On Thursday, September 26th, The Bozzuto Group, Solstice Partners and KTGY Architecture presented plans to the Urban Design & Architecture Review Panel (UDARP) for a new $80 million mixed-use project at 900 E. Fort Ave. in Locust Point at a former General Electric site. This project, which sits at the corner of Fort Ave. and Lawrence St. across from Southside Marketplace and the Foundry on Fort Ave., will drastically change the entrance to Locust Point. It was described by panelists as dynamic, really thoughtful, exciting and very strong.

The group is proposing a nine-story mixed-use building including 275 apartments, ground floor restaurants and retail, a rooftop restaurant, and a two-and-a-half level parking garage. The building will include more than an acre of outdoor space for its tenants. This includes a rooftop lounge, a pool area, an outdoor park-style patio facing the Inner Harbor, and a pet run.  Sitting more than 20 feet above Key Hwy., the building promises 360-degree views of the harbor, skyline, cruise ships, Fort McHenry, and more.

Another goal of the project is to improve pedestrian access to the waterfront along Fort Ave. and Lawrence St. Trees will be planted around the perimeter of the property, which faces Fort Ave., Lawrence St. and the Royal Farms. Improved pedestrian and bicycle areas along Fort Ave. and Lawrence St. will also be added to make Lawrence St. more of a “boulevard.”

“In many ways this is the entrance to Locust Point. We wanted to make something really special, an iconic project for the area,” said Toby Bozzuto of The Bozzuto Group. This was the fourth time Bozzuto was before the UDARP panel, previously presenting The Fitzgerald (Bolton Hill), Spinnaker Bay (Harbor East), and Union Wharf (Fells Point). “With each of those previous buildings we achieved record rents,” said Bozzuto.

The building will feature retail and restaurants along Lawrence St. and the western end of Fort Ave., as well as a small plaza area at the corner of Fort Ave. and Lawrence St. The entrance to the garage will align with the entrance to the Foundry on Fort Ave. KTGY designed many eye-catching, visual architectural features as well as a large ‘park style’ terrace facing the harbor. The apartments are also positioned along the perimeter of the property, assuring that most will have a great view.

Although the Locust Point Civic Association (LPCA) and the developers continue to have conversations about the project regarding concerns over the building’s context in the community, as well as parking and traffic concerns, Terry Harrington of LPCA said the community is thrilled to be working with such an experienced team. Bozzuto described LPCA as “incredible to work with.”

The design was “approved with comments” by the UDARP panel and they are hoping to break ground in late summer 2014 with approximately 20-24 months of construction.

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Riverside Neighborhood Association Release:  

Thomas Johnson Elementary/Middle School invites all neighbors to the 5th Annual Fall Festival.  The Festival will be held at 100 E. Heath Street, Saturday, October 5^th 12-4pm.  Event admission is free and will be held Rain or Shine!   Silent Auction, Food, Carnival Games with prizes, Moon Bounce, Pumpkin painting, Scarecrow making and other fall themed Arts & Crafts will be enjoyed by all to benefit TJEMS students.  Please come out to enjoy your friends, families and neighbors and help out a local school and its students.

Check out the flyer or like their facebook page (Friends of TJEMS #84) to get more details. Want to help right now? Give a tax deductible donation directly athttp://www.gofundme.com/3m5fx8.

Owners of Salt to Start New Venture in Locust Point

Baltimore Business Journal is reporting that the owners of Salt in Butchers Hill have purchased 1157 Haubert St. in Locust Point, former home of Down the Hatch, Witty’s and The House. The owners are still determining the restaurant’s concept and aiming to open in spring 2014.

Betamore Startup Making Moves

Riskive, a cyber security startup in Betamore’s entrepreneurship program, is moving into their own office in 1111 Light Street. Baltimore Business Journal is reporting that Riskive and their 26 employees will be moving one floor down from Betamore into the former 8,000 square foot home of BTS Software Solutions. Tehnical.ly Baltimore is reporting that BTS Software has consolidated their offices to their headquarters in Columbia.

No Limit Communications Opens in Pigtown

In SouthBMore.com’s last Pigtown/SoWeBo Business Roundup, it was reported that a new store would be opening in the former home of ReVamp Variety and House of Elie. It is confirmed that the store is No Limit Communications. Here is the description from their Facebook page:

We specialize in reparing cracked screens..custom cases…etc. all you cell phone needs.

They have one other store at 3330 Greenmount Ave. in Waverly.

Distinction for Masonville Cove 

South Baltimore’s Masonville Cove, a reclaimed urban wilderness conservation area on the Patapsco River featuring 70 acres of water, 54 acres of cleaned-up wetlands and a bird sanctuary, has been named the nation’s first “urban wildlife refuge partnership” by the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation according to the Baltimore Sun. The distinction will kick off with a $55,000 donation from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation and the Chesapeake Bay Trust.

Masonville Cover was featured in SouthBMore.com’s “Five Free Places to Take Your Baby Downtown” article.

World of Beer Grand Opening 

McHenry Row’s new restaurant World of Beer has announced their grand opening for October 14th at 11am. It will feature giveaways and live music.

Riverside Park Community Yard Sale:  Saturday 9am-1pm

South Baltimore Street Cleaning Group:  Saturday 930am-1030am

Fells Point Fun Festival:  Saturday and Sunday from 11am-7pm

Volleyboo Tournament at Baltimore Beach:  Saturday from 12pm-7pm

Open Play at Baltimore Beach Volleyball:  Sunday from 11am-4pm

The Francis of Assisi Pet Blessing at Riverside Park:  Sunday at 12pm

Hanover Street Hog and Oyster Roast at Blue Grass Tavern:  Sunday from 3pm-6pm

Farmers Markets:

32nd Street Farmers Market in Waverly:  Saturday from 7am-12pm

Fells Point Farmers Market:  Saturday from 730am-12pm

Baltimore Museum of Industry Farmers Market: Saturday from 9am-1pm

Baltimore Farmers Market and Bazaar:  Sunday from 7am-12pm

Have a GREAT weekend!

