Baltimore Grows

Fred Bealefeld, the (relatively) newly appointed Baltimore Police Commissioner, addressed the Rotary Club of Baltimore today, painting himself as an optimist but also a realist at the same time.  Commissioner Bealefeld seems like the right man for the right time in Baltimore.  The City, who’s success is closely dependant upon the health of the city itself, has largely been measured against it’s fluctuations in crime rates. 

Bealefeld though thinks that the perception of crime might actually have a contributing factor.  For instance for the past few years, crime in Baltimore has been the focus of two elections, tons of media attention, and an entire HBO series (The Wire).  All that negative perception in many ways makes the problem worse….people care less and people think it’s normal to commit a crime.   In fact, Bealefeld said, the perception of crime in Baltimore outstrips the actual crime committed.  An example of this entails a comparison between Baltimore and LA.  Both cities have experienced a similar drop in violent crime over the last 4-5 years.  LA has been lauded for their efforts.  Baltimore is still being criticized.

With the conclusion of The Wire and less media attention on Baltimore’s crime, that perception might be changing.  In fact, a recent Baltimore Sun article glowed that the murder rate for the 1st quarter of 2008 had been the lowest in decades. 

Now that the Police Department can spend less time defending from media attacks and critics, perhaps they can focus on more crime fighting initiatives.  The department’s focus on gun offenders and community policing seem to be paying off. 

Bealefeld seems confident that we’ll continue to hear good news about crime in Baltimore.  In fact, he mentioned that we’ll be hearing some positive news within the next 24-48 hours.   Just think how nice it’ll be to turn on the local news if things continue to improve.  Some say it’s a fluke, some say the numbers are faked, I say keep up the good work!

jeffcantonite@yahoo.com

The Daily Record reported yesterday that a group of investors hopes to redevelop the run-down North Ave Market in Baltimore’s Station North Arts District.  This plan will complement other recently announced development projects in the area, including a plan to create a new Chinatown nearby.  From the Daily Record:

“In a part of the market where a retail clothing operation stood until about a year-and-a-half ago, a new bar called the Wind-Up Space is slated to open May 6. The bar will feature performances of independent music, art shows and film screenings.

The market’s main stall area, which was once home to the Sacred Zion Full Baptist Church, will be converted into an artists’ collective, featuring craftspeople from the Baltimore Glassworks and the Greater Baltimore Cultural Alliance, and a coffee shop and bookstore operated by the Baltimore Chop, Schechter said.”

Read the Full Article…

Today’s Baltimore Sun featured an article about how the declining real estate market has put some of the city’s most notable potential construction projects on hold.  While it’s true that many developers are truly bleeding, in Baltimore, it may not be as bleak as the Sun article made the situation out to be.  True, the projects that the Sun mentioned are stalled, however, most of them have been stalled for years, before the economy made a turn for the worse.  While developers across the country are abandoning projects, many of the projects in Baltimore will still happen, but just in a different format.  For instance, the Marketplace at Fells Point project was to originally contain a component of condominiums.  However, the developers are in the process of revising the PUD to include apartments in lieu of the originally planned condos.  All of this switching around requires approval by the neighborhood association, the architectural committee, the city…etc., and all of this takes TIME! 

 The good news is that there are many projects to keep our attention in the meanwhile.  Projects that have the city’s backing (usually in the form of incentives) like Harbor Point, Four Seasons/Legg Mason, Westport, West Side, and projects associated with institutions like Hopkins and University of Maryland, are still underway, and will drastically change the city’s landscape.  Ironically, it’s the privately funded projects that are taking a little time.  But there’s good news here too.  Insiders say that 10 Inner Harbor, which the Sun said was stalled, is still undergoing preconstruction work.  RWN, who owns the parcels on Guilford, isn’t letting the property rot.  They’re leasing out the old Hammerjacks as a new club called Bourbon Street Live.  Eventually, real estate will bounce back, and the financial institutions will start lending again.  Baltimore is in a good position for continued growth, but we must remain patient. 

That being said, growth is not always measured in gleaming condo towers. It is measured in reborn communities with rehabbed houses, new coffee shops, restaurants and stores…things which continue to pop up in Baltimore every day.   

Baltimore City approved the sale of land today for the Baltimore Citycenter project.  The green light will pave the way to the construction of the 30 story building which will contain a Summerfield Suites, Hyatt Place, and a residental component.

Read the Article

Read the Previous Post on Hotel Construction in Baltimore

jeffcantonite@yahoo.com

The Texas based Hanover Company is planning on bringing 485 new luxury apartments to the Brewers Hill Area. The development will be south of O’Donnell St. and east of Conkling Street…pushing the border of Brewers Hill further east. The project which will consist of two buildings will also include a retail component.

Read the Article Here

Visit the Hanover Company Website

jeffcantonite@yahoo.com

Supposedly The Montford Stag Bar, at 743 S. Montford Ave. in Canton (on the corner of Fait and Montford), will be re-opening this Saturday at 5 pm as a fully renovated bar.  I took a peek as I drove by earlier today at it looks really nice.   More information to follow.  If anyone makes it there before I do, please post a review.

jeffcantonite@yahoo.com

With gas prices skyrocketing, it seems as if there are far more bicyclists on the street these days.  Unexpectedly, the MTA will be making easier for cyclists to get around town.  The MTA is starting to test out bike rack systems on some of their bus routes.  So far about 130 buses have been outfitted.  MDOT is also installing 250 secure bicycle lockers at 25 locations throughout the Baltimore region, including seven Baltimore Metro stations, four light rail stations, and ten MARC stations.

jeffcantonite@yahoo.com

A recent photo, presumably from the Baltimore Marriott Waterfront Hotel, shows the progress of the future Baltimore Four Seasons Hotel and Legg Mason building in Harbor East.

A rendering of the completed project:

FreshFarm Markets has announced that they’re bringing their concept to Harbor East.  The market will operate on Saturdays from June 14th to October 25th, 9 AM to 1 PM.  FreshFarm Markets operates farmer’s markets around the Chesapeake Region, including Annapolis, St. Michael’s, Silver Spring, and Dupont Circle.  The Wall Street Journal and the Financial Times of London have named the Dupont Circle FreshFarm Market one the best in the country.  Hopefully the one in Harbor East will rank as high.  Read More…

jeffcantonite@yahoo.com

This week’s issue of Rolling Stone will apparently have an article on Baltimore’s growing music scene, naming it the “Best Scene” in the nation.  It appears that the article will focus a bit more on the grunge, heavy metal, hip-hop, and Baltimore’s underground music scene.  READ MORE.