Downtown’s ‘Hotel RL Baltimore’ to Become 130-Unit Apartment Building
A development group lead by investment company Byrnes & Associates, Inc. has acquired Hotel RL Baltimore at 207 E. Redwood St. and will convert it to an 130-unit apartment building. The 10-story, 80,414 sq. ft. building was built in 1905 and was converted from an office building to a hotel in 2015.
The development group, which includes Brad Byrnes and Kemp Byrnes of Byrnes & Associates; investors Jay Litke and Moe Krohn of Kove Group LLC who will be the general contractors performing all construction activities; and investor/asset manager Brendan Ferrara of Carm Capital LLC, will spend $18.5 million on the conversion to apartments.
The new apartment building will have studio, “junior one-bedroom,” and one-bedroom units ranging from 400 to 800 sq. ft.
According to Byrnes & Associates, minimal construction is needed beyond adding kitchens and washers and dryers to the units, as well as transforming the lobby café into a 3,300 sq. ft. restaurant that will be located at the intersection of Redwood and Calvert Street. Amenities that already exist include a fitness center, banquet room and conference rooms, and the new ownership group planning to install a game room and storage space.
The existing rooms “include high ceilings, large windows and bathrooms with glass showers.” Wood and tile flooring will be added to the apartment.
The team expects to have the project completed in the next 12 months.
With this new project, Byrnes & Associates’ led investments have put $25 million into Redwood St. In 2o2o Byrnes & Associates and partners 225 E. Redwood St. and 233 E. Redwood St. Werner’s Diner and Pub recently opened at 225 E. Redwood St.
Brad Byrnes said in a press release that “this acquisition brings our vision for making Historic Redwood Street the new Main Street of Downtown Baltimore one step closer to reality.”
“Apartment renters inject much-needed energy into downtown areas, with residents also significantly impacting area retailers, restaurants, entertainment and sports venues and downtown attractions,” added Byrnes.
Beginning in fall, the ownership group along with Downtown Partnership of Baltimore and other stakeholders will sponsor monthly festivals that will involve the closing of the entire block. There will be new string lighting, valet parking and dedicated security on the block.
Rendering from Michael Graves Architecture & Design
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.
