Baltimore Development News

[30 Floors Up]

Originally Posted by CrazyDre26

My friends who actually live in Westport say Pat Turner is pretty much treated like a pariah. They're pessimistic that anything at all will ever happen at the site. I tend to agree with them, having seen this behavior from developers on long-delayed projects in places all over the United States. They make promise after promise, desperately trying to keep the public believing that they will follow through with their plans. They keep spewing the rosy visions clear up until the day they file for Chapter 11.

What mystifies me is that there are a lot of people out there that actually believe everything that a developer tells them. If some developer "plans" something, the Sun, Biz Journal, Daily Record and us bloggers get all excited like it's actually going to happen, and with these vaulted expectations, we're extremely disappointed when it turns out to all be just one big lie.

He seems to have follwed through on his other projects. His many rehabs in South Baltimore and Silo Point are examples.

[30 Floors Up]

Editorial: Raze the Mechanic - Daily Record
Posted: 5:34 pm Thu, May 3, 2012
By Daily Record Staff

A local developer has come forth with a bold plan to re-energize the heart of the city by building a $150 million residential and retail complex at Baltimore and Charles streets.

The only thing standing in the way — literally — is the 45-year-old Morris A. Mechanic Theatre, which has been closed since 2004.

To that we say: Tear it down.

The Mechanic was a key part of the 33-acre Charles Center project, which opened in 1967 and breathed new life into downtown Baltimore. The theater enjoyed some glorious years, providing a venue for touring Broadway shows.

Built in the architectural style known as Brutalist, with rough, angular concrete finishes, the structure also gained a reputation among many for being a singularly unattractive — some critics simply said ugly — building.

Because of its architectural style, the Commission for Historical & Architectural Preservation placed the Mechanic on its Special List in 2004. But in 2008, the Baltimore Planning Commission denied landmark status to the theater, contradicting a vote by CHAP recommending the designation.

Now CHAP must consider the developer’s request to raze the structure to make room for the new complex. A decision is expected within six months.

We urge CHAP to let the demolition proceed.

Developer Howard Brown, a partner in the development group OneWest LLC and president of David S. Brown Enterprises, has made a good faith effort to retain the theater as part of the new development. But he told The Daily Record’s Melody Simmons that after three years of planning, it became obvious that the theater had to go.

“I think the building is functionally and physically obsolete,” Mr. Brown said. “There’s a lot of decay in the building and we’ve come to the conclusion that we’d rather build two new towers and a new base and new parking.”

His plan calls for two, 30-story towers with 600 market-rate apartments, a 150,000-square-foot retail complex and an underground parking garage. Construction would begin this year if the necessary approvals are obtained in time.

Mr. Brown’s project has enormous appeal for several reasons. First, it would jump start a tired section of the downtown core, plagued with vacant storefronts, that desperately needs a lift. Second, it meshes perfectly with the push for more residential space in the central city being orchestrated by the Downtown Partnership of Baltimore.

Finally, with a downtown residential occupancy rate of 97 percent, conditions should be very favorable for obtaining financing for the project.

Kirby Fowler, president of the Downtown Partnership, says Mr. Brown’s project “is the glue that will hold everything together downtown.”

Well said. Let’s get started.

[30 Floors Up]

Clothier to replace Filene's at Baltimore's Lockwood Place

My bet is Marshalls or Burlington.

http://www.bizjournals.com/baltimore...ilenes-at.html

[jamie_hunt]

Originally Posted by 30 Floors Up

... This is why companies move to the suburbs. Then, according to your logic, the people within walking distance should follow them to the burbs.

Not that it's any consolation, but traffic in the 'burbs is often a clusterfarg, too. Can't imagine what it would be like the the economy was humming.

[BaltoSteve]

Originally Posted by jamie_hunt

Not that it's any consolation, but traffic in the 'burbs is often a clusterfarg, too. Can't imagine what it would be like the the economy was humming.

And then there's DC traffic....Oy

[KLynch]

I lived in Towson for 5 years, and the traffic I dealt with living around there was unbearable to me. I've lived in South Baltimore for the last 8 years and don't deal with anything close to the traffic I did around there. Most I need is in my neighborhood, close by, or down in AA County, which never has any traffic between here and SoBo.

[Coldspring]

Originally Posted by delawhere

Hate the idiots that drive everywhere in this city.

90% of people living downtown work within 1 mile of their home. 60% of those folks drive to work daily.

Edit: Also, 83 had to be closed early, not for practice, but for engineering. They need to figure out the extent of the problem before they go about fixing it. Not to mention the fact it's structurally unsafe to be in that lane in the meantime.

