Francis Scott Key Elementary Middle School PTO Release:

Here is a great chance to support a local school and have some fun at the same time. Francis Scott Key Elementary Middle School is having it’s 3rd annual Pasta Palooza.

Pasta Palooza is a family friendly event featuring food, drink, DJ dance party, silent auction and other raffle items. It will be held on Friday, March 10th at the Knights of Columbus in Locust Point. The food will be catered by Our House, also located in Locust Point.
Children under 4 are free.

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Welcome to Mid-Week Listing! Each week SouthBMore.com will showcase a home on the market listed between $250,000 and $500,000. 

This 1,640 sq. ft. Locust Point rowhome includes a brick fireplace, a large dining room, a breakfast bar, hardwood floors, a back patio, and a rooftop deck connected to a third-story lounge with a wetbar.

1324 Hull Street
Locust Point      
Price: $374,500
Tax: $6,879
2 BD/2.5 BA
1,640 sq. ft.
Off Street Parking: No

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Five South Baltimore fitness businesses are teaming up to host the Baltimore Fitness Biathlon to raise money for Athletes Serving Athletes (ASA). Taking place on Saturday, March 25th, attendees will have the opportunity to participate in back-to-back fitness classes at various fitness facilities in South Baltimore. Participants can take part in The Classic, which is a bike and run combo; The Calorie Torcher, which is a bike and kickboxing combo; or The Live Music event, which is a HIIT and yoga combo.

The biathlon was created by Locust Point resident Faith Albert and Parking Panda Co-Founder Nick Miller after they were brainstorming fundraising ideas for ASA. Baltimore-based ASA helps disabled individuals of all ages compete in running events, triathlons, and more by partnering with a fellow athlete. All of the proceeds for the biathlon will go to ASA.

South Baltimore gyms Fort Ave Fitness, Knockout Fitness, Reflex Functional Fitness, and Rev Cycle Studio are donating classes for the event, and Charm City Run Baltimore is organizing the runs. Albert told SouthBMore.com that it was very easy to get the businesses on board and thanks them for their “incredible response.” Additional sponsors include Gouter, Jacks + Javi, and True Lemon.

The event runs from 2pm to 4pm and is followed by a celebration with the sponsors. “It’s a great opportunity to meet people, learn about ASA, and try out great local products,” said Albert.

Participants can sign up at BaltimoreFitnessBiathlon.com.

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Piaza, located in Locust Point’s McHenry Row, was sold to a new restaurant operator and will close on March 24th. Owner David Crocetti told SouthBMore.com that he can’t say who the new owner is but that the restaurant will not remain a Piaza. All of Piaza’s equipment, as well as its liquor license, will be transferred in the sale. Crocetti said the operator wanted the space and liquor license because of its location in this “growing area.”

Crocetti told SouthBMore.com he was not looking to sell but this “attractive opportunity” presented itself. He said he was excited about the future of McHenry Row and Locust Point, which has a new apartment building under construction, and a new hotel and office building coming soon. He was also looking forward to the completion of Anthem House which is under construction a block away from McHenry Row.

Crocetti owns four Sonic restaurants, including one in South Baltimore, and is in the process of opening another one. He also owns Piaza’s other location in Berlin, MD and is in the process of opening another Piaza in Delaware. Crocetti said he will use the proceeds from the sale of the Piaza in McHenry Row toward his new businesses, and noted that selling his McHenry Row liquor license will allow him to apply for a liquor license in Berlin.

All of the employees at Piaza will be able to work at one of Crocetti’s Sonic locations.

Crocetti told SouthBMore.com that he has enjoyed his time in Locust Point where he was able to develop many new offerings including wings, burgers, and calzones. He said his future Piaza restaurants will be full-service restaurants with a bar and not order-down-the-line, fast-causal restaurants like the McHenry Row location, although the menu will remain mostly the same. More than 30 “fast-pizza” restaurant opened, and have since closed, in Maryland in recent years, according to Crocetti. He said it requires very high foot traffic to be a sustainable business. He is looking forward to developing Piaza’s new format.

“To those who love our food, you have two weeks left to get some,” said Crocetti.

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Welcome to Mid-Week Listing! Each week SouthBMore.com will showcase a home on the market listed between $250,000 and $500,000. 

This charming two-bedroom rowhome in Locust Point is a block from Latrobe Park and features stained glass, exposed brick, hardwood floors, chair molding, granite countertops, a large bathroom, a finished basement, and a back patio.

1422 Reynolds Street
Locust Point      
Price: $285,000
Tax: $4,312
2 BD/1.5 BA
900 sq. ft.
Off Street Parking: No

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Real estate development is always very active in Locust Point as many former industrial sites are converted to residential and mixed-use developments.

