Screenshot from Google Maps. Marked with approximate Cheer Building property lines.
Developer Mark Sapperstein and his company 28 Walker are planning approximately 120 townhomes at the site of the Cheer Building at 1450 Beason St. in Locust Point. The Cheer Building was formerly an office and warehouse building for Under Armour and was owned by Cross Street Partners.
The Cheer Building property, which is separate from Under Armour’s waterfront Tide Point complex across the street, is a 350,000 sq. ft. building on 7.152 acres.
The Cheer Building property consists of one- and two-story gray metal buildings, which were once an Overflo Warehouse before Under Armour moved in; multiple parking lots; and a green space along Haubert St.
The property does not include the triangular parking lot at the north end of the complex between Decatur St. and the CSX train tracks. That lot is owned by Under Armour as part of its Tide Point complex.
The property also does not include the Locust Point Community Church and the Baltimore Immigration Museum which are surrounded on three sides by the Cheer Building’s parking lots.
Sapperstein told SouthBMore.com the homes will keep with the street grid of Haubert St., Decatur St., and Lowman St. He noted the homes will all be one size and have two-car garages. He is hoping for approval for all the homes to have partial fourth stories, similar to those built at his Banner Row development. This will make the homes more than 2,600 sq. ft.
While many new-construction townhome developments in South Baltimore previously topped out at about 2,200 sq. ft., this will be Sapperstein’s third ongoing development with larger home options, joining Banner Row and Locke Landing.
“Lifestyles have changed,” said Sapperstein. “People have families, work from home, and spend more time at home.”
Part of the property is zoned for industrial and part is zoned for townhomes, so Sapperstein will need to work with the Locust Point Civic Association to get a zoning change.
Locust Point Civic Association will be hosting Sapperstein at its meeting on Wednesday, February 19th at 730pm at the Knights of Columbus – Council #4606 building on Hull St. in Locust Point.
Sapperstein said he will also discuss any potential pocket parks or greens paces in the development with the community.
All the existing buildings at the property will be demolished, but Sapperstein said there is “some stuff worth saving,” noting restaurant equipment, lighting, and roll-up doors.
When asked if he considered other uses for the property besides townhomes, he talked about how “the office market is difficult” and how he didn’t want an industrial warehouse with a lot of different trucks coming into the neighborhood.
He added how he didn’t consider an apartment building or “going vertical” because the property “is just so natural to have a townhome grid.”
He also said a lot of the traffic to the new development will likely come off Key Hwy., not through the rest of the community.
The neighboring Tide Point complex has 406,569 sq. ft. of building space on 14.6 acres. When asked about trying to acquire the property with the recent move of Under Armour, Sapperstein said he “would have an interest at the right time,” but noted it’s not currently available.
Besides townhomes, 28 Walker has developed apartments, condos, and retail and office buildings in Locust Point.
Cheer Building
