Communications Committee

West Side Development Letter to Urbanite Magazine

This is a letter written by Bryce Turner of Brown and Craig Architects about their work on the Lexington Market portion of the West Side project, to be published in the May edition of the Urbanite Magazine.

Securely Anchoring the West Side Development

Many of us didn’t believe it could happen! The West Side of Baltimore, we thought, was doomed to plexiglas-enclosed discount liquor stores and pull-down garage doors concealing storefronts that are vacant relics of an urban retail area that hadn’t flourished since the ‘60s. At some point during 1999, however, many of us came to realize that it would indeed be another vital piece of the Baltimore Renaissance. Now, we must all get on the bandwagon and make sure that it happens to insure the future prosperity of Baltimore.

In 1999, the West Side was already beginning to wake up with street vendors selling inexpensive goods on the sidewalk in front of the empty storefronts; clothing items and gifts that provided a convenience to the thousands that use Howard Street mass transit every weekday. The future of the Hippodrome Theatre, a preservation dream envisioned by some energetic architects and planners, was looking as though it would receive state funding.

Then Baltimore Development Corporation offered several large parcels to developers in a competitive RFP process. Numerous quality developers responded by commissioning architects and models, and an ambitious project known as Centerpoint began taking shape (on paper) in the city block immediately east of the Hippodrome. Bank of America committed to funding $200 million in funding for West Side developments.

It became obvious to most that the West Side was a pocket of opportunity nestled between University of Maryland Medical School, Camden Yards and the Central Business District. The catalyst for growth would be the Hippodrome and Centerpoint. But that was not enough - a strong link to a reinvigorated Charles Street would be required to complete the equation. Pedestrians must be able to flow comfortably (safely) to and from the West Side from all directions. Lexington Mall provides that important link to the large daytime (and increasingly nighttime) population of Charles Street. Connecting Charles Center and Charles Plaza to the new activity to the west is paramount to a successful West Side.

Lexington Mall has been proposed to become a street once again, largely to change its current physical condition. It is critical that it remain a strong pedestrian link; with or without cars. The three block area between Charles Center and Lexington Market along Lexington Mall / Street must be enhanced to encourage pedestrian flow. Sidewalk shopping and restaurants are needed along this stretch to provide a visually stimulating connection between Charles Center and Lexington Market.

The Board of Lexington Market, Inc. recognized the opportunity for the market and has commissioned Brown & Craig to design a $3.2 million renovation that will anchor the west end of Lexington Street. The renovated Lexington Market will have a lively exterior that brings the interior of the market to the street. The 1950 structure will be re-clad with materials befitting of a Baltimore destination and the interior will be enhanced with new materials and graphics.

The two largest vendors, Faidley’s Seafood and Hurling’s Grocery, will have new exterior entrances and signage. The south façade of the building, which is so prominent to Centerpoint and the vehicular flow from Camden Yards, will have a larger glazed entrance and a metal structure which will provide an opportunity for farmers / vendors to display produce. Construction will be well underway this summer.

The new residential projects planned for Charles Street and the West Side will provide new shoppers that will allow market vendors to expand their food offerings. The Atrium (former Hecht Co. Building) and Centerpoint combined will alone add 600 new apartments. Coupled with the existing Redwood Towers and the proposed new apartments along Charles Street, the bustling residential market will create a significant downtown residential population. The City must, however, do its job by enforcing quality of life statutes such as exterior building maintenance and security to keep residential demand on the rise.

The recent victory of preservationists to save many of the historic buildings within the West Side is important to allow the creation of a visually stimulating Urban Village. This is exactly the type of redevelopment that has been so successful in other American cities and in Federal Hill and Canton . It is also the type of development (known as town centers) in the suburbs that is flourishing at a huge cost and usually no tax credits for historic preservation. The adjacency of retail, residential and business activities provides the "Water Cooler" approach that is very healthy for urban areas by promoting human interaction. Downtown Baltimore can create urban villages within the city at a fraction of the cost of building new infrastructure on vacant land.

Our job as citizens, planners, architects and city officials is to promote and support the progress that is underway. We have a plan that is taking shape as a result of debate and consensus building. It is time to put it into action.

______________

Bryce Turner is the Managing Director of Brown & Craig, Inc., an architecture, planning and design firm headquartered in Baltimore. He is also a District Council Chairman of the Urban Land Institute – Baltimore District Council.

Back to Communications Committee Archives
Back to main Communications Committee page