Check out the progress of projects currently under construction:

Anthem House – Locust Point: 275 Apartments, 19,000 sq. ft. of retail 

Bozzuto, War Horse, and Solstice Partners began construction on Anthem House in February 2015 at a former GE Electric Site at 900 E. Fort Ave. in Locust Point. The $80 million project will include 275 apartments, 449 parking spaces, 14,000 sq. ft. of ground floor retail, as well as 5,000 sq. ft. of rooftop/sky lounge retail space. The project is nearing completion. No retail tenants have been announced at this time.

Anthem House II is expected to begin construction this year at the former Rallo’s parking lot across the street on Lawrence St. The five-story apartment building will have 52 apartments.

McHenry Row II Apartments – Locust Point: 224 Apartments

28 Walker Development continues to grow McHenry Row with a new 224-unit apartment building, which is currently under construction. It is occupying the parking lots and space created from the demolition of a former cold storage facility at the old Phillips Headquarters. A 600-car garage was recently constructed, and a new office building and hotel have been proposed.

Additionally, in Phase II of McHenry Row, 28 Walker has proposed new six-story, 110,000 sq. ft. office building and an eight-story, 119-room Marriott hotel at the site of a parking lot east of the Harris Teeter.

Key’s Overlook Phase II – Locust Point: 25 townhomes

Phase 2 of the project, which will includes 25 homes and a small plaza on the lot northwest of Silo Point, has been completed. Key’s Overlook has 53 homes total.

Alta47 – Locust Point: 47 townhomes

Construction has started at Alta47, a project which will bring 47 new-construction townhomes with garages to the former Perishable Deliveries Inc. (PDI) site at 1520 Beason St. in Locust Point. The site was once a public library prior to PDI. The site of the development includes properties on the 1500 and 1600 blocks of Beason St. as well as the 1500 block of Cuba St. PDI recently relocated to Halethorpe. The project team is Bozzuto and War Horse.

Infrastructure work and framing on the first row of townhomes is currently in process. An official groundbreaking for this community will take place in April.

Marked Screen Shot from Google Maps

Former Catholic Community of South Baltimore Properties

Two large rowhomes on large lots at 1422 and 1424 Hull St. are currently under renovation. The properties were previously owned and used by the Catholic Community of South Baltimore.

Before picture from MRIS

Mural Revealed During Renovation 

A home at 1500 E. Fort Ave. is currently getting renovated by CL Ventures. During the removal of the formstone, a mural was revealed for The Barn Restaurant in Glen Burnie which burned down more than 40 years ago.

There are currently many additional rowhome renovations happening in Locust Point.

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The Greene Turtle at McHenry Row has accepted a buyout and will close at the end of the month. The Greene Turtle, which has 22 locations in Maryland, was an original tenant of McHenry Row when it opened in 2012.

The Greene Turtle released the following statement:

The Greene Turtle is closing its McHenry Row restaurant at 1606 Whetstone Way, effective March 31. The corporately owned restaurant opened in February 2012. We have been proud of the opportunity to serve residents and visitors at McHenry Row over the past five years. However, we have accepted an offer to vacate the space from the landlord/developer, who is making other plans for this retail location.

We are exploring the possibility of opening another site in the area. In the meantime, we invite Greene Turtle fans to visit our five other restaurants in the Baltimore area, located in Fells Point, Hunt Valley, Owings Mills, Towson and White Marsh, any of our 22 other locations in Maryland, or our additional restaurants in Delaware, New Jersey, New York, Virginia, West Virginia and Washington, D.C. McHenry Row-based members of the GT Mug Club can collect their Greene Turtle mugs at the restaurant anytime before the close of business on March 31; their membership will be honored at any of our 45 other locations.

We wish to express our deep appreciation to the McHenry Row community for their support, and we look forward to welcoming them into one of our other locations soon.

The Greene Turtle at McHenry Row downsized in 2015 from its original 7,000 sq. ft. space when Piaza opened its 2,000 sq. ft. location in a space that was formerly part of The Greene Turtle’s restaurant. Piaza also recently accepted a buyout and will close on March 24th. Piaza owner David Crocetti told SouthBMore.com that he was not looking to sell but this “attractive opportunity” presented itself.

Sarah Slosson of 28 Walker, McHenry Row’s owner, told SouthBMore.com that the new operator of the spaces will be announced in the next couple of weeks.

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Catholic Community of South Baltimore Release:

SIP  |  SAMPLE  |  SOCIAL

A FUNDRAISER FOR THE CATHOLIC COMMUNITY OF SOUTH BALTIMORE

Come celebrate Maryland Day with our Maryland Sponsors! 

