South Baltimore Development News - Page 2

StevenW · March 29th, 2007, 03:24 AM

Good question. Also, I'm wondering when the next taller tower will go up near the Pinnacle?

Hood · March 29th, 2007, 01:22 PM

HV used up their alloted coverage as mandated by the 1986 URP and need a city council approved ammendment to build the new towers on the site after the pinnacle.

pfd103 · March 29th, 2007, 04:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PeterSmith

ALso, great idea for a thread, pfd. You don't realize how many great projects are in a single area until you line them all up like that. Pretty soon we'll need to open up one of these for every part of the city.

Thanks, I just didn't want to crowd up the main board with questions about such small projects (that have a lot of bearing on where I live).

Speaking of which...two interesting developments. It looks like the properties next to the Rope Walk Tavern (3 properties in a row) are under construction. Originally the properties were slated to be torn down, and a 5 story condo building with parking to be built in their place. Needless to say, they would tower over the rest of that part of the neighborhood. I was under the assumption that the project had been stopped, so I am wondering what they are doing to the site.

The other recent development is that it looks like Federal Hill main street has started work on their new visitor center on Cross Street. They are renovating the public bathrooms (which is actually a nice looking building) near the Sky Lounge into the center.

B'moreOrioles · March 29th, 2007, 05:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PeterSmith

Speaking of Harborview, the site leaves room for future development next to the Pinnacle along Key Highway. I wonder if the next phase of Harborview has any retail plans?

The Pinnacle looks nice. I wish it was a little bit taller though.

jpreston02 · March 29th, 2007, 08:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jeffbaltimore

HV used up their alloted coverage as mandated by the 1986 URP and need a city council approved ammendment to build the new towers on the site after the pinnacle.

I believe Harborview has already introduced legislation to the city council in the form of the following:

http://legistar.baltimorecitycouncil...port/?key=3375

I hope the Federal Hill groups don't unjustifyingly oppose it out of spite (as revenge for Pier Homes) because from what I've heard the amendments don't appear to be that bad. In fact, they appear to allow for more view corridors (tall and narrow) with less massive structures than the way the law is written currently.

Any news on the Key Highway South URP?

pfd103 · March 30th, 2007, 04:05 PM

Also forgot this redevelopment...

http://www.101wells.com/

PeterSmith · April 10th, 2007, 04:55 AM

I just got this e-mail concerning Silo Point. I guess I put myself on their mailing list when I e-mailed them asking a question....

---------

Greetings~

Thank you for your interest in Silo Point - the most unique and highest profile
development to grace Baltimore's harbor. As construction continues, we are in
the process of finalizing the sales and marketing aspects of the project.
Expressing interest early has its benefits as we will be contacting those
interested parties as information is available. At this time our website is
under development and we invite you to register online at www.silopoint.com. As
the website launches and more information is available, we will be providing
email updates to all who are registered. With an anticipated Fall opening for
sales, the website will be the best resource on the building progress.

Please feel free to contact me directly as we await more information to be
available.

Best regards,

Leslie Rosenthal
Sales and Marketing Manager - Urban Properties

pfd103 · April 11th, 2007, 04:06 PM

Not too much going on lately, so I'd thought I'd bring up the buisnesses moving around.

Vespa and the Green Olive are finally starting to get re-done. I've heard that the Green Olive will be turned into a sports-bar, but haven't heard anything about what Vespa will be. The Fed and the Federal Hill Visitors center are underway, and Illusions (magic bar and lounge) has just opened.

Hood · April 11th, 2007, 05:46 PM

The community has asked HV to provide a bond street wharf type park on the parking lot parcel next to globe havanna in exhcange a change in the URP.

folsomfanatic · April 11th, 2007, 06:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jeffbaltimore

The community has asked HV to provide a bond street wharf type park on the parking lot parcel next to globe havanna in exhcange a change in the URP.

that sounds pretty cool. i'd gladly give the height to get away from these 4/5 story walls that are going up all over the waterfront.

on another note, this NV Homes Town houses are FLYING up. I'm quite impresed on their progress.

Patriot has started the second "stick" of towns in Federal Place. They poured the concrete for the first floor, so i am guessing they'll be up in a couple of weeks.

on a scary note, it looks like this development MIGHT turn it's back onto key highway. they are building some sort of retaining wall, which looks like it'd be better suited in a residential setting isntead of in the City, along the projects frontage on Key. I am hoping this will be temporary, but i guess we'll have to see what they're up to there....

