Baltimore Grows

If for some reason you ever feel down about living in Baltimore, just be glad you don’t live in one of America’s 10 most miserable cities according to Forbes Magazine.  Baltimore, which seemed to be dogged by “worst of” lists in the late 90’s and early 00’s managed to stay off the list.  This could be a signal that negative opinions of Baltimore from outsiders are changing.  The measurement is based on a city’s unemployment rate, personal tax rate, commute time, weather, crime, and toxic waste proximity. The top ten “most miserable” cities, according to Forbes:

1. Detroit, MI
2. Stockton, CA
3. Flint, MI
4. New York City
5. Philadelphia, PA
6. Chicago, IL
7. Los Angeles, CA
8. Modesto, CA
9. Charlotte, NC
10. Providence, RI

I managed to get a tour of the recently renovated Bromo Seltzer Tower.  The renovations were quite amazing, especially considering the shoestring budget which the Baltimore Office of Promotion and the Arts and contractor Azola and Associates had to work with.  The Bromo Seltzer Tower once housed the executives for the Bromo Seltzer Company.  The factory which once surrounded the building was torn down long ago and is now occupied by a Baltimore City Fire Station.  The tower was the tallest building in Baltimore for quite some time.  Supposedly, the huge bright blue bottle that used to sit on top of the building could be seen from as far away as the Eastern Shore, although I’m not too sure about that.

The Baltimore Office of Promotion and the Arts (BOPA) are looking for artists to lease the studios in the building.  Currently the building is about 1/3 leased.  BOPA also is looking for a coffee shop to lease the lower level of the building.  The coffee shop would double as an art gallery for the buildings artists.  Visit www.bromoseltzerartstower.com for more information.  Hopefully the building’s artists and visitors will add to the vibrancy of the downtown area and west side.

Baltimore’s development arm, the Baltimore Development Corporation (BDC) recently released a snapshot of their master plan for the Charles North Area, AKA Station North, north of Penn Station. 

While the plan calls for higher density high rises, including a 60 story building, it seems unlikely that any of those would come to fruition in the near future, although the BDC has plans to acquire about 18 properties to start the revitalization process.

 The most tangible aspect of the plan could be the addition of a boutique hotel to the top three floors of Penn Station in conjunction with a renovation/expansion of the train station and concourse as reported in the Baltimore Business Journal.  http://charlotte.bizjournals.com/baltimore/stories/2007/10/15/story7.html

 I’m curious to hear what people think about a potential 60 story building in this neighborhood.  Add your comments or shoot me an e-mail.

jeffcantonite@yahoo.com

Baltimore’s tallest building, the Legg Mason building, is getting a new parking garage.  Contractors recently broke ground on the new 10 story structure located across the street from the Legg Mason building near the corner of Light and Lombard.  Burke’s Restaurant, currently at the location will apparently remain and will supposedly get a face-lift.  It appears that the building’s owners are preparing for Legg Mason’s exodus to their new headquarters in Harbor East as a selling point for future tenants.  Parking, or should I say lack thereof, was a major reason for Legg’s departure. 

jeffcantonite@yahoo.com

The Old Town National Bank building - aka the UTZ Building - will be converted into  a 70-room hotel .  The UTZ sign will stay. Baltimore Sun article.

We all know the Baltimore Harbor is gross - littered with every type of floating trash imaginable, not to mention the occasional floating fish kill. But if you’ve ever been on or near the water just after a heavy rainfall you realize how bad the trash problem really is. I used to get an up-close look at this when I commuted from Fells Point via the Water Taxi.  Trash from every Baltimore street corner, storm drain, and alley flows into the Harbor.  And it’s not just Baltimore City’s trash.  Some trash flows down from Baltimore county via the Jones Falls.  Apparently not much stands in the way of trash as it flows into the Harbor. I always thought there has to be a way for the city to filter/strain the storm drains - and empty them out on a weekly basis. Continue Reading »

Baltimore Business Journal article about the delay of the 414 Water Street condo project. 

Delayed from last spring, developers of a 31-story residential tower in downtown Baltimore now plan to start turning over the first of their 312 condominium units to new owners this fall, one of the project’s developers said.

The Melting Pot fondue restaurant chain may soon open its 5th Maryland location in downtown Baltimore.  The chain is being pursued for the vacant spot at the bottom of the new Zenith Apartments across from Camden Yards, but nothing has been confirmed yet.

The Zenith Apartments are housed in the new building that went up adjacent to Camden Yards.  They look very nice and the upper floor units have a great view. You can even see a small slice of the baseball field from one side.  The other side, well they have a nice view of the Shock Trauma helicopter taking off and landing throughout the day and night.  With the new convention hotel going up next door - this area is certainly getting denser  -which is a good thing.  Also, there are plans to have a restaurant on the ground level - but I’m still waiting on my “inside source” for the name.

Prices: 1 bedroom - $1,500+/month, 2 bedroom - $2,300+/month, 3 bedroom - $4,200/month.