Saturday, March 25, 2017    5-9pm   Our Lady of Good Counsel   1532 E. Fort Avenue
Tickets and more information available at: www.southbaltcatholic.org.

SIP:  Beer from Key Brewing Co., Whiskey from Sagamore Spirit and Maryland wines.

SAMPLE: Food from Knockout Nutrition, Pizza di Joey and Bakery Express.

SOCIAL:  Neighbors. Kids. Parishioners. Raffles.

We will be holding a raffle to raise money for our outreach programs and aging facilities. Each Chance is $20; there are only 40 Chances sold for each item. Those are great odds!  Raffle items include:

• Two Tickets to The Supper Chef Competition (Value $600)
• Knockout Fitness Grand Package (Value $420)
• Sagamore Spirit – Private Tour & Tasting for 4 and 3 Bottles (Value: $200)
• Turf Valley: Two One-Hour Lessons and 18 Holes Foursome (Value: $300)
• Maryland Historical Society & Morton’s Steakhouse (Value: $210)
• One Week in Ocean City (Value: $900) 
• Share in One Straw Farm Veggies (Value: $650)
• Knockout Fitness TEN-Pack (Value $350)
• Gift Cards Grab Bag (Value: >$250)
• 50/50 Cash Raffle (Value: $400)

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Today, Iron Rooster was announced as the new tenant of McHenry Row in Locust Point. It will open this summer in the soon-to-close The Greene Turtle and Piaza spaces that total 7,000 sq. ft. The Greene Turtle downsized in 2015 from its original 7,000 sq. ft. space when Piaza opened its 2,000 sq. ft. location in a space that was formerly part of The Greene Turtle’s restaurant.

Approximately 100 full and part-time employees are expected to work at the McHenry Row location.

Iron Rooster opened its first location in Annapolis almost three years ago, opened a location in Canton in 2015, and a location in Hunt Valley in 2016. Iron Rooster focuses on “breakfast all day” with dishes including fried chicken and waffles, homemade pop tarts, benedicts, omelets, pancakes, waffles, and French toast. Traditional lunch and dinner entrées include sandwiches such as pulled pork, as well as country fried meatloaf, chicken pot pie, and shrimp and grits.

“Our breakfast-all-day concept is approachable and creates differentiation and separation from other restaurants,” said Kyle Algaze, founder and COO of Iron Rooster in a press release. “We chose McHenry Row because the surrounding area impresses us as a tight-knit community that enjoys great food and supports small businesses. As evidenced by our other locations, we intend to be extremely active in and supportive of the local community. Baltimore is extremely prideful. We are energized by that trait and we constantly search for ways to become engaged with residents and businesses.”

“Our customers know and appreciate the fact that they can order French toast at 7 or 8 pm in the evening,” Algaze continued. “In addition, we specialize in Southern comfort food, so they can expect large portions, which we believe is the magic formula for building and maintaining customer loyalty.”

“Although located only a short distance from our Canton Crossing location, we believe the Fort McHenry Tunnel is the great divider and that we will be able to create separate audiences at McHenry Row. We are able to expand because we have great people, which creates opportunities. We want to become a cornerstone in the community,” he added.

Iron Rooster has been named by the reservation website Open Table as one of the Top 100 Brunch Restaurants in the Country, and was also included in a list compiled by The Baltimore Sun for the Top 10 Brunches in Baltimore.

“Attracting locally-owned restaurants to our projects such as Iron Rooster advances our goal of creating one-of-a-kind environments, and avoids the cookie cutter tenant approach,” said Mark Sapperstein of 28 Walker Development. “Iron Rooster employs a proven concept with its breakfast-all-day menu, and the ownership has demonstrated its ability to achieve success in different venues. This is a significant win for local residents, business people, and visitors to the City.”

In a statement last week, The Greene Turtle announced it is exploring the possibility of opening another site in the area and thanked the area for its support over the past five years. The Greene Turtle has 22 additional locations.

Piaza owner David Crocetti told SouthBMore.com that he was not looking to sell but this “attractive opportunity” presented itself. Crocetti owns four Sonic restaurants, including one in South Baltimore, and is in the process of opening another one. He also owns Piaza’s other location in Berlin, MD and is in the process of opening another Piaza in Delaware. Crocetti said he will use the proceeds from the sale of the Piaza in McHenry Row toward his new businesses, and noted that selling his McHenry Row liquor license will allow him to apply for a liquor license in Berlin.

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Sponsored Post:

Welcome to Mid-Week Listing! Each week SouthBMore.com will showcase a home on the market listed between $250,000 and $500,000.