-SouthBMore.com

Last night at Silo Point’s Sky Lounge on the 19th floor, Beazer Homes held an open house to kick off Key’s Overlook, a community of 53 new-construction townhomes surrounding Silo Point in Locust Point. The homes are to be constructed on two large lots surrounding Silo Point – 25 to the northwest adjacent to Clement St. and 28 to the southeast adjacent to Andre St.

Land development of the property is expected to begin in the next three to four weeks and Beazer is hoping to begin construction on the first phase of the homes on the southeast parcel in December. The second phase of homes on the northwest parcel will begin after an existing building is demolished.

The first deliveries are expected in mid-2014.

The homes will start in the high $400,000s and will range in price based on location and add-ons. Each 2,003 sq. ft. home will feature three bedrooms, two full bathrooms, two powder rooms, a bonus room, a sky den, a two-car garage, a second-story back deck, and a roof deck.

The main floor of the homes feature a bonus room, powder room and garage; the second floor features the dining room, kitchen, family room, and a powder room; the third floor features the master bedroom and bath, as well as two additional bedrooms and a full bath; and the fourth floor features the sky den and a large roof top deck.

The homes will exceed ENERGY STAR requirements and will feature hardwood floors, nine- and ten-foot ceilings, granite countertops, stainless steel appliances, 42″ maple cabinets and many customizable features. The exterior will consist of brick, Dryvit and weather board siding.

Beazer told SouthBMore.com that four home sites are currently being held by perspective buyers.

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Pigtown Updates

In 2012, Magnum Construction renovated four dilapidated buildings, including ground-level retail and apartments above, on the 700 block of Washington Blvd. on Pigtown Main Street. The first retail tenant has now been secured at this location as 2 Chic Boutique will be opening at 761 Washington Blvd. A banner on the property reads, “Specializing in gently used and new designer clothing. Opening Late November 2013.”

Pigtown Pharmacy at 804 Washington Blvd. closed their doors in April, but a new convenience store is opening at this location.

The former home of Divine Inspiration of God Church, also on Main Street at 777 Washington Blvd., has also recently become available for lease. It’s listed on Craigslist for $785/month.

Tommy’s Downtown Tavern at 839 W. Cross St. has closed its doors as owner Tommy Fox will be moving to Tennessee. The business is still for sale, but there are several interested buyers according to Fox.

Federal Hill Updates

Stuggy’s, which specializes in gourmet hotdogs, has opened their doors in Federal Hill at 17 E. Cross St. They are the first new tenant to occupy one of the two new retail locations renovated by Caves Valley Partners in the former home of M&T Bank. Joining spots in Fells Point and Camden Yards, this is Stuggy’s third location. They will stay open late until 3 am on Thursday through Sunday.

Cottage Kidz Boutique at 1129 Light St. is temporarily closed for renovations, and will reopen on Friday.

Riverside and Locust Point Updates

Riverside Cafe at 1401 Riverside Ave. is temporarily closed for renovations.

The Sprint Store at Southside Marketplace is now open.

Elaine’s Brown Sugar opened their doors in Locust Point at 1400 Towson St. Elaine’s sells cupcakes as well as bagels, croissants, danishes, muffins, sandwiches, salads, drinks and coffee.

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Here’s a round-up of the most-read SouthBMore.com headlines from October:

Beazer Launches Key’s Overlook, 53 New Townhomes in Locust Point, 10/3

October was filled with big real estate news, which is always a favorite among SouthBMore.com readers. At the beginning of October Beazer, a national home builder, launched Key’s Overlook, 53 new, 2-car garage luxury townhomes near Silo Point in Locust Point. The homes start in the upper $400,000s and several lots have already been reserved.

Townhomes Proposed for 1500 South Charles St., 10/10

With new townhome construction surging, Green Door Properties has proposed another new development in South Baltimore at 1500 S. Charles St. They are proposing four new townhomes at the site of a former church, as well as renovating two existing adjacent homes. They are still in the planning phases, but are hoping to break ground in 2014.

Plans for Development at 900 E. Fort Ave. Garner Rave Reviews, 9/27

This article was one of the most-read in September and its popularity continued into October. Solstice Partners is proposing a new $80 million mixed-use project at 900 E. Fort Ave. at a former GE site in Locust Point. The development will include 275 apartments, ground floor retail, ground floor and rooftop restaurants, and a large parking garage. The project has been well received by the Locust Point Civic Association and received rave reviews from the Urban Design & Architecture Review Panel (UDARP).

They are hoping to break ground in late 2014.

South Baltimore Business Roundup, 10/15

SouthBMore.com’s mid-October roundup was filled with tech news as Parking Panda and Groove Commerce were chosen as two of the ‘15 Best Startups to Work for In America,’  by Business Insider. The roundup also included news of UM BioPark signing a large new tenant, Federal Hill Mortgage moving to Light St. and updates to Trinacria and CrossFit Federal Hill.

1701 Light Street Seized by State of Maryland, 8/29

As the most popular SouthBMore.com article in our 21-month existence, this piece covered the news of the state’s seizure of 1701 Light St., a ‘Drug Nuisance’ house, in August.

On October 4, 2013, the home was sold at auction for $153,000 to a developer.

Michael’s No Longer Pursuing Federal Hill Restaurant, 10/16

For the second time in the last five years a restaurant proposal at 1000 S. Charles St. has fallen through as Michael’s Cafe has withdrawn its plans for a 4,000+ sq. ft. restaurant after failing to reach an agreement with the surrounding communities.

South Baltimore Business Roundup, 10/2

This roundup covered a new restaurant coming to Locust Point by the owners of Salt, an office shakeup at 1111 Light Street, a new cell phone store coming to Pigtown, the opening of World of Beer and a distinction for Masonville Cove.

Kearns Family Back Home a Year After a Fire Displaced Them, 10/24

This piece covered the story of the Kearns Family, local residents who were able to finally move back into their home after they were displaced by a fire one year ago.

