Tuesday

Tuesday, January 19, 2010

Downtown Partnership: Getting Things Done

Superblock Progress
On Thursday, January 14, the Baltimore Development Corporation took the first swing of a wrecking ball to a dilapidated property in the 200 block of West Lexington Street. The demolition is the first visible progress made on the Superblock – a massive and complicated project to revive a once bustling shopping district with a mix of shops, offices, and residences.

This first parcel is being jointly developed by The Weinberg Foundation and the Cordish Company. A larger portion of the 3.6 acre Superblock is also slated for mixed-use development by Lexington Square, LLC. As yet, there is no timetable for this work to proceed.

The Superblock is a critical link between Downtown’s Westside and City Center. As such, Downtown Partnership has been involved with the City and properties in the area to preserve historic buildings and address maintenance issues while redevelopment takes shape. On Lexington Street, we have provided Façade Improvement Program (FIP) grants to several properties, including 108 W. Lexington (see photos below). An investment of $20,000 in FIP funds leveraged private investment of $730,000 and turned a moribund retail building into a new jewelry store.

Restoring “ancient” Downtown
As exciting as the Superblock development is, you don’t have to wait if you’re looking for signs of progress in the older parts of Downtown. In his January 9 Column, Baltimore Sun columnist Jacques Kelly wrote of a recent day he spent in City Center and Downtown’s Westside:

“It was a cool winter day, with the flattering natural lighting from a setting sun. Ancient downtown Baltimore appeared much restored, cleaned and painted, physically in far better shape than some sketchy years in the 1990s. And as dazzling as the newer portions of Harbor East look, there is something compelling about this familiar neighborhood.”

We couldn’t agree more. Quietly, public and private investments are being made to the older parts of Downtown that aren’t used to getting much attention. Saratoga Street is a good example. Small offices, law firms, and retailers have been reclaiming storefronts and improving their buildings. You’ll find a number of independent shops and restaurants, including Mekong Delta – the Vietnamese restaurant at 105 W. Saratoga that is drawing crowds and rave reviews.

Downtown Partnership is working with the Market Center Merchants Association and the City on projects to make the area more attractive to customers and new investment. This includes our uniformed operations teams that keep the area clean and well-landscaped. It also includes larger capital investments through our Façade Improvement Program. And, the City is in the final stages of a massive streetscape improvement on Saratoga from St. Paul Street to Eutaw Street.

Make Your Reservations Now!
Baltimore Winter Restaurant Week starts this week. More than 100 restaurants are offering Three Course Dinners for $35.10 and Three Course Lunches for $20.10.

Visit www.BaltimoreRestaurantWeek.com for a list of participating restaurants, their menus, and to make reservations.

Supported By:

American Craft Council Show

Baltimore Eats

Charmed Magazine

CityPeek

www.DowntownDiane.net

Free Happy Hour at Milton's Grill
Tired of eating leftovers for dinner? Looking for a new happy hour spot? Why not check out some of the great restaurants on Charles Street?

The construction along Charles between Saratoga and Centre Streets isn't stopping area restaurants and bars from constructing great meals and good times.

On Thursday, January 21, Milton's Grill, 336 N. Charles Street, will provide a free happy hour for Downtown employees, 5-7 p.m. Happy hour includes limited number of drinks and appetizers.

Sample an array of delicious Cabot Cheeses paired with Stella Artois beer. Enjoy complimentary cocktails from Stoli Gala Applik, official Vodka of Restaurant Week!

Keeping Downtown Beautiful

With the assistance of Vanessa Finney, founder and director of MANTS, the Mid-Atlantic Nursery Show held in Baltimore each year, Downtown Partnership was able to acquire donations of shrubs, flowers and greenery to use in parks, plazas, landscape beds, and pots throughout Downtown. Fifteen growers generously donated live material they would not have been able to sale or transport to support the beautification efforts of Downtown Partnership.

Special thanks goes to The Loading Dock and Baltimore City Department of Special Events. Volunteers from both organizations braved the cold air and wind to collect, load, and transport the donated material. Downtown Partnership has already been hard at work planting some of the material around Downtown. All donations will eventually be used to brighten areas in Hopkins Plaza, the new dog park, beds on Charles, Light and Commerce Streets, as well as around the Battle Monument.