1450 Cooksie Street
Locust Point     
Price: $369,000
Tax: $6,593 (with CHAP Tax Credit only about half this amount is paid for next 7 years)
2 BD/2.5 BA
1,248 sq. ft.
Off Street Parking: Yes
Rooftop Deck: Yes
Basement: No (crawl space for storage)

This bright and sunny end-of-group home features high-end custom finishes including hardwood floors, a large kitchen, 2 cozy bedrooms and 2.5 bathrooms, parking, rooftop deck and basement crawl space for additional storage. Best of all, this home has a CHAP Tax Credit for the next 7 years, which saves THOUSANDS of dollars/annually and makes the home very affordable!

For more information or a showing contact:

Charlotte Eyring
Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices
443-722-8529
Ceyring@homesale.com

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Welcome to Rental Spotlight where SouthBMore.com showcases unique rental properties in South Baltimore, from rowhouses to high-rise apartments. Do you have a rental you’d like featured on Rental Spotlight? Contact Mary Wargo at Mary@southbmore.com.

This three-bedroom Locust Point townhome features a one-car garage, a rooftop deck, a back patio, lots of natural light, hardwood floors, a large kitchen, a bonus room, and luxury finishes.

1301 Towson Street
Locust Point  
Price: $3,400/month
-3 BD/2.5 BA
2,495 sq. ft.
Off Street Parking: Yes

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A year and a half ago Laura Getty was looking to join a book club in South Baltimore but instead ended up starting her own. Today, the SoBo Book Club has a Facebook Group with 170 members and about 50 monthly participants. SouthBMore.com caught up with Getty to learn about this club and how it came to be.

How did the SoBo Book Club get started?

SoBo Book Club started with a simple post in the South Baltimore Community Facebook group. About a year and a half ago, I asked if anyone had a book club in the neighborhood that I could join, and I ended up receiving private messages from 60 people who were also interested in joining a book club. There was an obvious void in SoBo so I collected everyone’s contact information, sent out an email, and the SoBo Book Club was born!

When and where does the SoBo Book Club meet?

We meet monthly, and offer four different sessions: Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday evenings at 7pm, or Sunday morning brunch. The club is designed so that if you can’t make a certain session one month, you can go to one of the other sessions and fit right in. Each group meets at a restaurant in SoBo to support local businesses. We start our meetings on the second Tuesday of each month.

What type of books do you read and how do you decide?

Each of the four sessions rotates choosing the book for the next month. For example, Tuesday night will decide which book the entire club will read the next month, and the following month, Wednesday will choose. Whatever session you attend, you can suggest book options and vote. Traditionally, we have read mostly fiction, but there are no rules!

What are the discussions like?

Depending on the book, discussions are usually pretty tame and respectful, but everyone has varying opinions based on their own experiences. Certain members will relate to one character and not another, and it is fascinating for everyone to share their point of view. We usually spend time discussing the book, but also make time to catch-up on our personal lives.

What are the social aspects of the SoBo Book Club?

SoBo Book Club provides the opportunity to meet in a social setting, enjoy good food and drinks, converse about an interesting book, and most importantly, make new friends! In addition to our monthly meetings, we also have quarterly events. We’ve hosted happy hours, attended book festivals in the city, and gone to see movies based on books that we’ve read. Many people have forged lifelong friendships that now extend outside book club.

How can neighbors join?

Anyone is welcome by joining The Official South Baltimore Book Club group on Facebook. We post the monthly and quarterly events on this page.

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Sagamore Development has broken ground on the second phase of its planned bike path in Port Covington. The bike path will ultimately stretch from West Covington Park along Cromwell St. to E. McComas St. near Key Hwy. It will run in front of the Sagamore Spirit distillery which opens this week.

Sagamore was granted a partial permit in late March to begin the second phase of bike path construction from Port Covington Dr. to McComas St. The second phase includes 0.7 miles of a partially-protected, on-street cycle track along Cromwell St., which will add to Baltimore City’s 4.5 miles of total existing on-street cycle track. Construction on the second phase of the bike path officially began on April 5th and is projected to be completed this summer.

Phase I of the bike path project began earlier this year. This initial portion starts at W. McComas St. at Hanover St.,  just east of Schuster Concrete near Swann Park, and  continues south, running parallel to Hanover St. next to the former site of Atlantic Forest Products. It connects with City Garage and West Covington Park along W. Dickman St.

A stretch of the path will be constructed with an innovative material that will absorb sunlight during the day and emit a glow at night.

The path will eliminate cyclists and pedestrians having to use Hanover St. to get to attractions such as West Covington Park, Nick’s Fish House, Under Armour’s growing Port Covington campus, and Sagamore Spirit. Hanover St. has been criticized by many in the area for lacking pedestrian friendliness. This has been a key aspect of Sagamore’s proposed redevelopment of Hanover St. and Baltimore City Department of Transportation’s Hanover Street Corridor Study, which is ongoing.

