the physical scars of this exodus — boarded-up homes, shuttered commercial buildings and junk-strewn vacant lots — still pockmark the city.

Five years ago, Mayor Martin O'Malley, in an effort to accelerate the healing process, launched Project 5000 with the explicit goal of reclaiming title to a portion of the city's stock of abandoned properties and putting them back into productive use. However, as often is the case with public policy challenges, there is a disproportion between the scale of the problem and the resources available to combat it.

From the start, city officials have faced questions about where to focus their efforts to get the greatest return on a limited investment. Should they concentrate on neighborhoods with relatively few abandoned units, in hopes of shoring up seemingly more stable neighborhoods? Or should they instead focus on the most blighted neighborhoods with the highest concentration of abandonment, where entire blocks might be acquired and put to better use? What other neighborhood characteristics — parks, school quality, homeownership rates — are important correlates of a neighborhood's health?

This fall, in an effort to assist Project 5000, first-year master of public policy students undertook the first systematic neighborhood-level study of Baltimore's abandoned properties and neighborhood health. The project was undertaken as part of the course Policy Analysis in the Real World, taught by Sandee Newmen.

"The primary purpose is to give our graduate students real-world exposure to the challenges of analyzing a complex policy issue with limited data, statistical sophistication and time," said Newmen professor and director of the Johns Hopkins Institute for Policy Studies. "At the same time, this study provides city officials with a much more complete and detailed picture of this tenacious problem."

Over a 12-week period, teams of students analyzed several decades' worth of census and city administrative data, and conducted interviews and street-by-street observations in five Baltimore neighborhoods in an effort to understand whether there was a consistent link between levels of abandonment, the neighborhoods' underlying health and the specific features of the abandoned properties.

The neighborhoods studied were selected for their geographic distribution and demographic diversity and because each encompasses areas of both concentrated and dispersed abandonment. Often, the patterns occurred in close proximity; in one case, the width of a city street was all that separated areas of high and low levels of abandonment. Unlike previous analyses that aggregated results at the neighborhood or census tract level, this study examined abandonment within small, two-to-three-block "micro" neighborhoods.

The students examined the relationship between abandonment and an array of indicators of neighborhood health, such as property values, homeownership rates, crime, private investment and the presence of amenities such as parks and stores. Their preliminary findings, reported in December to an audience that included members of the Baltimore City Council, city housing and planning officials, community organizations and concerned citizens, offered some surprising insights. Most notably, no consistent link was found between higher levels of abandonment and other neighborhood health measures, such as housing prices and trends. Rather, the relationship appeared to be heavily tempered by other considerations, including the style and age of the local housing stock. The students concluded that the number or concentration of abandoned properties in a neighborhood is a poor targeting criterion for Project 5000 resources.

David McIlvane, a real estate agent involved with Project 5000 who attended the presentation, said he was surprised that the housing stock and age were such strong correlates of abandonment. "The data presented were very compelling," he said.

Another key finding was the discovery of "hot spots" — small areas of higher levels of abandonment, increased crime and depressed property values — within two apparently stable neighborhoods. The students suggested that these hot spots may be good targets for Project 5000 remediation, since they are already surrounded by healthier areas. The students also found evidence that dead-end streets, impassable lots and other features seem to serve as buffers, preventing the spread of crime and other problems.

Newmen said that the richness, range and detail of the database developed for this analysis provides a more nuanced picture of the relationship of abandonment to neighborhood health. For example, in two apparently stable neighborhoods, the students discovered troublesome "hot spots" of high levels of abandonment, increased crime and depressed property values. Conversely, at least one apparently struggling neighborhood contained a several-block-long "enclave" of well-maintained homes with relatively high property values and homeownership rates.

"The students walked every block of the neighborhoods they studied, Newmen said. "They were able to capture features of the problem that were hidden at the neighborhood or census tract level."

Student presenter Wesley Tharpe, a member of the Coldstream-Homestead-Montebello study team, noted that he was struck by the discrepancies between residents' perceptions of the cause or impact of abandoned properties in their neighborhood and what the data said. For example, many residents attributed the deteriorating housing to an increase in younger, more transient residents, but this was not supported by the objective census and administrative data. "One of the most important lessons for me was learning how to square what we saw and heard with what the numbers were telling us," he said. "In our analysis, we tried to tell a coherent story that wove together all of the different information we analyzed."

Michael Bainum, assistant commissioner for land resources in the city's Department of Housing and Community Development, echoed the comments of many in the audience when he praised the students for their thoughtful analysis and new ideas, calling the presentation a "breath of fresh air." He added that he "hopes that this experience gives the students a sense of the frustration, and also the adrenaline rush," that public officials experience in trying to solve pressing policy issues.

Student Ami Patel said she chose Johns Hopkins in part because it was the only program that offered first-year students the opportunity to do meaningful policy research. "After the presentation, City Councilwoman Mary Pat Clarke spoke to me and some of my classmates and told us that the presentation really helped her to understand what was happening in parts of her district," Patel said. "Knowing that our work was actually being listened to by policy-makers — to me, that was the most rewarding part."

As a heads up, a Sun article today notes plans to fix Amtrak's tunnels under Baltimore. Has the railroad or anyone from DOT/FRA come up with an idea of where a new tunnel will eventually be?


The last, and it should still be available on line from December 2005. I'll find the link if anybody's interested, or e-mail me, I've got it on my system.

Nate

As opposed to seeing empty lots downtown, I'm all about tearing down all the abandoned homes, even if its an entire block, and even if it were to remain an open grass field for years to come.

The McDonald's at Pulaski Highway and Highland Ave has apparently been demolished (at least it appeared to be from my night time view from the #22), if any body gives a hoot and hollar.

Wonder what garbage they'll put in it's place.

Nate


Also, the Mc D's on the corner of Baltimore and Light Street has been closed down due to unsanitary conditions. Apparently they have been closed down a few times before for the same reason. This could be good for One Light Street....hopefully.

^^ Won't do much for 1 light, as I think that property has to be preserved, anyway. I doubt it will remain a McDonalds when integrated into the project, however. Betcha it'll become a Starbucks :nuts:

Weren't we supposed to get some news on 1 Light?

Yeah. But I haven't heard anything. Just one more missed deadline in the tragic history of that property.

Also, when are we supposed to hear anything new on the Pratt St. redevelopment?

Wada, that thread was salt in the wounds.. It was so much fun until the actual game fell apart.. But look at that civic pride. look at all those people. Can't want until next year now.

^^ Cheer up! The Orioles are going to the World Series this year. I can feel it in my bones - or is it just my arthritis? ;)

There is a lot of money in this town! If you read the article about the Ritz, it states that the vast majority of sales have been to local people much to the developer's surprise.

And now this!

City museum receives $10 million gift
Local philanthropist known for modesty, generosity donates funds
By Mary Carole McCauley and Glenn McNatt
Sun reporters
Originally published January 17, 2007

The Baltimore Museum of Art has been promised $10 million from a local philanthropist - the largest cash gift made by one person in the institution's 92-year history. Dorothy McIlvain Scott's donation comes amid a spate of presents from various benefactors to Baltimore cultural groups.

Scott, 94, is known in the arts community as much for her modesty as for her generosity. Her bequest will allow the museum to expand its American collection of furniture and decorative arts into the present day. "Our American collection focuses on the 18th and early 19th centuries. This will allow us to broaden our collection chronologically, into the 20th-century decorative arts," said Doreen Bolger, the museum's director. "The present becomes a lens to look at the past. It will become much more exciting for people because it will be more relevant to their current situations."

Over the decades, Scott has given to the museum nearly 200 pieces of Americana, including an 18th-century vanity with long legs as slender and delicate as those of a racehorse. Her newest gift will allow these artifacts to be removed from their current exhibition space in the basement to galleries on the first floor. The American collection will be housed in the newly renamed Dorothy McIlvain Scott Wing, just inside the museum's historic entrance.

Scott's pledge is the most recent in a series of million-dollar gifts to Baltimore charitable organizations from such diverse sources as the Joseph and Harvey Meyerhoff Family Charitable Funds, philanthropist Suzanne F. Cohen, actress Jada Pinkett Smith and the couple who anonymously donated $1 million to the Baltimore Shakespeare Festival. Stiles T. Colwill, president of the BMA's board of directors, notes that the $10 million pledge furthers a tradition of giving at the museum.

Many collections
"With this exceptional gift, Miss Scott joins the legendary cadre of great women philanthropists - Claribel and Etta Cone, Mary Frick Jacobs and Saidie A. May - each of whom have donated outstanding collections and have had gallery wings named after them," he says.

Indeed, the BMA is sometimes called a "collection of collections." The museum is internationally renowned for the Cone Collection of post-impressionist and modern paintings and sculptures, particularly its holdings by Henri Matisse. In 2002, the 3,000 artworks in that single collection were valued at nearly $1 billion.

The Jacobs group consists of European masterpieces from the 15th through 19th centuries, while May's artworks include many works by surrealist artists.

Colwill, an interior designer and antiques expert, adds that he was "ecstatic" when six months of negotiations with Scott, his longtime friend, recently were finalized. "The board chairman of any museum in America would want to turn a triple somersault upon receiving a gift like this," he says.

Bolger thinks that Scott's pledge might be the largest cash gift ever given by an individual to a Baltimore arts organization in one lump sum.

In 1982, Joseph Meyerhoff donated $10 million of the $23 million it would cost to build a new symphony hall. But that extraordinary gift was spread over a period of years.

In addition to Scott's current gift, she has donated millions of dollars to, and has served on the boards of, a slew of charitable organizations from Union Memorial Hospital to the Walters Art Museum to the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra.

But Scott always has been extremely reluctant to take credit for her works. For instance, she declined to be interviewed for this article or to have her photograph published.

"I live a very private life," she told John Dorsey, The Sun's former art critic, in 1992. "I was raised that way, and it's difficult for me to change. I don't want ever for people to think that I'm above them or showing off or putting on airs. I just want the museum to have, and not a whole lot about myself."

Contemporaries
According to Colwill and to Scott's attorney, Jeff Gonya, Scott was born in 1912 - two years before the BMA was founded. "She's virtually the same age as the museum," Bolger says. "She came here often with her parents as a young girl."

A story that Scott likes to tell is of one of these early visits. After mounting the BMA's broad sweep of marble steps, she came face to face with Auguste Rodin's behemoth bronze, the Thinker, which at the time was displayed outdoors. The child was thunderstruck. "Who's that man?" she asked her mother.

That experience began a mutually beneficial relationship between the museum and patron that has lasted for more than eight decades. Bolger thinks the recent spate of gift-giving to arts groups similarly "reflects the culmination of long relationships between donors and institutions."

She notes that the Meyerhoff family has been associated with the symphony for generations. Pinkett Smith honed her craft at the Baltimore School for the Arts, which is slated to receive $1 million from the performer.

People who donate large sums also receive tax breaks. But Rebecca Hoffberger, director and founder of the American Visionary Art Museum, thinks that tax considerations are secondary to the pleasure that donors receive from giving. "It's about being able to take your life's passions and translating it into benefit for future generations," she says.

Domino effect
It's also well known to development officials that a large gift tends to have a domino effect that results in other gifts - which might account, in part, for the current flurry of charitable announcements.

"People stepping forward and making a gesture for the public good raise the bar," says Gary Vikan, director of the Walters Art Museum. "They invite others to do the same." The $10 million from Scott will be used for the American wing's endowment, for general operations and for artistic programs. The wing will be formally renamed and dedicated at the BMA's annual meeting in June.

Saw this on the City Paper website:

LEBANESE TAVERNA
Now Hiring

Lebanese Taverna is seeking experienced, highly motivated, service oriented team players for its newest restaurant in Baltimore (Harbor East - Corner of S. President Street and Lancaster Street), scheduled to open in February 2007.

The Ritz under construction:

http://www.baltimoresun.com/media/photo/2007-01/27418435.jpg

Jack J. Cayre of Midtown Equities overlooks construction of the Ritz-Carlton, where two mid-rise buildings will open in the fall.
(Sun photo by Amy Davis)
Jan 16, 2007

• Ritz-y living in demand

I was looking at Struever's brochure for Harbor Point online ( http://www.sber.com/downloads/HEHP_Leasing_Brochure.pdf ). It might be outdated, but on the map it includes a project titled "The Market." I don't know why, but that name intrigued me. Anybody know what it is?

^^ Won't do much for 1 light, as I think that property has to be preserved, anyway. I doubt it will remain a McDonalds when integrated into the project, however. Betcha it'll become a Starbucks :nuts:

Weren't we supposed to get some news on 1 Light?

Nope, the Thomas building doesn't have to be preserved. The original J.J. Clark One Light St completely filled Baltimore St.

Nate

I was looking at Struever's brochure for Harbor Point online ( http://www.sber.com/downloads/HEHP_Leasing_Brochure.pdf ). It might be outdated, but on the map it includes a project titled "The Market." I don't know why, but that name intrigued me. Anybody know what it is?

Not sure, Peter. But it does sound very interesting. :yes:

Nate, any word on Druid Hill Park?

Also, I'm going to the Dixon inaugural tomorrow. We'll see what she says... I'm not as pessimistic as I once was about her positon as mayor. If Dixon, the Police Commissioner, and the States Attorney are all on the same page, things will go fine.

Anyone else showing up at the War Memorial Building?

Nate, any word on Druid Hill Park?

Also, I'm going to the Dixon inaugural tomorrow. We'll see what she says... I'm not as pessimistic as I once was about her positon as mayor. If Dixon, the Police Commissioner, and the States Attorney are all on the same page, things will go fine.

Anyone else showing up at the War Memorial Building?

I went to O'Malley's inaugural yesterday to support him and I will do the same for Dixon later today. I like the fact that she has a great relationship with the business community, which means no quick screw ups with developers. Every event having to do with economic development that O'Malley attended, she was at his side. Also, I'm attending because she is making history by becoming Baltimore's first female mayor. But,when the primary comes in September I think I may support Keiffer Mitchell. I just see continued economic progress under his administration. My mind can change depending on how Dixon leads the city in the next couple of months though.

I was looking at Struever's brochure for Harbor Point online ( http://www.sber.com/downloads/HEHP_Leasing_Brochure.pdf ). It might be outdated, but on the map it includes a project titled "The Market." I don't know why, but that name intrigued me. Anybody know what it is?

Don't know about The Market, but I suspect it will be a shopping mall and not a food market since there is currently a Whole Foods in the project.

What intrigues me are the 3 pier buildings (The Wharf, Thames Pier, and Wills Pier). On page 16 the renderings clearly show water between them. Since the area is currently land, that means they would have to excavate between the buildings and fill the canals with water.

I thought that they were precluded from doing this due to the chromium contamination. I thought that during the remediation process they drove a steel bulkhead down to bedrock around the entire site to stop the seepage of chrome into the harbor and land side water table.

I am guessing that is an old rendering. the schematic site plan shows the buildings inland as their permit application for putting buildings on piers was not approved.

Nope, the Thomas building doesn't have to be preserved. The original J.J. Clark One Light St completely filled Baltimore St.

Nate


You know what...you're right. And I recall one of the reasons the original plan fell through was because they needed a larger footprint and the McD's was hindering that.

Yeah. But I haven't heard anything. Just one more missed deadline in the tragic history of that property.

Also, when are we supposed to hear anything new on the Pratt St. redevelopment?

Pratt Street concepts are being submitted in February to the BDC. there are public presentations scheduled at the end of the month afterwards.

we've been working on a variety of alternatives....should be interesting to see how the corridor is addressed by all of the teams!

Don't know about The Market, but I suspect it will be a shopping mall and not a food market since there is currently a Whole Foods in the project.

What intrigues me are the 3 pier buildings (The Wharf, Thames Pier, and Wills Pier). On page 16 the renderings clearly show water between them. Since the area is currently land, that means they would have to excavate between the buildings and fill the canals with water.

I thought that they were precluded from doing this due to the chromium contamination. I thought that during the remediation process they drove a steel bulkhead down to bedrock around the entire site to stop the seepage of chrome into the harbor and land side water table.

The image is misleading. On page 16 (pagination for me was page 15) the buildings are rendered as buildings on newly constructed piers. On page 9, where the Harbor Point plan is rendered, the wharf buildings aren't rendered as pier structures. Compare the two images and use the Frederick-Douglas Museum as a reference point.

I guess the new structures could be built on piers, and still preserve the HAZMAT cap. Or to paraphrase what Struever said he wanted for the site, "maximize the unique historical edge in Fells Point where land meets water." The pier option should be preferred: it's very poetic.

my memory is the same as jeffbaltiomore's on this one. The whole pier concept got nixed and in order to keep the project moving forward they decided to pull those buildings back onto the land.
I believe the problem with the piers was revealed during some sort of naval or aquatic type study that said it wouldn't be structurally sound to build those piers without significant work/redesign, so the whole concept got scrapped.

Went to the inaugural today. Not too substantial in the way of speech, but that's rhetoric for you. I do appreciate Dixon's avowed belief in cooperation between the people and institutions that run Baltimore. A lot of emphasis on respect for the city, manifested in services like homeless care and cleaner streets.

I got some city hall postcards and a cookie as a party souvenir. :nuts:

The flier can't be all that old: there's mention of Thurgood Marshall Airport in the promotional verbiage...

It's the environment! I guess "the law is the law" in terms of what you can or can't do, but my understanding was the Army Corps of Engineers prompted the pier stop-measure. Then the National Marine Fisheries Service, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency weighed in with their "concerns" about the pier idea.

I still think the pier idea is doable. It's not that the Army Corps said "no" to the idea, it's just that they expressed reservations. A go-ahead wasn't granted. So Struever and H&S finally backed away from the pier idea since they were anxious to start construction on the first building -- Thames Street Wharf -- on Thames Pier Since, since half of the eight storey building was supposed to be a new (expanded) home for Morgan Stanley & Co.

So has construction started yet? Of course not. The Morgan Stanley deal as well as the economy stalled. But my sources tell me that the pier idea is now unofficially back on the table while things settle. After all, what's the rush at this point? The pier concept has been debated for nearly three years, and the Morgan Stanley deal talked about for much longer.