One thing the Kearns never doubted throughout the whole process was where they would return when the dust settled. “It was a really hard thing, but we love our house and we love our neighborhood. We knew we were coming back,” said Robert Kearns.

Tommy’s Downtown Tavern Up For Sale, 10/7

Popular Pigtown bar Tommy’s Downtown Tavern has been put up for sale after owner Tommy Fox decided to move to Tennessee. As far as selling Tommy’s Downtown Tavern, it is not available to just any buyer. “I’m looking to sell the place to someone who wants to serve good beer, cater to a good crowd and continue what we did, not someone coming in here just to make money,” said Fox.  Fox told SouthBMore.com that he is currently working with several interested buyers.

SoBo’s Ethan Giffin Making Moves at Groove Commerce, 10/27

Ethan Giffin’s e-Commerce company Groove Commerce, which started at his home in Riverside, moved into a dazzling new 10,000 sq. ft. office near Harbor East last month. Giffin told SouthBMore.com about his journey with Groove Commerce and about his great new office space.

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Technology and real estate have been grabbing a lot of business headlines around Baltimore of late. Now, Alex Kopicki and Jeff Jacobson of Locust Point’s Solstice Partners have come up with a new online service, retrievRE, which combines both of these surging industries.

Best known locally as the developers of the upcoming 900 E. Fort Ave. project, it was Kopicki and Jacobson’s experience looking for their own office space that led them to create a website catered toward small businesses in search of office space of their own. ”If you are looking for residential properties, you have websites like Zillow and Truilia,” said Jacobson, co-founder of Solstice Partners. “But for office and retail space, there is no reliable system to gather information. We were looking for space and thought the system was broken, and we are in the real estate business.”

This search process led to the creation and development of retrievRE, which Kopicki and Jacobson launched in October. retrievRE is a completely free website for landlords and brokers to post available office and retail listings and for businesses to post their office needs and search for suitable locations.

The website provides information such as property owner, gross square footage, year built and more for 10,000+ buildings in Baltimore City and Baltimore County. Users can then provide listings and supplemental building information to create a comprehensive, crowd-sourced database. Properties in Howard and Anne Arundel County will be added to the database by the second quarter of 2014.

“95% of all commercial lease transactions in the region involve less than 20,000 square feet of space,” said Jacobson in a recent press release. “These relatively small leases can become lost in the shuffle by the larger, more visible requirements. In reality, these smaller spaces generate the highest per square foot rents. This is a powerful tool for landlords and brokers to fill in the gaps.”

“Priorities for business location are more and more about commute times, walkability and nearby amenities,” Jacobson continued. To address this, retrievRE integrates Yelp, Walkscore.com and Transitscore for each building to provide a digital map of nearby restaurants, businesses, transportation systems and shopping. 

retrievRE does not get involved with the actual lease negotiations or transactions, but will gain income through pre-negotiated rates with preferred vendors to help with the nuances of leasing new space including design, space planning, construction build-out, moving, furniture, insurance, banking and tele-data systems. retrievRE also hopes to offer premium listings in the future.

Kopicki and Jacobson anticipate expanding into the Washington, D.C. and Philadelphia markets in the near future.

Follow us on Twitter at @SouthBMore1

Let’s take a look at some of the dishes I’ve had recently in South Baltimore that really stood out. And, please don’t hesitate to share some of your favorites!

Buffalo Garlic Wings at Mother’s

When I first moved to South Baltimore, many years ago, one of my favorite things to do was get wings at Mother’s with my roommates. I remember them being as good as – or better than just about – any wings I’ve ever had (and an added plus, they were usually on special.) Until my recent visit, for whatever reason, it had been quite some time since I ordered this signature menu item… I can guarantee I won’t wait as long next time!

Listed at #1 on their wings menu, the Buffalo Garlic wings are delicious. They have great buffalo flavor, the perfect hit of garlic and a nice basil garnish. When I finished the wings, I was looking for other things to dip in the sauce to soak up more of the flavor… so good!

The Yandawich at Ryleigh’s

I love a good sandwich and I love the Ravens, so naturally I loved Ryleigh’s tribute to Ravens OG Marshall Yanda – The Yandawich! The sandwich is made up of a golden roll with fried pork tenderloin, two poached oysters, corn salad, lettuce, tomato and a smear of Guinness Stout mustard. This sandwich is large, fresh and really, really good. It comes with their homemade potato chips that were absolutely on point as well.

The Crabby Bird at Sweet Caroline’s

As a Marylander you’ve probably had a chicken sandwich smothered with crab dip and cheese, which you can never go wrong with, at one point or another. Sweet Caroline’s Crabby Bird offers a nice take on this Maryland classic. It combines many of the same ingredients but it really allows you to taste them all – the jumbo lump crab meat, cheddar cheese, and fire-grilled chicken – as opposed to an overpowering taste of just cheese alone. The tasty sandwich also comes with a side of Old Bay and cinnamon (you read that right) curly fries, which are very good.

Jerk Chicken Mac and Cheese at Langermann’s on Light 

Langermann’s on Light is my kind of place – great food, but casual enough to watch the game at the bar and chat with your neighbors. Sunday night is mac and cheese night at this neighborhood spot and they offer a good selection of different kinds to choose from. I opted for the Jerk Chicken Mac and Cheese and it did not disappoint.

Although it’s not available every night, their jerk chicken is worth getting no matter what it comes on.

Meatball Sandwich at Zella’s 

I have eaten at Zella’s several times since its reopening under the original ownership of Julie Ernst and Cem Ari, and each time it has been really, really good. I recently stopped in for lunch and got their meatball sandwich, which was made up of fresh baked bread, meatballs, marinara sauce and mozzarella cheese. It is definitely worth a try, as are many things on the menu!

Follow us on Twitter at @SouthBMore1

November set a new traffic high for SouthBMore.com – thanks for all the support! Let’s take a look at the most popular articles from the last month.