Construction on Phase I will also be completed this summer.

Both Phase I and II of the bike path network are funded entirely by Sagamore Development and not by any public or Tax Increment Financing (TIF) bonds.

“We are excited to be nearing completion of Phase I of bike path construction and underway with the second phase of the bike path, which will connect South Baltimore, City Garage and West Covington Park to points east of Hanover and eventually to Key Highway,” said Caroline Paff, vice president of Sagamore Development, in a press release. “These much-needed multi-modal improvements will increase accessibility of Port Covington for recreational and commuting riders of all skill levels, and make an important public connection to the renewed waterfront at West Covington Park.”

The path is part of Sagamore’s 266-acre Port Covington Master Plan which will include a network of bike lanes, bridges, and trails. Other public space improvements, including landscaping improvements and a new mural, have also been completed at Port Covington.

Sagamore Development is part of Plank Industries which is the larger entity that manages all the Sagamore brands and is owned by Under Armour Founder and CEO Kevin Plank.

Photos Courtesy of Sagamore Development 

Renderings from Sagamore Development 

(Click to Enlarge)

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Baltimore-transplant Ally Vitale is excited to bring her favorite fitness routine to Baltimore. While living in her hometown of Dallas, she became a fan of taking barre classes at The Bar Method after a heart condition diagnosis ended her marathon running career. After her husband was transferred to Baltimore, she decided to open Baltimore’s first The Bar Method, which now has 106 studios around the country.

The Bar Method is a ballet bar exercise class consisting of a warmup, bar exercises, pilates-style abdominal work, and stretching, according to Vitale. The Bar Method will offer 45- and 60-minute classes. “All of our trainers go through vigorous training and we know how to work with people with injuries,” said Vitale. “Barre is safe and effective, and anyone can come in off the street and participate.”

The Bar Method Baltimore has been leasing a temporary space in Upper Fells Point for almost a year, but will be opening a permanent 3,000 sq. ft. studio at the soon-to-be-finished Anthem House at 900 E. Fort Ave. in Locust Point. The first-level space will feature two studio rooms with soft carpeting and ballet bars, large windows, showers, and a childcare area. Vitale is hoping to open the new studio in late summer or early fall after Labor Day.

The $80-million Anthem House project will include 292 apartments, 449 parking spaces, and 14,000 sq. ft. of ground floor retail. The project is a partnership between Bozzuto, War Horse, and Solstice Partners.

In looking for a permanent space, Vitale eyed new construction projects that would allow for the right layout and that had parking. “The timing worked out with Anthem House and the community Bozzuto and War Horse are building is a natural fit. We knew it was the space for us,” she said. Vitale noted the importance of having showers for individuals who come during work, and childcare for parents looking to get in a workout without worrying about getting a sitter.

Classes will be offered throughout the day from early morning into the evening. Single- and 12-month memberships will be available, as well as class packages.

The Bar Method has seven instructors and will be hiring desk and childcare staff. Vitale expects to have 15 to 20 employees.

“We are very excited to be in the South Baltimore community and look forward to officially bring The Bar Method to Baltimore,” said Vitale.

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Under Armour Adds Wichita State

Wichita State University, a recent basketball power out of Kansas, has partnered with Under Armour. From an April 17th Wichita State press release:

Wichita State University today announced a new partnership with Under Armour (NYSE: UA, UAA). The Baltimore-based global leader in performance footwear, apparel and equipment will become the official outfitter of Wichita State University beginning July 1, 2017.

As part of the eight-year agreement, Under Armour will provide on-field and training gear for 15 varsity sports. Additionally, Under Armour will outfit members of the athletic department including coaches and staff.

The agreement between the university and brand will include baseball, women’s basketball and golf in 2017-18, men’s basketball and cross country/track in 2018-19 men’s and women’s tennis in 2019-20 and volleyball and softball in 2020-21.

Also from the release:

Wichita State University joins the growing Under Armour roster of NCAA partners that includes UCLA, University of California, Berkeley, University of Wisconsin, University of Notre Dame, Naval Academy Athletic Association, University of Maryland, Texas Tech University, Northwestern University, University of Cincinnati, Boston College, University of Utah, University of South Carolina and Auburn University.

Photo Courtesy of Wichita State University

New Bar at Bookmakers 

Federal Hill’s Bookmakers is opening a second-story cocktail bar called Grey Ghost. From Baltimore Business Journal:

The bar, called Grey Ghost, is named after famed thoroughbred Native Dancer’s nickname.

Ben Circelli, general manager at Bookmakers, said they have always had the upstairs and used it for big events when needed, but decided it was time to make use of the roughly 1,100 square feet. Bookmakers debuted in 2014.

The new bar is expected to launch by the end of April.