Here's where H&S Properties Development Corp. and Struever need to work their idea from a different angle: push the idea through the Baltimore City Department of Planning and the Maryland Department of the Environment. Their case is an economic one: by building on piers, more (taxable) space can be created/developed at Harbor Point. It wouldn't be the first time Army Corps of Engineers would be challenged, and subsequently overruled.

Likewise, Struever needs to yield somewhat to the Department of the Environment. I know this sounds crazy, but the [Baltimore] Living Classroom Foundation on Caroline Street gained necessary approvals by creating "wetlands" on their small campus. (Ever notice and wonder why their northern boundary is so decrepit looking?) As a friend mentioned, Struever and H&S could probably get away with the pier plan if they did the same: set aside a small percentage of the development shoreline (perhaps along the western edge at the proposed park) for wetlands.

An added plus is that while Fells Point has some concerns about the scale of the project, i.e. height and mass, for the most part, there really isn't any objection toward the pier structures. I think the development is in limbo not only because of the economy, but the need to explore options too.

Inner Harbor hotel sheds old brand for Sheraton name
Baltimore Business Journal - 2:40 PM EST Thursdayby Julekha DashStaff

Baltimore got a second Sheraton brand hotel on Thursday.

The Wyndham Baltimore Inner Harbor Hotel is now the Sheraton Baltimore City Center Hotel, which is halfway through a $30 million renovation.


The decision to renovate the rooms and change the brand followed Columbia Sussex Corp.'s acquisition of the property in 2005. Based in Fort Mitchell, Ky., Columbia Sussex owns or manages 85 hotels and casinos in 33 states.

The renovations will be complete in mid-May. Enhancements to the Sheraton include new carpets, wall covering and window treatments, lighting, flat-screen TVs, and new beds. Sheraton's "Sweet Sleeper" beds have been protested by some of the Sheraton's unionized workers who say the heavier beds come with more ergonomic risk.

The Sheraton houses Shula's Steak House and two Shula's sports bars.

CBRE, Trammell merger gives Cushman a head start on office

Cushman & Wakefield will profit from CB Richard Ellis’ recent acquisition of Trammell Crow Co., taking seven of Trammell Crow’s former brokers to start its new Baltimore office, which opens next week.

- JEN DEGREGORIO

Inner Harbor hotel sheds old brand for Sheraton name
Baltimore Business Journal - 2:40 PM EST Thursdayby Julekha DashStaff

Baltimore got a second Sheraton brand hotel on Thursday.

The Wyndham Baltimore Inner Harbor Hotel is now the Sheraton Baltimore City Center Hotel, which is halfway through a $30 million renovation.


The decision to renovate the rooms and change the brand followed Columbia Sussex Corp.'s acquisition of the property in 2005. Based in Fort Mitchell, Ky., Columbia Sussex owns or manages 85 hotels and casinos in 33 states.

The renovations will be complete in mid-May. Enhancements to the Sheraton include new carpets, wall covering and window treatments, lighting, flat-screen TVs, and new beds. Sheraton's "Sweet Sleeper" beds have been protested by some of the Sheraton's unionized workers who say the heavier beds come with more ergonomic risk.

The Sheraton houses Shula's Steak House and two Shula's sports bars.
Its about freaking time.

Eerik, do you know how many employees Morgan Stanley plans for Baltimore given that they get a new facility? Also, I thought -- from rumors, and that email citing a "prominent national client" -- that the company would take office space integrated into the Four Seasons project. I can tell you that the pier idea might be dangerous. Look at all the flooding that occured at the habor in 2003; a building raised only several feet above the water might be a risk not worth taking. I don't know how degraded the shoreline already is, but in some cases, wetlands protection is a good -- in fact, the best -- protection against inland erosion given the possibility of a massive flood. New Orleans didn't get on the ball about wetlands protection, and look where it got them...

Finally, did anyone notice that Susquehana Bank recently reported looking for space in the area, and took some in Timonium or one of the other suburbs? Does anyone know if downtown or another city area was a serious candidate for the bank, or if they just wanted cheap, back-office space?

Inner Harbor hotel sheds old brand for Sheraton name
Baltimore Business Journal - 2:40 PM EST Thursdayby Julekha DashStaff

Baltimore got a second Sheraton brand hotel on Thursday.

The Wyndham Baltimore Inner Harbor Hotel is now the Sheraton Baltimore City Center Hotel, which is halfway through a $30 million renovation.

Hilton, to Omni, to Windham, to Sheraton. Is that all of the brands this hotel has been, or did I miss one.:)

Eerik, do you know how many employees Morgan Stanley plans for Baltimore given that they get a new facility? Also, I thought -- from rumors, and that email citing a "prominent national client" -- that the company would take office space integrated into the Four Seasons project. I can tell you that the pier idea might be dangerous. Look at all the flooding that occured at the habor in 2003; a building raised only several feet above the water might be a risk not worth taking. I don't know how degraded the shoreline already is, but in some cases, wetlands protection is a good -- in fact, the best -- protection against inland erosion given the possibility of a massive flood. New Orleans didn't get on the ball about wetlands protection, and look where it got them...

Finally, did anyone notice that Susquehana Bank recently reported looking for space in the area, and took some in Timonium or one of the other suburbs? Does anyone know if downtown or another city area was a serious candidate for the bank, or if they just wanted cheap, back-office space?


I just spent a few weeeks at their executive offices in Lititz PA. The just converted/renovated an old mill. Really neat building. They even kept the millrace!

Susquehanna is now up to 8 billion. They are becoming a player in the PA/DE/NJ/MD markets. I doubt that they would consider a move to Baltimore though....possibly an increased presence though.

As an aside, local Provident really needs a Mt. Vernon and Charles Village branch for god's sakes! What's up with that?

Nate

Eerik, do you know how many employees Morgan Stanley plans for Baltimore given that they get a new facility? Also, I thought -- from rumors, and that email citing a "prominent national client" -- that the company would take office space integrated into the Four Seasons project. I can tell you that the pier idea might be dangerous. Look at all the flooding that occured at the habor in 2003; a building raised only several feet above the water might be a risk not worth taking. I don't know how degraded the shoreline already is, but in some cases, wetlands protection is a good -- in fact, the best -- protection against inland erosion given the possibility of a massive flood. New Orleans didn't get on the ball about wetlands protection, and look where it got them...

Finally, did anyone notice that Susquehana Bank recently reported looking for space in the area, and took some in Timonium or one of the other suburbs? Does anyone know if downtown or another city area was a serious candidate for the bank, or if they just wanted cheap, back-office space?

Well, I think they currently occupy about 45,000 square feet at the Bond Street Wharf. And from what I was told, they do not have any option to expand in their current location due to other tenant leases. When I asked an acquaintance involved with crafting the initial deal, they told me they currently employ (only) 238 people in their retail brokerage operation. They were supposed to employ anywhere from 200 to 300 people, and then expand upwards of 500 to 600 by now.

Apparently the current number is down due to some reallocation of staff, departures, etc. While we're not talking about McDonald's level income here, it's not that high either. The top number they've employed in the area to date was about 250. While that is supposed to represent the company's back-office operations, the total number varies due to staff assignments in the "upper" ranks of the operation (low level managers and supervisors).

Baltimore really handed Morgan Stanley substantial incentives to bring the retail brokerage operation here. It's fairly well reported Morgan Stanley has been under quite a bit of local pressure to fulfill its original promises. While no one has publicly used the words "legal action" to make them fulfill the original promises, there have been some pretty overt and embarrassing statement been made by public officials about the entire deal.

To make things worse, about a year or two ago there was a rumor that Morgan Stanley actually regretted taking advantage of the deal, despite the sugar coating. They have had quite a shake-up in senior management, and in hindsight, the retail operations up in New York was trying to figure out how to cut back its operations. Without doubt, this shakeup is probably having an effect on expanding here locally. If nothing changes, it's only a matter of time before the pot boils over on the whole issue...

Planning panel shows support for Icon tower in Canton
By Jill Rosen
Sun reporter
Originally published January 19, 2007




Despite intense community objections to a planned waterfront high-rise in Canton, the Icon tower appears to be gathering some momentum - as city planners endorse the possibility of even more development for the popular southeastern neighborhood.

Yesterday, the city's urban design and architecture review panel discussed conceptual plans for the Icon, a condominium and retail project that would rise 23 stories from what is now a Lighthouse Point parking lot. The Icon's developers say they would like to come back within weeks to seek the panel's approval for the design so that in March the Planning Commission might consider the major land-use amendments the project ultimately would require.

Though Canton community association leaders continue to vehemently protest the Icon - reiterating their concerns of blocked views and increased traffic to the design panel yesterday - Baltimore city planners have begun pushing for a tower in that spot and more new construction in the surrounding area.

Officials have released recommendations for the future of this key leg of Canton, the busy hub along Boston Street home to the Can Company, Safeway and Lighthouse Point. On a few surface parking lots there, they would like to see more residential and retail growth, which they hope would make the area more vibrant.

But the wishes of the planners and developers clash fundamentally with the will of the community - a dispute illustrated most vividly by the Icon that only promises to intensify if more projects join it on the table.

"Whatever they put there," said Darryl Jurkiewicz, vice president of the Canton Community Association, "is only going to bring more people, more traffic and more congestion."

Baltimore's planning department decided to study the potential for growth along Boston Street in part because of the controversy over the Icon. Also, planners say, the laws governing what can be built on the Lighthouse Point parking lot and the Can Company site are outdated, more reflective of the neighborhood's needs in the 1980s than today.

Both retail centers, according to those 1980s ordinances, are maxed out for development, which means new laws would be necessary to squeeze anything more onto either site.

"We're sort of at a pivotal point in terms of the development that's there," said planner Laurie Feinberg, who handles the southeast portion of the city. "Our market has completely changed in this area, and there are a lot of reasons to say, 'wait a second,' let's reassess."

For the Lighthouse Point site and the adjoining Tindeco parking lot, planners recommend two new "major" buildings, one on each lot. They would keep each structure to 72 feet in height, the current area limit, unless a developer promises to reserve some amount of open space. In that case, planners say about 200 feet would be reasonable. The Icon concept, a 240-foot tower accented with strips of green space, seems to perfectly fit the planners' vision.

Officials would also like to see a 70-foot-wide street lined with retail businesses leading through Lighthouse Point from Boston Street to the water - a pedestrian-only street if possible. They'd also fatten the waterfront promenade there. Both of those elements are part of the Icon plan.

The goal for Lighthouse Point, Feinberg said, is to get the "right type of use" on the site, "to make it the kind of place people want to be."

For the Can Company and Safeway area, planners would like to see something - perhaps housing - built on the city-owned lot at the corner of Lakewood Avenue and Boston Street. And, behind the Safeway on the store's parking lot along Hudson Street, they could see another residential project with stores and parking - if Safeway would consider that.

More than 60 people attended meetings at Hampstead Hill Academy recently to review the department's recommendations. Residents' reactions were largely skeptical.

"We can recommend whatever we want," Feinberg said. "But all of this will be reviewed and ultimately voted on in a public hearing process."

Much of the community consternation centers on the Icon, a project that has been setting off alarms around Canton for more than a year and a half. Over the objections of community leaders and City Councilman James B. Kraft, then-City Council President Sheila Dixon introduced two bills late last year that would pave the way for the project.

Kraft, who represents Canton, remains resolute on his promise not to introduce the bills, which is why the job fell to Dixon. Dixon, who became mayor this week, has said her sponsorship of the bills doesn't necessarily mean she supports the project.

In light of the public outcry, developer Cignal Corp. scaled back its original plans for the project, scrapping plans for townhouses and a 150-room hotel and shaving the main condominium building from 295 feet to 240 feet.

The condos would be built on top of a five-story parking garage and anchored with about 30,000 square feet of retail space for stores and restaurants.

The bills Dixon introduced would grant Cignal what is called a "major amendment" to Lighthouse Point's "planned unit development." That would allow the company to build more on the property than what the city permitted the center's original developer in the 1980s.
To build as tall as they would like, developers also need an amendment to Canton's urban renewal ordinance.




Anything new along the Can Company site would require similar legislation. With the Tindeco site, however, a developer willing to stay within the 72-foot height restrictions could build right away. Tindeco's owners have no immediate plans for the site, and Cignal has shown interest in acquiring at least part of the adjacent lot to bolster the Icon.

The bills would need the approval of the Planning Commission and the council's land use and transportation committee before heading to the City Council.

Before the design panel yesterday, some Canton leaders vented their frustrations over the Icon and the city's ideas for their neighborhood.

"People feel somewhat betrayed by the process," said Carolyn Boitnott, a longtime waterfront activist. "We were asked for our hopes and dreams, and what they proposed was large buildings."

Added Gerry Aronin, president of the Canton Cove condominium association: "I'm a little upset - a lot upset - that this might become skyscraper row."

Yet the design panel didn't seem to have any problem with the possibility of more high-rises along Boston Street.

"I don't see this as a lonely Icon," said panelist M.J. "Jay" Brodie, who is also president of the Baltimore Development Corp. "I see this as one of a series of towers that creates an urban skyline."

And panelist Stanford Britt, an architect, said he had just one beef with the Icon plan.

"I wish," he said to the horror of the neighborhood critics, "that [the] tower could be taller."



jill.rosen@baltsun.com

http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c378/baltimore31/Icon3-4.jpg
^^ The newly designed tower.

http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c378/baltimore31/icon4xz.jpg
^^ The older design.

I'd like to know how close/far is the project in relation to Hale's Canton's Crossing. Anyone have an overhead/map of them? :?

^^ The new one is UGLY IMHO!

The City had better be careful with this one....follow your plans or change them democratically....

Nate

(At least Planning wants to fill in those Safeway parking lots :D)

So where do Safeway customers park then? That small lot in front of the store? Plus, overflow neighborhood parking uses that lot after 6pm, when a spot is hard to find on the street. Filling in that lot will make parking in Canton almost worse than Fed Hill IMO.

Anyone read the City Paper article on those bloggers who write about murder in Baltimore? I'm reading those blogs, and they're really getting me down. I was at Hopkins at a time when two students were murdered in one year, and most of my friends couldn't wait to get out of the city after the fact. I stuck it out, but I'm getting damn pessimistic.

^^

Yes, I read that. Pretty depressing stuff. I couldn't read too much of it. Here's the main one for anyone interested in a downer: http://baltimorecrime.blogspot.com

Reminds you of how far this city has to go. We're at pretty much a murder a day for the new year.

It's pretty sad when a cop gets killed, and then two out of town cops who are in town to attend his funeral are robbed at gun point in Canton. That happened a few days ago in our fine city. I'm sure that will make national headlines too.

^^

Yes, I read that. Pretty depressing stuff. I couldn't read too much of it. Here's the main one for anyone interested in a downer: http://baltimorecrime.blogspot.com

Reminds you of how far this city has to go. We're at pretty much a murder a day for the new year.
one of the blogs i read spoke of a virginia state trooper and a federal trooper who was robbed and beaten in canton. they were in town to attend troy chesley's funeral and show support to the Baltimore PD. when tourists read things like this, it's not good news for charm city; not at all.

It's pretty sad when a cop gets killed, and then two out of town cops who are in town to attend his funeral are robbed at gun point in Canton. That happened a few days ago in our fine city. I'm sure that will make national headlines too.
^^we always seem to find the same stories, wada!:lol::D

^^we always seem to find the same stories, wada!:lol::D
Great minds think alike. ;)

Baltimore Crime :(

Isn't the 1300 block of N Calhoun St an up and coming area in transition? It's not too bad there is it? Especially the parts very close to route 40\Edmondson\N Carrolton in the Harlem Park area?

I thought the poppleton development was going around there?

See, it's all ready started. Since this is on the AP wire all the papers will use it as a filler story. BTW, the guy who they caught is from Baltimore county.

In Baltimore, not even police officers are safe from random crime—

BALTIMORE (AP) -

In Baltimore, not even police officers are safe from random crime.
Two visiting law enforcement officers were robbed at gunpoint outside a bar in the trendy Canton neighborhood, hours before they were to attend the funeral of a Baltimore detective who was shot to death during a robbery attempt.

Jason Dietsch of the U-S Department of Homeland Security and Virginia State Trooper Michael McCann were in Baltimore for Tuesday's funeral of Detective Troy Chesley. After dining with friends Monday night, they were standing in a block of bars and restaurants when two men came up to them and demanded money. McCann was punched in the face. Dietsch was struck on the side of the face with a pistol.

City police arrested 20-year-old Jean Sierra, after spotting him walking "very quickly" away from the scene. He's charged him with 23 criminal offenses, including robbery and handgun charges.

Dietsch was hospitalized overnight with a bruised eye socket and missed the funeral.

You gotta hope that this awful month of crime and these incredibly embarassing stories hitting the national wire, light a fire under somebody's ass in the Governor, Mayor, and Police Commissioner's offices, and we make some swift and tough moves on stopping crime in the city.

I've only moved down to Canton 3 weeks ago, and now I'm starting to feel unsafe.

Isn't the 1300 block of N Calhoun St an up and coming area in transition? It's not too bad there is it? Especially the parts very close to route 40\Edmondson\N Carrolton in the Harlem Park area?

I thought the poppleton development was going around there?
despite the poppleton development, it's a bad area; VERY bad.

The problem is Baltimore's citizens aren't as outraged as we should be. New Orleans had thousands of protesters demonstrate their anger toward their spike in crime this year. Baltimore has 17 murders already and still we have no community action. We always have a tendency to place blame on politicians, law enforcement officers and city prosecuters. Sometimes it's right to do so, but it is we that have the power to also make a change. Just were do we start? I don't know.

The problem is Baltimore's citizens aren't as outraged as we should be. New Orleans had thousands of protesters demonstrate their anger toward their spike in crime this year. Baltimore has 17 murders already and still we have no community action. We always have a tendency to place blame on politicians, law enforcement officers and city prosecuters. Sometimes it's right to do so, but it is we that have the power to also make a change. Just were do we start? I don't know.

You’re right. It does depend on us, but we can’t do it w/o the police and the politicians. We need to vote for officials who will be tough on crime, for real. I don’t know how to do this, but he people in office since the 1950’s haven’t done it right and the city is too stupid to vote for new blood and take a chance. Its old Baltimore voting for old Baltimore politicians and with the same people in charge how can we expect any change? How did Jessamy get reelected again after letting all of these umpteen offenders out on the street? How did Martin get elected mayor for a second term after he failed to deliver on his promises to the City? How come we have the same city council people in office year after year after year after year….. Someone young, smart and aggressive rises up to challenge the incumbents the machine STOMPS on them and extinguishes their run and the new hope. It’s a shame, but until we decide we want better and vote new blood in, things are going to be the same. So the spiral will continue.