MANTS is the premier, private green industry marketplace for finding plants and nursery stock, landscape and garden items, heavy and light duty equipment, tools, furniture and hundreds of other allied industry products. Companies’ exhibit and industry members attend because they know that MANTS is the place to buy, shop, meet, see, be and be seen every January.

Congratulations!

Downtown Partnership along with Mahan Rykiel Associates, Inc. and the Center Plaza Foundation, received Merit Award from The American Society of Landscape Architects for our work on Center Plaza.

Charm City Circulator Launched

If you haven't yet, be sure to try the new Charm City Circulator. The first buses on the Orange route began transporting Downtown employees, residents and visitors last Monday. For routes, stops, and more information about the Circulator, click here.

New Parking Garage Search Tool

Downtown Partnership now has a parking garage search! This new tool will help you locate a garage as well as compare prices. Click here to check it out. Search by neighborhood, operator, and monthly or daily rate.

Red Line

The Jacob France Institute has released a report on the Red Line’s economic impact. The study found that the Red Line would generate $2.1 billion of economic activity, create or support 9,800 jobs that will engage the existing labor supply in Baltimore, and that will pay $539.7 million in salaries and wages over the construction period.

Become a 2010 Census Partner

The 2010 Census will provide detailed data to help Downtown Partnership effectively:

Analyze local trends.
Make informed decisions about marketing and capital spending.
Understand Downtown Baltimore’s customer demographics and needs.
Help businesses select business or retail locations in Downtown.
Make long-term and forward-looking business decisions.

Is your company or organization interested in partnering with the US Census Bureau to ensure a complete count? If so, click here for information. You can also join or volunteer for a Complete Count subcommittee, by visiting www.baltimorecity.gov/2010Census/ or email 2010census@baltimorecity.gov.

2010 Census Partners are government, non-profit, corporate or community organizations that have formally pledged their commitment to share the 2010 Census message and mobilize their constituents in support of the Census Bureau's goal of achieving a complete count.

Downtown Development and Retail Updates

We compile the following information for the benefit of Downtown stakeholders and investors. Any use or reprint of this information should be credited to Downtown Partnership of Baltimore.

Retail News

Now Open

Field House, Canton’s newest sports bar, is now open in the Can Company at 2400 Boston St.

Milan is now open at 1000 Eastern Ave. “Where food meets fashion,” the upscale restaurant and lounge features elegant Italian-Mediterranean cuisine.

Perfecto Coffeehouse is now serving up cafe fare and coffee at 784 Washington Blvd.

Salamander Books is now open and selling a unique collection of used books at their new location at 519 N. Charles St.

Little Italy has gained a candy and sweets shop, with the addition of Sugarush Candy Boutique at 830 E. Baltimore St.

Steel Drum Cafe is now open at 771 Washington Blvd in Pigtown. The new restaurant offers Caribbean fare and live entertainment from local bands.

Coming Soon

All American Deli will open in February at 1001 Fleet St. The new casual restaurant will feature a variety of sandwiches and pizzas.

Centro, a new tapas bar, will open this Spring at 1444 Light St. The menu will feature Latin American and Spanish tapas, with seasonal influences.

Noodles and Company will open their first location in Downtown Baltimore at the Harborplace Light Street Pavilion.

Development News

The Baltimore Development Corporation is seeking architects for their Community Development Block Grant Recovery Act Program Façade Improvement Project. The project will complete commercial façade improvements in Oldtown, Pigtown, West Baltimore Street, Belair-Edison, and Pennsylvania Avenue. Proposals are due to BDC by 12 noon on February 1, 2010. The Request for Proposals can be found here.

The Maryland Department of Business and Economic Development has extended Baltimore’s Enterprise Zone to include the area bounded by Lombard, Baltimore, Paca, and President Sts. Businesses moving into or expanding in the Enterprise are eligible for property and job creation tax credits for up to ten years. The Baltimore Development Corporation administers the City’s aspect of the program—more information can be found here.

