South Baltimore Development News

[jpreston02]

Originally Posted by jeffbaltimore

Those were models put together by the planning department to demonstarte their vision. This was presented at a public meeting a few years ago. the revised versions of the urban renewal are supposed to go to city council sometime soon. I can promise you that the development will look nothing like that. The incetives for height are just not there and developers will be forced to build to the 50' high table top limit, which is worse for all of us who live near this area.

Why the change by the city? Last year Thor Nelson came and spoke to the Locust Point Civic Association detailing the open space tradeoffs. How tall and slim buildings were good for the neighborhood and the great potential for open space. At the time the exact formula was still to be worked out but 290 feet was the limit. Some grumbled about tall buildings, but many "got it" and thought the due diligence by the city to obtain more open space was especially prudent.

I have heard the URP changed to a PUD, but what has been the rationale for not giving developers the incentives to build tall and narrow while giving the open space? Did too many homeowners reject the density? I'm curious to hear more details because the information given out at our meetings has been limited.

[getontrac]

Density is one of the most misunderstood concepts in urban contexts.
(that and transportation)

Nevertheless, 290 ft seems a bit unnecessarily high. I submit 200 ft would be better.

Nate

[Hood]

The guidelines were so comp licated that they simplified them and capped the hiehgt at 50'. to encourage height they offer bonus density credits for providing more open space. Right now the ratio is 1 SF open space gets you 5.3 SF of building area. Which is next to nothing since you are allowed to go up 50' in and in 50' you can get 5 SF of buildng space for every 1 SF of open space you build on. Not much incentive at all..

[fanofterps]

Rezoning - 1500 Woodall Street, 1605 Key Highway, a Portion of 1801 Key
Highway, and a Portion of 1215 East Fort Avenue
FOR the purpose of changing the zoning for the properties known as 1500 Woodall
Street, 1605 Key Highway, a portion of 1801 Key Highway, and a portion of 1215
East Fort Avenue, as outlined in red on the accompanying plat, from the M-3
Zoning District to the B-2-2 Zoning District.
06-0450Sponsors:
Edward L. ReisingerPlanned Unit Development - Designation - Chesapeake Paperboard
FOR the purpose of approving the application of Key Woodall, LLC, which is the
owner or contract purchaser of 1500 Woodall Street, 1605 Key Highway, a portion
of 1801 Key Highway, and a portion of 1215 East Fort Avenue (collectively, the
"Property") and Chesapeake Paperboard Centre, LLC, which is the developer of the
Property, to have the Property designated a Business Planned Unit Development;
and approving the Development Plan submitted by the applicant.
06-0451

[folsomfanatic]

Originally Posted by fanofterps

Rezoning - 1500 Woodall Street, 1605 Key Highway, a Portion of 1801 Key
Highway, and a Portion of 1215 East Fort Avenue
FOR the purpose of changing the zoning for the properties known as 1500 Woodall
Street, 1605 Key Highway, a portion of 1801 Key Highway, and a portion of 1215
East Fort Avenue, as outlined in red on the accompanying plat, from the M-3
Zoning District to the B-2-2 Zoning District.
06-0450Sponsors:
Edward L. ReisingerPlanned Unit Development - Designation - Chesapeake Paperboard
FOR the purpose of approving the application of Key Woodall, LLC, which is the
owner or contract purchaser of 1500 Woodall Street, 1605 Key Highway, a portion
of 1801 Key Highway, and a portion of 1215 East Fort Avenue (collectively, the
"Property") and Chesapeake Paperboard Centre, LLC, which is the developer of the
Property, to have the Property designated a Business Planned Unit Development;
and approving the Development Plan submitted by the applicant.
06-0451

we've all been wondering. supposedly it's a grocery store, apartments, office and some retail mixed in. sounds like a great addition to the neighborhood!

[Hood]

Some are not in SOBO, but most are. I thought I would post them all here:

Patriot Americal Homes in the distance


Harborview from FEd Hill. Those roofs look hideous from up here imo






wada's new home is taking FOREVER to get finished:


Ritz from Harbor East


I am a fan of the vue's front but not from this angle. From the side. its very sleek and I like the amount of glass they used in contract with the brickwork


4 seasons caissons being drilled. so exciting I know


Long shot of HV and ritz development. Look at that awesome wall on the water. Thanks planning department and federal hill neighborhood group!

[jpreston02]

Originally Posted by folsomfanatic

we've all been wondering. supposedly it's a grocery store, apartments, office and some retail mixed in. sounds like a great addition to the neighborhood!

Great shots Jeff...

Word on the street in Locust Point is that the grocery store is going to be a Harris Teeter. High end grocer from North Carolina. Also will be 250 apartments, plus some other retail, perhaps a restaurant or two.

