Construction Starts on 108-Townhome Project in Locust Point, Homes to Hit the Market in September

28 Walker Development is teaming with NV Homes on the Banner Row Townhomes development at the former PQ Corporation plant at 1301 E. Fort Ave. in Locust Point. Construction is currently underway on the four model homes that will go up at the corner of E. Fort Ave. and Decatur St.

28 Walker spent recent months demolishing the former plant, installing utilities, and getting the property rezoned for residential development. 28 Walker prepares the infrastructure, street grid, and townhome lots, and NV Homes builds and sells the homes.

28 Walker Owner Mark Sapperstein told SouthBMore.com the development will have two phases of about 54 homes. The townhomes will be built five or six homes at a time. He said every time they sell five or six homes, they will start another cluster of construction. He expects the community to be completed and sold out in two years.

The four model homes will be completed in the next 85 to 90 days. The model homes will display four layout options for prospective buyers to choose from. The foundations for these model homes are currently in place, and Sapperstein said they will be framed out in the next 30 days.

Once the model homes have been completed, the homes will be available for sale. Buyers can pick the location they want in the community which will have six homes on Fort Ave.; two blocks of homes on Decatur St. with homes only on the west side of the street; and two blocks of homes on a new private road with homes on both sides of the street. Alleys will be constructed for rear access to all of the homes, and the development will have a handful of shared pocket parks and green spaces.

Different from many homes and new townhome developments in South Baltimore, the homes at Banner Row will have a small setback off the sidewalk that allows for small green spaces in front of the homes. Sapperstein told SouthBMore.com this was made possible due to the layout of the site.

The homes will be 2,500 to 2,600 sq. ft. and will have three to four bedrooms, two-car garages with an adjacent a one-car parking spot, second-story decks, and rooftop decks. The homes will be three stories, but buyers will have the option to add a fourth story. The front of the homes will be a combination of brick and a dark exterior material with trim. The townhomes will have three large windows across the front of each level.

Sapperstein was not yet sure about the starting price of the homes.

This is largest townhome development on the South Baltimore Peninsula since Sapperstein partnered with Pulte Homes on the 121-townhome McHenry Pointe project in 2006.

Sapperstein was interested in building a pool at Latrobe Park for the Locust Point community, but the Locust Point Civic Association (LPCA) deciding the logistics of that wouldn’t work. Instead, as a gift to the community, 28 Walker will improve the ball fields adjacent to the development site which are part of Francis Scott Key Elementary Middle School and Latrobe Park. Sapperstein met with LPCA and the local recreational sports leagues to plan these improvements.

Sapperstein has experience in a project like this as he partnered with South Baltimore Little League to improve its fields adjacent to McHenry Row.

Rendering courtesy of 28 Walker 

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.