Baltimore Development News

[Tricia_Lvs_Baltimore]

Originally Posted by BRBaltimore

Seems like the Little Italy streetscape project is moving ahead despite the City's budget issues. Should be fully underway by the end of summer 2009. Engineering crews have been out marking utilities, surveying and going door to door inspecting basements for underground vaults before digging starts. No decent renderings or documentation I can find other than a brief mention (http://www.baltimorecity.gov/governm...008CIPList.php) but Fawn Street from S. Central to President and High Street from Eastern to Pratt are getting new street surfaces, utilities, curbs, gutters, sidewalks with brick trim and "victorian style" streetlights. Should be a big upgrade, although oddly given Dixon's priorities, no mention of street trees or landscaping.

Interesting site, BRBaltimore. I was looking at the fourth project:


127-155 Waxter Center for Senior Citizens
Location: 1000 Cathedral St
Funding is needed for renovations of the 32 year old Waxter Center. These renovations would include upgrade or replacement of needed building systems and redesign of parts of the building to meet the needs of 21st century seniors.


I remember hearing some time ago that the Waxter Center was going to get a new tower, 14 stories I believe. Maybe it's one of the projects in the city that fell due to the economy.

[k25150]

Originally Posted by Silver Springer

This argument has been used to death. But there is just too much evidence to prove the contrary. While material costs are an important factor, this holds very little weight now more than ever in the last seven years. Every expense have plummeted, from gas to materials to even labor costs. This would be a better time than the last few years to get a project moving if you could get the financing, if you have deep pockets start pre-leasing if you can! It’s even more of a shame to see publicly financed projects move forward, if our governments were smart they would have renegotiated contracts. But that’s besides the point.

The argument of density has been used to reason the feasibility of towers in New York, yet, lo and behold, we see taller buildings, in Charlotte, Atlanta and even Pittsburgh with far less density than Baltimore at their cores. Even urban districts like Bellevue, WA are encroaching. It’s very unusual that a city like Baltimore is still stuck with a 70’s vernacular in the low 500’s. Something is fundamentally wrong with the way the city and state functions on the economic front. Priorities are whacky and obviously the “plan” isn’t working. Does anybody know what’s wrong?

The biggest problem is that Baltimore lacks corporations, and the ones that are here like Constellation are run by disloyal a-holes. If the governments focused on luring more companies then 80% of Baltimore’s problems would be solved. The BDC should have cut it’s time and effort on real estate years ago. If they had focused on luring companies instead of building hotels, a lot more developments would have broke ground without their “hand holding” a la tax incentives. “Kill two birds with one stone” as the saying goes.

It also doesn’t help to read posts on this forum where one proclaims “I’d rather have a well designed 5 story structure than a 50 story plain jane” (is this the general position of most Baltimoreans?). 1)Why think that way? Why can’t you have it all? Why can’t you have a 50 story sleek and sex y? 2) The problem is that you already have plenty of 5 story well designed buildings, many that need attention! A good city is very intricate with a variety of all shapes and sizes that form its built environment, it doesn’t have to choose!

The untold truth is that Maryland has a terrible business climate on relative basis with an 8.25% corporate tax rate higher than that of New York , Illinois and Virginia and has one of the worst publicity machines of any state. Another unspoken truth is the disloyal companies that have sold the farm instead of acquiring and growing themselves, from large corporations to fledgling incubated firms. This is partly due to the lack of identity of the state of Maryland,regional complacency and refusal to compete with neighboring states. Honestly, what do you think of in positive economic terms when someone says Maryland? Perhaps the states a bore and companies would rather sell than to stay, that’s a serious brand image problem IMO.

Finally it all comes down to ambition, ambition of the developers, ambition from the governments and ambition from residents. If they really wanted it, it would have happened by now. If they settle for average and you hear them say that certain projects are over the top, then you have a serious self confidence/Identity crisis.

Let me ask…like people, are some states more ambitious than others? Are some cities more ambitious than others? Is Atlanta, Charlotte, more ambitious than Baltimore? You may call it getting “low and dirty” but is your city safer with your “higher standards”? Do your residents have jobs? Are your schools better off? Is your city seen in a more positive light than the competing one?

Good stuff. Same with 30 floors and scando. Being in DC's shadow, people see Baltimore as a safe place to built moderate developments. People think, "how can a city 40 miles from the most important city in the world have any clout and status"? That hurts our image nationally and internationally. Furthermore, locals share that view and that results in an identity crisis. We/some feel inferior or we are always the underdogs. We are then stuck with 25 story mediocrity instead of buildings with balls.

Thankfully, we do have globally recognized clout when it comes to medicine. Probably the best place in the world to get sick. And I think we still maintain our status for investment banking. Not sure how important that is anymore though.

[mkroopn]

Originally Posted by mkroopn

And one other - Pratt Street Redevelopment (I'm thinking some iteration of what's been proposed)

A few more potental future development sites I thought of since yesterday:

Downtown Baltimore City Community College site
Harbor Park Garage air rights
Edison Parking lot on Baltmore street (also site of possible courthouse)
Future JHU development (i.e., new graduate student housing)
Future UB development (i.e., new student housing)
Future UMB development (i.e., new pharmacy hall)
Future UMMS development (i.e., new ambulatory care center)
Port Covington site

[New_Balto]

Hello Baltimore!!!