FULL TILT BREWING Announces its Berger Cookie Chocolate Stout, 11/6

Craft brewing is a surging industry throughout the country and Baltimore is no exception as several new breweries have launched and others are in the works. FULL TILT BREWING, which launched in late 2012, has captured the Baltimore charm with their first three beers – Baltimore Pale Ale, Fleet Street Raspberry Wheat and Patterson Pumpkin. Their recently-released and newest beer, Berger Cookie Chocolate Stout, garnered major excitement around town as they partnered with DeBaufre Bakeries, the founder of the famous fudge cookie. Read more about their new beer and make sure to try one!

As Baltimore Plans a Rash Field Redevelopment, Baltimore Beach Volleyball Prepares for Its Future, 11/13

As Baltimore launched a new master plan for the Inner Harbor, SouthBMore.com knew we had to check in with Todd Webster of Baltimore Beach Volleyball to see where they fit in. Webster is not sure of the future of Baltimore Beach at the Inner Harbor’s Rash Field, but has been offered an 8-court setup, with the potential for concessions, at Swann Park.

We’ll keep you posted as more develops.

Lyft: Game Changer for Baltimore City Living, 11/6

We were immediately impressed by the new ride service Lyft once it launched in Baltimore. Long frustrated with the transportation options available for leaving the peninsula, Lyft offers a terrific new option for getting around Baltimore. Read about our experience (and how to get free credits!)

Hammerjacks to Open $20 Million Music Venue at Lot N, 11/14

There is a lot of excitement around South Baltimore as the legendary rock club Hammerjacks announced they are making a comeback at Lot N near M&T Bank Stadium and the upcoming Horseshoe Casino. The music venue and sports bar will be a $20 million, 50,000 sq. ft. venue that will be able to hold up to 4,000 patrons. They hope to break ground very soon and open sometime in Fall 2014.

Port Covington:  What Went Wrong?, 2/24/12

For Throwback Thursday we’ve been posting popular older articles on Facebook and Twitter and, as always, the article about the failed development at Port Covington garnered a lot of attention. As development continues to grow in South Baltimore, little has changed at Port Covington, unfortunately.

Uber Launches More Affordable uberX in Baltimore, 11/1

It was a good month for news about exciting new ways to get around Baltimore. Uber launched uberX, a more affordable version of the car ride service. Mid-range cars and hybrids, as opposed to larger black town cars, will be used and rates will be about half the price.

Locust Point-based retrievRE Launches to Help Small Businesses Find Office Space, 11/13

Solstice Partners, the developers of 900 E. Fort Ave., created a new website to help small businesses in their search for office space called retrievRE. Now in Baltimore and Baltimore County, Solstice hopes to expand into more of the surrounding counties, in addition to Washington, DC and Philadelphia in the near future.

South Baltimore Business Roundup, 10/30

This article covered updates in Pigtown, including a new grocery store and boutique, as well as Stuggy’s opening in Federal Hill and more.

At an open house on Wednesday, December 4th, the Baltimore Department of Transportation (DOT) revealed new plans for the poor-performing intersection at Light St. and Key Hwy.,which serves as a gateway into Federal Hill from Downtown.

Previously a traffic circle was planned for the intersection, but the project became too large and expensive and presented concerns regarding pedestrian safety. “They are able to use the same amount of money to make improvements from Conway all the way to Covington, as opposed to just that one intersection,” Councilman William Cole told SouthBMore.com.

Just like in the previous plan, the new plan will include the addition of green space and trees on sidewalks and medians, as well as surface improvements. But, instead of a traffic circle, a traffic light will remain with a new right lane on southbound Light St. so that traffic no longer has to stop.

A traffic signal has been added at William St., and one has been removed at Battery Ave. Traffic will still not be able to turn left from Key Hwy. onto Light St.

There will also be sidewalk improvements along Key Hwy., which is part of the Gwynns Falls Trail, as well as along Light St. There is also still an opportunity for a public art space in the medians, like in the original plan.

Construction is likely to begin around Spring 2015.

With the Horseshoe Baltimore Casino (Caesars) nearing a Fall 2014 completion, the Baltimore Casino Local Development Council (BLDC) has been busy preparing recommendations for the Mayor’s Office about how to spend the local impact funds which will begin in Fiscal Year (FY) 2015 (October ’14-September ’15). The impact funds are projected to produce $7-$10 million in FY 2015 and $15-20 million in future years.

The BLDC is made up of 15 members including Senator Bill Ferguson, Delegate Luke Clippinger, Councilman Ed Reisinger, local developer Samuel Himmerlich, Matt Tary of Vac Pac Inc., Pastor Alvin J. Gwynn of Leadenhall Baptist Church, and Chad Barnhill of Horseshoe Baltimore, as well as a representative from Westport Neighborhood Association, Westport Community, Sharp-Leadeanhall Planning Committee, Ridgely’s Delight, Citizens of Pigtown, Federal Hill Neighborhood Association,  South Baltimore Neighborhood Association, and the Camden-Carroll Business Association.

The BLDC outlined 28 areas for funding and ranked them in order of importance. These included, in order: Complete Streets Plan, Employment Connection Center, Consultant for Long-Range Master Plan, Workforce Development Needs Assessment, and Additional Police Coverage.

The Mayor’s Office has produced a Year 1 Spending Plan, which can be read in full here. The spending chart can additionally be viewed here. The BLDC will review this plan and make comments and recommendations by this month.

The plan was broken down into two tiers: Tier 1 is up to $7 million in funding and Tier 2 is for an additional $3 million, thus taking the projections up to $10 million. Below is a breakdown of Tiers 1 and 2 (the complete proposed spending plan for both tiers can be found at this link.)

Receiving the most funding in the plan with $2 million is infrastructure upgrades to Russell, Bayard, Worchester and Warner Streets, which will be completed by Caesars. Just behind at $1.8 million is additional police coverage for the area. An additional $1.025 million is planned for fiber optic cables and cameras for CitiWatch and $1 million for the Complete Streets Plan initiative, which is underway as the DOT front-loaded the full funding.

