Baltimore Development News 13

Hey chris. Yes, I have been a lurker more than a poster. Busy with the kid etc. I wonder if any of the philadelphians can pick this spot out. Its an easy one.





There is a dedication planned later this month I think. Google "friends of riverside park" and see if there is a contact person on that website. They will be inviting Leone's (Namesake of the park) widow to attend. She has been in the loop for the entire redesign of the entranct. It looks great. One of the active members' dad is a furniture deigner/maker and he crafted it.

scando said:

The latest scoop on the Rotunda project... bigger than many of us thought...If this doesn't get NIMBYd to death, it will really loom over the area. I can forsee ""comments" about this. The lot where this is to be built sits up a steep hill from surrounding rowhouses on 3 sides and 17 stories will dominate that area. There are 2 high rise old folk places on Roland Ave one block away and lots of large residential buildings a couple blocks down on University Parkway, but this project will really stand out at the Rotunda. More to come for sure.

From the Messenger

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damn, did i read that right? SEVENTEEN floors??????? wow, that would truly be something; especially for that area. it would truly stand out significantly.

Six developers pitch city on 'Gateway' project
Baltimore Business Journal - 2:45 PM EDT Tuesday
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Six development teams, including one backed by Baltimore Ravens player Ray Lewis, are interested in redeveloping an 11-acre, waterfront site on the Middle Branch of the Patapsco River in the southwest section of the city.

The responses followed a request for qualifications, issued by the Baltimore Development Corp., the city's economic development agency.

The teams include the Benade Group Inc.; Cormony Development LLC, which encompasses Lewis as an equity owner in the project; the Henrietta Corp. led by Baltimore developer Pat Turner; Himmelrich Associates and Doracon Development LLC; Manekin LLC; and Stadium ShoreWalk LLC, a group that lists Banks Contracting Co. as a participant.

Many of the respondents are considered heavy hitters in the development industry and boast proven track records of completed projects. They are sure to heighten the level of competition for the site.

The project area -- known as Gateway South -- is south of M&T Bank Stadium, north of Interstate 295 and I-95 and east of the Carroll Camden Industrial Park.

Although the BDC did not ask for proposals specifically, the organization is seeking a medium- to high-density, mixed-use project that will anchor the east side of the Carroll Camden area. The west side has been steadied by Montgomery Park Business Center, a 1.3 million-square-foot project redeveloped by Himmelrich.

Within the next three months, the respondents will be invited to make a presentation to the BDC, highlighting their visions for the site.

Then, the agency will create a "short list'' of candidates, who will be allowed to respond to a request for proposals, said Joann Logan, a spokeswoman for BDC. A winning developer will be selected within 90 days of the release of the request for proposals.

jeffbaltimore said:

Hey chris. Yes, I have been a lurker more than a poster. Busy with the kid etc. I wonder if any of the philadelphians can pick this spot out. Its an easy one.

There is a dedication planned later this month I think. Google "friends of riverside park" and see if there is a contact person on that website. They will be inviting Leone's (Namesake of the park) widow to attend. She has been in the loop for the entire redesign of the entranct. It looks great. One of the active members' dad is a furniture deigner/maker and he crafted it.

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Cute kid you have there, Jeff!
I understand. This is a great time for you and your wife. Although we all do enjoy your posts, I know you're having a ball!

jeffbaltimore said:

Hey chris. Yes, I have been a lurker more than a poster. Busy with the kid etc. I wonder if any of the philadelphians can pick this spot out. Its an easy one.

There is a dedication planned later this month I think. Google "friends of riverside park" and see if there is a contact person on that website. They will be inviting Leone's (Namesake of the park) widow to attend. She has been in the loop for the entire redesign of the entranct. It looks great. One of the active members' dad is a furniture deigner/maker and he crafted it.

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That's great Jeff! Dominic Leone was my Great-Uncle. I'm glad my Aunt Shirley is going to be there. I know she'll really enjoy that.

BTW, cute kid!!

Would this be a good place for a new arena, I wonder? :?

jeffbaltimore said:

Hey chris. Yes, I have been a lurker more than a poster. Busy with the kid etc. I wonder if any of the philadelphians can pick this spot out. Its an easy one.

