Some good news (Baltimore: apartments, leases, credit)

[rudy_d]

City development projects chosen for federal bonds -- baltimoresun.com

The proposed inn at Penn Station and the marketplace development on Broadway in Fells Point are two projects that will be financed with bonds from the federal stimulus. I had my doubts that either of these projects would get past the planning stage now that easy credit has dried up.

[jonjj]

More good news. The PPCDC is reorganizing.

Baltimore City Paper: The News Hole: Patterson Park CDC to Reorganize

[barante]

What happened there?

[carthell]

Originally Posted by rudy_d

(T)he marketplace development on Broadway in Fells Point (is a project) that will be financed with bonds from the federal stimulus. I had my doubts that either of these projects would get past the planning stage now that easy credit has dried up.

Well, there goes Super Linens (arrrrgggghhhhh!!!). I doubt that such a "rooted" business (with incredibly helpful staff) will find a storefront as affordable in a different place down there, and that would be a true shame.

On the other hand, there were many empty storefronts down there even before the current recession hit. Broadway Market itself seems to feature bars as occupants, and not much of the stall space was filled. I noted that absolutely no one appeared to be selling unprepared food, a feature of most of the other public markets in the city.

[jonjj]

Originally Posted by carthell

Well, there goes Super Linens (arrrrgggghhhhh!!!). I doubt that such a "rooted" business (with incredibly helpful staff) will find a storefront as affordable in a different place down there, and that would be a true shame.

On the other hand, there were many empty storefronts down there even before the current recession hit. Broadway Market itself seems to feature bars as occupants, and not much of the stall space was filled. I noted that absolutely no one appeared to be selling unprepared food, a feature of most of the other public markets in the city.

When leases ran out, the stores were vacated in anticipation to the developement. Then our lovely recession came into being which put everything on hold. That is why there were so many vacant storefronts there for so long. Also, Broadway Market is part of the plan. They are supposed to put the second floor back on so some of the venders in the market did not renew. Now, as for Super Linens--last I heard, they were staying, but that could be wrong.
I think this will be a money-maker for them if they do it correctly. That area could certainly use some retail.

[jonjj]

Marketplace at Fells Point

This is the web site for the developement.

[carthell]

...barring an accident with a errant backhoe shovel, of course.

They're going to take out some on-street parking with the new plan, and I'm sure that the garage space created will be for the residents of the new apartments. You can't have 160 households move in without the means to put their cars somewhere.

During the times I was down there on the weekends, I arrived early enough in the morning to park a half-block up the street from Fleet. (I can't do such any later.)

[baltimoreterp]

Be green and use public transportation to get to Fells Point.

Maryland Transit Administration - Trip Planner (http://www.mtamaryland.com/transit/ - broken link)

[carthell]

Originally Posted by baltimoreterp

Be green and use public transportation to get to Fells Point.

Well, I did the bus thing for about 16 years. For short trips that involve only one line, it is great. More than one, the inconvenience factor goes way up. That's why I have a car now. I suppose that I would have made a different decision if there was enough demand to build a metropolitan-wide rail system that was originally planned for Baltimore back in the 1960s.

[jonjj]

It looks like the Parkway Theater project on North Avenue is a go:

Seawall, Cormony tapped for Parkway Theatre project - Baltimore Business Journal: