South Baltimore Development News

[jeremai]

Many thanks pfd, us defectors are really being spoiled with all these photo updates. Good to see the Key Highway extension!

[jpreston02]

Well the Harbor Pointe townhomes (the ones next to Silo Point) are officially all sold, at least according to the sales office. The Townes at Locust Point also seem to be selling well, if the number of sold signs in the windows of the finished homes is any indication.

[MasonsInquiries]

Originally Posted by jpreston02

Well the Harbor Pointe townhomes (the ones next to Silo Point) are officially all sold, at least according to the sales office. The Townes at Locust Point also seem to be selling well, if the number of sold signs in the windows of the finished homes is any indication.

developments like these solidifies how strong our market is. i think this is why i get so upset when i hear about certain projects around the city that have been scrapped (permanantly or temporarily).

[pfd103]

Can someone upload a map pic of where this site is?

Dixon backs shore park
Key Highway site once eyed for towers
By Jill Rosen
Sun reporter
Originally published June 17, 2007
For years, South Baltimore residents have thought a key piece of city property on the Inner Harbor was destined to become yet another high-rise, blocking even more of their shrinking view of the water.

But Mayor Sheila Dixon is changing course, saying that the site will become much-needed waterfront parkland.

The decision ends a plan announced by city officials more than two years ago to offer developers the city Fire Department's repair facility on Key Highway - a plan that set off alarm bells in a community increasingly separated from the harbor by squat townhouses and condominiums.

"At this point, I've decided not to sell it," Dixon said. "We'll use this as open space."

The repair shop at 1407 Key Highway includes 1.54 acres, about as much as a city block.

In 2005, city development officials were rushing to offer it to developers, thinking they needed the millions the sale would raise to help pay for a complicated land deal. A satellite of the National Aquarium in Baltimore was moving to land the city had been using as its main garage, and the city needed the money to replace it.

Though the city still could use the cash, Dixon said that she is committed "to provide as much green space as possible in that area."

If the repair shop site becomes a park, the greenery would be a welcome respite along a corridor that has been essentially walled off from the water.

Alfred W. Barry III, a former Planning Department official who is now a development consultant with clients who own land on Key Highway, said the city's property could be turned into a park as substantial as Canton's Waterfront Park or the spot along Fells Point's Bond Street Wharf.

"It would be very meaningful," said Barry. "When you think of the value, you should base it not on what you're giving up, but what you're creating."

The community balked when the city raised the issue of the sale.

To get the most money for the property, the city would have to rezone it from industrial to something that would permit a mix of homes, stores and offices. And rather than just rezone that property, planning officials were preparing to rezone the entire southern leg of Key Highway - a change they hoped, to the community's horror, would pave the way for a series of residential towers along the rest of the corridor.

The city invited Federal Hill and Locust Point neighborhood leaders and property owners to debate the issue on a task force. The meetings were contentious from the get-go.

At an early meeting, a woman famously told former Baltimore Planning Director Otis Rolley III to "take the plan and shove it."

Many meetings later, the weary task force has yet to find a concept for a Key Highway South urban renewal plan that pleases everyone - though many seem to like a concept in which developers who preserve open space could build taller buildings.

Meanwhile, residents worry that they're about to lose even more of their coveted view, thanks to a proposal by HarborView developer Richard Swirnow to add two condominium towers to his luxury community just north of the repair shop on Key Highway.

Knowing how badly residents want waterfront green space, Dixon and other city officials proposed last week that HarborView agree to preserve about 30,000 square feet of open space near Webster Street on Key Highway in exchange for permission to build the towers.

While negotiating that compromise, Swirnow apparently tried unsuccessfully to get city officials to promise him the repair shop site.

Because Swirnow will have exhausted his construction options at HarborView once he builds the 17-story Pinnacle, to build two more towers he needs the City Council to let him cover more of the lot's surface and to build towers closer together than the original 1980s urban renewal plan allows.

Community leaders love the idea of open space, yet worry that Dixon's offer somehow comes with strings attached.

"It's obviously an attempt at some political damage control," said Paul Robinson, who founded Friends of Federal Hill Park. "But it's a great opportunity to create some great public open space."

Robinson said people on the Key Highway task force are afraid that if the repair shop site becomes a park, other property owners along the southern leg of the corridor won't be willing to swap open space for building height.

"There's a fear out there [that] it will complicate matters and developers will simply say, 'They've already got their open space. We're just going to do a 58-foot wall because there's no incentive to trading height for open space.'"

Deputy Mayor Andy Frank said that part of the reason Dixon isn't selling the repair shop site is because she wants guaranteed open space on Key Highway. She doesn't want to leave it up to developers who might want to build taller.

"That would be our insurance policy for the open space people want in Key Highway South," he said.

[Hood]

the entire report may be on the planning department's web site. I am not sure t hogh.

[jamie_hunt]

Originally Posted by pfd103

Can someone upload a map pic of where this site is?

Dixon backs shore park
Key Highway site once eyed for towers
By Jill Rosen
Sun reporter
Originally published June 17, 2007

A map of 1407 Key Highway is here. Then click on "aerial image" tab. The old fire department shop is the trapezoidally-shaped building in the center of the image. A parking lot is to the left; the Museum of Industry is to the right.

[pfd103]

Originally Posted by jamie_hunt

A map of 1407 Key Highway is here. Then click on "aerial image" tab. The old fire department shop is the trapezoidally-shaped building in the center of the image. A parking lot is to the left; the Museum of Industry is to the right.

Are there any plans for the parking lot as of yet? I like the idea of a park being there...but it would be nice if they could take that other lot with it. Perhaps this will entice a buisness to take the empty space next to Little Havanas.

[Hood]

Here is the plan, but its pretty old and outdated:

http://www.ci.baltimore.md.us/govern...eyhighway.html

[SoBo]

Baltimore Business Journal - June 15, 2007
by Daniel J. Sernovitz
Staff
GE Energy is preparing to sell a piece of prime commercial property at the foot of the Southside MarketPlace Shopping Center in Locust Point after spending the past decade cleaning up the site to meet state environmental concerns, a company official said.
Catherine Stengel, a spokeswoman for GE Energy, said the company also has engaged CB Richard Ellis Inc., a real estate brokerage that advises the company, to begin marketing the property. The land, along the 900 block of Fort Avenue, is valued at $362,800.

I always thought it strange that this seemingly prime piece of property has sat vacant for so long - even given the environmental concerns...

[folsomfanatic]

walked by Federal Place today. they've dropped the price from $1.4 million to $895,000. I was surprised to see that one of the units is sold already.

here's the website:

http://www.lennar.com/findhome/commu...2&DIVID=PATLEN

they've been busy building the second "stick" of rowhouses, which face towards key highway. they're very noticeable as your heading toward downtown on key highway.

[Maudibjr]

Originally Posted by folsomfanatic

walked by Federal Place today. they've dropped the price from $1.4 million to $895,000. I was surprised to see that one of the units is sold already.

here's the website:

http://www.lennar.com/findhome/commu...2&DIVID=PATLEN

they've been busy building the second "stick" of rowhouses, which face towards key highway. they're very noticeable as your heading toward downtown on key highway.

Yeah I thought they were shooting for the moon at 1.4

[30 Floors Up]

Architecture plans for Chesapeake Paperboard site sent back to drawing board
Baltimore Business Journal - 2:16 PM EDT Thursday, July 5, 2007by Will SkowronskiStaff

The city's architecture review panel rejected plans Thursday for a mixed-use site in Locust Point to be home to 250 apartments and 110,000-square-feet of retail space.

The Urban Design and Architecture Review Panel (UDARP) denied the current design plans of the 9-acre property off Key Highway, a site once home to Chesapeake Paperboard Co. and that is slated to bring apartments, a grocery store and an office building to an area. The panel raised concerns about the design of the parking garage, the colors of the buildings, and the design of open space on the property. Mark Sapperstein, the project's developer, said it is normal for a project of this size to be rejected on its first review before UDARP.

"They give their comments so we know what we're gearing towards," Sapperstein said.

The project's master site plan, which is not as detailed as the architecture plans, was approved by the board in January. Since then, Sapperstein and associates from Martin Architects reworked the design to seem more industrial and blend in with the atmosphere of Locust Point.

Panelists praised the new feel of the property as "the right move," but recommended, among other things, redesigning the parking garage in more of the same style as the rest of the buildings, which have a white concrete base topped with red bricks. They also suggested choosing a lighter shade of red brick for all the buildings, and reconfiguring the main plaza on the property to be more unified.

Sapperstein said the comments of the panel were not major barriers and hopes the architecture plan will be approved at the next meeting. The site already has a grading permit, and Sapperstein said construction will begin in September and the site will cost $80 million and open in either winter 2009 or spring 2010.

[spacoli]

Originally Posted by 30 Floors Up

Architecture plans for Chesapeake Paperboard site sent back to drawing board

Hopefully this doesn't delay the start to this project. I'm anxious to see it get underway. I'm surprised the expected completion is so far off.

[pfd103]

Anyone have any idea when they plan on opening the Key Highway extention...it's been completed for some time now, so it seems like all they need to do is move the equipment. I know a lot of people were driving it already when they only put cones up.

[southbalto]

Originally Posted by pfd103

Anyone have any idea when they plan on opening the Key Highway extention...it's been completed for some time now, so it seems like all they need to do is move the equipment. I know a lot of people were driving it already when they only put cones up.

I've been wondering that myself......I'll e-mail reisinger today.

ereisinger@baltimorecitycouncil.com

[Hood]

Originally Posted by southbalto

I've been wondering that myself......I'll e-mail reisinger today.

ereisinger@baltimorecitycouncil.com

Don't you dare ruin my 100' wide paved, baby ass smooth jogging path by having cars on it!!!!

[southbalto]

Originally Posted by jeffbaltimore

Don't you dare ruin my 100' wide paved, baby ass smooth jogging path by having cars on it!!!!

The way baltimore city moves, you'll probaby have it all to yourself till the end of the year. Reisinger's officed e-mailed me back asking to provide a phone number so that they could call with the details. Election year you know....

[Hood]

Gotta love election year. I have my ed sign up in front of my house. He has been good to the SOBO pennisula.

[Tricia_Lvs_Baltimore]

Good news. I have a friend who is trying to move in the Pinnacle and she was told by the guys in the leasing office that it should be breaking ground within a matter of months. Phew, it's about time!

[spacoli]

Originally Posted by pfd103

Anyone have any idea when they plan on opening the Key Highway extention...it's been completed for some time now, so it seems like all they need to do is move the equipment. I know a lot of people were driving it already when they only put cones up.

Last week they hooked up the traffic lights at Woodall and E Key. Blinking red and yellow. Yesterday they were installing the sensors in the ground - to change the light. At least that looked like what they were doing.