If I was an Administrator with the MTA.. this would really bother me...As a resident.. it bothers me that it doesnt bother the MTA... This is a no confidence vote for the mass transit system

The light rail should be PACKED right now to/from Hunt Valley.. I only take it in the Late PM from Camden Yards to North Ave....so I dont know if people have shed their cars to ride the Light Rail because of the 83 construction....

[delawhere]

You aren't everyone. Plenty of people have the opportunity to avoid driving and fail to do so.

I am displeased with your accusation that I don't read. While you may have read the paper, I read the actual documentation from the city DOT, which had this to say:

It is impor*tant that these clo*sures are imple*mented now for safety rea*sons due to the under*min*ing of the road*way. Due to the com*plex nature of the work involved, motorists will not see any con*struc*tion work occur*ring in this area for a few weeks after the clo*sures are implemented.

But thanks for essentially calling me an idiot for giving you some explanation as to why traffic is bad.

Originally Posted by 30 Floors Up

I guess you hate everyone then. If I walked to work in Washington, I'd be getting home right about now. And since I work in a secure complex that isn't served by mass transit, perhaps you could drive me? Pick me up at 3:30AM and get me home at 5:30 PM. I'll be waiting outside on Monday.

They were doing absoulutley nothing on the JFX for 10 days. There wasn't a worker or person on site. It wasn't structurally unsafe. I hate people who don't read newspapers. The newspapers, and TV news for that matter, clearly explained why they closed it early.

I fully realize that things happen that can't be avoided. Water mains break. Fires happen. But I have zero tollerance for mahem that can easily be avoided. The administration has to realize that everytime things like this happen, it drives business and people away from downtown. No one wants to work for eight hours and then spend another hour getting out of a garage and going one mile. This is why companies move to the suburbs. Then, according to your logic, the people within walking distance should follow them to the burbs.

[waj0527]

On a personal note, I've gotta voice my pleasure with the city. I live on Calvert in Mt. Vernon. In the last few months my street has been ripped up, resurfaced, and relined. It looks great. This morning, there was a notice on my door telling me that starting next week the sidewalks on my block are gonna be ripped up and replaced, too. I appreciate the investment.

[House3780]

Originally Posted by delawhere

You aren't everyone. Plenty of people have the opportunity to avoid driving and fail to do so.

I am displeased with your accusation that I don't read. While you may have read the paper, I read the actual documentation from the city DOT, which had this to say:



But thanks for essentially calling me an idiot for giving you some explanation as to why traffic is bad.

Yeah, it was made pretty clear that the lanes needed to be closed early because of the danger of a sinkhole.. despite the fact that work could not start immediately... It makes sense to me at least o_O

Its kinda like when theres something wrong with your car, you take it to the repair shop and they tell you they can't get the part for a couple days. They also tell you that you're lucky you got in when you did. Who knows maybe you could last a couple days, but something catastrophic WILL happen and it will happen soon. Depending on the problem with your car, you could either take a chance and drive it around and hope it doesnt explode, or if you are risk averse you'd leave the car at the shop and find another way to get around in the mean time.

Either way you can't convince your car to hold up for those couple days till the part gets in, and the city can't convince the highway to hold up till it can make the necessary repairs and risk a couple cars finding out what the underbelly of 83 smells like with deaths likely as well.

If a sinkhole occurred in those 10 days and someone died, then you'd have somethin else to bitch about.. "why didnt they close those lanes knowing something bad could happen!!"

I can understand the complaints about the city closing other streets even with 83 losing lanes, but complaining about lanes being closed because of the possibility of sinkholes for 10 days with no work being done, while not knowing if it was just the earliest date work could start is beyond my comprehension O_o

[BlueSock]

Originally Posted by delawhere

90% of people living downtown work within 1 mile of their home. 60% of those folks drive to work daily.

Where did you read this? It would be interesting to find out why people who live so close to work choose not to walk.

[CharmCityTech]

Originally Posted by 30 Floors Up

Clothier to replace Filene's at Baltimore's Lockwood Place

My bet is Marshalls or Burlington.

http://www.bizjournals.com/baltimore...ilenes-at.html

Exactly. There's not that many chains that are "'very similar to Filene's" besides those two. I hope its a Marshall's with a large mens section please!

[30 Floors Up]

Originally Posted by delawhere

But thanks for essentially calling me an idiot for giving you some explanation as to why traffic is bad.

