Demolition Begins at Protested Development Site in Locust Point
Goodier Properties has started demolition of the existing buildings at 1401-1407 Woodall St. in preparation for a new mixed-use building in Locust Point. The development site contains two less-than-two-story industrial buildings and a vacant lot that face E. Key Hwy., Woodall St., and Stevenson St.
Plans for this site have been heavily debated over the last year and a half, but both Dan Goodier of Goodier Properties and the Locust Point Civic Association (LPCA) have informed SouthBMore.com they are working towards finally coming to an agreement on the scale and scope of this development.
Goodier Properties was approved in September by the Baltimore City Board of Municipal & Zoning Appeals (BMZA) to construct a new nine-story, mixed-use structure with 28 dwelling units; office and retail space at 1401-1407 Woodall St.; and a five-story parking garage on the adjoining lot. This came despite protest by LPCA which included more than 30 residents, Councilman Eric Costello, and adjacent neighbor Domino Sugar in attendance at the hearing.
1401 Woodall St. has a C-2 zoning which allows 60 ft. of commercial use with a conditional use of up to 100 ft. with mixed-use residential. The conditional use was approved by BMZA commissioners.
Woodall and Stevenson St. are both one-way streets comprised of mostly two-story rowhomes. The development would abut one home on Stevenson St.
At the hearing, Woodall and Stevenson St. residents said the development would “ruin their quiet street” and “loom too large” over their two-story homes. They also said the additional traffic and parking would tax their one-way street.
LPCA President Matt Farcosky noted in September that Locust Point is not against development and pointed to the neighborhood’s “good faith” track record of working with War Horse Cities on Anthem House and Alta47, and 28 Walker on multiple phases of McHenry Row.
In December 2017, Goodier Properties initially proposed a five-story, 60,000 to 65,000 sq. ft. office building at the site. This plan was also opposed by LPCA.
But, after more than a year of discussions and a heated BMZA hearing, both groups seem confident a compromise can be reached.
“We have had multiple sessions discussing the project with Dan Goodier, and we are working towards an agreement,” said Farcosky said in an email. “We hope to have something presentable to the community for the February 13th LPCA General Meeting.”
“Following our BMZA approval in the Fall for a mixed-use project on the site, Councilman Costello has facilitated several incredibly productive meetings with community leaders and our team about some alternative uses and heights that would serve as a good compromise for all parties,” said Goodier in an email. “We don’t have a conclusive agreement on what the project will end up being, but I really feel like we are close and hope to have an agreed upon direction in the near future.”
The following renderings were created by LPCA (not the developer Goodier Properties) to show the scale of the proposed project
Rendering courtesy of Goodier Properties and Marks Thomas Architects of a five-story, 60,000 to 65,000 sq. ft. office building proposed in Demember of 2017.
About the Author: Kevin Lynch
Founder and Publisher of SouthBmore.com, longtime resident of South Baltimore, and a graduate of Towson University. Diehard Ravens and O's fan, father of three, amateur pizza chef, skateboarder, and "bar food" foodie. Email me at Kevin@InceptMM.com and follow me on Twitter at @SoBoKevin.