Also included is $710,000 for DPW Sanitation Staffing, $500,000 for Employment Connection Center, $500,000 for Community Benefits District Program Study/Staffing, and $500,000 for Community Fund for Small Grants. $450,000 is planned for Enhanced Medic Services, $225,000 for Summer Youth Jobs and Year-round Internships, and $100,000 or more each for Tree Planting, Neighborhood Food Advocates, Warner St. Corridor Urban Design Study, and Consultant for Long-Range Master Plan.

Here is some additional information from the plan about some of these top priorities:

Complete Streets Plan: “The plan will engage each neighborhood and larger community in defining all aspects of street design within the right of way and beyond the pavement to include buildings and open space features, storm water management, transit, walking, bicycling, alleys, main streets, neighborhood streets, boulevards, parking, temporary street closures, intersection improvement, public plazas and other street elements as identified through the complete streets engagement process.”

Employment Connection Center: “The goal of this center is to facilitate job connections, access to 21st century skills in high growth areas and adult literacy for local residents. The center, modeled after the Mayor’s Community Job Hub Initiative, would offer job seekers an opportunity to upgrade their basic computer skills, gain additional computer certifications, explore careers, prepare for interviews and connect to employers.”

Also of note under Additional Police Coverage is that BCPD expects to employ a supervisor and three officers per shift for the expected coverage. And for DPW Sanitation and Staffing, the strategy includes street cleaning, as well as alley, lot and park cleaning, plus graffiti removal, illegal dumping removal, and the placement of additional cans.

If you have concerns, comments or recommendations about the Year 1 Plan, contact your local BLDC representative.

Follow us on Twitter at @SouthBMore1

This is the second video segment from SouthBMore.com’s sit-down series with District 46 Delegate and Riverside resident Luke Clippinger. In this segment we talk about South Baltimore and the 46th District.

When Locust Point-based Under Armour ended their title sponsorship of the Baltimore Running Festival earlier this year, they said they planned to focus more efforts on community initiatives. It appears they will be doing just that with their next big project – a new athletics facility at Latrobe Park in Locust Point.

Under Armour is planning to build a $1.5 million athletic facility at Latrobe Park’s lower field behind the dog park. The plan includes an artificial turf field, which will be installed by The Cal Ripken Sr. Foundation, as well lights, a sound system, a scoreboard and seating to accommodate several hundred people. A small rubber track will also be installed around the perimeter of the field and they are also hoping to install more parking in the future. They are additionally hoping to get the permits to install plumbing for field drainage and public bathrooms.

The plans for the project have moved along very quickly, much to the delight of the Locust Point Civic Association (LPCA), which has expressed great excitement about the project. Plans were presented to the LPCA board and membership during the last month and Under Armour is now hoping to break ground in January to have the facility ready by April. Once completed, the facility will be managed by Baltimore Recreation and Parks.

The field would likely become the home of the Digital Harbor Rams football team and the Locust Point Soccer Club, and host many other Digital Harbor and community events and activities. The field will be lined for football, soccer and lacrosse, with an Under Armour logo most likely positioned at midfield.

Under Armour is also looking to rubberize the kids’ area at Latrobe Park, as well as add large sail-looking features to provide shade.

In the past year, Under Armour has added two new Locust Point signs, provided funding for renovated bathrooms at the Locust Point Recreation Center, and helped with streetscaping and landscaping improvements throughout the community and at Latrobe Park. Under Armour has also been involved in field and recreation area improvements at Dunbar High School and Patterson Park in the past 12 months.

Follow us on Twitter at @SouthBMore1

Riverside Park Community Yard Sale:  Saturday 9am-1pm

South Baltimore Street Cleaning Group:  Saturday 930am-1030am

Fells Point Fun Festival:  Saturday and Sunday from 11am-7pm

Volleyboo Tournament at Baltimore Beach:  Saturday from 12pm-7pm

Open Play at Baltimore Beach Volleyball:  Sunday from 11am-4pm

The Francis of Assisi Pet Blessing at Riverside Park:  Sunday at 12pm

Hanover Street Hog and Oyster Roast at Blue Grass Tavern:  Sunday from 3pm-6pm

Farmers Markets:

32nd Street Farmers Market in Waverly:  Saturday from 7am-12pm

Fells Point Farmers Market:  Saturday from 730am-12pm

Baltimore Museum of Industry Farmers Market: Saturday from 9am-1pm

Baltimore Farmers Market and Bazaar:  Sunday from 7am-12pm

Have a GREAT weekend!

-SouthBMore.com

With an abundance of construction underway in South Baltimore, let’s take a look at some of the progress.

Horseshoe Baltimore Casino

Baltimore’s first casino, Horseshoe Baltimore, is under construction in between Warner and Russell St. in the Camden Carroll Industrial Area. Hoping to open in the fall of 2014, the $400 million construction project is making great progress. The 4,000-car parking garage has risen to six stories and the casino building has taken shape with walls currently going up.

2 East Wells 

The new South Baltimore development on Wells St., which will feature 153 apartments, 6,000 square feet of retail and a 260-car parking garage, has been under construction since July. The former McCall Warehouse has been demolished and concrete and infrastructure work is now underway with portions of the parking garage and stairwell shafts rising from the ground.

UM BioPark Proton Treatment Center

The University of Maryland Baltimore is nearing completion on their new $200 million, 110,000 square foot Proton Treatment Center at 850 W. Baltimore St. in SoWeBo at the University of Maryland Bio Park. The facility has also landed a 44,000 square foot lease with Cambridge Innovation Center for a soon-to-be-built building at 873 W. Baltimore St.

Camden Crossing

After a multi-year delay, construction has resumed at Pigtown’s Camden Crossing. Two new buildings featuring 13 new townhomes were recently completed, making 129 of the 150 homes in the project finalized with another seven homes currently under construction. Camden Crossing is looking to finish the community in its entirety by end of next year.

Large New Home at 1417 Webster

The former site of a row of garages is currently being cleared for a new 4,000 square foot home at 1417 Webster St. in Riverside. The home will feature five bedrooms, multiple decks and a three car garage. It will be constructed by Westland Management Group, the company that recently built Harbor Square.