There is a dedication planned later this month I think. Google "friends of riverside park" and see if there is a contact person on that website. They will be inviting Leone's (Namesake of the park) widow to attend. She has been in the loop for the entire redesign of the entranct. It looks great. One of the active members' dad is a furniture deigner/maker and he crafted it.

Click to expand...

Easy!! Pats Steaks!

StevenW said:

Would this be a good place for a new arena, I wonder? :?

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Isnt that where Ravens stadium is? That looks like Camden Yards right behind it

Go Pigtown Go!

Interest high in Pigtown renewal
2 dilapidated blocks draw 8 proposals
By Lorraine Mirabella
Sun reporter
Originally published April 11, 2006

Seven development teams are vying to revitalize two dilapidated blocks of Pigtown's main commercial district in Southwest Baltimore, signaling strong interest from developers and investors in the rebounding neighborhood.

The Baltimore Development Corp. said yesterday that it has received eight proposals, including two from one developer, to redevelop portions of the 700 and 900 blocks of Washington Blvd. for a mix of retail outlets and offices and either apartments or condominiums.

The two projects would represent one of the biggest commercial redevelopment projects in a neighborhood in transition, where home prices have been appreciating as new homes have been built and older ones rehabbed.

"We're hoping at a minimum to eliminate the blight influences that have existed for many years, but we're setting the bar higher and would like to see a mix of retail and residential or office," said Andrew B. Frank, executive vice president of the BDC, the city's development arm.

The city is moving to acquire the properties, including nine vacant buildings and one lot. The development agency plans to close on the first two properties in several weeks, Frank said. The BDC had issued requests for proposals in early February and plans to select developers within two to three months, Frank said.

Proposals for five properties from 925 to 937 Washington Blvd. seek to build street-level shops with either office space, apartments or condos on the upper floors.

Developers have similar plans for the rest of the properties in the 700 block, from 761 to 767 Washington Blvd., and around the corner at 760 Eislen St.

Several developers who submitted plans said they were drawn to the opportunities of a neighborhood increasingly seen as an affordable alternative to Canton or Federal Hill, one that's close to downtown, public transit and major highways.

Developers said they expect new housing to appeal to students, Washington commuters and people who have been priced out of other areas of the city. "We see a lot of promise there from the next 12 months to five years," said Kirsten Brecht, a managing partner for New City Partners of Baltimore.

"The key to neighborhood development is a combination of residential and commercial development," Brecht said.

New City's $2.2 million proposal for the 700 block of Washington Blvd. possibly includes a street-level restaurant and eight housing units (either for rent or for sale) on the upper floors. Brecht said the plan calls for gutting the interiors but preserving as much of the exteriors as possible.

Tristan O'Connell, the project leader for Historic Pigtown Development LLC, said his team's proposal for street-level shops, second-floor offices and second- and third-floor apartments could help stimulate additional development.

"We don't want to see Pigtown turn into Canton where people come in and bastardize the historic appeal of the community," said O'Connell, a tax credit consultant on historic properties. "This corner is an extremely important corner from an historic standpoint."

He said he and one of his partners already own two properties adjacent to the properties the city is seeking to acquire. Historic Pigtown Development's proposal would incorporate them into a project that would restore former storefronts with a 3,000-square-foot restaurant and additional retail outlets.

The project would also include artists' lofts atop art studio space, about 2,000 square feet of office space and seven apartments.

Rebecca Murphy Jones, development associate with Savannah Development, which has proposals for both blocks, said the projects fit with her company's philosophy of focusing on community development and revitalization.

Savannah's plans call for about 20,000 square feet of street-level shops or restaurants and about nine condo units in the 900 block of Washington Blvd. and a similar mix in the 700 block, with about 10 condos.

"Washington Village [Pigtown] is on the way up," she said. "it certainly is transitioning, but it is trending extremely positively. Property values are up. There's a lot more development there. It's been discovered."

Other bids for the 900 block came from Marc and Patrice Smith and Okoro Development Co.

For the 700 block, other bids came from Bmore Project LLC, led by John Cason, and French Development Co.


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a blurry view of the vue............


west shore park


again


one more time...

Cool! Thanks for the updates.