Last week, BYB Prop Real Estate Partners led by Marcellous Butler, who is principal of the company and also the co-founder of floating hotel and home business FLOHOM, acquired Baltimore Yacht Basin in Baltimore Peninsula. Baltimore Yacht Basin is a marina located at 2600 Insulator Dr., adjacent to Nick’s Fish House, the Vietnam Veteran’s Memorial Bridge, and the Locke Landing development.
BYB Prop Real Estate Partners acquired Baltimore Yacht Basin from the Port Covington Development team which is underway on a multi-decade, multi-billion dollar development in the neighborhood.
BYB Prop Real Estate Partners plans a complete tear down and rebuild of the marina to include approximately 150 boat slips, including 45 to 50 boat lifts, a ‘Retail Row’ pier with an event space, amenities, and potentially a coffee shop; and an area for recreational waters sports such as kayaking and stand-up paddle boarding. A number of FLOHOM luxury houseboats will also be available for short- and long-term rentals.
Butler also owns Butler’s Marina in Annapolis. He noted boat lift slips are currently on a five-year wait at the marina.
Butler said they are working on the permitting for the project now and hopes to start construction on the new Baltimore Yacht Basin in the second or third quarter of 2025. He said it will likely take place in two phases so they don’t disrupt “dock and dine” services at Nick’s Fish House.
Butler launched FLOHOM last year with business partners Brian Meyer and Jerry South. The houseboats are about 800 sq. ft. and have kitchens, bathrooms, up to two bedrooms, and rooftop decks. There are currently two FLOHOMs at Inner Harbor Marina, one at Lighthouse Point Marina in Canton, one at National Harbor in Price George’s Country, and one at Ferry Point Marina in Arnold.
The FLOHOMs are constructed in garage bays at the Port Covington Marina, which is owned by the Port Covington Development team. FLOHOM now has four garage bays, so they can construct four boats at once, and is looking to expand within Baltimore Peninsula.
FLOHOM is currently constructing its seventh and eighth boats in Baltimore Peninsula. One is destined for National Harbor and the team is working on a location for the other. FLOHOM also launched retail sales for the boats, and has received more than 300 submissions from customers looking to purchase one. Units begin at $200,000.
Meyer noted they will work with clients with the marina placement of the FLOHOMs and have partnered with a local bank to help buyers finance the boats.
Meyer and Butler said the number of FLOHOMs placed at Baltimore Yacht Basin will be organic and grow with demand. However, they envision a marina that hosts events and having attendees stay onsite in the houseboats. They also plan to partner with Nick’s Fish House on the food and beverage at the event space.
Meyer and Butler noted they are an “experience company” and that Baltimore Yacht Basin will have the feel of a futuristic resort.
FLOHOMs have already been the site of many marriage proposals, and the company’s Instagram page has amassed more than 64,000 Instagram followers with one if its Instagram reels having been viewed more than 2.7 million times.
FLOHOM not only wants to continue to add rental houseboats in Baltimore, it wants to see FLOHOMs in all the historic waterfront towns along the Chesapeake Bay.
FLOHOM launched its first boat last year in Annapolis, but it was soon kicked out of its marina. The company soon pivoted to Baltimore and that’s been a move the team is very thankful for.
“Annapolis didn’t want us and, at first, Baltimore didn’t know what to do with us,” said Meyer. “But, once Baltimore found out what we were doing, they opened up and have been greats supporters.”
Renderings courtesy of BYB Prop Real Estate Partners