Westside

America’s Realty is buying the Lexaco Building at 501 W. Lexington St for $650,000. The building will undergo a $300,000 renovation to restore the building’s exterior and reduce Lexaco’s retail space to add a Subway. The upper levels may be renovated later to create loft apartments.

The City has approved the sale of four parcels of land on Howard Street to Accent Development for Howard Street Lofts, a $7.7 million mixed-use project to include nearly 8,000 square feet of retail and offices, 26 apartments, and parking.

Mt. Vernon

Hotel Brexton will be celebrating its grand opening on February 1. The 29-room boutique hotel boasts the original circular staircase, preserved pentagonal elevator, 290 windows, unique luxurious rooms, and personal concierge service.

The first component of The Fitzgerald, the Bozzuto Group’s new mixed-use development adjacent to the University of Baltimore, has opened. The state-of-the-art 1,245-space parking garage will be managed by Parking Management, Inc., and will provide parking to both the University as well as the neighborhood at large.

The First and Franklin Street Presbyterian Church is undergoing a $1.5 million renovation this winter. The work includes the installation of an air conditioning system and a repainting of the intricate interior.

Oldtown

The Holiday Inn Express - Downtown has celebrated its grand opening. Located at 221 N. Gay St, the 70-room hotel is a historic rehabilitation of a 1924 bank building and one of the first such projects for Holiday Inn. The hotel has drawn a wide variety of visitors, including business travelers, tourists, marathoners, and hospital guests.

Harbor East

RSM McGladrey, an accounting, tax, and business consulting firm, has announced their move from Timonium to the new Legg Mason tower. The company’s 350 employees will be moving into 38,500 square feet this summer.

Adjacent Neighborhoods

Union Mill, a $20 million Seawall Development Company project to convert the former manufacturing building into residential and commercial space, has been awarded $2.9 million in state historic tax credits.

TRAVELCLICK, an international hospitality e-commerce company, has opened a branch office at 1410 Key Hwy.

The Johns Hopkins Berman Institute of Bioethics has bought 1809 Ashland Ave and an adjacent lot from East Baltimore Development Inc. for $1.6 million to house its fifty employees currently scattered in different buildings.

Construction has begun on Westport. After receiving $620,500 in federal stimulus funding, Turner Development has begun shoreline and wetland reconstruction. After this prep work is complete, the construction of new utilities will begin in the spring.

Member News

Education

The University of Maryland School of Medicine has been awarded a $30 million grant from the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute (NHLBI) to create the NHLBI Progenitor Cell Biology Consortium, a center that will coordinate the stem cell research nationally.

Events

Join Health Care for the Homeless for the sweetest night in town: the 19^th Annual Chocolate Affair, Thursday, February 4, 6-9:30 p.m. (VIP pre-reception opens at 5:30), at M&T Bank Stadium, South Club Level Lounge. More than 50 of Baltimore’s best restaurants, caterers and chocolatiers will serve up delectable treats and compete for awards by celebrity judges. www.chocolateaffair.org

Hospitality

The Radisson Plaza Lord Baltimore hotel is celebrating its 80^th anniversary.

Non-Profit

With International headquarters in Downtown Baltimore, Catholic Relief Services is helping Thousands in Port au Prince. On January 12, a magnitude 7.0 earthquake struck Haiti just outside the capital city of Port-au-Prince. Among many other Downtown organizations helping Haiti, Catholic Relief Services is responding to the growing need for food, water, shelter and health supplies.

Health Care for the Homeless will be among nine recipients of an allocation of $650,000 by the federal government to implement electronic patient records at community health centers.

Retail

The Historic Charles Street Association (HCSA) has launched a new program to encourage people who live and work in the area to buy locally. HCSA is soliciting retailers, restaurants and businesses on Charles Street to offer discounts or specials which will be listed online.

Downtown Partnership Web Sites

For information about Downtown Baltimore: www.GoDowntownBaltimore.com

For traffic information: www.GetAroundDowntown.com

For family fun: www.KidsLoveDowntownBaltimore.com

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