Hood · April 11th, 2007, 06:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by folsomfanatic

that sounds pretty cool. i'd gladly give the height to get away from these 4/5 story walls that are going up all over the waterfront.

on another note, this NV Homes Town houses are FLYING up. I'm quite impresed on their progress.

Patriot has started the second "stick" of towns in Federal Place. They poured the concrete for the first floor, so i am guessing they'll be up in a couple of weeks.

on a scary note, it looks like this development MIGHT turn it's back onto key highway. they are building some sort of retaining wall, which looks like it'd be better suited in a residential setting isntead of in the City, along the projects frontage on Key. I am hoping this will be temporary, but i guess we'll have to see what they're up to there....

I agree about swapping height for the 5 story wall. I am on the task force for the URP and the language is basically forcing a 50' wall. the incentives to go tall and skinny are not there. So I am pretty disappointed with the planning department on this one. But, I commend their staff for working with us and the property owners for over 2 years to get something good there.

NV homes is right across the street from my house. My 18 month old son's room is in the front of the house and he just stands and looks our the window at all the activity. its awesome and he is so happy. They are flying up. Brick was up on one of the 3. I bet they will be done will all three by the end of the day today.

The grading of the patriot homes warranted a retaining wall and it will be turning its back onto key highway, sort of. Jackson street will have fronts of houses so that part will be lookin out over key highway.

the ritz is an abonomation. Its so big and expansive. that arch entrance robbs a view corridor from the public up on federal hill park. Its concrete, but cheap precast and brick fascade is so phoney to me. I would never pay the $ for those even if I had it to spend. Such a big disappointment. So unoriginal in its design. I hate it.

folsomfanatic · April 11th, 2007, 06:44 PM

Totally Agree with you on the hight along key highway. My view out to the Domino Sign and water got completely blocked by the "Wall" of new towns being built by patriot. some height would've given me a chance for a view corridor.

The Ritz is HULKING. it's a shame because you won't be able to see the harbor once they put the roofs on the buildings. The arch is cool, but they'd have been better off with an opening. blocking the view there is a joke.

that's awesome about your son.. can't beat "free" entertainment? it'll also help property values i'm sure!

that's a bummer on the Patriot townhomes. i can't really picture how they'll back to the road, but it's too bad. i just wish harborview hadn't turned it's back to Key Highway. it's so impersonal as you come in the city....not a good message to send to people....

waj0527 · April 11th, 2007, 09:47 PM

Yeah...i drove past the Ritz the other day and the first word that came to mind was 'HULKING'. Its way too big and expansive. I wouldve prefer a 30-40 floor Ritz Hotel and Condos over the status quo. I really hope the skin and amenities make those buildings look more polished. Cheap is also a good adjective.

jamie_hunt · April 11th, 2007, 10:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by waj0527

I wouldve prefer a 30-40 floor Ritz Hotel and Condos over the status quo.

Think someone mentioned it on another thread, but Rebecca Hoffberger, head of the Visionary Arts Museum across from the Ritz, made the same argument. IIRC, the Federal Hill neighbors--then as now in conflict w/ Harborview over height--argued that it should keep to the height prescribed in the URP. It did, and voila.

waj0527 · April 11th, 2007, 10:46 PM

So, the NIMBYs are responsible for this too?!?!

jamie_hunt · April 11th, 2007, 11:44 PM

Think in Fed Hill they'd be "NOMFS" -- Not On My Front Stoop.

[rimshot]

To that end though, in Tony Hiss' book "The Experience of Place" there's a discussion of using scale models and video cameras to help people understand how different development proposals (e.g. high and thin v. low and squat) would affect a street if built. Might have been helpful in this instance; don't think the commenters here are the only ones who are having "buyer's remorse" as they see how Key Highway is being developed.

jpreston02 · April 12th, 2007, 02:51 PM

Quick news bits:

The souther district planner, Brent Flickinger, said the Key Highway South PUD/URP is being finalized and that there will be a public meeting at Digital Harbor High for all the affected communities in early May. Afterwards, the legislation should be introduced to the City Council in late May.

I thought the incentives to go tall and narrow were in there, at least in the draft documents I read. Also, last night Brent re-inforced the concept of protecting view corridors and providing incentives for tall and narrow buildings. The last thing we need is ugly 5 story walls like we have now.

The GE developer, who owns the lot across from the Foundry (921 Day Spa, Coco Moka) will be doing soil testing and trench excavation as part of the remedation testing. The site is included in the PUD/URP for Key Highway South and can be up to 15 stories high with structured parking included. No development plans have been submitted, but it looks like someones interested given the testing to be done.

