Baltimore Grows

I was intrigued when I read an article the other day reporting that a developer plans to build 99 new townhouses and condos in Pigtown near th B&O railroad museum (expected to go on sale in 2010).? The developer also wants? to revitalize a block? of Pigtown’s commercial district along Washington Blvd. bringing new restaurants and shops.? Pigtown has been gentrifiying for a while, but I didn’t expect to hear this kind of announcement.? It’s definitely a good thing for the area.? Maybe it has to do with Pigtown’s name change to “Washington Village”, but has this area finally become the next Federal Hill or Canton?? Seems like there might be no stopping it at this point, especially with University of Maryland creeping across MLK.? However, I haven’t been over that way in a while.? I’m interested to hear perspectives from anyone who lives over there…especially the early pioneers…as to how redevelopment is going in that area.?

For those not familiar with the McHenry Row project, it is the large retail & residential development project currently in progress in Locust Point. Read these posts for some more background.

Baltimore’s McHenry Row - Panera, Starbucks…
McHenry Row - Baltimore - Locust Point

If you have driven down Key Highway recently, you know the McHenry Row construction is well under way on the first structure - the parking garage.? It appears the earlier reports of Harris Teeter being the grocer and anchor store, are about to become true. Developer Mark Sapperstein? hopes that the deal will soon be announced. The store will be their largest location and will likley stay open 24 hours. If what’s being said is true - this will be the nicest grocery store in the city. It’s proposed to have a high-end selection of prepared foods, deli/butcher, bakery, seafood, sushi bar, cheese bar, on-site pizza makers, etc. The store will have a big focus on fresh produce and organic products. The projected completion for the grocer is Summer/Fall 2010, months after the residences will open.

Harris Teeter opening a Baltimore location is a bit of a stretch for them. It’s outside of their existing geographic area, and this area of Baltimore does not yet support their typical demographics.? The success of the overall project, and bringing in additional high-end retailers, really hinges on locking in Harris Teeter.? Once that happens the other tenants should be lining up.? I’ve heard that Starbucks and two banks are likely, and Panera, Cosi, Cold Stone, Legal Sea Food and other restaurants are possible.? If the project plays out as hoped, it will certainly become one of the nicest retail centers in Baltimore.

Sapperstein is also planning on doing some interesting lighting and signage on the existing water tower at the site. He’s proposing to use some variation of neon or a well lit sign, as well as some automated lighting effects that “go off” every 7 minutes. It sounds a bit cheesey, but is supposed to play off existing Baltimore landmarks like Domino Sugar, Phillips Crab, Natty Boh, and UTZ signs.

Key highway will also undergo a large amount of work that includes a landscaped medium between the existing four lanes.

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

Today’s Baltimore Sun article discusses the surplus of condos on the market.? However, out of the 5,091 vacant condos in the Baltimore metro area, only 865 are in Baltimore City. This is surprising given the number of large-scale condo projects underway. Continue Reading »

Yesterday’s New York Times had a feature article on Baltimore.? ? It’s an interesting read, but probably overplays the affect the nationwide housing downturn has had on Baltimore development and real estate.? It also probably overestimates the affect of Washington commuters on Baltimore.

For Baltimore, Housing Slump Slows a Revival

LOUIS UCHITELLE

Published: October 4, 2007
New York Times?

Colorful banners, draped across buildings like giant flags, urge people driving through Baltimore’s rebuilt downtown neighborhoods to move into the new condos and apartments inside. “Sophisticated Urban Living W/Garage and Gated Off-Street Parking” one sign declares in the long campaign to gentrify the central city.

Continue Reading »

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