Baltimore Grows

Our very own Patterson Park in Southeast Baltimore was recently named one of America’s 10 best urban parks by Forbes Magazine.  The park was listed alongside other famous parks such as New York’s Central Park, San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park, Boston Commons, and Chicago’s Grant Park.  Patterson Park is surrounded by Baltimore neighborhoods such as Butchers Hill, Canton, Highlandtown, and of course the Patterson Park neighborhood itself.  It’s a wonderful achievement, since only a decade ago, the park was mostly known for drugs and prostitution.  Congratulations to the Baltimore City Department of Recreation and Parks and to the Friends of Patterson Park who show us what can be achieved despite tight budgets!

Click Here to see the Forbes Slideshow

jeffcantonite@yahoo.com

 Tom Clancy plopped down 12.6 million for three condos at the Ritz-Carlton Residences in Baltimore and the three units will be combined into one mega-condo.  The sale sets a record for the most expensive condo ever sold in Baltimore. 

The sale is also a huge boost to the developers of the project who have been dogged recently with liens resulting from unpaid construction bills.  Only around 20 of the Ritz’s 190 condos have gone to settlement so far.

http://www.baltimoresun.com/business/real-estate/bal-bz.ritz19nov19,0,4991403.story

jeffcantonite@yahoo.com

More details emerged today about the development that will replace Anderson Automotive Group in the Charles Village/Remington area.  The 65 million dollar project will include a Lowes, a grocery store, 60 apartments, specialty shops, and other retailers.  Completion is expected in 2011.

Both the Baltimore Sun and Baltimore Business Journal wrote stories on it.  Follow the links below.

http://www.baltimoresun.com/business/bal-bz.anderson19nov19,0,3840291.story

http://baltimore.bizjournals.com/baltimore/stories/2009/11/16/daily32.html

jeffcantonite@yahoo.com

 Hampden took center stage in a Jay Leno Show sketch last Tuesday where comedian Owen Benjamin goes to local businesses and writes them a free jingle.  It ended up being very funny.  Click on the link below to watch it on Hulu.com

http://www.hulu.com/watch/108444/the-jay-leno-show-owen-benjamin-writes-your-jingle-baltimore

jeffcantonite@yahoo.com

According to the Baltimore Business Journal, Anderson Automotive Group will be selling their complex of showrooms and maintenance shops to developers when they are dropped by GM in 2010.  The dealership currently occupies several buildings and lots along Howard Street between Remington and Charles Village.  The land could prove valuable as a neighborhood center for the gentrifying area.  We in Baltimore should feel lucky that former GM properties don’t languish for long periods of time as they often do in other parts of the country.  The former GM Plant along Broening Highway was snapped up quickly by Duke Realty to build warehouse space and distribution centers considering the proximity to I-95.

Follow this link to read the article:

http://baltimore.bizjournals.com/baltimore/stories/2009/11/09/story3.html

jeffcantonite@yahoo.com