One Project Begins, Two Approved in Downtown’s Westside

News Release | June 7, 2012 | 0 Comments

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 07, 2012

Progress Continues On The Westside Of Downtown

Demolition of the former Greyhound terminal building underway

Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake announced today that as part of the continuing progress in revitalizing the Westside of Downtown, demolition of the former Greyhound terminal building at 206 West Fayette Street is underway.

In March 2012, the City’s Board of Estimates awarded the demolition contract, valued at $1,227,000, to construction and demolition contractor Potts & Callahan, Inc. This property is a sizable piece of Lexington Square Partners, LLC’s redevelopment of the superblock (an area encompassing Howard, West Lexington and West Fayette Streets, and Park Avenue) for a mixed-use residential/retail/parking project.

In addition at the southeast corner of Howard and Lexington Streets, stabilization of the exterior walls and roof of the former Read’s Drug Store will soon begin. A $349,000 contract for J.A. Argetakis Contracting Co., Inc. to perform the work has been approved by the City’s Board of Estimates. The former Read’s Drug Store lunch counter was the site of one of America’s first college sit-ins in 1955 by students from what is now Morgan State University. Further plans to appropriately commemorate this civil rights event will be announced in the future.

“Rebuilding the Westside is an important part of our goal to grow the City by 10,000 families,” Mayor Rawlings-Blake said. “This demolition and upcoming stabilization is big step forward to prepare for new investment, job creation, and population growth on the Westside.”

Additionally, the Baltimore Development Corporation (BDC) received approval from the Board of Estimates for a transfer of $96,867 to the Downtown Partnership of Baltimore for façade improvements to 15 City-owned properties in the Westside area. The properties are located in the 200 blocks of West Lexington and West Fayette Streets, and the 400 and 500 blocks of North Howard Street. Brinton Building Services, Inc. is performing the work.