Crime is up in my neighborhood, once one of the safest in the City. Why? Because these animals keep on getting let out of jail. It’s the same old people committing the same old crimes over and over and over and over… Its bullshit, but like I said, we vote for the incumbants because we are so afraid of an outsider with new fresh ideas, we do the same old same old… Now I am depressed.

All the issues are linked.

What do you attack first?

37% high school graduation rate
Lead Paint
Absentee parents
Crime
Drug use
50 years of no real investment
Deteriorating Infrastructure

ect ect ................Ad nauseam

You’re right. It does depend on us, but we can’t do it w/o the police and the politicians. We need to vote for officials who will be tough on crime, for real. I don’t know how to do this, but he people in office since the 1950’s haven’t done it right and the city is too stupid to vote for new blood and take a chance. Its old Baltimore voting for old Baltimore politicians and with the same people in charge how can we expect any change? How did Jessamy get reelected again after letting all of these umpteen offenders out on the street? How did Martin get elected mayor for a second term after he failed to deliver on his promises to the City? How come we have the same city council people in office year after year after year after year….. Someone young, smart and aggressive rises up to challenge the incumbents the machine STOMPS on them and extinguishes their run and the new hope. It’s a shame, but until we decide we want better and vote new blood in, things are going to be the same. So the spiral will continue.

Crime is up in my neighborhood, once one of the safest in the City. Why? Because these animals keep on getting let out of jail. It’s the same old people committing the same old crimes over and over and over and over… Its bullshit, but like I said, we vote for the incumbants because we are so afraid of an outsider with new fresh ideas, we do the same old same old… Now I am depressed.



hey jeff........

HE may not be in your district but Adam Miester www.techbalt.com is running for keiffers spot. You may be interested in what he is doing.

Is money the reason we can't get more cops on the street? I wish we had footpatrols in our neighborhoods or minipolice stations like the kabans that I thought the city would be placing throughout the city. I wonder if money is a problem, could we get help from the Federal government. Bush needs to add a No Neighborhood Left Behind act to go along with a No Child Left Behind act. How can kids get a good education or whats the point if they cant live in a safe environment. I think everyone deserves to feel safe just as much as everyone deserves the same educational opportunities. Just one of those fundamental things.

hey jeff........

HE may not be in your district but Adam Miester www.techbalt.com is running for keiffers spot. You may be interested in what he is doing.

Very interesting indeed. I will have to read more about adam. thank you.

Bush needs to add a No Neighborhood Left Behind act to go along with a No Child Left Behind act.

If they passed No Neighborhood Left Behind Legislation in the same way they passed No Child Left Behind, the feds would place all kinds of expensive requirements and restrictions on the city and then not fund it!

http://www.baltimoresun.com/media/graphic/2007-01/27458539.gif

:D

It amazes me how people get upset about development. They don't realize all the good things it brings with it. I would love to have a Target and a nice grocery store near where I live. Those things come about through development and too many people don't recognize that.

Planning panel shows support for Icon tower in Canton
By Jill Rosen
Sun reporter
Originally published January 19, 2007




Despite intense community objections to a planned waterfront high-rise in Canton, the Icon tower appears to be gathering some momentum - as city planners endorse the possibility of even more development for the popular southeastern neighborhood.

Yesterday, the city's urban design and architecture review panel discussed conceptual plans for the Icon, a condominium and retail project that would rise 23 stories from what is now a Lighthouse Point parking lot. The Icon's developers say they would like to come back within weeks to seek the panel's approval for the design so that in March the Planning Commission might consider the major land-use amendments the project ultimately would require.

Though Canton community association leaders continue to vehemently protest the Icon - reiterating their concerns of blocked views and increased traffic to the design panel yesterday - Baltimore city planners have begun pushing for a tower in that spot and more new construction in the surrounding area.
i wonder if the residents of canton gave developers this same kind of fit when the Anchorage Towers was built back in 1987?

That Icon news is certainly a surprising. I wonder what kinds of development we might see around the study area.

If anyone has been venturing around the forum to other development threads, you might have noticed, as I have, that office development proposals are starting to pop up in a number of cities. Hopefully, we'll see a few come our way.

In other news, I found this article interest.
http://www.baltimoresun.com/entertainment/movies/bal-to.button19jan19,0,4802919.story?coll=bal-home-headlines

its the drugs.

most of the city's current problem's can be traced back to drugs.


maybe Kurt was right afterall...

i wonder if the residents of canton gave developers this same kind of fit when the Anchorage Towers was built back in 1987?

Yes they did, although the resident demographic was much different back then. I think the organized groups are much more vocal these days, although one can not forget the original Fells Point-Federal Hill groups who opposed "the road". Talk about vocal...that's where Mikulski got her start...

its the drugs.

most of the city's current problem's can be traced back to drugs.


maybe Kurt was right afterall...

to expand on that. the lucrative nature of the illict drug trade and the money involved is what makes most of the crime and murders happen. Lets bring back Hamsterdam and see what happens.

From a theoretical point of view, Schmoke may have been right, but that does not mean one city can decriminalize drugs. Consistent national policy, providing a solid legal/medical framework within which to address the drug issue is necessary. Baltimore can take measures like increasing the number of drug treatment centers (done) and implement better policing, but one city can't reinvent national policy.

We are losing the battle many times over with each crime committed. Every murder deters more residents from living here, people from moving here, jobs from growing here. The costs of drug use are unbelievable. I can only imagine what Baltimore would be if we had half of the current crime rate. :ohno:

Keep in my mind that

murders

are not necessarily an indicator of overall crime.

Also, measuring the first 2 1/2 weeks is simply too short to confidently say things have gotten worse (compared to when, though?).

Nate

Given my position in TRAC, I'll refrain from getting TOO political on this NON-DEVELOPMENT subject.

However, my thoughts on the matter are fairly straigtforward.

There is nothing particularly special about Baltimore as to why murder is so high. It's quite simple: it's much less to do with judges and juries than the police department and the state's attorney's office.

One is more heavily tilted toward corruption and the other tilted toward incompetantance. (I'm not saying which is more which!)

Shortage of funds helped create and helps perpetuate the problem.

Generally speaking though, the people of this City don't like or trust the Police.

Nate

Given my position in TRAC, I'll refrain from getting TOO political on this NON-DEVELOPMENT subject.

However, my thoughts on the matter are fairly straigtforward.

There is nothing particularly special about Baltimore as to why murder is so high. It's quite simple: it's much less to do with judges and juries than the police department and the state's attorney's office.

One is more heavily tilted toward corruption and the other tilted toward incompetantance. (I'm not saying which is more which!)

Shortage of funds helped create and helps perpetuate the problem.

Generally speaking though, the people of this City don't like or trust the Police.

Nate

Out of curiosity, where does TRAC get funding? Does the city govt provide any support, or is it all voluntary?

We've had a few donations from a few people in the hudreds of dollars range, and most of the rest from membership dues ($10 each, baseline).

Most of our expenses outside fo legal, paper copying, and meeting space is voluntary out-of-pocket from our members. (Often me).

We've just finalized our 501(c)3.

Nate

So where do Safeway customers park then? That small lot in front of the store? Plus, overflow neighborhood parking uses that lot after 6pm, when a spot is hard to find on the street. Filling in that lot will make parking in Canton almost worse than Fed Hill IMO.

There are lots of ways to accomplish this. Traditional cities are not based on surface parking. Surface parking is the antithesis of classic urbanism. The great and beloved cities have the least parking. I don't think there are any exceptions based up subjective experience in the US.

Structured parking can be incorporated into new developments that will maintain most or all of the current parking load. As density increases, more services become available. This results in the distance from services being reduced from a given residence or business. As the travel distances are reduced, there is less need (or impetus) to drive to a duplicitive parking space for a given vehicle in that neighborhood. More will choose to walk than drive.

The difficultly is not to develop too much of the land area with lower-density building types. By modern American living standards, 2 story rowhouses do not provide sufficient density if they constitute the overwhelming majority of the housing in a neighborhood. One could find the neighborhood built out in land area, but not at a sufficient density to support businesses because the walking distances are too far and or there is limited street parking.

This is why the planning department and commission want these towers. They understand density is the key to urban vitality. Unless we go back to the old days when finances constrained multiple families into one house, a city of mostly rowhouses will not provide an efficient and convenient living environment like addin more multi-family units and apartment buildings.

Cities that attempt or evolve high-density with parking and auto-dependence are usually harsh environments or not beloved environments. (I contend more people dislike than like LA or Miami; but those cities are now being forced to resort to traditional urbanism to deal with their high densities and are moving away from the auto--well, everything's relative in LA, I guess).

Nate

Whew! I finally caught up, 25 pages on comments and since I last posted on Jan.3. Thats a lot of dedicated people on this thread and one annoying one about 10 pages back :lol: .

Getontrac are there any plans to expand the eastern end of boston St. to the expressway? It drops from a nicely landscaped 4 lane road to a rough 2 lane road that crosses multiple railroad tracks at Ground level.

Finally, did anyone notice that Susquehana Bank recently reported looking for space in the area, and took some in Timonium or one of the other suburbs? Does anyone know if downtown or another city area was a serious candidate for the bank, or if they just wanted cheap, back-office space?

Susquhanna recently moved out of the office building on West Rd next to the York Rd. exit in Towson. So they were really only moving from Towson to Timonium.

I have also seen there headquarters in Littiz, pretty neat what they did there.

I just got back from a buisness trip to Iowa City. Which is where the Univ. of Iowa is. When I mentioned that I was from Baltimore, almost everyone mentioned what a cool place it seemed to be the college kids especially. Soi at least one place thinks were cool :lol:

As I left BWI I took Russsel st into the city, I have to say that at least at night the new Hampton Inn across from Camden Yards seems scaled very nice and looks good. Additionally, with the Zenith almost done and the convention hotel going up the corner of Russel and Pratt has gone from nothing to very densely devloped intersection. It creates a nice urban gateway to people travelling north into the city on 295.

^^ yeah, if nothing else, I believe their "Gateway" concept has been accomplished.

Md. highway agency to sell Brooklandville site
By Julie Scharper
Sun reporter
Originally published January 20, 2007
The State Highway Administration plans to vacate a site that it has occupied for more than 40 years and sell the 10-acre property, located near Green Spring Station in Brooklandville, to developers.
Selling the land and moving operations to new offices will ultimately save the state money, spokeswoman Valerie Burnette Edgar said.




"Our study determined it made more sense economically to build something new," she said. "Because of the area there, when we go to sell [the land], it should be very worthwhile."

Neighbors say they are concerned about the possibility of more development in an area troubled by heavy traffic. The plot of land, on West Joppa Road near the intersection with Falls Road, is currently zoned to allow the construction of 10 homes, but there is a possibility that the zoning could be changed to allow a greater density of homes or offices and retail space.

"There would be a lot of local opposition to anything other than what the land is currently zoned for," said Bob Moore, president of the Falls Road Community Association.

Properties in the Falls Road corridor have been the source of fierce zoning battles, as residents struggle to preserve the area's rural feel and developers lobby for new projects in the exclusive neighborhood. The county has deemed three nearby intersections as failing because they are so clogged with traffic.

A dispute over potential development on the site of the nearby Green Spring Racquet Club has embroiled community members, politicians and the property's owners for years.

Edgar said that there are no plans to change the plot's zoning before it is sold.

The highway administration runs two operations from Brooklandville. Both are expected to be moved by early 2008, and the property will be made available for sale soon after, she said.

The District 4 office, which handles maintenance and construction for Baltimore and Harford counties, will be moved to a building under construction near the light rail station on Warren Road in Cockeysville, Edgar said.

The regional Office of Materials and Technology and an associated laboratory will move to a new building in the Hanover area of Anne Arundel County, where it will be consolidated with offices that are located in Easton, Hancock and Greenbelt.

About 90 people who work in the District 4 office will be transferred to the new site in Cockeysville. The approximately 170 people employed by the materials office will have the option to transfer to Hanover, Edgar said.

The administration intends to decrease the number of employees in the four regional offices through attrition, she said.

The buildings at the Brooklandville site, which the administration has occupied since 1964, would require more than $16 million in repairs.

"The building itself is really antiquated and old," Edgar said. "Frankly, when we sell the property, we fully expect that it would be razed."

A small repair shop, laboratory and gas tank are also located at the site, she said.

She added that the administration hopes to receive between $4.5 million and $7 million from the sale of the property, which has an assessed value of $3.7 million.

The property should bring in about $100,000 of annual tax revenue, she said. The property does not currently generate tax revenue because it is state land.

Reduced costs for personnel and operating expenses at the new offices, when added to revenue generated by the site, should save the state $5.8 million over a 30-year period, she said.

Construction on the Cockeysville site is set to start this year, with an estimated cost of $25 million to $30 million, she said.



julie.scharper@baltsun.com

http://www.mddailyrecord.com/publications/_pdf/Square%20Feet%2001.12.07.pdf

^^ A GREAT link! Click it. :yes:

:)

http://www.mddailyrecord.com/publications/_pdf/Square%20Feet%2001.12.07.pdf

^^ A GREAT link! Click it. :yes:

:)

AWESOME, you need to post that in the Maryland forum as well!

Where did you get it?

I just got back from a buisness trip to Iowa City. Which is where the Univ. of Iowa is. When I mentioned that I was from Baltimore, almost everyone mentioned what a cool place it seemed to be the college kids especially. Soi at least one place thinks were cool :lol:

As I left BWI I took Russsel st into the city, I have to say that at least at night the new Hampton Inn across from Camden Yards seems scaled very nice and looks good. Additionally, with the Zenith almost done and the convention hotel going up the corner of Russel and Pratt has gone from nothing to very densely devloped intersection. It creates a nice urban gateway to people travelling north into the city on 295.

Yup.

http://img412.imageshack.us/img412/7717/forumimg09276dj.jpg

http://www.mddailyrecord.com/publications/_pdf/Square%20Feet%2001.12.07.pdf

^^ A GREAT link! Click it. :yes:

:)
this link is nice!!!! very detailed. it's definitely worth reading.

AWESOME, you need to post that in the Maryland forum as well!

Where did you get it?

I got it from the www.mddailyrecord.com website.

Yeah, I'll post it there, too. :)

BTW, great picture of the Zenith from that view. :yes:

:)

a new 450,000 sq ft building in Canton Crossing called Harbor Edge. It will be an office building with retail space. This further makes me believe there will not be a need for a large office building in the Central Business District for a while. My guess is 10 Inner Harbor, 300 East Pratt, the Mechanic Site will likely be condo's/apartments and retail.

Also, new office space is likely to come online in Locust Point(expansion of Tide Point likely for Under Armor,etc..), Brewers Hill(Tulkoff moved his plant next to Nanny Boh), and Four Season's may have office space.


this link is nice!!!! very detailed. it's definitely worth reading.

Yup.

http://img412.imageshack.us/img412/7717/forumimg09276dj.jpg

Great picture, Silver Springer! :yes:
Just imagine the Hilton rising next to the Zenith, now. :yes:
It'll be a wall of urbanity greeting residents and newcomers, alike. :yes:

:D :banana: :cheers: :banana:

a new 450,000 sq ft building in Canton Crossing called Harbor Edge. It will be an office building with retail space. This further makes me believe there will not be a need for a large office building in the Central Business District for a while. My guess is 10 Inner Harbor, 300 East Pratt, the Mechanic Site will likely be condo's/apartments and retail.

Also, new office space is likely to come online in Locust Point(expansion of Tide Point likely for Under Armor,etc..), Brewers Hill(Tulkoff moved his plant next to Nanny Boh), and Four Season's may have office space.

I agree. :yes:
I'm really excited about the 4 Seasons. :yes: Can't wait to see the changes. I'm sure it will be for the better. And if there is an office space component to that project, yeah, I think it will make the tower/s a little taller.
:)

I will e-mail my contact at Struever in Feburary(last spoke in November) about the Four Seasons and Harbor Point. The person is a reliable source.


I agree. :yes:
I'm really excited about the 4 Seasons. :yes: Can't wait to see the changes. I'm sure it will be for the better. And if there is an office space component to that project, yeah, I think it will make the tower/s a little taller.
:)

I will e-mail my contact at Struever in Feburary(last spoke in November) about the Four Seasons and Harbor Point. The person is a reliable source.

Sounds good! :yes:

:)

I looked at that square feet thing. Tell me something isn't wrong with the office market charts. One South Street is listed twice -- once by address, and once by the Alex. Brown Building, and both show different vacancies.

Great shot of the Zenith. Looks great. I can't believe the Hilton hasn't even started to rise out of the ground yet. It's supposed to be ready in 2008!!

I looked at that square feet thing. Tell me something isn't wrong with the office market charts. One South Street is listed twice -- once by address, and once by the Alex. Brown Building, and both show different vacancies.

Two different listings could indicate someone is subleasing space. I recently heard some small-talk about the One South Street building. The building has been prone to high vacancies ever since the brokerage firm downsized/vacated, and RTKL headed down to Fells Point.

Supposedly, nearly half the building sits vacant...

Really happy to hear about the Icon and how they are planning on developing that area of Canton. Parking and traffic should never be problems when it comes to whether or not to develop an area. It's a city, not the country or the suburbs. There is going to be traffic and parking can easily be made available as part of the development.

Great shot of the Zenith. Looks great. I can't believe the Hilton hasn't even started to rise out of the ground yet. It's supposed to be ready in 2008!!

The Hilton is rising. It just isn't above street level yet. I wonder how many feet underground the basement consumes?

Really happy to hear about the Icon and how they are planning on developing that area of Canton. Parking and traffic should never be problems when it comes to whether or not to develop an area. It's a city, not the country or the suburbs. There is going to be traffic and parking can easily be made available as part of the development.

Traffic MUST be taken into consideration. Individual developments by themselves usually don't matter much, but when planning large scale long-range plans and master plans, it's crucial. There are thresholds that, once crossed, can make easy motoring roads into gridlock overnight.

