Plans to develop vacant lot in Charles Village delayed again
"A good percentage of Charles Village is transient. There are a lot of students and faculty, so there will always be a demand for rental housing. Plus, Baltimore is not particularly a condo town," he said.
The new Olmsted will be slightly taller than the original design and include 202 apartments as well as a public garage with 530 parking spaces.
In the preliminary plans, it is 24 feet taller than Charles Commons on the Charles Street side, though it steps away from Lovegrove Street so as not to overshadow the smaller Charles Street buildings, which had been a concern of the CVCA.
As for the goundfloor retail space, SBER hopes to see a bistro-style restaurant on the corner of St. Paul Street and 33rd Street and a wine bar on the St. Paul façade.
However, a major concern for the CVCA remains whether these businesses will compete with other locally owned businesses on St. Paul Street.
"We are keeping that in mind and we would like to see something that is locally owned in there," Pula said. "My retail people tell me there is a really strong interest in retail in Charles Village. I think that's a real testament to this community and this market that people want to come here and own retail here."
Pula assured the CVCA that the smaller, boutique-style grocers interested in Olmsted retail space would not compete with Eddie's Market.
"The reality is there will be a mix of retailers. It cannot be based entirely on local retail. That doesn't work financially," he said.
In response to this, Moore said, "Fine, but don't compete with our homegrown retail."
Jean Fullhouse, a realtor for Baltimore city and Baltimore county from the Maryland Association of Realtors, believes that a combination of local, regional and national businesses ultimately helps the local businesses.
"People gravitate toward local business. They want to support local businesses, and that's what makes Charles Village successful," Fullhouse said. "Also, certain new businesses that are part of a national chain, such as Barnes and Noble, are phenomenal ingredients and strong additions to the community."
The new Olmsted will be slightly taller than the original design and include 202 apartments as well as a public garage with 530 parking spaces.
In the preliminary plans, it is 24 feet taller than Charles Commons on the Charles Street side, though it steps away from Lovegrove Street so as not to overshadow the smaller Charles Street buildings, which had been a concern of the CVCA.
As for the goundfloor retail space, SBER hopes to see a bistro-style restaurant on the corner of St. Paul Street and 33rd Street and a wine bar on the St. Paul façade.
However, a major concern for the CVCA remains whether these businesses will compete with other locally owned businesses on St. Paul Street.
"We are keeping that in mind and we would like to see something that is locally owned in there," Pula said. "My retail people tell me there is a really strong interest in retail in Charles Village. I think that's a real testament to this community and this market that people want to come here and own retail here."
Pula assured the CVCA that the smaller, boutique-style grocers interested in Olmsted retail space would not compete with Eddie's Market.
"The reality is there will be a mix of retailers. It cannot be based entirely on local retail. That doesn't work financially," he said.
In response to this, Moore said, "Fine, but don't compete with our homegrown retail."
Jean Fullhouse, a realtor for Baltimore city and Baltimore county from the Maryland Association of Realtors, believes that a combination of local, regional and national businesses ultimately helps the local businesses.
"People gravitate toward local business. They want to support local businesses, and that's what makes Charles Village successful," Fullhouse said. "Also, certain new businesses that are part of a national chain, such as Barnes and Noble, are phenomenal ingredients and strong additions to the community."
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