Also from the article:

Grey Ghost will have a different look and vibe than Bookmakers. The space will only be open on Fridays and Saturdays with normal dinner service from 5-9 p.m. Afterwards, the space will have its own unique drink menu.

Muir’s Tavern Block Party for Thomas Johnson 

Muir’s Tavern at 36 E. Fort Ave. is hosting its annual block party on May 13th from 1pm to 7pm. The proceeds will go to Thomas Johnson Elementary Middle School. Tickets cost $20 and include a t-shirt. The party will feature a live band, DJ, food, drinks, and raffles.

Baltimore Makes Lists 

It’s been an up-and-down month for Baltimore when it comes to internet lists.  Baltimore was rated as Travel + Leisure’s Least Attractive City survey in 2016. From the article:

Readers love Baltimore for its revitalized inner harbor, and its beautiful historic sites—such as the Beaux Arts Pennsylvania Station, one of 65,000 local buildings on the National Historic Register. But while the city itself is photogenic to the core, Americans think its citizens are less so. Baltimore has slipped down the list from its No. 4 spot, and now has the sad honor of being America’s least attractive city in this year’s survey. Residents shouldn’t take the news badly, though. They’re passionate enough about their hometown sports teams to minimize any potential hurt feelings.

But, Travel + Leisure did rate the George Peabody Library at Johns Hopkins University as one of the Most Beautiful College Libraries in America.

Baltimore was also named one of Conde Nast Traveler’s 6 U.S. Cities to Watch in 2017. From the article:

To know Baltimore is to venture beyond its overcrowded, often underwhelming Inner Harbor area. Head east of the tourist traps, and you’ll find Fell’s Point, a quaint, sett-stone neighborhood dating back to the 1760s. Its imposing Recreation Pier building, once an early 20th-century destination for social events, has been converted into the stately, 128-room Sagamore Pendry Baltimore, the lovechild of Under Armour founder (and Maryland native) Kevin Plank and Montage International—here, you’ll find rooms lined with warm wooden millwork and the odd leather settee, plus water views. Throw in the hotel’s Rec Pier Chop House, helmed by chef Andrew Carmellini, where you and a friend can tuck into a 28-day dry-aged Porterhouse, and you’ve got your evening cut out for you. Plus, Baltimore’s bike share program launched last October, making it all too easy to find yourself in the city’s Little Italy, where a plate of pasta at Café Gia and a fresh cannoli from Vaccaro’s Italian Pastry Shop are just within reach. Looking for a day trip? Try the Guinness Brewery, which will open in the nearby town of Relay come October.

ProjectSpace Comes to Federal Hill

From a Parking Authority of Baltimore City (PABC) press release:

Mayor Catherine E. Pugh and the Parking Authority of Baltimore City (PABC), in partnership with the Mayor’s Office on Disabilities, announced today that Phase 3 of ProjectSPACE, the parking program aimed at combatting the abuse of disability placards, creating reserved, accessible on-street parking for people with disabilities, and making more available parking for everyone, will launch in Federal Hill on April 17, 2017. As in Phases 1 and 2, the third phase will require all people parking on-street to pay the parking meter, including vehicles displaying disability placards or tags.

“I’m excited that people with disabilities will soon have the accessible parking spaces they need to be able to enjoy Federal Hill,” said Mayor Pugh.

As part of ProjectSPACE, Phase 3 reserves 24 on-street parking spaces for vehicles displaying disability placards or tags. Each space will be equipped with a single-space parking meter that meets the newest Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA) guidelines. Additionally, the card readers and coin drops of 57 multi-space EZ Park meters throughout Federal Hill will be lowered to meet the most-current ADA standards. The meters will provide people with disabilities equal access to on-street metered parking. Meters that meet the ADA standards are marked with the universal accessibility logo. Payment will be required after April 17 at all accessible meters. The cost to park will be the same for everyone, including those using a disability placard or tags. As in previously launched Phases 1 and 2, all time limits for on-street parking spaces within the area will increase to four hours to give people with disabilities additional time to get to and from their destination.

ProjectSPACE is part of an ongoing, long-term solution to a major parking problem in Baltimore City. Current policy in all areas of the city except for the Central Business District (Phase 1) and the Fells Point and Harbor East neighborhoods (Phase 2) allows individuals displaying a disability placard or license plates to park on-street at meters free of charge. This often results in illegal use by motorists parking for long periods of time and thefts of disability placards. Disability placards were the number one item stolen out of motor vehicles before ProjectSPACE Phase 1. By removing the financial incentive to park on-street free of charge in Federal Hill, PABC anticipates increased parking turnover similar to the effect Phases 1 and 2 have had on parking in the Central Business District, Fells Point and Harbor East neighborhoods. Ultimately, ProjectSPACE makes it easier for everyone to find an available parking space in Baltimore City.