The Key Highway extension should be opening sometime in May, though I'm skeptical because I walked down there last week and there's still no road through the Domino railroad tracks.

And Locust Point is serious about putting an official city dog park in Latrobe Park. It will be nice to have an off-leash area on the penninsula without having to drive all the way to Canton. PM me if your interested in helping.

getontrac · April 12th, 2007, 04:03 PM

Brent Flickenger is a good guy.

Nate

Hood · April 12th, 2007, 09:02 PM

The incentives in place for the waterfront properties don't encourage height. The swap is 5.3 SF of building space per 1 SF of open space. If the height limit is 50', and if each floor to ceiling height is 10', you can build on your 1 SF of open space and get 5 stories which will yield 5 SF. So the BONUS is 0.3 SF per SF of open space. Hardly an incentive. We are going to see a 50' wall along key highway with breaks at the view corridors. This is not what the community wants. We want access to the water that is inviting and open. It’s a shame, but planning has a maximum square footage that they want to provide in the URP area and they are capping the development on each site to make sure that development amount is not exceeded.

cgunna · April 12th, 2007, 10:33 PM

I concur that the Ritz, so far, appears to be a hulking slab of uninspired, drab, who-in-the-hell-would-pay-2.2mil-to-live-here crap.

I think the arch is misplaced. However, I can envision this growing on me.

The great wall of SoBo aka the new Key highway townhomes perplexes me a bit. On one hand I am glad that they are there. I sorta like having an uber exclusive, million dollar (eventually) neighborhood downtown. On the other hand, I wish they would have been built with enough foresight to not totally wall off the water.

On the third and final hand, i guess that what you get when you fight height at all costs.

March 29th, 2007, 03:24 AM	#21
StevenW Born in Baltimore Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Newberry, SC Posts: 10,636 Likes (Received): 12	Good question. Also, I'm wondering when the next taller tower will go up near the Pinnacle? __________________ Baltimore, my hometown.

April 11th, 2007, 06:44 PM	#32
folsomfanatic Registered User Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Baltimore Posts: 387 Likes (Received): 1	Totally Agree with you on the hight along key highway. My view out to the Domino Sign and water got completely blocked by the "Wall" of new towns being built by patriot. some height would've given me a chance for a view corridor. The Ritz is HULKING. it's a shame because you won't be able to see the harbor once they put the roofs on the buildings. The arch is cool, but they'd have been better off with an opening. blocking the view there is a joke. that's awesome about your son.. can't beat "free" entertainment? it'll also help property values i'm sure! that's a bummer on the Patriot townhomes. i can't really picture how they'll back to the road, but it's too bad. i just wish harborview hadn't turned it's back to Key Highway. it's so impersonal as you come in the city....not a good message to send to people.... __________________ part of the baltiMORE comeback

April 11th, 2007, 09:47 PM	#33
waj0527 Registered User Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Baltimore Posts: 2,100 Likes (Received): 3	Yeah...i drove past the Ritz the other day and the first word that came to mind was 'HULKING'. Its way too big and expansive. I wouldve prefer a 30-40 floor Ritz Hotel and Condos over the status quo. I really hope the skin and amenities make those buildings look more polished. Cheap is also a good adjective. __________________ Click here to see '10 Inner Harbor' and other Baltimore developments

April 11th, 2007, 10:46 PM	#35
waj0527 Registered User Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Baltimore Posts: 2,100 Likes (Received): 3	So, the NIMBYs are responsible for this too?!?! __________________ Click here to see '10 Inner Harbor' and other Baltimore developments

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March 29th, 2007, 01:22 PM	#22
Hood Registered User Join Date: Sep 2003 Posts: 930 Likes (Received): 0	HV used up their alloted coverage as mandated by the 1986 URP and need a city council approved ammendment to build the new towers on the site after the pinnacle.