You are most welcome. I learned the word from you when you called me it - first. I guess the people who caused the problem are not idiots. Perhaps on Monday they can close Calvert Street, Charles Street and the JFX at the same time just for fun!

Originally Posted by delawhere

Hate the idiots that drive everywhere in this city.

[30 Floors Up]

Originally Posted by CharmCityTech

Exactly. There's not that many chains that are "'very similar to Filene's" besides those two. I hope its a Marshall's with a large mens section please!

I hope it is Marshall's because they have furnished my kitchen.

[CharmCityTech]

Originally Posted by CrazyDre26

My friends who actually live in Westport say Pat Turner is pretty much treated like a pariah. They're pessimistic that anything at all will ever happen at the site. I tend to agree with them, having seen this behavior from developers on long-delayed projects in places all over the United States. They make promise after promise, desperately trying to keep the public believing that they will follow through with their plans. They keep spewing the rosy visions clear up until the day they file for Chapter 11.

What mystifies me is that there are a lot of people out there that actually believe everything that a developer tells them. If some developer "plans" something, the Sun, Biz Journal, Daily Record and us bloggers get all excited like it's actually going to happen, and with these vaulted expectations, we're extremely disappointed when it turns out to all be just one big lie.

Well people can either choose to be optimistic, pessimistic, or neutral. I consider my self the latter that leans more toward optimistic. Turner is one of the very few developers who have a very good track record with creative large scale developements and rehabs. Now should that mean we should believe everyword that comes out his mouth? of course not, but its nice to know what is gong through his head at the moemnt. Westport has had the full support of both Sheila Dixon's and SRB's administratons, and his work with Silo point as noted, is an example of bold plans coming to fruition under Turner.

Im not suprised to hear that people in Westport may treat him like a pariah. I don't understand the thought behind that, because that entire section has been on a downward spiral for many years now, and no one wanted anything to do with it. A developer wants to come in and transform the area to a desirable destination, and unrealistically people expect somethign that massive to happen over night there? Either that or the they would rather nothing happen and let the area continue to decay? Look at whats becoming of the EBDI-Hopkins bio park area..Im sure alot people were pessimistic anything that large would happen in that area too..

[SoBo]

Originally Posted by 30 Floors Up

You are most welcome. I learned the word from you when you called me it - first. I guess the people who caused the problem are not idiots. Perhaps on Monday they can close Calvert Street, Charles Street and the JFX at the same time just for fun!

In his original post I think he was annoyed with the impression that "90% of people living downtown work within 1 mile of their home. 60% of those folks drive to work daily." There's no question your lengthy D.C. commute validates your need to drive.

[delawhere]

Originally Posted by BlueSock

Where did you read this? It would be interesting to find out why people who live so close to work choose not to walk.

It was in a state of downtown report by the downtown partnership. I just went back to their reports and there's a new one out, with a slightly different statistic:

Nearly two-thirds (65%) of Downtown residents used a motor vehicle as their primary method of commuting to work Downtown, while 21% walk to their job.

[delawhere]

Originally Posted by SoBo

In his original post I think he was annoyed with the impression that "90% of people living downtown work within 1 mile of their home. 60% of those folks drive to work daily." There's no question your lengthy D.C. commute validates your need to drive.

Exactly. I wasn't calling anyone with a lengthy commute an idiot. I was calling the many <1 mile trip driving folks creating the traffic you were sitting in idiots.

[ajf127]

Originally Posted by delawhere

It was in a state of downtown report by the downtown partnership. I just went back to their reports and there's a new one out, with a slightly different statistic:

Nearly two-thirds (65%) of Downtown residents used a motor vehicle as their primary method of commuting to work Downtown, while 21% walk to their job.

Probably related to the percentage of overweight and obese people in the good ol' USA. I for one walk or bike to work ever day. I don't understand how someone would subject themselves to the city traffic every day when they don't have to. If that isn't pure laziness, I don't know what is.

On bad traffic days I can walk to work faster than I can drive, while biking is hands-down quicker even on a good traffic day (I live about 1.5 miles from work).

[cgunna]

Originally Posted by delawhere

It was in a state of downtown report by the downtown partnership. I just went back to their reports and there's a new one out, with a slightly different statistic:

Nearly two-thirds (65%) of Downtown residents used a motor vehicle as their primary method of commuting to work Downtown, while 21% walk to their job.

Wonder how many of the 65% and the 21% respectively...have kids.

Much easier to live carfree when your single...

City wants to attract families right? More families = more cars = more traffic.

I am perfectly OK with that.