54-Unit Apartment Building Begins Construction in Ridgely’s Delight

Zahlco Development started construction in recent weeks on a 54-unit apartment building at 719-725 W. Pratt St. in Ridgely’s Delight. The $12-million project incorporates several existing buildings along with a vacant lot that Zahlco is purchasing from the University of Maryland, Baltimore and University of Maryland Medical Center. The properties have been vacant for more than 20 years.

The project received approvals from Baltimore’s Commission for Historical and Architectural Preservation (CHAP) in 2018.

Currently at the site, moving east to west, is a two-story building, a one-story building, a four-story historic building, and a vacant lot. Zahlco will keep the brick facade of the one- and two-story buildings, renovate the four-story brick building, and build a five-story apartment building surrounding the four-story building.

The building, which will be called 725 W Pratt, will have 5,000 sq. ft. of ground floor retail which will likely be broken up into three suites. Zahlco CEO Yonah Zahler said in 2018 he likes to offer smaller retail spaces since it makes rent more affordable for more businesses.

725 W Pratt is directly across the street from University of Maryland, Baltimore and University of Maryland Medical Center.

The apartment building will have a large lobby that will incorporate the character of the four-story historic building. Zahler said the character from the lobby will carry into the design of the apartments regardless if they are in a new-construction section of the building or part of the existing structure. The apartments will have high-end finishes and no apartment will look exactly alike, according to Zahler.

The 54 apartments will be mostly one-bedroom units with a few two-bedroom apartments.

Building amenities will include a club room, a gym, a rooftop deck looking out towards the stadiums, and green space in the building’s park.

The rear of the building will have a 20-car parking lot.

Construction is expected to take about a year.

Zahler expects 725 W Pratt to be appealing to students and workers at University of Maryland, as well as to individuals who work Downtown and commute outside the city for work.

This is Zahlco’s tenth project in Baltimore since 2013. It also worked on 613 Portland in Ridgely’s Delight. The company focuses on properties around around Downtown, Mount Vernon, and the University of Maryland, Baltimore.

Rendering courtesy of Zahlco Development 

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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.