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The following article was written by Ellen Worthing, a 28-year Locust Point resident.

Locust Point Has An Orchard!

Early last year I was reading an article in the Chesapeake Bay Journal about an organization which was planting fruit trees in Baltimore City neighborhoods. On a whim I visited the Baltimore Orchard Project‘s website and filled out its form. “Why not?” I thought. Locust Point is a city neighborhood and should fit the criteria. Less than a week later I received a response from Eric Sargent, the Baltimore Orchard Project Planting Coordinator, suggesting he visit Latrobe Park to see if there was opportunity for an orchard planting.

Eric and I took a look at the forested berm area at the south end of the park. The berm was created in the early 1980s as a sound barrier for the newly built highway. The State Highway Administration used the dredge removed from the bay when it constructed the Baltimore Harbor Tunnel to create a 30-foot-high ridge. If you look close enough, the berm resembles the salt piles at the North Locust Point Marine Terminal. The city planted a few pines dispersed sporadically on the berm in the early 1990s and then let nature take its course. Since then, a delightfully lush forest has sprung up unassisted. The berm is awash in Callery pear trees, mulberry trees, black locusts, alders and a willow oak. On the west end there is a grove of black walnut trees and a sycamore.

This area turns out was the exact environment that is perfect for the native tree plantings available from the Baltimore Orchard Project. I watched Eric expertly take a soil sample and waited for the report. Good news, the Latrobe Park soil was ideal! Eric recommended five tree species for our park:

Paw-Paw: This fruiting tree will grow to 15 feet tall. This native fruit will taste of pear, peach and banana.

American Hazelnut: The tasty nuts are highly prized by cooks for their easy-to-crack shells and small, sweet kernel. Squirrels love them as well … most likely for the same reasons.

Service Berry: The berries will be similar to blue berries and great from making pie. The trees will grown up to 25 feet high. We’ll be competing with the birds for these berries!

American Persimmon: These trees will be our largest fruit tree. The fruits will taste like dried apricots.

Black Locust:  A locust tree for Locust Point. These trees attract pollinators although don’t provide any fruit.

I spoke to Greg Sileo, Locust Point Civic Association (LPCA) President, about the potential for this project in our neighborhood. He suggested I make use of the LPCA mini-grant program to get some funding to help pay for the trees and consulting assistance from the Orchard Project. Eric graciously provided two presentations for the program over the last few months, one for the LPCA Board and general membership. Then we headed to Baltimore City Recreation and Parks for approval of our plan. Eric recommended we plant at the berm’s west end behind Francis Scott Key Elementary Middle School.

On April 29, 2017 we finally had everything in place to initiate the Latrobe Park Orchard planting. Volunteers from the US Airforce, the Burns and Wilcox Insurance Group, and the Marines assisted in digging holes, adding compost, planting the trees, adding stakes, and netting.

The 14 trees will have to be pruned and allowed to flourish for two to four years before they are ready to bear edible fruit. At that point, if you can pick it, you can eat it. Bon Appétit .

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Baltimore-native Gino Kozera is opening Amber, a restaurant focused on coffee and craft beer, in a 2,000 sq. ft. space at the soon-to-be-finished Anthem House at 900 E. Fort Ave. in Locust Point. Construction on the space will begin in July and Kozera is hoping to open the restaurant in the Fall.

Kozera was a partner at Pierpoint in Fells Point in the 199os and later worked for Panera Bread from 1999 to 2015. During his tenure at Panera, Kozera helped the company expand to Maryland and later helped to run the Philadelphia market. He decided it was time to get back to a more boutique setting and began looking in Baltimore for a site to open a new restaurant about a year and half ago. “I’ve come full circle,” Kozera told SouthBMore.com. “I started in local small business and have done large scale, and now it’s time to get back to something boutique.”

Kozera told SouthBMore.com that Panera taught him a lot about working with people and building a business.

Amber will have an entrance and outdoor seating on Fort Ave., as well as an entrance that connects to the lobby of Anthem House. Customers will be able to gather at the restaurant in its dining and bar area, as well as sit down in Anthem House’s lobby. “The building is totally first class and upscale,” he said. “It’s not just a great living space, it encompasses a lifestyle. Plus the retail mix will make it a destination.”

Amber will open every day at 630am serving coffee and espressos from Annapolis-based Ceremony Coffee Roasters as well as breakfast dishes, pastries, muffins, and bagels. Kozera, who will be hiring a chef, described the lunch and dinner menu as “American light fare.” Amber will feature 40 beers on tap with a focus on regional selections. Customers will also be able to fill growlers.