Parking insn't necessarily easy to make part of a development. Building parking adds extra expense, hence why urban developments usually cost more since the tenants will usually insist on some level of parking spaces. When working in tight footprints, it can be quite problematic from an architectural point of view. When there's a large footprint, like the Boston St-Canton example I mentioned earlier, there's a number of ways to work it and it's much easier.

Reducing parking requirments can ease construction costs allow better designs. It can also reduce auto demand. However, this must be done carefully. One cannot crush auto demand TOO much, if there is no suitable non-auto transportation available or otherwise deemed acceptable. That's what Baltimore did back in the 70s and 80s to encourage development, IIRC. They drastically relaxed parking requirements to generate office space growth, probably betting they'd would have more of the Baltimore Region Rapid Transit System (Metro) constructed. Well they goofed, and that's what led to the massive parking garage building binge at the turn of the last century. Look at the number of modern era office buildings in Baltimore that have no or little parking.

Everything revolves around parking when your talking urban development in America. Parking dictates everything. Density is dicated by parking. Remember Parking is Power...say it with me....

Nate

The Hilton is rising. It just isn't above street level yet. I wonder how many feet underground the basement consumes?

AFAIK, there are 2 levels of underground garage, so that would probably make the bottom absolutely not less than say--18 feet?

Nate

Two different listings could indicate someone is subleasing space. I recently heard some small-talk about the One South Street building. The building has been prone to high vacancies ever since the brokerage firm downsized/vacated, and RTKL headed down to Fells Point.

Supposedly, nearly half the building sits vacant...

Yeah, but Stifel is supposed to move in soon, and there are some prominent law firms in the building, Performax, and some other company whose name doesn't come to mind. The building has 23 rentable floors of space, and I think each floor averages 18-20k sf, so I would imagine that far less than half of the space is vacant. How many floors does Alex. Brown still have? What is Deutche Bank planning to do to Alex. Brown -- are they just gonna fold the damn thing or retain the name and some (albeit limited) Baltimore presence?

Whew! I finally caught up, 25 pages on comments and since I last posted on Jan.3. Thats a lot of dedicated people on this thread and one annoying one about 10 pages back :lol: .

Getontrac are there any plans to expand the eastern end of boston St. to the expressway? It drops from a nicely landscaped 4 lane road to a rough 2 lane road that crosses multiple railroad tracks at Ground level.

I pretty sure that there are plans (don't know about funding though) that would grade seperated the RR crossing that everyone hates so much. Beyond that, I'm not sure.

Nate

I pretty sure that there are plans (don't know about funding though) that would grade seperated the RR crossing that everyone hates so much. Beyond that, I'm not sure.

Nate

I think those tracks are property of Canton RR, a small East Baltimore company that serves the port. I'd imagine the city/state will have to offer funds...they're too small to take on a project that size.

^I mean to say the road would rise above or something. The tracks would presumably stay as is.

Nate

Yeah, but Stifel is supposed to move in soon, and there are some prominent law firms in the building, Performax, and some other company whose name doesn't come to mind. The building has 23 rentable floors of space, and I think each floor averages 18-20k sf, so I would imagine that far less than half of the space is vacant. How many floors does Alex. Brown still have? What is Deutche Bank planning to do to Alex. Brown -- are they just gonna fold the damn thing or retain the name and some (albeit limited) Baltimore presence?

I hate to say it, but screw Deutche Bank-Alex. Brown. They’re history. Gone. Doesn’t matter one iota to us anymore.

I’m sort of ambivalent about Stifel. Sure, it’s a good thing we were able to retain those jobs, but we really didn’t gain/win anything there…when Legg Mason sold its capital markets business to St. Louis’ Stifel Financial, I think Stifel management decided to do the right/conservative thing by creating as little upheaval as possible. So we ended up with a sort of status quo in terms of those jobs. I think it’s only a matter of time once those jobs are absorbed into HQ in St. Louis.

Now what I am excited about is Signal Hill (http://www.signalhillcapital.com). When Baltimore’s Wachovia equity capital markets group was dissolved into offices up in New York, a rather large core group decided to stay-put in Baltimore. What is significant about this is the talent was primarily alum from Alex. Brown…folks who defected once the initial and subsequent mergers occurred. (Take a look at their website and the CV's of their leadership; you will feel a chill down your spine. It's almost overwhelming, as if something immortal!) Now with the Wachovia operations gone, they have organized and established a new company, located in the shadow of their old locale, at 300 E. Lombard Street.

So the “official word” has it they don’t plan on even trying to recreate the former glory of AB…but they have all the talent and expertise to do so. Maybe they’re being modest, but should business grow, I can’t see them saying “no” to making money. Plus, since all the headquarters are gone from the Baltimore scene…there’s lots of local small to medium sized companies to play with; to help them make money.

I think in 10-15 years, Signal Hill will be a rather formidable Baltimore company molded after principles of Alex. Brown.

^^ Very interesting, Eerik. :)

Stifel won't go. If they were planning on status quo, the company wouldn't be building up a private client group here, and wouldn't be calling baltimore the "headquarters" of its capital markets division. Plus, I think they're on a 15 year lease, which is substantially longer than just filling out the remaining sublet term from Deutche Bank. Stifel also has offices in Philly, and Baltimore gets them in on a stragetic east coast position. Obviously, acquisitions or mergers that affect the company itself might jeopardize its future in Baltimore, but this is one company I am sure will be sticking around.

Cignal is interesting, as well.

Traffic MUST be taken into consideration. Individual developments by themselves usually don't matter much, but when planning large scale long-range plans and master plans, it's crucial. There are thresholds that, once crossed, can make easy motoring roads into gridlock overnight.

Parking insn't necessarily easy to make part of a development. Building parking adds extra expense, hence why urban developments usually cost more since the tenants will usually insist on some level of parking spaces. When working in tight footprints, it can be quite problematic from an architectural point of view. When there's a large footprint, like the Boston St-Canton example I mentioned earlier, there's a number of ways to work it and it's much easier.

Reducing parking requirments can ease construction costs allow better designs. It can also reduce auto demand. However, this must be done carefully. One cannot crush auto demand TOO much, if there is no suitable non-auto transportation available or otherwise deemed acceptable. That's what Baltimore did back in the 70s and 80s to encourage development, IIRC. They drastically relaxed parking requirements to generate office space growth, probably betting they'd would have more of the Baltimore Region Rapid Transit System (Metro) constructed. Well they goofed, and that's what led to the massive parking garage building binge at the turn of the last century. Look at the number of modern era office buildings in Baltimore that have no or little parking.

Everything revolves around parking when your talking urban development in America. Parking dictates everything. Density is dicated by parking. Remember Parking is Power...say it with me....

Nate

Why muist you talk like bumbling country hick with this anti-Cars BS. What you want Baltimore to remain looking like 19th Century experiment gone bad while other large cities like DC/Northern Virginia, Philly, Atlanta, Charlotte, Houston, Miami, and Boston cointinues to move towards a modern 21st century cities/suburbs with equal demand on Cars and Mass Transit. In the real world a populated area can not survive with out cars and from the way your talking you want Baltimore if not the whole state of Maryland to retro itself back to the 17th century when people rode horses as their means of transportation.

I think those tracks are property of Canton RR, a small East Baltimore company that serves the port. I'd imagine the city/state will have to offer funds...they're too small to take on a project that size.

The Canton RR is owned by the state.

Why muist you talk like bumbling country hick with this anti-Cars BS. What you want Baltimore to remain looking like 19th Century experiment gone bad while other large cities like DC/Northern Virginia, Philly, Atlanta, Charlotte, Houston, Miami, and Boston cointinues to move towards a modern 21st century cities/suburbs with equal demand on Cars and Mass Transit. In the real world a populated area can not survive with out cars and from the way your talking you want Baltimore if not the whole state of Maryland to retro itself back to the 17th century when people rode horses as their means of transportation.

I've been reading this board for a while but never posted before. I'm grateful for all the information I find here. Different interests/opinions create interest and creativity. That's great! But Harlem, could you express yourself without being so nasty and condescending; basically attacking others? It makes it really hard to come back here when I know I will be faced with this. Please think about it. Thanks.

Great picture, Silver Springer! :yes:
Just imagine the Hilton rising next to the Zenith, now. :yes:
It'll be a wall of urbanity greeting residents and newcomers, alike. :yes:

:D :banana: :cheers: :banana:

The Zenith is supposed to have a street level restaurant, no? Anyone know any details on what it will be?

Is the Hilton going to have a street level retail?

I've been reading this board for a while but never posted before. I'm grateful for all the information I find here. Different interests/opinions create interest and creativity. That's great! But Harlem, could you express yourself without being so nasty and condescending; basically attacking others? It makes it really hard to come back here when I know I will be faced with this. Please think about it. Thanks.

Amen Javalady! You picked the perfect time to chime in. I gotta admit, I cringe every time I see that Harlem has posted, just waiting for the next insult.:ohno:

I've been reading this board for a while but never posted before. I'm grateful for all the information I find here. Different interests/opinions create interest and creativity. That's great! But Harlem, could you express yourself without being so nasty and condescending; basically attacking others? It makes it really hard to come back here when I know I will be faced with this. Please think about it. Thanks.

Welcome to this Forum, Javalady1! :yes:
I'm sorry for the problem with harlem87.
I wish he/she was more possitive, too. :yes:
Please post often. :yes:
Every now and then there is a negative poster. The vast majority, however, are very possitive and polite/considerate. :yes:
We all would love to hear your views on these topics that we discuss. Questions as well. :yes:
Please don't be deterred. :)
We love when new people join in our Forum. A Forum that we all, I think, are glad to have.
I know I am. :yes:

:yes: :yes: :yes: :yes: :yes: :yes:. That's alot of yesses Steven. :lol:

Thanks Huck and Steven and hello to all!

Well, I never heard of 34A Key Highway until the other day when I was reading some of the other threads. This property interests me because I like its design and I live nearby. I emailed for an update, but there is no new news. Still on hold until whenever.

I think that when the Pier Homes and Ritz are completed, Key Highway will take on a special feeling, but I am sad that I can no longer see the water when I travel to and from work. It's like there is a big wall there now. And don't get me started on the road delays due to construction.

The townhomes (Patriot) being built on Key Highway are making significant progress. The first row of 13 homes is standing in their entirety and now needs the exterior and the build out. They look nice. And although they are the same height as many other homes in the area, they look very tall because they are on a hill. This is across the street from 34A should it ever get built.

Talk to you soon!

^^ Look forward to it. :)

The Canton RR is owned by the state.

Since when? It's a small company based in East Baltimore since the early 1900's. It's a for-profit company that receives no support/subsidies from the state.

There was an article in The Sun a few months ago about the Canton RR. I think they just celebrated their 100th anniversary.

I'd like to see the Hilton and Zenith both have bars/restaurants at street level. It could create a real special atmosphere for O's games, especially if they get good sometime soon!!

Charm City looks absolutely stunning in the snow. Spent the day at Enoch Pratt and photographed Mt. Vernon blanketed in the white stuff. I dare anyone to find a more beautiful city portrait than the Washington Monument, flanked by Peabody, with the faint golden glow of the Bank of America building hiding in the background.

Thanks Huck and Steven and hello to all!

Well, I never heard of 34A Key Highway until the other day when I was reading some of the other threads. This property interests me because I like its design and I live nearby. I emailed for an update, but there is no new news. Still on hold until whenever.

I think that when the Pier Homes and Ritz are completed, Key Highway will take on a special feeling, but I am sad that I can no longer see the water when I travel to and from work. It's like there is a big wall there now. And don't get me started on the road delays due to construction.

The townhomes (Patriot) being built on Key Highway are making significant progress. The first row of 13 homes is standing in their entirety and now needs the exterior and the build out. They look nice. And although they are the same height as many other homes in the area, they look very tall because they are on a hill. This is across the street from 34A should it ever get built.

Talk to you soon!
Hey Javalady1!!! Welcome aboard!!!

The 34A Key Highway project is pretty much a done deal. The exact spot where the patriot homes will be now is where 34A was supposed to go.

Hey Javalady1!!! Welcome aboard!!!

The 34A Key Highway project is pretty much a done deal. The exact spot where the patriot homes will be now is where 34A was supposed to go.

Hi Mason. Okay, thanks for the update. I just thought 34A was across the street because when Jen from Peter Fillat responded to my inquiry, she failed to mention the Patriot homes project, and there is space on the opposing corner. Oh well.

Whats up everyone I write to you from Miami. You should see all the buildings going up here, there must 20+ cranes around the skyline. Anyway I'm seeing all these open air markets down here and thinking why don't we have this. Does anyone know if the Harbor East/Harbor Point plans call for any open air markets. I think that would be great.

The townhomes (Patriot) being built on Key Highway are making significant progress. The first row of 13 homes is standing in their entirety and now needs the exterior and the build out. They look nice. And although they are the same height as many other homes in the area, they look very tall because they are on a hill. This is across the street from 34A should it ever get built.



The townhomes being built by patriot homes are a real travesty in federal hill. they are the same size as the townhomes on the water, but tower over their neighbors on gittings street and henry street. they are 5 stories tall, whil all home around them are 2 stories. the top roof deck penthouse is aligned with the fourth floor on the eastern edge, making these townhomes look as though they are towering over covington street.

the towns are so tall that they have blocked the view of the domino sign from most of the homes off of riverside avenue too.

i'm all for height, but i'd have rather had a mult-level, high end condo building there instead of overblown townhomes....which have a million dollar price tag. NONE of them have been sold yet. i am hoping that the detail of these towns comes out because i am not impressed yet. they just seem out of character for their location off of the water.

just an opinion though.....

in comparison to the pier homes on the water, they really seem 2nd rate!

http://www.lennar.com/findhome/community.aspx?COMID=18392&DIVID=PATPAT

Whats up everyone I write to you from Miami. You should see all the buildings going up here, there must 20+ cranes around the skyline. Anyway I'm seeing all these open air markets down here and thinking why don't we have this. Does anyone know if the Harbor East/Harbor Point plans call for any open air markets. I think that would be great.


We do have the farmers market under the JFX underpass which runs every sunday morning from late spring til the fall every year. As for the Harbor East, there was that area on the promo map in Harbor Point called "Market" that some people were speculating on a few pages back. Doesn't appear that anybody knows what that is actually planned to be though yet.

Although come to think of it, wouldn't a nice atrium upscale farmers market type place fit in well there? Open air would be tough because of the weather but what about a high-ceiling glass roof market to make you feel like you're outdoors? A neighborhood market kind of like Cross St market, but one that would cater to the clientelle of IHE would be pretty cool I think. Might not be too good for Whole Foods though...

I think a lot of it has to do with zoning. NYC is much more generous than most cities accommodating outdoor seating/vending operations. The West Side, ideally, could be teeming with produce stores, crafts vendors, etc, extending from Lexington Market down Eutaw St. and across Lexington St., incorporating outdoor displays. Lexington market's renovation did help extend the shopping experience to the street, but more could be done. Perhaps Center Plaza will invite merchants to be a little more creative with outdooor space.

BTW, is that Indian Restaurant still at Lexington Market?

Welcome Javalady, I was new a short while ago too. I think you will find the posters here very friendly and full of great information.

Hi Mason. Okay, thanks for the update. I just thought 34A was across the street because when Jen from Peter Fillat responded to my inquiry, she failed to mention the Patriot homes project, and there is space on the opposing corner. Oh well.


34A is across the street, on the gas station property. The Patriot project did not impact 34A at all. However 34A met with significant resistance from the community because of just how out of scale it was from the rest of the neighborhood.

As a resident of Locust Point, I am in favor of the revitilization of Key Highway; however I understood the concerns on that particular project. Hopefully once the new urban renewal plan is passed into law we can look forward to a complete overhaul of Key Highwyay with maybe even some tall slender towers.

34A is across the street, on the gas station property. The Patriot project did not impact 34A at all. However 34A met with significant resistance from the community because of just how out of scale it was from the rest of the neighborhood.

As a resident of Locust Point, I am in favor of the revitilization of Key Highway; however I understood the concerns on that particular project. Hopefully once the new urban renewal plan is passed into law we can look forward to a complete overhaul of Key Highwyay with maybe even some tall slender towers.

Okay, well either way, 34A is not being built.

I'm sure there was resistance from the community. However, I live in this in community and I never heard of this building until I found it in another thread late last week.

Although come to think of it, wouldn't a nice atrium upscale farmers market type place fit in well there? Open air would be tough because of the weather but what about a high-ceiling glass roof market to make you feel like you're outdoors? A neighborhood market kind of like Cross St market, but one that would cater to the clientelle of IHE would be pretty cool I think. Might not be too good for Whole Foods though...

It would be good for the city to use the existing markets like this. They all have enough vacant space to make a small farmer's area for local produce. In Towson, they close off a block of Allegany Avenue on Thursday from spring to fall for farmers. This has been going on for many years and appears to be a success.

Charm City looks absolutely stunning in the snow. Spent the day at Enoch Pratt and photographed Mt. Vernon blanketed in the white stuff. I dare anyone to find a more beautiful city portrait than the Washington Monument, flanked by Peabody, with the faint golden glow of the Bank of America building hiding in the background.

I have always loved Mt Vernon in the snow. It's 19th century ambiance seems to go well with the climate of a pre-greenhouse climate. My office looks down on the roofs of the area, which are a jumble of chimneys, steeples and roof lines. The steely gray winter sky and snowy roofs looks downright Dickensian.

Anyway I'm seeing all these open air markets down here and thinking why don't we have this. Does anyone know if the Harbor East/Harbor Point plans call for any open air markets. I think that would be great.

I wish that we had more of all sorts of street vendors. One of the things I love about walking around in New York is all of the people selling anything from bags of socks, calzones, cheap art, ties, hot dogs, belts, whatever from carts. It makes the pedestrian environment more appealing and enlivens the street.

Since when? It's a small company based in East Baltimore since the early 1900's. It's a for-profit company that receives no support/subsidies from the state.

There was an article in The Sun a few months ago about the Canton RR. I think they just celebrated their 100th anniversary.

Actually from the very article you cited http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/local/bal-md.backstory09dec09,0,3514949.column?coll=bal-home-columnists The Canton RR has been wholy owned by the Maryland Transportation Authority since 1987. However you are correct they are for-profit and receive no state money.