1200 Ward

Habitat for Humanity of the Chesapeake’s 1200 Ward in Pigtown is moving along as the new homes have been framed and windows have been installed for the 18-home development. The Ravens have been a major sponsor of the project and helped the project break ground in May. Most of the homes will have three bedrooms, two bathrooms and be approximately 1200-1300 square feet.

Riverside Wharf

The Riverside development on Key Hwy. and Lawrence St. is under construction and making great progress. The parking garage and exterior of the building are in place and windows and exterior brick are currently being installed. Walgreens will be occupying the main floor of the property and developer Caves Valley Partners is currently in discussions to lease all but 4,000-5,000 of the 25,000 square feet of available office space. Walgreens will open in mid-March and the offices in early May.

National Aquarium Environmental Demonstration Area

The National Aquarium is reclaiming a 12.2 acre brownfield on the Middle Branch and turning it into a public park. The area will be transformed into a conservation demonstration park and will feature habitats for migratory birds and native insect populations, a recreational pier and a network of trails. The site design embraces sustainable strategies for storm water, remediation of brownfield conditions, and restoration of the habitat. They are aiming to open the park this spring and are also considering eventually moving their animal care center to the parking lot at the site.

13 Townhomes at Fort Ave. and Race St. 

A church and attached warehouse were recently demolished to make room for 13 new townhomes at Race St. and Fort. Ave. The homes will be up to 3,000 square feet with three to four bedrooms and two car garages. The development will feature three buildings – one on Clarkson featuring four homes, one on Fort Ave. featuring six homes and one behind Fort Ave. featuring three homes. They are hoping to break ground on the new homes in January.

Other Updates

A building was rehabbed on the 1500 block of Ridgely St. in Carroll Camden. Several building improvements have taken place on the 1500 block of Ridgely in the last few years.

The former Lutheran Mission building has been cleared in preparation for the construction of 1200 South Charles.

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Thanks to funding from Domino Sugar, significant improvements are underway at the home of the South Baltimore Little League (SBLL) in Locust Point. Construction is taking place at Field #1 as Turf Center Lawns is installing a new backstop, new covered dugouts and a new fence along the first base line. The construction will be completed in time for opening day in the Spring of 2014.

Unlike many recreational facilities around the city, the little league fields are privately owned by SBLL. The facility, which has been there for more than 56 years, was previously on land owned by Coca-Cola, which had a facility where the Phillips Headquarters is now located. In 1997, Coca-Cola gifted the fields to SBLL.

Because of the private ownership, SBLL has relied on strong relationships with corporate neighbors. Under Armour donates a large amount of money every year that is used for field and landscaping services. They also installed a new scoreboard in the early 2000s. Frank Muher, head of corporate fundraising, also said Harris Teeter has been a wonderful in-season sponsor since their arrival to the neighborhood in late 2011.

2014 will be the 57th season for SBLL. The league hosts about 250 kids from ages 4-12, and up to 30 teams, each year.

It has been an eventful few months for recreational improvements in South Baltimore as SouthBMore.com recently learned of Under Armour’s plans for a turf athletic facility at Latrobe Park, as well the likelihood of Baltimore Beach relocating to an 8-court setup at Swann Park in 2015.

Phase II of the Riverside Park improvements are also planned for the near future, which will likely include the renovation of the basketball courts, the expansion of the softball diamonds and a new dog park.

It was another newsworthy year in South Baltimore with many great headlines, stories and developments. Let’s take a look at some of the top news that shaped 2013 for our area.

#5.  1701 Light Street Seizure 

Concerns about the drug activity at the corner of Light St. and Heath St. in South Baltimore and Riverside were consistently voiced at neighborhood meetings and in the Thomas Johnson Elementary/Middle community. On August 28th, after years of litigation, the State of Maryland took action against 1701 Light St. seizing the property as an owner eviction on a violation of the Drug Nuisance Abatement Law.

A judge decided to award the property to the State of Maryland after a violation of the agreement between the community and the property owner involving the housing of convicted criminals and the use of the back shed for housing. At the time of the eviction, nine people were inside the property including the owner.

The property was auctioned on October 4th for $152,000. A new developer will be rehabbing the existing rowhouse as well as constructing a second home on the property in the near future.

Our article on the seizure was the most read article in SouthBMore.com’s history with more than 4,000 views in its first day of publication.

#4.  Continued Real Estate Development

The real estate industry suffered an epic crash in the late 2000s but, if the amount of investment and construction in this area are any indication, South Baltimore real estate has come surging back. Large real estate projects were announced, started and completed this year and home renovations were seen on almost every block. And, plans were consistently being presented for new projects at neighborhood meetings throughout the year.

Large construction projects began at 2 East Wells, Horseshoe Casino, and Riverside Wharf. Plans were announced for 900 E. Fort Ave. and Key’s Overlook, as well as many smaller townhome projects. Construction also resumed at Camden Crossing, a Pigtown townhome community that experienced a multi-year delay between phases.

#3.  Crossbar Der Biergarten 

On April 3rd, plans for Crossbar Der Biergarten, an authentic German biergarten at 12-18 E. Cross St., were proposed by the Ryleigh’s restaurant group at a meeting at Federal Hill Main Street. The proposed biergarten would replace the former home of Turners/Billabong and the restaurant group was hoping to additionally extend it to 16 and 18 E. Cross St., the former home of Lanasa Produce.

A firestorm of opinions were expressed following this announcement, including editorials for and against the proposal in the Baltimore Business Journal, Baltimore Sun and Baltimore Brew, each leading to even more heated conversations in the comment sections.

With a liquor board approval needed for the expansion, Federal Hill Neighborhood Association (FHNA) and Crossbar were unable to come to an agreement prior to the June 26th Liquor Board hearing. After the three-and-a-half hour hearing, the Baltimore City Liquor Board denied Crossbar from expanding 12-14 E. Cross St. to 12-18 E. Cross St.  FHNA and their attorney Brooke Lierman, now a candidate for Delegate in District 46, also challenged the validity of the liquor license. This was dismissed.

