Baltimore Grows

There was an interesting article in the Sun today about how BRAC funds will be used to provide tax incentives for several projects in Maryland…including the Westport Project in South Baltimore along the Middle Branch.  It sounds like it’s giving the project the major boost it needs to move forward.  The article indicated that the developer will start construction this coming spring.

 Click here to read the article

jeffcantonite@yahoo.com

The approval for slots by voters in Maryland last week could give a much needed boost to development in Baltimore during a tough economic period.  As evidenced by the City Council’s quick approval to purchase a parcel of land in South Baltimore, development of the proposed slots parlor could be swift.  The slots bill was written so that only one casino could be built within the city limits, essentialy limited to the area adjacent to the proposed Gateway South Development. 

While not connected to Gateway South, the slots parlor could give that project a real boost.  Gateway South developers hope to take advantage of the site’s proximity to 295 (i.e. commuter traffic from DC). 

The development plan (which has already received master plan approval from the City) is for an active and lively transit oriented mixed use project that includes 1,000,000 sf of class A waterfront office space, 150,000 sf of retail, a 90,000 sf indoor sportsplex, a 70,000 sf multimodal transportation terminal, parking and a rehabilitated site on which to locate the development and with which to connect the City’s greater open space network. 

Follow this link to find out more about the Gateway South Project:

http://www.cormonydevelopment.com/projects-gateway-south.html#

Here are some renderings…this project is by Cormony Development Company.  The slots parlor will be on one of the vacant lots just north of this site (you can sort of make it out in the last picture).  A developer for the slots parlor has not been selected yet.  The slots parlor and Gateway South Project will be built on mostly former industrial/warehouse brownfield sites.

jeffcantonite@yahoo.com

I found this news on the Baltimore Business Journal website interesting.? ?

The National Aquarium in Baltimore is curbing its plans to build a new waterfront campus in South Baltimore and has sold 11 of the 19 acres it bought for the new center to local developer Patrick Turner for $1.5 million, a spokeswoman for the aquarium said.

What is interesting is that this land purchase was part of a 3-way deal/swap that included the sale of the Baltimore City Fire repair shop on Key Highway in South Baltimore.? I believe the deal was to sell the repair shop to a developer, in order to generate money that would allow the city/aquarium to purchase land and develop the waterfront campus.? But plans to sell the repair shop were overturned by Mayor Dixon in favor of building a public park.? So by not selling the repair shop property, it forced them to have to sell another piece of property.? Ironic.

The Baltimore Middle Branch Planning Initiative Website has a draft Master Plan document posted.? The first photo below shows a nice aerial view, and the 2nd shows where the Middle Branch is in relation to the Inner Harbor.

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Through the Middle Branch planning process it is our goal to highlight and capitalize on the unique green character of the Middle Branch estuary to build a model community, based on sustainable principles. These sustainable principles include economic prosperity, environmental improvement and social equity. According to the American Planning Association, planning for sustainability “…promotes responsible development – not-anti-development. It requires a democratic process of planning to achieve the greatest common good for all segments of our population, protect the health of the environment and assure future generations of the resources they will need to survive and progress.”

The Middle Branch’s unique qualities as an environmental oasis, located minutes from downtown and surrounded by challenged communities, create a perfect opportunity to employ these principles.