Baltimore's Hale Properties LLC is close to a deal to build a residential community on land owned by the Sparrows Point Country Club in exchange for an undisclosed amount of money the club would use for renovations.

"We have been speaking with Hale Properties and we are in a tentative agreement," Sparrows Point General Manager David Ditzel said.

Managers of the Village of Cross Keys are considering expanding the number of stores in the community and possibly adding a supermarket.

General Growth Properties Inc. -- property managers at the Baltimore City retail and office complex -- met with community associates last month to discuss attracting new retailers, said General Growth spokesman Jim Graham. But the company is only in the early stages of planning an expansion and will not make any decisions until it addresses residents' concerns, he said.

An association of soccer coaches has signed a two-year convention deal for Baltimore, which will bring 7,500 attendees to the city in 2008 and 2011.

The National Soccer Coaches Association of America has met in Baltimore three times before, but officials decided to return with a two-year deal this time because "the hotel situation has gotten much better," NSCAA's Convention Manager Robert W. Robinson said.

Since when? It's a small company based in East Baltimore since the early 1900's. It's a for-profit company that receives no support/subsidies from the state.

There was an article in The Sun a few months ago about the Canton RR. I think they just celebrated their 100th anniversary.

It is owned by MDOT. MDOT had to take it on as part of a land swap deal to put the highways throught the area.

Ooop. saw that this was addressed already..

Okay, well either way, 34A is not being built.

I'm sure there was resistance from the community. However, I live in this in community and I never heard of this building until I found it in another thread late last week.

What neighborhood do you live in? Riverside or Key Highway Community Association? If its Riverside, then you would have heard of this project, but its been some years. We had the developer show us his plan at the community meetnig. So, if you are new to the neighborhood, then it makes sence that you have not heard of it.

The Water Street crane is about to be history. They have lowered it to the original level it had when it was first constructed. I believe they planned to take it down this past weekend but the high winds precluded that. So now it is short and locked into place so that it doesn't move.

The Zenith crane's days are numbered. When it goes, we will be down to only 4 cranes around the harbor. I don't know why, but the Hilton's "2nd" crane is still a stump! :cry:

Looks like activity is going on in the ground level "retail" space of the Alex Brown building at South and Baltimore Streets on the Baltimore Street side. Perhaps something is getting ready to move in there?

Charm City looks absolutely stunning in the snow. Spent the day at Enoch Pratt and photographed Mt. Vernon blanketed in the white stuff. I dare anyone to find a more beautiful city portrait than the Washington Monument, flanked by Peabody, with the faint golden glow of the Bank of America building hiding in the background.

Wow...sounds beautiful. Did you have your camera with you? Would love to see that on a picture.

Also welcome Javalady1:)

Looks like activity is going on in the ground level "retail" space of the Alex Brown building at South and Baltimore Streets on the Baltimore Street side. Perhaps something is getting ready to move in there?

God I hope so. Im so tired of seeing that black film cover those windows. I just hope its something worthwhile and not a CVS or something.

^C'mon dude, we really need another 7-11, MickeyD's, a New York Fried Chicken--better yet--another Subway sammich shop!

Nate

The Pinnacle might be next to break ground. Harborview is already advertising it as part of the Harborview line up.

It seems like most of the new street level retail we have gotten has been dealing with food. From the aforementioned 7-11's, Dunkin Donut's, Subway's etc. Folks would like to be able to buy other things besides food too!

How about a real, live, full fledged, newsstand?

Addidonally, does anyone know why the space on Pratt next to Jos A Bank has been vacant for what seems like 5 years now? I don't know if you can have anymore prime real estate to sell something than right there.

I have seen work going on there for a long time, but nothing is really happening. a headscratcher.....

post script:

whats up with the baltimore/dc 'superforum' that was mentioned eariler? is that a go or was it nixed?

An association of soccer coaches has signed a two-year convention deal for Baltimore, which will bring 7,500 attendees to the city in 2008 and 2011.

The National Soccer Coaches Association of America has met in Baltimore three times before, but officials decided to return with a two-year deal this time because "the hotel situation has gotten much better," NSCAA's Convention Manager Robert W. Robinson said.
They dont bring many people, but I think this is a very good conference/organization to have friendly ties with. It is very loyal to its host cities. The NSCAA doesnt stray very far from Indy, Philly, and Baltimore. In fact, each of those cities has recently signed contracts to host at least two conferences in the coming years.

Soccer is one of the fastest growing sports in the country and this conference continues to attract more and more participants each year. It attracted about 1500 attendees to its forst convention in 1988. In 2005 just over 7,000 people attended its conference in Baltimore. I think this could be a good opportunity to the Blast to grow its fan base too.

It seems like most of the new street level retail we have gotten has been dealing with food. From the aforementioned 7-11's, Dunkin Donut's, Subway's etc. Folks would like to be able to buy other things besides food too!

How about a real, live, full fledged, newsstand?

Addidonally, does anyone know why the space on Pratt next to Jos A Bank has been vacant for what seems like 5 years now? I don't know if you can have anymore prime real estate to sell something than right there.

I have seen work going on there for a long time, but nothing is really happening. a headscratcher.....
You're preaching to the choir. I've been bitching and moaning about how the city needs to be proactive about diversifying its retail offerings in City Center. For years I've been saying that a 'City Center Improvement Association' or 'Baltimore Financial District Improvement Association' needs to be created. Sure Best Buy, Filene's Basement, Urban Outfitters, Noveau, City Sports, Gaines McHale, Hand Bags in the City, J. Crew et. al have or are expected to open stand alone stores in downtown zip codes, but those are all along the waterfront.

City Center needs more hotels, more retail, more resturants, and more condos (office and residential). City Center also needs improved parks/squares, improved streetscape and more creative/progressive hardscape...the latter refers to a number of downtown buildings that could inprove their walkways.

And a newsstand is crucial. I think that would work very well in the retail space below the Alex. Brown building.

I wonder how well Harbor East News has done. Perhaps the owner could open a sister store in City Center.

A full-fledged news stand would be a welcome addition indeed.

I'm really likely the mix and convenience of the Peabody Heights/Hopkins retail district.

I ate at the Chitpotle the other day. I think I've been to one before. Nothing special. An alternative to American fast food.

The Barnes and Noble selection is clearly slanted toward the non-fiction and technical crowd of Hopkins, but welcome nontheless. Don't want to have to go to the Harbor for new books and mags. If I want to take the MTA, its's right of the #22.

My guess is that SBER is going to wait until their close to completing 1209 N. Charles before breaking ground on the Olmstead. I venture to say this might happen in late March. Given the housing slowdown, they may not have enough cashflow to be paying construction workers for too many simutaneous projects. Plus, I suppose it'll be easier once the shifty winter weather breaks.

I think the Olmstead can REALLY, REALLY solidify that area. It's got most of your basic necessities within a short walk, the crux of successful urban living. Baltimore will finally be getting what DC has had for years along Connecticut and Wisconsin Aves.

It'll be interesting to see in which direction the revitalization spreads. More to the east or more to the south? If it spreads to the east, Baltimore could have a superdistrict of retail and commercial space with a burgeoning Waverly shopping district. The mega-Giant parking lot that was created by demolishing still worthy Victorians could be rebuilt with mixed-use.

Heading south seems all too obvious--connect Upper Charles Village/Peabody Heights with Charles North/Mt. Vernon and create the center city spine we know we should have. The housing stock there is great, but large. It's easier to invest in small house neighborhoods than large house neighborhoods. Barclay still is full of drugs, and looking at the 2006 murder map, it appears that crime is getting compressed into certain areas as other areas get revitalized.

Lower Charles Village/Old Goucher is a neighborhood that doesn't feel like it's really there. It's just a travel zone between Hopkins and areas south of the Jone Falls. I can't get a neighborhood feel there no matter what. I suspect the downhill nature of the streets contribute to the high speed automobile driving. The CAC Red Line would do wonders I think here!

Waverly certainly seems cozier and 33rd St is a lovely boulevard....ah well, I digress.....

Nate

I ate at the Chitpotle the other day. I think I've been to one before. Nothing special. An alternative to American fast food.

Blasphemy!

The argument that we need more retail around the core of downtown is one I've made before. I've said the Westside is the best place for large scale retail because of it's central location. Inner Harbor East is a more specialized location and can't replicate large scale shopping for the City, it's upscale niche market. Pratt St and the Harbor is more tourist.

Nate

A full-fledged news stand would be a welcome addition indeed.

I'm really likely the mix and convenience of the Peabody Heights/Hopkins retail district.

I ate at the Chitpotle the other day. I think I've been to one before. Nothing special. An alternative to American fast food.

The Barnes and Noble selection is clearly slanted toward the non-fiction and technical crowd of Hopkins, but welcome nontheless. Don't want to have to go to the Harbor for new books and mags. If I want to take the MTA, its's right of the #22.

My guess is that SBER is going to wait until their close to completing 1209 N. Charles before breaking ground on the Olmstead. I venture to say this might happen in late March. Given the housing slowdown, they may not have enough cashflow to be paying construction workers for too many simutaneous projects. Plus, I suppose it'll be easier once the shifty winter weather breaks.

I think the Olmstead can REALLY, REALLY solidify that area. It's got most of your basic necessities within a short walk, the crux of successful urban living. Baltimore will finally be getting what DC has had for years along Connecticut and Wisconsin Aves.

It'll be interesting to see in which direction the revitalization spreads. More to the east or more to the south? If it spreads to the east, Baltimore could have a superdistrict of retail and commercial space with a burgeoning Waverly shopping district. The mega-Giant parking lot that was created by demolishing still worthy Victorians could be rebuilt with mixed-use.

Heading south seems all too obvious--connect Upper Charles Village/Peabody Heights with Charles North/Mt. Vernon and create the center city spine we know we should have. The housing stock there is great, but large. It's easier to invest in small house neighborhoods than large house neighborhoods. Barclay still is full of drugs, and looking at the 2006 murder map, it appears that crime is getting compressed into certain areas as other areas get revitalized.

Lower Charles Village/Old Goucher is a neighborhood that doesn't feel like it's really there. It's just a travel zone between Hopkins and areas south of the Jone Falls. I can't get a neighborhood feel there no matter what. I suspect the downhill nature of the streets contribute to the high speed automobile driving. The CAC Red Line would do wonders I think here!

Waverly certainly seems cozier and 33rd St is a lovely boulevard....ah well, I digress.....

Nate

Very good discussion Nate.

I think development to the south is all too obvious and will happen before (or will at least catch on faster than development to the east and west of that area). Driving up Charles and down Calvert should be a much grander experience. You can see patches of development along St Paul Street, but that needs improvement too. Those can be three really nice boulevards with Charles being the nicest/most posh, St. Paul street being a very solid alternative to Charles and Calvert having a bohemian/artsy vibe to it.

I'd LOVE to see 33rd Street become more than it is today. In fact I'd like to see 33rd and Greenmount become something akin to 13th or 14th Streets along U street in Washington. That would take lots of foresight and vision.

This area is one of the most perplexing neighborhoods in Baltimore. Tuscany-Canterbury is certainly very nice and aside from some of those high-rise apartments can even be classified as posh. Charles Village is a very solid urban neighborhood with lots of amenties to offer and more in the pipeline. The area bounded by 33rd to the north, Greenmount to the east, Guilford to the west and 25th Street to the south is very odd. One block can be solid and the very next block looks like its straight out of 'The Wire' replete the the flashing BPD blue lights and flood lamps to boot. The State and City release all these reports and issue all these warnings about saving the city's middle class, well this is a great neighborhood to start with. Get someone in there to fix up those abandoned houses (developers dont need to make these $1 million houses, just pretty solid units), add some neighborhood approriate amenties, etc. Market rate of these homes should start at $150K really shouldnt exceed $250K. Thats very resonable. If only I could have MJ Brodie's job for a few weeks.

The argument that we need more retail around the core of downtown is one I've made before. I've said the Westside is the best place for large scale retail because of it's central location. Inner Harbor East is a more specialized location and can't replicate large scale shopping for the City, it's upscale niche market. Pratt St and the Harbor is more tourist.

Nate

Exactly. I agree 100%> The Westside can really become something special. You all already know how I feel about that. I honestly think that City Center is going to get pushed aside when retail in Harbor East really starts to get going, when/if retail along Pratt improves/picks up and when the Westside gets going. No reason why Chipotle, for example, has a store at the Inner Harbor but not in City Center. They know lines would be out of the door regardless.

Heading south seems all too obvious--connect Upper Charles Village/Peabody Heights with Charles North/Mt. Vernon and create the center city spine we know we should have. The housing stock there is great, but large. It's easier to invest in small house neighborhoods than large house neighborhoods. Barclay still is full of drugs, and looking at the 2006 murder map, it appears that crime is getting compressed into certain areas as other areas get revitalized.

Lower Charles Village/Old Goucher is a neighborhood that doesn't feel like it's really there. It's just a travel zone between Hopkins and areas south of the Jone Falls. I can't get a neighborhood feel there no matter what. I suspect the downhill nature of the streets contribute to the high speed automobile driving. The CAC Red Line would do wonders I think here!
Nate

I think that the old Goucher area could be the next flashpoint for revitalization. With area north of the staion perking up and Upper Charles always in good shape and now really revitalizing, the old Goucher area is in the middle and primed to step up. There are several large churchs in this area which are stable neighbors (including Lovely Lane UMC which is the birthplace of American Methodism and is a tourist draw, check the interior dome sometime, stunning) and WYPR and the Afro-American are on Charles St. in this area. They also have the Safeway. I have thought that the open lot just north of the old Goucher buildings and across from the federal deposit building would be a great spot for redevelopment.

Very good discussion Nate.

I think development to the south is all too obvious and will happen before (or will at least catch on faster than development to the east and west of that area). Driving up Charles and down Calvert should be a much grander experience. You can see patches of development along St Paul Street, but that needs improvement too. Those can be three really nice boulevards with Charles being the nicest/most posh, St. Paul street being a very solid alternative to Charles and Calvert having a bohemian/artsy vibe to it.

Good points. Does anyone knowif the city has any plans to rebuild the pavement for Charles and especially St. Paul, they are very rough with the old streetcar tracks poking out.

^ The city just repaved Charles south of the monument a few years ago. the stretch north of the monument really needs work. I know the city plans to redo the streetscape along Calvert and St. Paul Streets. Not sure about plans for the stretch of Charles north of the monument though.

Sorry about flooding the boards today, but I wanted to share these renderings of 701 E. Baltimore Street. I dont think I've seen these posted on this board. I'm pretty sure these are from the old 'PEZ' model, but I doubt the base will change very much. I wish they did a better job hiding the parking.

http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b29/code130/701Baltimore2.gif

http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b29/code130/701Baltimore1.gif

They always could do a better job with hiding the parking in this city. :bash:

Nate

Does anybody have any renderings of the apartment/condo building that is planned for the 2100 ? block of St. Paul (eastside). It's where those old burned out rowhouses were in the middle of the block they finally demolished. It's fenced off like they're ready to proceed in the near future.

Nate

Doesn't the footprint of the new design of the Pez building encompass the Have a Nice Day building? I think we decided that it did in an earlier conversation.

Where's the new rendering?:)

Nate

Yeah, the base of the newer updated rendering looks better, and the parking is hidden.

Good...thanks. Hiding the parking is great. I hope they maintain the festive signage.

Word has it that Red Emma's bookstore/coffeeshop may open a second location, with a "neighborhood stage," on St. Paul Street, perhaps in one of the churches near the Yabba Pot. I think this could become a nice arts/entertainment strip, especially with the Dept. of Natural Resources and the Lab School nearby. However, that vacant lot does not help add vitality to the area. You know what I'd really like to see? The Federal Bank building on St. Paul become artists' residences or studios. Huge windows, high ceilings... come on, this building would be perfect for such a use.

Charles Street north of Centre and south of North Avenue will be getting a make-over this year according to the downtown partnership. Initial work will begin in February/March, and all aspects of streetscaping will be addressed. This includes street resurfacing. My thinking is that the city will accomplish Centre to Eager St/Chase St. this summer, and will start the next phase in the fall, going to Mount Royal Ave. Then we'll get up to North Ave. From what I've read, the project will take about 18 months to complete. I think some street utilities will be fixed, so in the interim, the road surface will become even worse. Better to do it now then dig up new asphalt after it's been laid down.

There are plans to re-do Charles all the way to 33rd Street eventually. This involves some long-term planning, as the 29th - 33rd street area needs to be fully re-thought to better manage traffic and pedestrian needs. My Hopkins friends call that stretch of road the "valley of death," because it is such an antiquated design. Hopefully some of the old Olmstead charm will stay...

Word has it that Red Emma's bookstore/coffeeshop may open a second location, with a "neighborhood stage," on St. Paul Street, perhaps in one of the churches near the Yabba Pot. I think this could become a nice arts/entertainment strip, especially with the Dept. of Natural Resources and the Lab School nearby. However, that vacant lot does not help add vitality to the area. You know what I'd really like to see? The Federal Bank building on St. Paul become artists' residences or studios. Huge windows, high ceilings... come on, this building would be perfect for such a use.

Charles Street north of Centre and south of North Avenue will be getting a make-over this year according to the downtown partnership. Initial work will begin in February/March, and all aspects of streetscaping will be addressed. This includes street resurfacing. My thinking is that the city will accomplish Centre to Eager St/Chase St. this summer, and will start the next phase in the fall, going to Mount Royal Ave. Then we'll get up to North Ave. From what I've read, the project will take about 18 months to complete. I think some street utilities will be fixed, so in the interim, the road surface will become even worse. Better to do it now then dig up new asphalt after it's been laid down.

There are plans to re-do Charles all the way to 33rd Street eventually. This involves some long-term planning, as the 29th - 33rd street area needs to be fully re-thought to better manage traffic and pedestrian needs. My Hopkins friends call that stretch of road the "valley of death," because it is such an antiquated design. Hopefully some of the old Olmstead charm will stay...

^^ I guess it should be finished just in time to have it ripped up for the Streetcar line! I call this "Howard Street II - The Sequel".

Remember a few months ago when the City laid an expermental block of the rebber sidewalk tiles (made from old tires)???

Anyone know if they are going to expand that program? At first I thought they were ugly, but now I think they look kind of nifty. The economical benefits were supposed to be substantial with the things.