Another proposal was submitted for Crossbar this fall and the Ryleigh’s group and FHNA are in negotiations. The validity of the liquor license was again challenged, this time in circuit court, but was again dismissed.

#2. Horseshoe Casino Underway 

Legislation to allow gaming in Maryland was passed in 2007 and now, six years later, construction for Baltimore City’s first casino, Horseshoe Baltimore, is underway after years of litigation with a prior licensee. The $400 million facility, operated by Caesars Entertainment, will open in Fall 2014 and will be located between Russell St. and Warner St. south of M&T Bank Stadium in the Camden Carroll Industrial Area.

SouthBMore.com was able to cover many developments of this project. This included local groups working to develop an area master plan, the Baltimore Casino Local Development Council working with the mayor on how to spend the local impact funds, local leaders lobbying for area improvements in preparation of the casino, the Baltimore City Police Department working on policing strategies, and more. SouthBMore.com was also able to speak with local politicians on the impact of the casino and provide photo updates of the construction.

As construction moves toward completion, a big story in 2014 will likely be additional real estate developments in the area surrounding Horseshoe Baltimore. Hammerjacks has already announced a $20 million rebirth at nearby Lot N and surrounding old warehouses have become some of the most sought after properties in the area.

#1. The Ravens win the Super Bowl (Photo via Reddit)

If you’ve ever spent a Sunday in South Baltimore during a Ravens home game you know that it’s purple everywhere. Whether it’s a preseason game or a playoff game, the streets are filled with Ravens jerseys and the bars are filled like it’s New Year’s Eve.

The Ravens have been in the playoffs every year of the Harbaugh/Flacco/Rice era, but their January playoff run truly brought an unmatched energy to Federal Hill and the rest of downtown. Fans stormed the Cross St. and Charles St. area after the Ravens upset the Broncos in the divisional round, and even more people fled to the area after the Ravens clinched a Super Bowl appearance with a victory over New England.

During this time, YouTube videos of Ravens fandom received thousands and thousands of views and finding room for your elbow at a local bar was near impossible. There was a spirited Super Bowl sendoff in the Inner Harbor and the Today Show even broadcasted live from Charm City.

In a wild Super Bowl game, the Ravens claimed their second Lombardi Trophy and the excitement in Federal Hill became international news (pictures of the celebration were seen in publications such as The Daily Mail). On a personal note, I’ll never forget running down Charles St. to participate in the celebration and seeing door after door after door on every block fly open, as people exited their homes to celebrate. Minus a dead tree and a dented car or two, good, safe fun was had by Ravens fans of all ages.

The Super Bowl was followed by a victory parade that featured more people in the streets of Baltimore and in M&T Bank Stadium than they could practically fit.

Living in South Baltimore when the Ravens won the Super Bowl is something I’ll never forget and will talk about for the rest of my life. Let’s hope we can do it again soon!

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The real estate industry suffered an epic crash in the late 2000s, but 2013 was clearly another strong year for South Baltimore real estate. This year, large projects were announced, started and later completed. Home renovations were also seen on almost every block (for example, in the case of the 1800 block of Light St. alone, five homes in a six-home cluster were rehabbed!)

Let’s take a look at some of the biggest real estate projects and news from 2013:

Mayor Rawlings-Blake Unveils Plan to Cut Property Taxes: Outside of parking, nothing is more loathed in South Baltimore than the property tax rates in Baltimore City. Mayor Rawlings-Blake is implementing a $.50 (per $1000 of value) property tax break over the next 10 years thus lowering the rate from $2.268 to $1.76. Most jurisdictions in Maryland are around $1.00.

Riverside Wharf Under Construction: This Key Hwy. project, which will be completed in Spring 2014, will feature a 14,000 sq. ft. Walgreens, 25,000 sq. ft. of office space, and a 150-car parking structure. Caves Valley Partners plans to soon announce a tenant that will lease more than 20,000 sq. ft. of the office space.

Carriage Shop Renovated in SoBo: Building Character performed a terrific renovation of a historic building at 37 Birkhead St. in South Baltimore that used to repair and build horse-drawn carriages for years. After a very short time on the market, the property sold for $910,000.

Five Light St. Buildings Renovated in Federal Hill: Five Light St. buildings, which included ten apartments and three retail spaces, were renovated in the heart of the Federal Hill Business District. Zeeba Lounge remained in one of the retail spaces and the other retail spaces currently remain vacant.

Harbor Square Completed: Ten new townhomes were constructed and sold at the corner of Light St. and Marshall St. This development epitomized rising values as the first home sold for $385,000 and the final home of the same model closed at $449,900.

2 East Wells Begins Construction:  This new development continues the revitalization of Wells St., joining 101 Wells and 1901 South Charles. Chesapeake Realty Partners, who also developed 1901 South Charles, got underway on 2 East Wells this year and hopes to have it completed and open by late Fall 2014. The development will feature 153 apartments, 6,000 sq. ft. of retail and a 260-car parking garage.

Continued UM BioPark Redevelopment: The University of Maryland Baltimore is nearing completion on their new $200 million, 110,000 sq. ft. Proton Treatment Center at 850 W. Baltimore St. in SoWeBo at the University of Maryland Bio Park. The facility has also landed a 44,000 sq. ft. lease with Cambridge Innovation Center for a soon-to-be-built building at 873 W. Baltimore St.

Thirteen Townhomes Underway at Race and Fort: Preliminary construction began on a 13 townhome project at the site of a former church and vacant lot bordering Fort Ave., Race St. and Clarkson St. The townhomes are expected to start in the $400,000s.

1200 Ward Under Construction: Construction is underway for Habitat for Humanity of the Chesapeake’s 1200 Ward development in Pigtown. The 18 homes, which were constructed on a vacant lot, are available to buyers who have completed the Habitat for Humanity application and volunteer process.  The Ravens have been a sponsor of this project.

Five New Homes Planned for 40 E. Randall:  Five new townhomes are planned for the site of a 5,600 sq. ft. warehouse at 40 E. Randall. The warehouse has been demolished and construction on the homes is expected to begin in the near future. Update 12/30: Infrastructure work began today.

