Baltimore Grows

There will be a public hearing this Tuesday, January 5th at 6:30 pm to discuss the fate of the historic Senator Theatre in Northern Baltimore City.  There will be four groups/developers that will present their plans for the theatre that were recently submitted to the Baltimore Development Corp.  The four proposals are as follows:

Baltimore, MD (November 23, 2009) – In response to a recently issued Request for Proposals (RFP) for the purchase/lease of the historic Senator Theatre, the Baltimore Development Corporation (BDC) today announced that it has received for four proposals.
The Senator Theatre, located at 5904-06 York Road in Northeast Baltimore, is within the Govanstowne business district, immediately adjacent to BelvedereSquare, a 161,000 square foot shopping and dining destination. The theatre site is 20,517 square feet with the building measuring 17,868 square feet.
Opened in 1939, the single-screen theatre, which seats approximately 900, is on the National Register of Historic Places.
The following proposals were received:
1. The Lofts at the Senator Theatre
Developer/Operator: JR Owens Corporation (JR Owens)
This proposal calls for a mixed-use development that includes the renovation of the existing movie theatre along with new construction of 24 two bedroom/two bath rental apartments on three floors, 27 secure parking spaces in the basement of the new construction and existing retail space.
2. The Senator Theatre, LLC
Developer/Operator: James Cusack, Jr. and Kathleen C. Cusack (owners of the Charles
Theatre)
Architect: Alex Castro
The developer proposes to maintain the building as a single screen movie theatre, restaurant and crepe shop with alternates 1) that would provide for a second screen and an arts education area in the approximate 2,000 square foot triangle to the south of the theatre, and 2) a sliding glass door system in the front of the restaurant.
3. The Theatre Project PUPKIDS, Inc.
Developer/Operator: Noch-Noch, Productions (Enoch Cook III)
This proposal suggests the mixture of live performances and cinemaplex attractions simulating a staged Vaudeville Revue to attract interest in puppetry and puppeteers.
4. WTMD…..At The Senator
Developer/Operator: Senator Theatre Redevelopment, LLC (Towson University, Robert L.
Caret, President)
Architect: Zigner/Snead Architects
General Contractor: Whiting-Turner Construction
WTMD-FM, Towson University’s public radio station (focusing on contemporary music and arts) proposes to relocate to the Senator Theatre through a historically sensitive renovation of the interior, a new addition to the south side of the building as well as an expansion of existing space on the north side of the theatre. The Senator will be home to WTMD’s daily operations, as well as a schedule of films, educational activities, concerts and community events designed to reach people from all over the region. The station will connect and promote the events taking place in the theatre.
The proposals are being reviewed by BDC.

I for one would like to endorse the proposal by Towson University’s radio station WTMD.  Over the past 5 years, the non-profit WTMD has shown a huge commitment to Baltimore City and County by providing music and events that benefit all of its citizenry.  They have helped create a more vibrant community of music lovers to the area by introducing new artists to the local scene as well as promoting local artists nationwide.  WTMD is one of the institutions that helps make Baltimore a cool and funky place to live and it seems that their proposal to re-make the Senator Theatre into a multi-purpose venue will help them continue their mission.

I hope many of you can attend to show your support!

Despite the economy, there still seems to be a flurry of development news concerning the Station North area of Baltimore.  The Station North Area was designated an “Arts and Entertainment” district by the city and the neighborhood is roughly bounded by 20th St on the North, Howard on the West, Greenmount on the East, and Penn Station/train tracks on the south.

Here’s a bit of recent news:

1. The Baltimore Development Corporation recently issued a Request for Proposals for the former Parkway Theatre and adjacent properties that sit at the crucial corner of Charles Street and North Ave.  The Parkway Theatre is currently vacant (anyone looking for a fixer upper?) and the adjacent property is occupied by “New York Fried Chicken”.  The chicken joint can go “bye bye”, but as part of the proposal, the theatre must remain and be used as some kind of live performance venue. 

Click Here to view the RFP

2. Amtrak recently inked a deal with a Bethesda based developer to develop the top three floors of Baltimore’s Penn Station into a boutique hotel.  Work is expected to start by the end of the year for completion in 2010.  Click Here to read the article.  Ultimately, the plan is for Amtrak to expand the concourse north across the tracks to the parking lot along Lanvale Street.  Amtrak has retained consulting firm WRT to make recommendations for the 1.5 acre site by this fall.  Early plans have called for this area to be an open concourse with a mixed hotel/retail components.  Follow the link to the Station North Master Plan at the bottom of this post for more info.

3. Also in the works is a planned $15million development of artist housing on a vacant parcel of land at the corner of Greenmount Ave and Oliver St.  The development will be a mix of affordable apartments and townhomes.  Click Here to Read the Article.

Click Here to View the Full Station North Master Plan

jeffcantonite@yahoo.com

It’s been years since I attended the Preakness infield.  Twice in my early-mid twenties was enough for me.  But I do enjoy the video highlights of the crazyness.  Here are two classics.

This year Preakness officials decided to prohibit attendees from bringing in outside beverages.  This new restriction will certainly change the dynamics of  the party.  For better or for worse.  Part of the tradition in years past involved coming up with creative ways to drag in as much alcohol as humanly possible.  Oversized coolers, trash cans, and kiddie pools were crowd favorites.

Recent traditions like running the portable toilets probably won’t happen this year.  Long standing traditions – flashing, fighting, passing out, etc. – may or may not happen.  Cutting outside alcohol will probably reduce the overall crowd size, but organizers will make up for it by selling enough pricey beers and other beverages.

 Loading ...

We’re happy to have another guest post today courtesy of Urban Discoveries Living Blog. Check out all their great content.