For those who have no idea what I am talking about, the new tiles are on 300 E Pratt right infront of where the new tower will be.

Does anybody have any renderings of the apartment/condo building that is planned for the 2100 ? block of St. Paul (eastside). It's where those old burned out rowhouses were in the middle of the block they finally demolished. It's fenced off like they're ready to proceed in the near future.

Nate

I have a friend who lives across the street and he told me last summer that a developer had purchased the burned down houses, he was in the process of buying the remaining 2 vacant houses, and plans to build townhouses there. However my friend was skeptical because nothing has been done so far even though the burned out houses have been demolished and the plan is for the other 2 houses to go too.

Hiring hotel help
Hilton's arrival expected to heighten worker shortage
Baltimore Business Journal - January 19, 2007by Julekha DashStaff

Shirley Weaver vividly remembers her first impression of her employer, the Hyatt Regency Baltimore.

"I had never seen a glass building so tall and so big," she recalls.


Weaver applied for a job there 17 years ago.

"I took a chance and got hired within a week," she said.

She started out as a part-time housekeeper who turned down beds at night. Now a housekeeping supervisor, Weaver said she has stayed in the hotel industry because she likes working with people and has had the chance to move up the hotel ranks and work in different areas.

But not everyone sees an impressive building and a solid career path behind hotel doors. Filling a hotel with workers like Weaver is becoming a bigger challenge in the Baltimore area as new hotels come to town, with positions to fill in everything from front-desk attendants to mid- to-senior level managers.

Hiring will only get tougher with the 757-room convention headquarters Hilton, opening August 2008. The hotel will employ about 550, said Frank Otero, area vice president for Hilton Hotels Corp.

The industry's difficulty in hiring and retaining workers will be the focus of the state's first Hospitality and Workforce Summit on June 23. The hospitality industry suffers from an image problem and that's its biggest challenge in hiring workers, said Robert W. Seurkamp, executive director of the state's work force investment board, which is hosting the conference.

"Some people see it as a dead-end career path," Seurkamp said. Unlike Weaver, many workers do not realize they can move up from the entry-level ranks. The tourism and hospitality industry employs 230,000 in the state, making it one of the top five employers in Maryland.

New hotels, greater competition
Hotel managers will face stiff competition for workers as Baltimore gets new properties. Three new hotels, including a Four Seasons Hotel, are slated for Harbor East. Hampton Inn at Camden Yards opened a 126-room hotel earlier this month. InterContinental Hotels Group PLC will open a 130-room boutique hotel concept, Hotel Indigo, in downtown Baltimore in September.

The total inventory of hotel rooms in the Baltimore area grew by 17 percent from June 2000 to June 2006, according to Smith Travel Research Inc. in Hendersonville, Tenn.

"We're constantly looking for new ideas on how to find qualified workers," said Mary Jo McCulloch, president of the Maryland Hotel & Lodging Association.

Otero said Hilton is working with the city to provide scholarships to high school students interested in hospitality careers.

Employers say what is missing from employees these days are the "soft skills," said Charelle James, executive director of Baltimore's NAF High School, which consists of three publicly funded academies in finance, tourism and information technology. Those skills include teamwork and communication.

The high school, which prepares students for hospitality careers, is getting more requests from hotels. Executives are asking for as many as five students to participate in job-shadow programs.


Plenty of jobs to fill
Maryland's hospitality industry will need to fill about 34,000 jobs each year over the next 20 years, according to a new report prepared on behalf of the state.

The average weekly wage for a hotel worker in Maryland is $660 a week, which includes all workers from the general manager to a housekeeper.

Seurkamp said many of the most sought-after jobs pay more than the $5.25 an hour minimum wage. Janitors and cleaners make, on average, $9 an hour, and cashiers make $8.25 an hour. The average wage for operations managers is $38.75 an hour.

The Tremont Suite Hotels has expanded its employee search to D.C.-area newspapers and Spanish-language publications aimed at Baltimore's growing Latino population, Managing Director Michael Haynie said.

Within the last several months, the Tremont recruited two high-level executives from D.C. to handle sales and marketing and lead human resources, Haynie said.

Given the sheer number of employees at the Hilton, it's inevitable that the hotels in the area will see some employees go over to the new hotel, executives say.

"It's something you can't stop," said Chris Phillips, general manager of the Sheraton Baltimore City Center Hotel, a 707-room hotel that converted from a Wyndham property Jan. 18 and employs 300.

Otero said the Hilton hopes to train new workers to fill the demand for jobs. So far, the hotel has hired sales and marketing staffers. It plans to hire most of its employs in spring 2008, Otero said.

Someone asked for the rendering of the new Cordish tower?
I'll post both again. :)

http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c378/baltimore31/20830440.jpg

http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c378/baltimore31/BALLOON_SITE.jpg

As I understand it, this tower is 100,000 gross sq. feet larger than the original.

http://www.baltimoredevelopment.com/files/pdf/rfp/upload/701_east_baltimore_street.jpg

Is there any target date set for construction of the Cornish Tower? While I am at it, how about the Four Seasons? That has been stalling for the last two years.

I still dont know what the platforms(near the top) are on either of those renderings. Im assuming they are some kind of sky walk.

Yeah, i have not figured it out quite yet, either. ^^

it would be nice if the new tower had some kind of crown or something.

You know what could use some work... Gay St. between Lombard and Baltimore streets. Those two blocks are downright scary at times. I know the Water St. tower will do a lot to make that area more lively, but a few more apartment buildings or stores could do a lot to change that forgotten pocket of the city.

wbff Fox 45 ran a nice story on Monday night about Ritz Carlton,
414 Water Street and Habor East. I was unable to find it on their
web site on Tuesday morning. Maybe someone else might have
better luck than I and find the link to that story and post it
for all to see.

Someone asked for the rendering of the new Cordish tower?
I'll post both again. :)


http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c378/baltimore31/BALLOON_SITE.jpg

As I understand it, this tower is 100,000 gross sq. feet larger than the original.

Look closely. The base of the structure is now L shaped with a section that goes along Baltimore Street and ends below where the Shot Tower is pictured. That is part of the square footage increase I'm sure.

I think the platrom is for the new condo owners to jump from when they get thier first Baltimore City real estate tax bill. :ohno:

This version ^ looks like its trying to avoid the subway station.

University of Maryland, Baltimore, reshapes city’s economic status, intellectual landscape
Kelly Carson, The Examiner
http://www.examiner.com/images/newsroom/4CB40AFB-3048-2F0A-CA966CA5C2D64BA1.jpg

An aerial photo of the University of Maryland Baltimore’s BioPark shows progress made on the 11-building project. The building to the right is already open. The building on the left is expected to be completed later this year and will house the Maryland Medical Examiner’s Office. Printer Friendly | PDF |

BALTIMORE - It’s an awesome number to think about. Every $1 in state funding received by the University of Maryland, Baltimore, returns $16.54 in financial activity to the economy of the Baltimore region. “Over the past 10 years, we’ve had significant growth,” said Jim Hill, UMB’s vice president for administration and finance. “We’ve more than doubled our research efforts in the past 10 years and that’s brought in a heck of a lot of money that generates new jobs.”

UMB turns 200 this year, and its economic prowess is building steam to carry it well into the future. David S. Iannucci, Baltimore County’s director of economic development, said UMB helped put the region “on the map.” “A well-educated work force is the Baltimore region’s most important economic development tool,” Iannucci said. “The professional schools and research at the University of Maryland, Baltimore help put us on the map as a world-class center for discovery and intellectual capital.”

Statistics from a 2006 study conducted by the Jacob France Institute, the economic research center at the University of Baltimore, looked at UMB’s economic impact through purchases it makes from Maryland companies, and salaries and benefits paid to its faculty and staff. Just in income tax and sales tax, the university and its personnel contribute between $27.6 million and $32 million, according to the study.

UMB’s building program, particularly at the BioPark, adds millions of dollars to the economy through construction contracts and salaries paid to construction workers. “We receive the money from the state and have to go out on bids, and it’s the private sector we go to for those bids,” Hill said.

The 10-acre BioPark will offer 1.2 million square feet of lab and office space in 11 buildings and create 2,500 jobs and $300 million in capital investment, according to data. Jane Shaab, vice president of economic development at UMB, said Baltimore’s rich history in medical research, led for decades by neighboring Johns Hopkins University, leads demand from emerging life science businesses.

“The raw material that gets biotech going is research,” Shaab said. “We’ve got the raw material and will continue to have it.”

I still dont know what the platforms(near the top) are on either of those renderings. Im assuming they are some kind of sky walk.

Could be some kind of an observation deck.

Could be some kind of an observation deck.

Naw, dude. The designers were thinking ahead to future spurs of the gondola project!

Nate

There was a article in the BBJ yesterday I think about Mercy buildings but I couldn't rad the whole thing. Anyone else see it? Maybe it had something on the new hospital.

University of Maryland, Baltimore, reshapes city’s economic status, intellectual landscape
Kelly Carson, The Examiner
http://www.examiner.com/images/newsroom/4CB40AFB-3048-2F0A-CA966CA5C2D64BA1.jpg

An aerial photo of the University of Maryland Baltimore’s BioPark shows progress made on the 11-building project. The building to the right is already open. The building on the left is expected to be completed later this year and will house the Maryland Medical Examiner’s Office. Printer Friendly | PDF |

What blocks do these two builds and the remaining buildings to the biopark occupy? I was trying to figure it out on google earth but there picture is about 4 years old. Hard to imagine how much has changed in 4 years.

What blocks do these two builds and the remaining buildings to the biopark occupy? I was trying to figure it out on google earth but there picture is about 4 years old. Hard to imagine how much has changed in 4 years.

That's Baltimore Street running between the two buildings (bottom to top). It's West of MLK Blvd. which would be at the botom of the picture if it were a tad larger. The street on an angle in front of the two new buildings (left to right) is Fremont Street. The rest of the buildings will be on both sides of Baltimore Street up to the parking garage visible in the distance.

There was a article in the BBJ yesterday I think about Mercy buildings but I couldn't rad the whole thing. Anyone else see it? Maybe it had something on the new hospital.

I bought the paper on Saturday and it says little about the new hospital. It is all about comparing the 1969 tower to the Weinberg building and how hospital design has changed over the years in terms of space, colors, amenities, etc.

Some examples are narrow halls vs. wide ones, wards vs. private rooms, water features in lobbies vs. nothing of interest, and natural light vs. florescent light.

"I was trying to figure it out on google earth but there picture is about 4 years old. Hard to imagine how much has changed in 4 years."

Tell me about it...check out this screenshot. No Harbor East, New Aquarium Wing, Best Buy, etc. It's getting kind of useless downtown.

http://i135.photobucket.com/albums/q125/pfd103/harbor.jpg

Figure this one out. The Examiner in the article I posted today said that the building under construction in the picture is the Medical Examiner's Building.

The BBJ today in the article below says they haven't even started construction on the Medical Examiner's Building yet. Who is right?

Gilbane to head construction for BioPark building
Baltimore Business Journal - 1:33 PM EST Tuesdayby Daniel J. SernovitzStaff

The state has picked a Laurel development firm as the lead builder of a $37 million Forensic Medical Center at the University of Maryland's biotechnology park on Baltimore's west side.

The Department of General Services selected Gilbane to serve as construction manager for the six-story, 120-square-foot building at the UMB BioPark, a biotechnology park under development at the corner of Baltimore and Poppleton streets next to the University of Maryland, Baltimore campus. Construction is slated to be finished by early 2010.


The building will serve as the office of the Chief Medical Examiner, and according to a press release from Gilbane, will include four main sections:

a Medical Examiner Administration area;
a Main Autopsy area;
a Special Procedures Autopsy area;
and Laboratory area.
Construction is scheduled to start in the summer of 2008.

In July 2006, the Maryland Board of Public Works awarded a $4 million design contract to Baltimore-based Gaudreau Inc. and Phoenix, Ariz.-based McLaren, Wilson & Lawrie to come up with plans for the building. The team was selected over five other firms that submitted proposals to the board.

Figure this one out. The Examiner in the article I posted today said that the building under construction in the picture is the Medical Examiner's Building.

The BBJ today in the article below says they haven't even started construction on the Medical Examiner's Building yet. Who is right?

Gilbane to head construction for BioPark building
Baltimore Business Journal - 1:33 PM EST Tuesdayby Daniel J. SernovitzStaff

The state has picked a Laurel development firm as the lead builder of a $37 million Forensic Medical Center at the University of Maryland's biotechnology park on Baltimore's west side.

The Department of General Services selected Gilbane to serve as construction manager for the six-story, 120-square-foot building at the UMB BioPark, a biotechnology park under development at the corner of Baltimore and Poppleton streets next to the University of Maryland, Baltimore campus. Construction is slated to be finished by early 2010.


The building will serve as the office of the Chief Medical Examiner, and according to a press release from Gilbane, will include four main sections:

a Medical Examiner Administration area;
a Main Autopsy area;
a Special Procedures Autopsy area;
and Laboratory area.
Construction is scheduled to start in the summer of 2008.

In July 2006, the Maryland Board of Public Works awarded a $4 million design contract to Baltimore-based Gaudreau Inc. and Phoenix, Ariz.-based McLaren, Wilson & Lawrie to come up with plans for the building. The team was selected over five other firms that submitted proposals to the board.

We can't trust the media anymore. :cry:

Hmmm. I wouldn't have noticed that. Oh yeah great avatar SilverSpringer.

Last updated: January 23, 2007 10:03am
Baltimore Office Trades for $7M
By Erika Morphy
BALTIMORE-Locally based CAG USA Inc. has sold 981 Corporate Blvd. to a locally based real estate investor, Lewis Investment Co., for $7 million. Bo Cashman and Jonathan Beard of CB Richard Ellis’ Investment Properties Group represented the seller.
KPSS Inc. has been the sole tenant since the property delivered in 1995, occupying 100% of the available space for use as its North American headquarters. The 33,026-sf, two-story office building features a two-story atrium entrance and a two-story glass entry from two sides of the building.

The building was part of a land parcel with two office buildings. CAG subdivided the land in order to sell one of the buildings, Beard tells GlobeSt.com. Now, CAG remains the sole occupant of the neighboring property, 979 Corporate Blvd., which is a warehouse/office facility.

Beard says office sales in the Baltimore-Washington corridor have been relatively scarce, compared to the larger market. “This deal was noteworthy for that reason.”

http://www.globest.com/news/827_827/baltimore/152313-1.html

Booming tourism industry sparks hotel development

(Arianne Starnes/ For The Baltimore Examiner)
The Hampton Inn off Washington Boulevard in downtown Baltimore on Friday Printer Friendly | PDF | Email | digg
Dave Carey, The Examiner


BALTIMORE - Businesses like it when tourists and conventioneers visit Baltimore — but love it when they sleep over.


According to the Baltimore Area Convention and Visitors Bureau, tourists added $2.96 billion to Charm City’s economy in 2006, a whopping $2.17 billion of that total coming from visitors who slept over. Keeping tourists overnight seems to be the key for hotels, and is a big factor in recent expansion.

“For years, we have talked about the lack of hotel rooms, and now we are getting them,” said Nancy Hinds, vice president of public affairs for the visitors bureau. “They can complement one another.”

According to the Downtown Partnership, a nonprofit group dedicated to the improvement of downtown Baltimore, there are 5,968 hotel rooms in downtown Baltimore, consisting of a one-mile radius from Pratt and Light streets.

The most recent hotel opening downtown is the Hampton Inn at Camden Yards. Opened in early December, the 126-room Hampton Inn is representative of the niche that smaller hotels have found in the Inner Harbor.

Mike Evitts, a spokesman with the Downtown Partnership, named several other hotel projects that are currently being worked on, including seven that will be around the same size as the new Hampton Inn.

“There are 1,296 new hotel rooms under construction,” Evitts said. “You always want to be careful, but hotel developers look at what kind of inventory there is currently.”

Projects going on right now include the development of old business offices near Baltimore and Redwood streets into several new hotels. Evitts referred to this redevelopment effort as “Baltimore Street’s hotel row.”

Evitts also reports that there are 1,296 new hotel rooms under construction in downtown Baltimore, with 794 more hotel rooms planned for 2007. The biggest project being worked on right now is the Hilton Baltimore Convention Center Hotel.

The $300 million-plus 757 room project is set to open in the August 2008.

The development “attracts new business that may have overlooked Baltimore,” Hinds said. “It will make us more competitive.”

dcarey@baltimoreexaminer.com

http://www.examiner.com/images/newsroom/51E81997-3048-2F0A-CA446C36146F861A.jpg
The Hampton Inn off Washington Boulevard in downtown Baltimore on Friday

THE INCREDIBLE SHRINKING CRANE!:scouserd:

http://www.baltimoreguy.com/photogallery/01%20My%20New%20Home%20414%20Water%20Street!/03%20From%20%20Lockwood%20Garage/414%20Lockwood%2054.jpg

http://www.myaviation.net/search/photo_search.php?id=00948179&size=large

This one gives you a good idea of the proximity of Downtown Baltimore to BWI.

http://www.myaviation.net/search/photo_search.php?id=00948158&size=large

Your new place is looking great Wadaguy. Might be ahead of schedule on finishing up.

Those shots from the plane are really cool. With those 5 new tall towers hopefully going up (I know it's a huge if that they are all built) it would really legitimize our skyline.

What is all the forest area and such at the top of the first plane picture? I'm surprised there is still so much room for development in areas of Baltimore. We could easily get our population back to 1 million.

^^Yeah which is why I don't understand why its called Baltimore-Washington International. It should just be Baltimore International. Nice photos by the way:)

Hmmm. I wouldn't have noticed that. Oh yeah great avatar SilverSpringer.

Thanks. If you grab a magnifying glass and look closely you can see all the counties (and independent city) listed. Or you could just go to the governor's inaguration page.

Could someone post the latest rendering of the 4 seasons project.

Thanks

Anyone heard any news on the redevelopment of the largely vacant block of Broadway in Fells Pt?

I know the developers wanted to put an 11 story building somewhere in there and that locals weren't thrilled with that, but that block is pretty pathetic looking for what is one of B-More's most popular areas. Work can't start soon enough there.