1201 South Charles Street Underway: 16 new apartments and first floor retail is planned for the former Lutheran Mission property at 1200 S. Charles St. The existing buildings have been demolished and construction is expected to begin in 2014.

Horseshoe Baltimore Under Construction: Baltimore’s first casino, Horseshoe Baltimore, is under construction in between Warner and Russell St. in the Camden Carroll Industrial Area. Hoping to open in the fall of 2014, the $400 million construction project is making great progress. The 4,000-car parking garage has risen to six stories and the casino building has taken shape with walls and windows currently going up.

Camden Crossing Continues: After a multi-year delay, construction has resumed at Pigtown’s Camden Crossing. Two new buildings featuring 13 new townhomes were recently completed, making 129 of the 150 homes in the project finalized with another seven homes currently under construction. Camden Crossing is looking to finish the community in its entirety by end of next year.

Plans Revealed for 900 E. Fort Ave: Locust Point-based Solstice Partners is planning a new $80 million mixed-use project at 900 E. Fort Ave. in Locust Point at a former General Electric site. They are proposing a nine-story mixed-use building including 275 apartments, ground floor restaurants and retail, a rooftop restaurant, and a two-and-a-half level parking garage. Construction is expected to begin in late Summer 2014.

Plans Announced and Later Dissolved for Michael’s at 1000-1006 S. Charles:  A 4,000 sq. ft. Michael’s Cafe was planned for the vacant properties at 1000-1006 S. Charles St. in Federal Hill. However, Michael’s ended their pursuit of this project after failing to reach a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the surrounding neighborhoods. Developer Jake Ruppert is expected to reveal new plans for the site in the near future.

Plans for a New Hammerjacks Announced: As redevelopment is expected to heat up in the area surrounding the new Horseshoe Casino, the first new project has been announced – a $20 million Hammerjacks music venue and sports bar at Lot N. Construction is expected to begin in in early 2014. Space at Lot N has also been reserved for future use as a boutique hotel.

Key’s Overlook Underway: Infrastructure construction has begun at Key’s Overlook, a 53 new-construction townhome development surrounding Silo Point in Locust Point. Townhomes will start in the high $400,000s.

National Aquarium Environmental Demonstration Area Underway: The National Aquarium is reclaiming a 12.2 acre brownfield on the Middle Branch and turning it into a public park. The area will be transformed into a conservation demonstration park and will feature habitats for migratory birds and native insect populations, a recreational pier and a network of trails. They are aiming to open the park this spring and are also considering eventually moving their animal care center to the parking lot at the site.

1500 South Charles Redevelopment Planned: Green Door Properties is planning three new townhomes and the renovation of three existing rowhomes at the site of a former church on the 1500 block of S. Charles St. The property is currently going through the subdivision process with Baltimore City. Green Door is hoping to start the project in the spring of 2014.

Five Townhomes Planned at McCully-Polyniak Property: Green Door Properties, Ray Jackson and Steve Moore are partners in the redevelopment of the recently-sold McCully-Polyniak Funeral Home at 130 E. Fort Ave. The existing building will be torn down and developed into five new townhomes. They are currently going through the subdivision process with Baltimore City and construction is expected in Q1 of 2014.

New Plans for the Pabst Castle?: Once slated to be the home of a brewery and brewery pub, the castle is currently under contract with a buyer hoping to use it as office space, keeping Bumper Globe in place on the western end of the building. SouthBMore.com will keep you posted as more develops.

Baltimore City will be getting its first indoor cycling studio on January 1st when REV Cycle Studio opens at 1718 Whetstone Way at McHenry Row. After two years in the making, fitness enthusiasts and South Baltimore residents Esther Collinetti and Rick Zambrano will be opening their 3,000 sq. ft. boutique fitness center.

REV will offer 45- and 60-minute cycle classes; cycle fusion classes with a 40-minute cycle and 20 minutes of yoga, core or barre; yoga-only classes; and, an option to combine a cycle workout with a cyclist- or runner-specific yoga class. They will also offer leadership seminars and seminars on goal coaching. REV will additionally be partnering with neighbor Charm City Run on half spin/half run workouts, as well as partnering with Key Highway’s Race Pace Bicycles on outdoor rides.

“We started REV Cycle Studio to offer clients a workout for their mind as well as their bodies. We want to inspire people to achieve more than they ever imagined they could,” said Collinetti in a recent press release.

Collinetti had ideas of starting her own cycle studio for many years and that idea became a reality when she found a partner in Zambrano. The duo partnered two years ago, put together a business plan, secured a bank loan and began looking for space. They originally planned to open in a space near the post office in South Baltimore, but those plans fell apart and set the duo back eight months.

They then started looking at spaces in Harbor East, but eventually narrowed their decision down to McHenry Row and Southside Marketplace, ultimately choosing McHenry Row because it had more of the upscale feel they were looking for. They also love that McHenry Row has parking and easy accessibility to major highways and Key Hwy.

Collinetti described the studio to SouthBMore.com as a combination of rustic and macho, yet soft. The theater-style studio will feature Schwinn AC Performance Plus stationary bikes, a yoga space, and four showers and three powder rooms. The studio will have 15 cycling instructors, including Collinetti and Zambrano, and will employ five front desk employees.

Born in Nigeria and a former native of Chile, Collinetti has 14 years of progressive group fitness experience in diverse facilities, including university recreation centers, private health clubs, resort fitness clubs, and corporate fitness establishments. As a frequent and active traveler, Collinetti has taught fitness classes in Australia, France, Nigeria and Jamaica. Collinetti is fluent in English, French, Spanish and Italian, and says she would love the opportunity to teach a class in Spanish at the studio one day.

Zambrano, a telecommunications executive and long- time fitness enthusiast, has competed in multiple U.S.-based and international fitness events, including ultramarathons, triathlons and Iron Man races.

Photos courtesy of REV Cycle Studio’s Facebook page.