Jen’s Place Opens on Light Street
Jen’s Place Bar & Package Goods opened in the former lounge section of the Garden Restaurant with the existing restaurant space remaining open. Jen’s is divided into two areas: a package goods area with a large selection of beer, wine and liquor where the pool tables used to be and the bar area. Similar to before the change in ownership, Mike is still behind the bar.
The plan was presented to the Riverside Neighborhood Association and the liquor license was approved by the Board of Liquor License Commissioners for Baltimore City (BLLC). Jen’s will be open seven days a week, including Sundays when most area liquor stores are closed.
Upgrades Coming to the Aquarium
The National Aquarium in the Inner Harbor is planning a major renovation. From an article in The Baltimore Sun:
Three years from now, a green oasis of floating wetlands, bay grasses and terraced edges leading down to the water will greet visitors to Baltimore’s Inner Harbor, under a plan unveiled today by officials of the National Aquarium.
The green space, phase 1 in a wide-ranging “campus revitalization” plan aquarium officials hope will see the institution though to the next century, would bring vegetation, interactive exhibits, kayaking, picnic spaces and other educational activities to the water and waterfront between piers 3 and 4, in the middle of the aquarium’s campus off Pratt Street. The 2.5-acre area would be free and open to the public. Plans call for work to begin by the end of this year, with completion set for 2019.
“We see this as an opportunity for a second renaissance for Baltimore’s harbor, by creating not only a commercially thriving place, but also one that is thriving in terms of its health and green space, and as a habitat for animals and humans to enjoy themselves,” said John Racanelli, the aquarium’s CEO.
The plan is expected to cost $14 million, half of which has been raised according to Racanelli.
Rendering Courtesy of Ayers Saint Gross Architects
Kevin Plank Makes Large Donation
Under Armour CEO and Sagamore Development Partner Kevin Plank made a large donation toward a new recreation and community center in East Baltimore. From an article in Baltimore Business Journal:
The 10,000-square-foot project will be located at 1100 E. Fayette St. in the space formerly known as the Carmelo Anthony Center. The project, a partnership between Under Armour and the Living Classrooms Foundation, will include a covered turf field, workforce development and entrepreneurship center, dance and yoga studios, a recording studio and neighborhood kitchen. A classroom for science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) will also be part of the building.
The $5 million investment is being made through Plank’s Cupid Foundation. Under Armour (NYSE: UA) is also donating $1.275 million to support programing.
New Zipcar Locations for SoWeBo
Zipcar is adding two rent-by-the-hour car locations to the north side of Hollins Market. From a press release:
The new location in the emerging SoWeBo neighborhood is walkable to downtown, Oriole Park, M&T Bank Stadium, the University of Maryland’s Medical Center and BioPark. Two Zipcars will be available at this location—a Honda Fit named “Hollins” and a Honda Civic named “Mount Clare.”
CVP Eyeing Another Big Project
Caves Valley Partners (CVP) has invested a lot of money into South Baltimore with projects including 1111 Light Street, Riverside Wharf, and Stadium Square. It recently announced another new development in Stadium Area with the news of The Paramount music venue and it is additionally partners in Horseshoe Casino Baltimore.
Now CVP is eyeing a major development downtown as it submitted the highest bid at a U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) auction for Metro West, the former 1.1 million sq. ft. Social Security Administration office at 300 N. Greene St. From an article in Baltimore Business Journal:
Arthur Adler, managing partner of Caves Valley Partners, said Tuesday that a team of planners at Caves Valley was working on developing a plan for the project.
“We’re looking at numerous options for the site,” Adler said, adding that he was uncertain if it would be mixed use or solely residential. “We’ve been through the building numerous times. We’re working on it.”
GSA will accept or reject the offer in by the end of March.