March 30th, 2007, 04:05 PM	#26
pfd103 Bmore Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Baltimore Posts: 1,242 Likes (Received): 5	Also forgot this redevelopment... http://www.101wells.com/

April 10th, 2007, 04:55 AM	#27
PeterSmith Registered User Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Miami/Baltimore Posts: 4,165 Likes (Received): 12	I just got this e-mail concerning Silo Point. I guess I put myself on their mailing list when I e-mailed them asking a question.... --------- Greetings~ Thank you for your interest in Silo Point - the most unique and highest profile development to grace Baltimore's harbor. As construction continues, we are in the process of finalizing the sales and marketing aspects of the project. Expressing interest early has its benefits as we will be contacting those interested parties as information is available. At this time our website is under development and we invite you to register online at www.silopoint.com. As the website launches and more information is available, we will be providing email updates to all who are registered. With an anticipated Fall opening for sales, the website will be the best resource on the building progress. Please feel free to contact me directly as we await more information to be available. Best regards, Leslie Rosenthal Sales and Marketing Manager - Urban Properties

April 11th, 2007, 04:06 PM	#28
pfd103 Bmore Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Baltimore Posts: 1,242 Likes (Received): 5	Not too much going on lately, so I'd thought I'd bring up the buisnesses moving around. Vespa and the Green Olive are finally starting to get re-done. I've heard that the Green Olive will be turned into a sports-bar, but haven't heard anything about what Vespa will be. The Fed and the Federal Hill Visitors center are underway, and Illusions (magic bar and lounge) has just opened.

April 11th, 2007, 05:46 PM	#29
Hood Registered User Join Date: Sep 2003 Posts: 930 Likes (Received): 0	The community has asked HV to provide a bond street wharf type park on the parking lot parcel next to globe havanna in exhcange a change in the URP.

April 11th, 2007, 11:44 PM	#36
jamie_hunt Registered User Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 3,367 Likes (Received): 10	Think in Fed Hill they'd be "NOMFS" -- Not On My Front Stoop. [rimshot] To that end though, in Tony Hiss' book "The Experience of Place" there's a discussion of using scale models and video cameras to help people understand how different development proposals (e.g. high and thin v. low and squat) would affect a street if built. Might have been helpful in this instance; don't think the commenters here are the only ones who are having "buyer's remorse" as they see how Key Highway is being developed.

April 12th, 2007, 02:51 PM	#37
jpreston02 Registered User Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 175 Likes (Received): 0	Quick news bits: The souther district planner, Brent Flickinger, said the Key Highway South PUD/URP is being finalized and that there will be a public meeting at Digital Harbor High for all the affected communities in early May. Afterwards, the legislation should be introduced to the City Council in late May. I thought the incentives to go tall and narrow were in there, at least in the draft documents I read. Also, last night Brent re-inforced the concept of protecting view corridors and providing incentives for tall and narrow buildings. The last thing we need is ugly 5 story walls like we have now. The GE developer, who owns the lot across from the Foundry (921 Day Spa, Coco Moka) will be doing soil testing and trench excavation as part of the remedation testing. The site is included in the PUD/URP for Key Highway South and can be up to 15 stories high with structured parking included. No development plans have been submitted, but it looks like someones interested given the testing to be done. The Key Highway extension should be opening sometime in May, though I'm skeptical because I walked down there last week and there's still no road through the Domino railroad tracks. And Locust Point is serious about putting an official city dog park in Latrobe Park. It will be nice to have an off-leash area on the penninsula without having to drive all the way to Canton. PM me if your interested in helping.

April 12th, 2007, 04:03 PM	#38
getontrac Registered User Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Mt. Vernon in Baltimore Posts: 924 Likes (Received): 0	Brent Flickenger is a good guy. Nate

April 12th, 2007, 09:02 PM	#39
Hood Registered User Join Date: Sep 2003 Posts: 930 Likes (Received): 0	The incentives in place for the waterfront properties don't encourage height. The swap is 5.3 SF of building space per 1 SF of open space. If the height limit is 50', and if each floor to ceiling height is 10', you can build on your 1 SF of open space and get 5 stories which will yield 5 SF. So the BONUS is 0.3 SF per SF of open space. Hardly an incentive. We are going to see a 50' wall along key highway with breaks at the view corridors. This is not what the community wants. We want access to the water that is inviting and open. It’s a shame, but planning has a maximum square footage that they want to provide in the URP area and they are capping the development on each site to make sure that development amount is not exceeded.

April 12th, 2007, 10:33 PM	#40
cgunna Sons of Blood and Thunder Join Date: Aug 2005 Posts: 729 Likes (Received): 2	I concur that the Ritz, so far, appears to be a hulking slab of uninspired, drab, who-in-the-hell-would-pay-2.2mil-to-live-here crap. I think the arch is misplaced. However, I can envision this growing on me. The great wall of SoBo aka the new Key highway townhomes perplexes me a bit. On one hand I am glad that they are there. I sorta like having an uber exclusive, million dollar (eventually) neighborhood downtown. On the other hand, I wish they would have been built with enough foresight to not totally wall off the water. On the third and final hand, i guess that what you get when you fight height at all costs.