Amber will have full-service dining but customers will also be able to walk in and order some items quickly to go. The bar at Amber will have televisions playing local sports. Depending on the day, Amber will likely close between 10pm and 12am.

Amber gets its name from the color of beer and coffee, but it also represents light and energy, according to Kozera.

Kozera expects to hire about 20 employees.

The $80-million Anthem House project will include 292 apartments, 449 parking spaces, and 14,000 sq. ft. of ground floor retail. The project is a partnership between Bozzuto, War Horse, and Solstice Partners. The leasing office recently opened and tenants will begin moving into Anthem House in June.

The Bar Method has also been recently announced as a retail tenant at Anthem House. It will be opening a 3,000 sq. ft. fitness studio.

Rendering Courtesy of The Bozzuto Group

Photos of the Anthem House Lobby Courtesy of Andrea Stein

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Welcome to Rental Spotlight where SouthBMore.com showcases unique rental properties in South Baltimore, from rowhouses to high-rise apartments. Do you have a rental you’d like featured on Rental Spotlight? Contact Mary Wargo at Mary@southbmore.com.

This Locust Point apartment features exposed brick, hardwood and tile floors, modern bathrooms, a high-end kitchen with a breakfast bar, a walk-in closet, a third-story deck, multiple living rooms, and optional garage parking.

1359 Hull Street #A
Locust Point    
Price: $2,650/month
-2 BD/2 BA
2,000+ sq. ft.
Off Street Parking: Optional garage parking for extra $150/month.

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Two New Nail Salons Open on Fort Ave. 

Nails & Spa opened at 824 E. Fort Ave. in Riverside. The first floor retail space was previously a residence.

Herbal Nails Organic Salon has opened at 300 E. Fort Ave. in Federal Hill. The retail space was previously vacant.

Citelighter Acquired, Closes Locust Point Office

EdTech company Citlighter, which began at Federal Hill’s Betamore and opened an office at The Foundry on Fort Ave. in Locust Point, has been acquired by Hunt Valley’s Sylvan Learning and has closed its office, according Baltimore Business Journal:

The Hunt Valley-based chain of supplemental learning centers announced Thursday it purchased Citelighter for an undisclosed price. Emily Levitt, vice president of education for Sylvan Learning, said the company will only retain one of Citelighter’s employees. Citelighter had at least 16 employees, according to the company’s website.

Also from the article:

Levitt said acquiring Citelighter’s software will allow Sylvan to improve its offerings at its education centers, and will open up the door to more partnerships with school systems. Citelighter already had established partnerships with 45 different school districts. She added that Citelighter’s software will be incorporated into Sylvan’s 2018 curriculum, which is due out later this year.

Sagamore Development Brings Lacrosse Clinic to Cherry Hill

The team at Sagamore Development has been teaching kids the game of lacrosse during clinics held in the Cherry Hill neighborhood of South Baltimore. From a press release:

Beginning on April 5, Sagamore Development Company started holding lacrosse clinics each Wednesday at the athletic fields at New Era Academy in the Cherry Hill neighborhood of South Baltimore. The clinics, which are held free-of-charge, are designed for boys and girls in South Baltimore who are interested in learning about the game of lacrosse.

With organizational support from South Baltimore community leaders including Raheem Brown, founder of the Cherry Hill Eagles Foundation, the first four lacrosse clinics have received an overwhelmingly positive response. Clinics have drawn as many as 40 children, including boys and girls ranging in ages from 8 to 12 years old.

Clinics are expected to run through the spring and Sagamore Development is continuing to encourage children in South Baltimore to participate.

SDC employees who have volunteered to lead the clinics include: Matt Rienzo, former men’s lacrosse assistant coach and All-American at Georgetown University; Justin George, former captain of Duke University’s men’s lacrosse team; and, Jenna Mosketti, former co-captain of the Penn State University women’s lacrosse team.

Charm City Youth Lacrosse also hosts a free lacrosse clinic at Carroll Park in Pigtown. Inside Lacrosse recently produced a video about the program and a recent visit from the Hampton University lacrosse team.

Mi & Yu Noodle Bar to Open in Arlington

Federal Hill’s Mi & Yu Noodle Bar continues to grow as owner Edward Kim has announced the restaurant’s fourth location in Ballston Quarter in Arlington, VA. From ARLnow:

“The deal is right, I think the area is really good,” Kim said. “It’s very dense with good foot traffic, energy and good demographics.”

Mi & Yu serves noodle bowls where customers choose their broth, protein, and noodle, as well as Bao and duck fat french fries. Mi & Yu also has a location at Mount Vernon Marketplace and will opening at The Rotunda in Hampden this Fall.

Locust Point Tavern Closes

Locust Point Tavern has closed 1515 E. Clement St. in Locust Point.

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