[StevenW]

Great pix!

[fanofterps]

Great pictures. Thanks for the hard work.

Originally Posted by StevenW

Great pix!

[fanofterps]

It would show the strength of the downtown housing market the last 5 years for Charles St. Super Fresh and Harris Teeter to open in Baltimore.

Originally Posted by jpreston02

Great shots Jeff...

Word on the street in Locust Point is that the grocery store is going to be a Harris Teeter. High end grocer from North Carolina. Also will be 250 apartments, plus some other retail, perhaps a restaurant or two.

[pfd103]

Anyone have any clue what is going on at Charles and West St? There are two pretty big properties across from each other. One (next to Ropewalk tavern) has been gated off and was just sold at auction. The other (directly across the street...used to be a shoe store) has been fully gutted and looks like construction is starting. both places have as much space (or more) as any other commercial site in a 4 block radius, so I really hope some good things come into that block.

[folsomfanatic]

Originally Posted by jeffbaltimore

Some are not in SOBO, but most are. I thought I would post them all here:

Patriot Americal Homes in the distance

this is the one view of the patriot homes where the staggered design just doesn't work. it akes them look even bigger and more like awall. they do have great detailing, i just wish some of it was visible as people head souith on Covington Street. hopefully they'll plant some trees to take the "curse" off of the scale of them!

thanks for taking the pics!

[MountVEE]

Originally Posted by folsomfanatic

we've all been wondering. supposedly it's a grocery store, apartments, office and some retail mixed in. sounds like a great addition to the neighborhood!

Does this have anything to do with all those trees they just cut down around that gravel lot at the corner of Fort Ave. and Lawrence St?

[folsomfanatic]

Originally Posted by MountVEE

Does this have anything to do with all those trees they just cut down around that gravel lot at the corner of Fort Ave. and Lawrence St?

nope. chesapeake paperboard is behind the fire house and ballfields further east along Fort Avenue. the site you're speaking of is supposedly slated for other development...not sure what!

[jpreston02]

Originally Posted by folsomfanatic

nope. chesapeake paperboard is behind the fire house and ballfields further east along Fort Avenue. the site you're speaking of is supposedly slated for other development...not sure what!

Nothing has been proposed yet, the developer (or current owner, not sure which) is doing soil testing on the site for possible environmental remediation needs. The White Lead Paint Company used to occupy the site years ago. The site is included in the Key Highway South URP/PUD or whatever they're calling it these days. At our last meeting someone said they are proposing a 15 story maximum height to the building. With height like that allowed, I supposed condos would be in the offing, though what environmental problems remain is surely going to play a big part...

Though its really too bad they tore out all the trees and bushes. While they weren't fantastic, they sure beat a whole in the ground and more concrete. Some of those trees were very mature too. Quite unfortunate.

[jpreston02]

I liked hearing today about Key Highway getting cleaned up and some new development by Swirnow, even if he is the most hated man in Federal Hill. I just hope we can stop building walls along Key Highway and start building some tall slender towers with lots of open space.

The Daily Record article said he controls two new sites south of Harborview, anyone know which ones they're talking about? Globe Brewing was for sale, did he buy it?

[jamie_hunt]

Originally Posted by jpreston02

Nothing has been proposed yet, the developer (or current owner, not sure which) is doing soil testing on the site for possible environmental remediation needs. The White Lead Paint Company used to occupy the site years ago. [...]
Though its really too bad they tore out all the trees and bushes. While they weren't fantastic, they sure beat a whole in the ground and more concrete. Some of those trees were very mature too. Quite unfortunate.

Right. Some good-looking birches IIRC, which grow well in, ah, compromised soil. Here's some Robert Frost in their honor.

[Hugh Jaramillo]

Harbor Pictures

JeffBaltimore, great pictures of all of the new construction around the harbor. One thing that I have not been able to figure out is why the Victor's restaurant that has been closed for at least 1 year is still standing??? It would seem as though it wouldn't take very much to take it down but there it is still standing. What are they waiting for? It's not a historic building is it?

[jamie_hunt]

Originally Posted by Hugh Jaramillo

One thing that I have not been able to figure out is why the Victor's restaurant that has been closed for at least 1 year is still standing???

An appendage serves the (still open) marina with a store and bathrooms; the restaurant itself may be reconfigured as a construction office. Don't think it's in the footprint of the new building; but once the new building is ready to open, they'll be calling DemolitionDave.

[Tricia_Lvs_Baltimore]

Originally Posted by jamie_hunt

An appendage serves the (still open) marina with a store and bathrooms; the restaurant itself may be reconfigured as a construction office. Don't think it's in the footprint of the new building; but once the new building is ready to open, they'll be calling DemolitionDave.

It's a shame Victor's Cafe closed. I loved that place.