[StevenW]

Originally Posted by New_Balto

Hello Baltimore!!!

WELCOME, New_Balto!

Please post often! We are very glad to have you!

[Infoman]

Originally Posted by New_Balto

Hello Baltimore!!!

Welcome to Skyscraper City, I'm infoman...The official non official Skyscraper City recruiter. Ask me or anybody else if you need any HELP!!!

[PeterSmith]

Met a guy today to just bought the structure on the corner of North Ave. and Howard St., directly across from Joe2. He told me he bought it at auction last week and has already started rehabbing it. Not sure what the final product will be though. It's in pretty grace disrepair; gonna take a lot of work to fix it up.

[New_Balto]

I wonder how far the Ravens will go in the play-offs.

[New_Balto]

Originally Posted by Tricia_Lvs_Baltimore

Interesting site, BRBaltimore. I was looking at the fourth project:


127-155 Waxter Center for Senior Citizens
Location: 1000 Cathedral St
Funding is needed for renovations of the 32 year old Waxter Center. These renovations would include upgrade or replacement of needed building systems and redesign of parts of the building to meet the needs of 21st century seniors.


I remember hearing some time ago that the Waxter Center was going to get a new tower, 14 stories I believe. Maybe it's one of the projects in the city that fell due to the economy.

Is this the same project where two 14 story buildings will now be a single 28 story building?

Edit: To answer my own question, the area that I am thinking of is likely off the 200 block of Park Avenue?

[StevenW]

Not sure about this one. Maybe someone else could help.....

[D.E.L.Soul]

Welcome aboard New Balto, please post often.

I thought the two 14's replaced by the 28 was over by Lexington Market?

[D.E.L.Soul]

Originally Posted by New_Balto

I wonder how far the Ravens will go in the play-offs.

They have to get there first... I know Sunday's game seems like a given, but the only given in football is "any given Sunday". I just don't want to make assumptions and jinx the team. I hope they go though, and go far, and keep on going until they come home to a purple lit city and parade! Let's keep our fingers crossed.

[D.E.L.Soul]

Hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas (or whatever you celebrate). Of course it was a beautiful day and I didn't have time to get any pic's. Coming soon though.

[Huck]

Originally Posted by D.E.L.Soul

They have to get there first... I know Sunday's game seems like a given, but the only given in football is "any given Sunday". I just don't want to make assumptions and jinx the team. I hope they go though, and go far, and keep on going until they come home to a purple lit city and parade! Let's keep our fingers crossed.

I agree. It has been a very exciting season, especially because I didn't expect much... kind of a "re-building" year. I've been pleasantly surprised.

I know this isn't development news, but thought I'd share. I was in Park City, Utah last weekend. since the game wasn't on network tv,(at least not nationally) we had to watch it in a bar that had NFL Network. We went to the biggest sport's bar in town. When we got there we asked the owner if they were going to show the game. He said "come on in we need some cowboys fans." I said we were Ravens fans and he gave a WTF? look. "where the F did all of you people come from?" The bar was full of Ravens fans. It was awesome.

[PeterSmith]

Originally Posted by New_Balto

Is this the same project where two 14 story buildings will now be a single 28 story building?

Edit: To answer my own question, the area that I am thinking of is likely off the 200 block of Park Avenue?

Nope. The project you're thinking of is part of the Superblock. It's a development called Lexington Square.

The Waxter Center development was proposed by a developer this past year. He proposed building a new Waxter Center on a site that I believe is across the street from the current location. He would then exchange the new Waxter Center for the old one. He proposed demolishing the old Waxter Center and building a 14 story apartment building on the site and adjacent parking lot. If I remember correctly, the idea was to build many small units that would be marketed to college students and young professionals.

[StevenW]

Thanks, Peter.

[k25150]

"where the F did all of you people come from?" The bar was full of Ravens fans. It was awesome.

That is cool. Probably just people who hate the Cowboys though.

[micrip]

Originally Posted by Infoman

http://www.emporis.com/en/bu/sk/st/tp/ty/hs/
Here is the list I was talking about, Mercy is #36 at 84 m 276 ft 20 levels!!! Does anybody know the height of the new tower in feet? It seem's like Hopkins will be on that list within a few years, because they are expanding like stupid...

I think it is to be somewhat taller. If it reaches even 300 ft., Mercy will move up to #19 on the list!! Quite impressive for little ole B'more. But then again, we can lay claim to the best hospital on the planet...Johns Hopkins!!

[PeterSmith]

This afternoon I also had lunch with a friend of mine who works at Legg Mason. He told me that the word around the office was that Legg actually tried to get out of moving to Harbor East, but apparently was not successful in doing so. I guess we can count ourselves lucky that the developers had the foresight to make that contract air tight. I'm still surprised Legg couldn't find a way though...

[Eerik]

...let's just hope Legg Mason survives the current economic downturn. I'd rather see Legg Mason intact as a Baltimore corporation rather than a brand new empty office building once occupied by Legg.

Originally Posted by PeterSmith

This afternoon I also had lunch with a friend of mine who works at Legg Mason. He told me that the word around the office was that Legg actually tried to get out of moving to Harbor East, but apparently was not successful in doing so. I guess we can count ourselves lucky that the developers had the foresight to make that contract air tight. I'm still surprised Legg couldn't find a way though...