There's also an article up on the BBJ site saying that the Historical Commission gave the OK for the plans to turn the Baltimore Brewery off of President St. into a hotel. Good news there.

Wow I can't believe how close BWI is to Baltimore. That's amazing. I wonder if they could build some roadway that could more directly link downtown to the airport.

On another note, I need some help here. I've heard the talk about Maggie Moore's on here and was wondering what it's like with Valentines Day coming up and all. Thanks for your comments in advance.

Wow I can't believe how close BWI is to Baltimore. That's amazing. I wonder if they could build some roadway that could more directly link downtown to the airport.

I95 and the BW Pkwy are pretty direct routes to the airport. I wouldnt be in favor of ripping up shit and tearing down neighborhoods to build a third route into BWI.

I95 and the BW Pkwy are pretty direct routes to the airport. I wouldnt be in favor of ripping up shit and tearing down neighborhoods to build a third route into BWI. Yes. And don't forget the light rail. How may routes do we need?

Plus the back roads offer a great alternative to the highways during rush hour. Through the city go south on hanover street. Follow Route 2 though cherry hill and brooklyn until you get to the AA County border. Make a right onto MD 170. Follow that to the airport loop road. Piece of cake. those are some great photos though.

Yeah, I forgot about the light rail. Getting to BWI is fine.

As an aside, just last week I was in Georgia and Virginia on a 1 day business trip. Try getting from BWI to Richmond and then Augusta and back without a car. You'll see how easy we have it in Baltimore.

Not sure if this project has been covered too much (which is suprising since it's the largest development site in Baltimore City), but the old plant is about 2/3 torn down. It looks as if they're about ready to break ground on the buildings on the north side of Holabird. They tore up the parking lots that were there, so now it's a huge square lot clean of everything. I'll try to get a couple pics in the next few days.

http://www.baltimoresun.com/media/graphic/2006-02/21770004.gif

Baltimore City Planning Comm. approves GM plant replacement
Daily Record, The (Baltimore), Aug 11, 2006 by Jen Degregorio

Find More Results for: "GM Plant Baltimore "
GM to invest in hybrid...
At least 12 bids...
GM's closing of...
Slammed shut; GM...
Duke Realty Corp.'s plan for redeveloping the defunct General Motors assembly plant on Broening Highway won the unanimous approval yesterday of the Baltimore City Planning Commission.

The plan, which calls for an office and industrial park of nearly 2.9 million square feet of space on 180 acres of land, also won support from city residents who say the project will transform Southeast Baltimore's economy.

It's going to add lots of jobs to the area, said Edie Schuman, chair of Southeastern Neighborhoods Development Corp. That part [of Baltimore] has been neglected for a long time.

The $200 million project is projected to bring 3,500 new jobs to Baltimore, according to recent estimates by the Baltimore Development Corp., the city's economic development arm. It will result in a projected $61 million in property taxes over the course of 20 years, according to the BDC.

In addition, the development will create about 920 jobs for unionized construction workers, said Rod Easter, business representative for the Baltimore Building & Construction Trades Council.

Advertisement

We're looking forward to this project being started, Easter said.

Demolition on the former GM plan began in May. Duke officials are working on a plan for environmental remediation of the site, which should be completed by January. The company expects the physical clean-up to begin by the first quarter of 2007.

No companies have yet signed on for space in the park, said Mark Gialluca, development services manager for Duke, a real estate investment trust based in Indianapolis.

Right now we're concentrating on the demolition and cleanup, he said.

As the Duke park comes on line, it will help Baltimore City compete with surrounding counties that have more land for commercial development, BDC President M.J. Jay Brodie told the planning commission yesterday.

At 180 acres, the former GM site represents the single largest development parcel in Baltimore, he said.

Brodie called Duke's office park a competitor with Crossroads@95, a 1,000-acre business community being built in eastern Baltimore County.

Duke's park represents the past and future of Baltimore wrapped into one, Brodie said.

The GM plant, which closed last year, began more than 70 years ago as the Chevrolet and Fisher Body assembly factory. Over time, it grew to become one of Baltimore's most important economic bastions.

When it closed in May 2005, it took with it 1,100 jobs.

Duke's interest in the site is a great example of how industry is not leaving Baltimore, said Caroline Paff, a senior development officer for the BDC.

Copyright 2006 Dolan Media Newswires
Provided by ProQuest Information and Learning Company. All rights Reserved.

Maryland tackling challenge of BRAC
Lawmakers seek ways to pay for roads, schools as defense jobs grow
By Justin Fenton and Timothy B. Wheeler
Sun reporters
Originally published January 24, 2007

Gov. Martin O'Malley and General Assembly leaders have turned their attention to the roads, schools and other needs created by a looming influx of tens of thousands of military-related jobs, but are in search of a way to pay for them. This week, O'Malley gave Lt. Gov. Anthony G. Brown his first major assignment: Get a handle on the challenges created by the 40,000 to 60,000 jobs expected to be created in Maryland by the Base Realignment and Closure process, or BRAC.

And today, a panel of lawmakers will hear from planning and business development experts on the challenges that lie ahead. Legislators are considering initiatives that - among other things - would allow the speedy construction of projects related to military job growth.

"We've got some lead time, but not a whole lot," said Timothy Armbruster, president of the Goldseker Foundation, which has prepared a study of BRAC growth. "We better get serious about this or we won't be able to take advantage of the good fortune coming our way."

While local governments in Harford and Anne Arundel counties and elsewhere have been planning for the military jobs, O'Malley's announcement marks the highest-visibility statewide effort to date. O'Malley asked Brown to head a newly created sub-Cabinet of planning, transportation and other state officials to come up with ideas for handling the challenge.

But even Brown, the governor's point man and a lieutenant colonel in the Army Reserve, isn't sure where the discussion will head. "It's unlikely legislation would need to be introduced this session," Brown said. "I need to immerse myself a little more deeply before I can comment."

Hanging in the balance is the quality of life for the new residents and those already here. To accommodate thousands of new Marylanders and their families, state and local governments will have to build schools and roads, deliver water and pipe away waste. Firefighters, police, doctors and others will be needed.

But with Maryland facing a billion-dollar gap between tax revenues and scheduled expenses in the next few years, money to pay for those services is in short supply. O'Malley has said that he will not raise taxes this year.

At the start of last year's Assembly session, officials were celebrating the news that Maryland would be the recipient of thousands more jobs, part of the military's plan approved in November 2005 to build specialized centers for defense operations while cutting costs. Maryland was considered a winner; many states lost jobs.

Since then, some counties have formed task forces to study their needs, which have largely been determined. Now, it's the state's turn. Brown is scheduled to meet today with J. Michael Hayes, a retired Marine Corps brigadier general hired by the Maryland Department of Business and Economic Development in 1999 to monitor federal, state and local actions that affect Maryland military installations.

"I believe this session will mostly be a discussion of the things that will be required to make this happen," said Hayes. "This is now the beginning of the dialogue between counties and the state of their [respective] needs. The counties are in a position to move forward and articulate what their needs are."

In separate hearings over the next week, legislative committees will be briefed on BRAC-related issues. Among the broader initiatives being promoted by Maryland counties is a mechanism to allow the legislature to rush projects deemed crucial, such as roads. "Getting approval for transportation projects can be a six-year process, so we need the option of fast-tracking to help those come on board as quickly as possible," said Roxanne Lynch, Harford County's director of government and community relations.

The Greater Baltimore Committee has urged state officials to make BRAC planning a priority, endorsing the idea to streamline the permit process for related projects and create a legislative commission.

"BRAC presents us this tremendous opportunity, but we have to make sure we work in a fashion that we maximize the potential and realize the true benefits it has to offer," said Donald C. Fry, the group's president.
Many private-sector and on-post jobs tied to military bases pay well, and economic development experts say the state will reap sales, income and property taxes from new arrivals.

But Fry cautioned that state and local governments need to act promptly so that the surge in population does not undermine the quality of life of current residents. "The approach of putting the lieutenant governor in charge, which gives it a high profile and power to deal with multiple agencies on this issue, makes all the sense in the world," said John W. Frece, associate director of the National Center for Smart Growth Research and Education at the University of Maryland, College Park.

But Frece, who served as communications director of the Office of Smart Growth under Gov. Parris N. Glendening, questioned how the new sub-Cabinet-level interagency group would relate to a similarly high-level group created years ago to coordinate state spending and policies to prevent sprawl. The two sub-Cabinets share many of the same members.

"There's already a very good, very similar, if not identical, group established in state law for the purpose of dealing with this," Frece said. Brown said the state intends to hire a BRAC coordinator who will work with his sub-Cabinet.

Advocates of managed growth, worried about the potential for BRAC to worsen gridlock and sprawl, welcomed the O'Malley administration's move. With budget problems looming for the state, it is essential for the administration to spend its scarce dollars wisely in preparing for the base-related growth, they said.

"The jury's still out on whether this is going to be a net gain for the state," said Dru Schmidt-Perkins, executive director of 1000 Friends of Maryland. "We can't take the 60,000 or so people and sprawl them all over the place. We don't have the roads, we don't have the schools, we don't have the water. We need to do it right so we don't have a nightmare."

Dan Pontious, regional policy director for the Citizens Planning and Housing Association, said local officials need the state's help in preparing for BRAC-related growth, especially in dealing with the increased traffic it will generate.

"As our highways become more clogged, people are going to be looking for other ways to get to work," Pontious said. The state must invest in enhancing MARC commuter rail lines, he said, which can transport more workers to Aberdeen Proving Ground and Fort Meade while serving the needs of other Maryland commuters.

The Baltimore-based Goldseker Foundation issued a report last fall urging prompt action to enhance the region's transportation network, including highways and transit. The report outlined options for financing costly transportation projects at a time of budget constraints, including dedicating a portion of corporate income or property tax proceeds or borrowing against expected tax revenue from BRAC-related jobs.

Del. Maggie L. McIntosh, a Baltimore Democrat who chairs the House Environmental Matters Committee - which will receive its BRAC briefing today - said the legislature would be wise to start approving projects this year. "We either do it right or we do it wrong, but they've got to begin now," McIntosh said.

Here's a report from the senior Baltimore Park Ranger from a housing-assigned police officer in Sharp-Leadenhall:

You remember the plans to develop Port Covington beyond the Wal-Mart?

Well, the word is that the Wal-Mart will now close because the land is too valuable.

As I say, intriguing info, but more research and verification needed on this...

Nate

I wonder what makes the land so valuable? :dunno: I've been to that Wal-Mart a few times and I dare say that it may be the only one in the world that sits on a waterfront.

^I always call it the "Wal-Mart-on-the-water".

Nate

I wonder what makes the land so valuable? :dunno: I've been to that Wal-Mart a few times and I dare say that it may be the only one in the world that sits on a waterfront.

the City dropped the ball on that one. What a waste of waterfront property. I dread going there as its dark, dingy and somewhat dangerous. But I have to admit, it is handy in a pinch. But I would be glad to see something different go in there. There is so much land, i am wondering why the developer didn't put the big boxes inland realizing that waterfront some day would probably be a bit more vauleable.

Nice, this is what I'm talking about!

From Today's Sun
Park's path: Folly to neglect, rebirth
A median garden downtown is to regain its 1920s grandeur

Between this and center plaza, maybe we can begin to establish a real sense of downtown greenspace. We don't have Rittenhouse square -- sigh -- but we're at least moving in the right direction.

http://www.mddailyrecord.com/article.cfm?id=252&type=UTTM

On a sad note, we've hit a rate of one homicide per day. Call me crazy, but Lenny Hamm, the State's Attorney, and other folks just aren't on the ball with this one. This is the worst possible news the city could have at this time. I've also noticed that, in charles village, a lot of the regular nightly flyovers with Foxtrot have stopped in the last two weeks. Are they still doing heavy air patrol?

http://www.examiner.com/a-527640~State_of_the_Port_of_Baltimore.html

the City dropped the ball on that one. What a waste of waterfront property. I dread going there as its dark, dingy and somewhat dangerous. But I have to admit, it is handy in a pinch. But I would be glad to see something different go in there. There is so much land, i am wondering why the developer didn't put the big boxes inland realizing that waterfront some day would probably be a bit more vauleable.
i agree, jeff. IT IS indeed dark, dingy, and dangerous and the sad part of that is the port covington wal-mart is one of the newest ones in this area. whew, talk about nastiness!!

i've heard stories of alot of robberies and shoplifting there. i've even witnessed a couple of robberies and shopliftings myself. i'll never, ever go to that wal-mart again.

Here's a report from the senior Baltimore Park Ranger from a housing-assigned police officer in Sharp-Leadenhall:

You remember the plans to develop Port Covington beyond the Wal-Mart?

Well, the word is that the Wal-Mart will now close because the land is too valuable.

As I say, intriguing info, but more research and verification needed on this...

Nate


Wow, intriguing indeed. I wonder if the land is on a PUD or if it was rezoned. I know that Industrial interests were upset when it went big box because it was the last developable parcel with deep water access in the city. If it closes, I wonder if the port will try and retake it.

That's a massive amount of land, and could very well tie into the future plans for Middle Branch. SBER had plans for residential, I think at the old BGE property next door to the new Tidewater Marina, I wonder what's happening with that.

Some good links...

The new marina:
http://www.pcmaritimecenter.com/

An old City Paper article detailing the entire Middle Branch / Port Covington redevelopment plans, including a discussion of how the big box retail was done so very wrong.
http://www.citypaper.com/news/story.asp?id=11385

I'll be curious to hear more about the big box rumors.

FINALLY

Lofty dreams for Railway building
JEN DEGREGORIO
Daily Record Business Writer

January 24, 2007 6:13 PM

http://www.mddailyrecord.com/_images/article/1a-Railway-Express-Bldg1MF.jpg

After years of planning, developers have finally begun renovating Baltimore’s historic Railway Express building, a mixed-use project observers say will connect downtown with a burgeoning arts district just up the street. The 77,000-square-foot structure was built in 1929 as a mail depot for parcels arriving by train from Penn Station, which sits directly across Saint Paul Street from the former the U.S. Parcel Post Station. Baltimore City later bought the facility and used it as a warehouse until 2003 before selling it the next year to a team of developers called Railway Express LLC.

In a matter of days, the company will begin an $11 million conversion of the facility into 30 loft-style apartments with 32,000 square feet of commercial space. But some minor, interior construction has already begun, said Martin P. Azola, a partner in Railway Express LLC. “We’re off and running finally,” he said. “It’s a handsome structure, and when we’re done with it, it will very much complement the train station.”

Renovations of the concrete-and-brick revival-style building could be complete by mid-summer of this year. Commercial tenants have already signed onto the project, including Harrison Development LLC, Doracon LLC and Case[werks] LLC, a custom display case-maker relocating from North Charles Street. A coffee shop is also in the works.

The project experienced a number of false starts over the years, said Azola, whose partners include Ronald Lipscomb, Edward Hord, Kenneth Banks, Michael Novak and Anthony Ambridge. At one point, the team had planned to use the structure for mainly commercial purposes but had to rethink the project when its major tenant, Carton Donofrio Partners, backed out of a deal. “It was a real body blow at the time,” Azola said. “The Baltimore City commercial office market took a real nosedive around the same time.”

The company then briefly considered turning the structure into an academy for a program the Baltimore school system was contemplating but never realized. The team ultimately decided on a mixed-use project after witnessing new investments north of Penn Station. The city recently branded the area Station North Arts and Entertainment District, taking its name from an artists’ community that had flocked there to take advantage of cheap housing and abundant warehouse space.

“Three or four years ago this area was nothing but a big, vast wasteland,” Azola said. “But there are new things going on.”

Construction is nearly complete on 32 new townhouses on the 1700 block of North Calvert Street. The 1700 block of North Charles Street, meanwhile, has a thriving independent movie theater, The Charles, as well as the recently expanded eatery Sofi’s Crepes and the Everyman Theatre. The city has also chosen developers for an urban renewal project that would rehabilitate the abandoned Chesapeake Restaurant and adjacent property on North Charles Street.

“I do think it’s a real bridge between what’s happening in Mount Vernon and what’s happening on the proverbial ‘other side of the tracks,’” Stewart Watson, a sculptor who lives in Station North, said of the Railways Express building renovation. Azola expects the building to appeal to residents who want easy access to the train station. The proximity has already lured at least one commercial tenant.

“Our clientele comes from all over the Northeast corridor,” said Matt Malaquias, co-owner of Case[werks], which provides display furnishings for museums, universities and other users. “We like the fact that it’s in the Station North Arts District; we are a company that serves the museum and library communities, so for us it would be a good fit.”

One- and two-bedroom apartments will likely cost between $900 and $1,900 per month, Azola said. Wilson notes that most artists cannot afford such high prices, undercutting the city’s efforts to create a so-called “arts district.”
“Speculators and developers, in my opinion, are both good and bad for the area,” Watson said.

^^It really should have stayed industrial. We need to protect our natural resources, and that was definitely one of them. There's plenty of obsolete industrial zoning to change, but deep water is irreplaceable.

I think the new City Master Plan has addressed this issue for future parcels.

Nate

Park's path: Folly to neglect, rebirth
A median garden downtown is to regain its 1920s grandeur
By Jill Rosen
Sun reporter
Originally published January 25, 2007
A sylvan sliver in the unlikeliest of places, an urban luxury once criticized as a former mayor's extravagance and then neglected for much of its nearly 100-year existence, Baltimore's Preston Gardens is finally getting its due.

The garden in the middle of St. Paul Street - which would more accurately be described as the city's fanciest median - is slated for a nearly $900,000 overhaul. The effort would not only restore the park to its former glory, but improve on it with a flourishing landscape, working fountains and better lighting - all in the hope that the hard-luck plot can become a real downtown park.





"It's an island in the middle of St. Paul Street, but for many people, the literally thousands of downtown businesspeople, it's kind of like a front yard," said Mike Evitts, spokesman for Downtown Partnership, the organization leading the restoration effort. "This could be a world-class park."

In the early 1900s, a fair number of Baltimoreans considered Mayor James H. Preston off his rocker as he zealously pushed a plan to spend $1.2 million on a slim park that would run for about three blocks along the middle of an expanded St. Paul Street.

The mayor's critics began calling the project "Preston's Folly." Those who owned homes in the path of the mayor's pet project were also less than thrilled.