The State Center was supposed to be one of those far-sighted projects that would help transform Baltimore into the vibrant, accessible city of the future. Though it wasn’t scheduled to be completed until 2018, even just the vision had a lot of people excited. The idea:  to redevelop and reshape the 28 acres around the current State Center, an area that currently includes huge city offices, a light rail stop, and… a lot of parking lots and chain-link fences. The State Center development was supposed to change all that, reconnecting neighborhoods and creating a vibrant livable community. But problems have cropped up—new legislation, worrisome language in the state budget—that have some people worried that Baltimore is just going to end up with more of the same.

Why spend so much time and money on the area anyway?  Well, there are plenty of assets not being taken advantage of here, is the thinking—not only does the area already boast a much-used transit hub (both the light rail and the subway stop here), and it’s here that vibrant neighborhoods (Mt. Vernon, Seton Hill, Bolton Hill) would come together, if there was anything there worth coming together for. So the stuff is there, for the most part; it’s just not connected well at all. Continue Reading »

University of Baltimore officials have awarded a winning design in a competition for a new law school building that brought competitors from across the globe.  The winners were German firm Behnisch Architekten in a joint venture with Baltimore-based Ayers, Saint, Gross Inc.

The prominent building site sits at the corner of Charles St. and Mt. Royal Ave, fully visible from the Jones Falls Expressway.  Undoubtedly, UB is going for an iconic design for the new 100 million dollar plus building. The design is decidedly modern in contrast to mainly historic and contemporary buildings in the area, although not unlike the MICA Brown Center and the new MICA Gateway Building further up Mt. Royal Ave. 

Since the preliminary design is the result of a competition that lasted a few months, one would expect the design to change through the process of full design.  But from the looks of it, the new design will be bold, daring, and will hopefully add to the character of growing midtown Baltimore on what has been a sad empty parking lot. 

jeffcantonite@yahoo.com

Sounds like the plan for redevelopment of the Station North Area is getting more detailed and closer to coming to fruition.  This is remarkable, considering ideas floated about this area not more than a year ago seemed more like a pipe dream than a plan.  Let’s hope these ideas continue to develop.  Check it out:

Follow This Link

jeffcantonite@yahoo.com

In other Michael Phelps news…apparently Michael is rumored to have purchased Meadowbrook Swim Club and adjacent Northwest Ice rink in Baltimore City’s Mt. Washington neighborhood.? Meadowbrook is home to the North Baltimore Aquatic Club (NBAC)? where Michael trained.? Word is that Michael, along with Coach Bob Bowman, will be turning the facilities into an Olympic Training Center.? The NBAC has already churned out serval Olympic athletes, making it one of the greatest centers for swimming in the nation.? Undoubtedly, with Phelps and Bowman involved, the training center would be one of the most elite in the world.?

Click HERE to read the article

jeffcantonite@yahoo.com

It’s not really Theory #23. It’s theory #1, I suppose. It’s been my theory at least since 1999, when I purchased a house in Baltimore City for myself and my family. The theory is simple and goes like this: Oil is a finite resource. Sooner or later, we’ll run out. There’s no viable alternative to gasoline, and even if there were, there’s already too many cars out there to replace. As gasoline prices rise, houses in the suburbs will drop in value. There will be a corresponding rise in the value of city real estate. Suburbia is predicated on cheap gasoline, whereas cities are from a time before gasoline. Cheap gas is a temporary phenomena. Buy city real estate and sell suburban real estate.

After eight years, it’s safe to say, “I told you so”. Now my theory has been borne out. However in 1999 I was the only one saying it. When I moved from DC to Baltimore in 1999, a real estate investor in the DC ‘burbs told me, “Don’t buy real estate in Baltimore City. It’ll never appreciate”! At the time, buying real estate in the city was risky. In the city you had to deal with crime, drugs, racial issues, bad schools, abandoned buildings, Mayor O’Malley, high taxes, etc etc. As recently as three years ago I posted to another blog about buying in the city and was jumped on by suburbanites. Within the past couple of years two of my neighbors bailed out* and moved to the ‘burbs. This was before $4 gas.

The neighborhood that I bought into has come back big-time since I bought in 1999. I don’t know if I could afford to buy my house if I had to buy it again now. However, there’s still “bad” neighborhoods in Baltimore City. They’re “bad” neighborhoods to some people. I’d say that one man’s “bad” neighborhood is this man’s sweet deal!

http://www.joshuaberlow.com/real2.htm

*In both cases, the houses sold immediately. The only house in the neighborhood that hasn’t sold immediately after being put on the market is one guy who’s holding out for $100K more than any of the others has sold for. Maybe he knows something…

The location in Belvedere Square which was recently home to Taste Restaurant apparently won’t be vacant for long.? Taste, which abruptly shuttered last month was an anchor to the revitalized area.? Baltimore Sun’s Elizabeth Large reports that Daniel Chaustit, co-founder and chef? of the popular Christopher Daniels restaurant in Timonium, will be opening a new restaurant at the location formerly occupied by Taste.? The restaurant is scheduled to open by late July.?

Click Here to Read the Article

jeffcantonite@yahoo.com

The Baltimore Sun reported today that the City Board of Estimates cleared the way for a 20 year, $12 million dollar tax break that will allow the $75? million dollar Fitzgerald project to move forward.? The Fitzgerald Project, near University of Baltimore will consist of more than 200 luxury apartments, 40,000 sf of retail, and a parking garage. Plans posted on the developer’s website (Bozzuto) also show a supermarket.? The project is bounded by the Mt. Royal Ave, W. Oliver St., Maryland Ave, I-83, and the Light Rail tracks.? Construction will begin this summer.

Click here to view the site plan
?