Famed landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted came up with the idea for the park as he drafted ideas for Baltimore's overall green space in 1905, but it was Thomas Hastings, another esteemed architect, who designed it years later.

Officials in jackets with tails and straw hats gathered in May 1919 to dedicate Preston Terraces, as it was then known. Dignitaries took seats in chairs set out all along the imposing stone stairs.

"It is not uncommon," Hastings told the crowd, according to articles in The Sun at the time, "to see the useful without the beautiful, or the beautiful without the useful, but it is rare to see a section such as was this, almost useless and unquestionably ugly, transformed into magnificent terraces that have already given health and life to this vicinity as well as pleasure to all who come in contact therewith."

But it didn't take long for nature and neglect to start chipping away at Hastings' magnificence.

Just a couple of years after the dedication, city fathers briefly entertained a proposal to build a series of parking garages for 2,000 cars on the garden site. That fizzled, but by the Depression, with money for niceties like floral displays out of the question, the city began leaving the gardens bare for years at a time. Many mourned the missing tulips - shots of color that they so quickly had come to expect.

By the 1950s, winos in the park were almost part of the landscape, snoozing under the now-scruffy bushes. And despite the best efforts of the most determined garden clubs, Preston Gardens has been, more or less, on a sad decline ever since.

But the Downtown Partnership hopes to turn that around. With just under $900,000 to spend - most of which is coming from the city - the organization has plans for an overhaul, one that it hopes will have people reconsidering what has long been forgettable public space.

"It's really the largest chunk of green space we have downtown," said Nan Rohrer, the partnership's retail development director. "Hopefully, when we're finished with it, it will almost resemble an English garden and lawn."

Because of the park's lineage, those leading the beautification effort are quick to call it a "restoration" rather than a redesign. They want to carefully preserve the essence of Hastings' vision for the park but freshen it so that it works as well a century later.

"We're treading very lightly might be a way to think about it," said Carol Macht of Hord Coplan Macht, who's handling the design and said she's trying to reveal the fine bones beneath the unkempt plantings. "It's a privilege to be able to work with such wonderful architecture."

So they'll haul away dead trees and overgrown shrubs, scrub and repair the ornate stone staircases and retaining wall, and tinker with the southernmost of the two fountains to see whether it can be coaxed into working again. (The other fountain has more serious, cost-prohibitive issues and could become a planter.)

They'll pad the ground with fresh grass, fill in the ground with perennials and flowering trees, and add shade-throwing species along the park's west side.

The final touch will be lighting, arranged to wash over the architectural elements and to make people feel safe.

The Downtown Partnership has made refreshing the city's plazas something of a mission. Their $6 million Center Plaza reconstruction should be finished by summer, and they've tried to brighten the gray of Hopkins Plaza with landscaping and potted flowers.

The organization doesn't just want the parks to look good, it wants people to start using them.

To get folks into Preston Gardens, the organization tried holding movie nights. And in the fall it tried picnics with live music on Fridays.

The partnership surveyed downtown residents in the fall and found that quality-of-life issues are first on everyone's mind.

"It's more than just about aesthetics for their own sake," Evitts said. "The way things look affects how people perceive the environment."

Businesses that surround the gardens have taken an interest in its well-being. Tremont hotels, for instance, has contributed money to the cleanup. It considers the donation an investment of sorts.

Tremont's managing director, Michael Haynie, has been known to escape there, seeking shade and serenity on particularly trying days.

"We definitely believe in that park," Haynie said. "The more we highlight it and clean it up, the more it becomes a focal point to a re-energized area."

jill.rosen@baltsun.com

FINALLY

Lofty dreams for Railway building
JEN DEGREGORIO
Daily Record Business Writer

This is great. Im really excited about this project. With this building, 1209 North Charles, the Printers Mill Apartments at the old firehouse, the new rowhouses on Calvert Street, the Chesapeake and all the indiviual development/rehab projects, the northern Mt. Vernon/Station North area will be getting lots of new residents. Those new residential units coupled with the new UB dorms and UB/MICAs pending Bolton Yards development will really add to that area.

Does anyone know where Amtrak is with the hotel above Penn Station? I know President Bush is asking for more federal support for Amtrak...hopefully they're still looking at new, innovative revenue sources.

Anyone have a picture of the Railway building? I can't quite place it.

Anyone have a picture of the Railway building? I can't quite place it.
http://www.nationaltrust.org/magazine/_images/news/penn.jpg
^^it's right across the street from penn station if you come down st. paul street.

Park's path: Folly to neglect, rebirth
A median garden downtown is to regain its 1920s grandeur
By Jill Rosen
Sun reporter
While some people on this board seem to only appreciate articles announcing more height in this city, I really want to take the time to give it up for the city of Baltimore for its renewed committment to green space. I'm so glad that Otis Rolley and his staff understand the importance of greenspace in urban areas. First War Memorial Plaza was redone, then came West Shore Park, then Center Plaza got the nod and now its Preston Gardens' turn for a make over.

I'll be the first to say that none of the recent rehabs have been perfect. War Memorial, while hobo-less and a definitive improvement over the previous aesthic, is still fairly uninviting from a design standpoint. I dont know if I should sit on the grass and enjoy it or admire it like a piece of art in a museum. West Shore Park seemed cold and sterile when it first opened. I havent been down there since. Perhaps it just needs a little time to develop some character. Center Plaza should be nice when it gets finished. Preston Gardens should be enjoyed by the office and hospital workers, local residents and tourists who stay at local hotels.

Hooray for the City of Bmore.

Forgive anytypos. Im on my Blackberry.

^^It really should have stayed industrial. We need to protect our natural resources, and that was definitely one of them. There's plenty of obsolete industrial zoning to change, but deep water is irreplaceable.

I think the new City Master Plan has addressed this issue for future parcels.

Nate

Perhaps, but didn't the city build all the infrastructure, roads, etc, and then have no one interested in industrial use? I'm in favor of the most efficient and dense use of the property (given its flexibility for many uses) so when it was zoned industrial, and there were no takers, doesn't that mean that industrial use isn't the best alternative?

News from the Daily Record is now free.

http://www.mddailyrecord.com/

Does anyone know where Amtrak is with the hotel above Penn Station? I know President Bush is asking for more federal support for Amtrak...hopefully they're still looking at new, innovative revenue sources.

Bush asking for more amtrak funding? lol. Before Amtrak improves any properties, it will need to chip away at several billion dollars of deferred maintenance across the plant and replace aging amfleet equipment. No way in hell is it going to spend its capital appropriation for property improvement. What Amtrak could do is sell or lease a portion of the Penn Station property to a developer to fix up. My guess is that this is a long time off, as the station needs a lot of work before it can accommodate a hotel. I'd rather that Amtrak worry about real problems, like its basic operations, and not on urban development.

Amtrak, to its credit, recently created a website, called great american stations, which proposes guidelines for station renovation, giving communities that want new train stations better planning tools. It doesn't, however, provide any means of funding those improvements.

Station North should also get a boost from some of the properties that the Housing Department auctioned off to developers in the fall. Calvert Street really has a lot of potential -- even some of the old warehouses in Barclay. A lot of exciting work to be done!

http://www.nationaltrust.org/magazine/_images/news/penn.jpg
^^it's right across the street from penn station if you come down st. paul street.

Haha, c'mon it's cold out! Don't make me walk down there and look at it!

WadaGuy, I know you gotta have a pic of this building somewhere in your archive! lol :)

Nevermind, there's a pic on the Daily Record site. I know it now. Great news that it's going to be put to good use!

Gotta love the development we're seeing away from the waterfront. Now lets get rolling on the Chesapeake site! That's an eyesore to the 100th degree!

While some people on this board seem to only appreciate articles announcing more height in this city, I really want to take the time to give it up for the city of Baltimore for its renewed committment to green space. I'm so glad that Otis Rolley and his staff understand the importance of greenspace in urban areas. First War Memorial Plaza was redone, then came West Shore Park, then Center Plaza got the nod and now its Preston Gardens' turn for a make over.

I'll be the first to say that none of the recent rehabs have been perfect. War Memorial, while hobo-less and a definitive improvement over the previous aesthic, is still fairly uninviting from a design standpoint. I dont know if I should sit on the grass and enjoy it or admire it like a piece of art in a museum. West Shore Park seemed cold and sterile when it first opened. I havent been down there since. Perhaps it just needs a little time to develop some character. Center Plaza should be nice when it gets finished. Preston Gardens should be enjoyed by the office and hospital workers, local residents and tourists who stay at local hotels.

Hooray for the City of Bmore.

Forgive anytypos. Im on my Blackberry.

I couldn't agree more. I also think the Mt Vernon place could use some sprucing up too. Has anyone heard anything about improvements there?

Railway Express Building

That's great news that this is finally starting to happen, especially with the other residential developments going on just near by i.e. Printers Sq. and 1209 Charles St. But am I the only one that questions the wisdom of building apartments on top of what is one of the busiest rail corridors in the North East? I can't imagine that I would want to plonk down $1900 a month to have to live near all of that noise and pollution, not to speak of the views which would be the rail yard on one side and the JFX on the other.

I really hope something gets going soon with the old Chesapeake Restaurant site. That would be a vast improvement for that streach of Charles St. But personally I don't see that happening soon because of litigation between the owners of the site and the BDC. I also wonder what will happen to that streach of Charles St. in a couple of years when the Everyman moves.

I couldn't agree more. I also think the Mt Vernon place could use some sprucing up too. Has anyone heard anything about improvements there?

I agree, but just minor stuff. New sod, sprucing up the water features, etc. Those squares are classic. Nothing should be done to monderize the look of them.

I AM ANXIOUS TO KNOW!!! What could it be???

- The Four Seasons expansion?

- The Duke Realty Development at the old GM site

- A financial firm expansion?

- Something we haven't heard before like a fortune 500 drug company on its way over?

I must say if this is for real and continues a trend, Baltimore has definitely reached a turning point.

BDC goes behind closed doors to discuss 'large company'

Baltimore Business Journal - 11:34 AM EST Thursdayby Daniel J. SernovitzStaff

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The Baltimore Development Corp., at its third board meeting following a court requirement it open its doors to the public, spent the majority of its two-hour meeting Thursday morning behind closed doors.

Board Chairman Arnold L. Williams, following the meeting, said the closed-door session concerned a significant number of jobs in Baltimore, but he would not say whether they would be generated by a company interested in moving into the city, moving out of Baltimore, or thinking about expanding its presence here.


"It's really about increasing the number of jobs in Baltimore," Williams said.

The Maryland Court of Appeals ruled in November that the city's economic development arm must comply with the state's open meeting and record laws. The board held its first public meeting later that month.

In December, the board held a brief public session before recessing into executive session. Williams disclosed after the session ended that the board had voted to award a city redevelopment project in the Carroll Camden section of the city to a group of developers linked to Baltimore Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis.

At its meeting Thursday morning, the board spent about 30 minutes going over routine items, such as the minutes from its last meeting, before projects committee Chairwoman Deborah Hunt Devan asked for a closed-door session to talk about an unidentified company's finances. Devan said the company had approached the development corporation to discuss a proposal, and board members needed to talk in private about the financial implications of the deal.

That discussion lasted another 90 minutes, and the meeting had ended by the time board members opened the doors to the meeting room again. Details about the company or what it has asked the BDC to do were not disclosed.

BDC President M.J. "Jay" Brodie, when asked whether the business was a private or publicly held company, would only say: "I don't mind saying it's a large company."

Williams said the board members need to consider more aspects of the proposal, and the board could be ready to vote on the matter at its March 22 meeting.

"This was starting discussion about what's coming, and we're not prepared [to vote], we have to do some more work," he said.

Talk about pandering for votes, look at what this state senator from Kent County is planning to do http://wjz.com/watercooler/local_story_018101605.html. Are any of you in favor of a second bay bridge in Baltimore County?

It would be great to see a company expansion or a completely new company calling Baltimore it's home. I just hope it's not about an existing company looking to relocate out of the city. I don't want to sound pessimistic, but we have seen it happen many times before. I am trying to be up beat about it though!!!!

BALTIMORE - Hoping to cure the football hangover currently plaguing Baltimore, the newly formed American Indoor Football Association has started the Baltimore Blackbirds, a team that hopes to play at 11,000-seat 1st Mariner Arena.


“We’re hoping to tap into the fact that Baltimore is a huge football city,” said John Wolfe, the team’s general manager. “The bottom line is, Baltimore loves football.”

The team’s Web site lists the arena as the team’s home, but a deal has not been finalized, according to an arena spokesperson.

“We are in negotiations, and we can’t comment any further,” the spokesperson said Wednesday.

Currently, the Blackbirds’ schedule says the team will have a bye until the sixth week of the season, when it opens against the Reading (Pa.) Express on March 10. Wolfe indicated the schedule might change and the team could play 13 consecutive games.

Indoor football differs slightly from the popular Arena Football League, Wolfe said, in that there are more running plays. Fans are close to the action, and if a ball goes into the stands, a fan keeps it.

Blackbirds owner Alexander Austin, who said he is a Prince George’s County-based real estate developer, is hoping to attract former Baltimore high school and college stars as players. Austin, who said he attended Towson University, went through a rigorous interview process before being granted a team and plans on having the Blackbirds active in Baltimore, he said.

“We would love to get into the community and start reaching out to the youth of Baltimore,” Austin said. “We’re in a great market.”

The Blackbirds will hold a final tryout for the team Saturday morning at the Freestate Sports Arena in White Marsh. Wolfe said that once the team has finalized the roster, which already lists five players, it will make its first public appearance next week.

The team is still in negotiations for a training facility and headquarters.

“We should be signing a deal this week with a training facility,” Wolfe said.

The Blackbirds have already had two head coaches in their brief history, most recently hiring longtime indoor football coach Chris Simpson. The team’s Web site lists Simpson’s career coaching record at 68-35, including stints with indoor teams like the San Angelo (Texas) Stampede and Tucson (Ariz.) Thunder.

The Blackbirds announced Ted Coleman as its first head coach last month, but a statement on the team’s Web site said it ”failed to reach a contract agreement” with Coleman.

A Jan. 8 article attributed to Coleman on oursportscentral.com said Coleman planned on suing Austin.

The Examiner sent an e-mail Wednesday to the address listed for Coleman on oursportscentral.com and received a response from an unidentified sender saying he is planning to sue Austin for “the breach of a verbal contractual agreement and written contractual agreement.” Further attempts to reach this individual Wednesday were unsuccessful.

Asked about the potential suit, Austin declined to comment before adding, “We have heard some things about it and it’s unfortunate and we are definitely moving forward

This could be fun. It's nice to see the arena getting more use (even though we need a new one) and If it takes off it could be a boon for the business in the area.

The Four Seasons won't involve a large number of jobs -- probably 1-200, I bet. I'm assuming that this deal also isn't about Morgan Stanley. My best guess is that it's Smith Barney, which is currently subleasing space from Legg Mason. Smith Barney's parent company, Citigroup, isn't doing so well, so it's highly likely brokers could be laid off here, particularly if the company is looking to trim fat. I would also assume that if the deal involves Smith Barney, it implicates Legg Mason, whose lease would be affected by any move from their building. The company's lease expires sometime this year, as well.

T. Rowe Price decided to stay in the city in 2004, rather than shipping all jobs out. My gut feeling says that the company's decision provides the city with some -- though perhaps not enough -- traction to keep existing companies. I also doubt this involves significant corporate expansion here. The deal is probably about keeping jobs, and what buildings (if they remain) in the city they'll occupy. I'm sure 750 E. Pratt and 1 South Street remain heavily in play....

Talk about pandering for votes, look at what this state senator from Kent County is planning to do http://wjz.com/watercooler/local_story_018101605.html. Are any of you in favor of a second bay bridge in Baltimore County?
sure, why not? i'd be in favor of it.

I heard yesterday that PNC is planning to lay off 700 Merc employees.

"It's really about increasing the number of jobs in Baltimore," Williams said.

I'm going to take that as (hopefully) a positive sign that we'll be gaining a significant number of jobs and not losing them.

Perhaps, but didn't the city build all the infrastructure, roads, etc, and then have no one interested in industrial use? I'm in favor of the most efficient and dense use of the property (given its flexibility for many uses) so when it was zoned industrial, and there were no takers, doesn't that mean that industrial use isn't the best alternative?

No.

Plan for the future. The port is our greatest natural asset. There's hordes of lesser industrial space that can, is, and will be converted. The port built this city and will allow us to survive in a future, energy-scarce economy. Long-term planning is the key.

Nate

sure, why not? i'd be in favor of it.

There was an earlier itteration on this issue in Annapolis last year. (I attended that hearing). Nobody wants it in Kent. Kent has remained fairly free of sprawl and they want to keep it that way. Smart Growth is fairly sympatric with that sentiment in this case.

TRAC is for the bill with provisions that would allow a future rail line crossing and fairies. The environmental impact would be heavy and not to mention suck up more money we don't have for far better mass transit projects.

Nate

I'm crossing my fingers about the news about lots of jobs coming here. Wonder what it could be?

Also, great news about the Blackbirds. That would be pretty sweet, although I really wish it was an Arena Football league team. Still, it could be more incentive for a new arena to be built too.

Just checked out the Blackbirds and American Indoor Football Association sites. There are many teams -- but only one other major city (Pittsburgh). Although glad to see Pittsburgh's team name is the River Rats. I couldn't have picked a better name for them.

Welcome to the forum Patrick. Yeah River Rats is the perfect name for Pittsburgh. lol.

Welcome to the Forum, Patrick33. :yes:

:)
Please post often. :)

Here's a report from the senior Baltimore Park Ranger from a housing-assigned police officer in Sharp-Leadenhall:

You remember the plans to develop Port Covington beyond the Wal-Mart?

Well, the word is that the Wal-Mart will now close because the land is too valuable.

As I say, intriguing info, but more research and verification needed on this...

Nate

I also heard that the PC Wal-Mart was going to close. That's two of us, so maybe there's some truth to it.

I won't miss it much. I agree with what some of you have said about the place. I personally call it Ghetto-Mart. The bus stop there is ALWAYS trashed. It's always in the SoBo Guide crime section for shoplifting. Its a damn shame that I live about a mile from the place and still find it necessary to drive to the Wal-Mart in Glen Burnie.