Sapperstein | Baltimore Grows

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20
2009
Baltimore’s Biggest Tease – McHenry Row
Published by Glen under Apartments,Commercial / Office,Federal Hill,Locust Point,Real Estate,Restaurants,Riverside Park

As someone who lives a block away from the future McHenry Row development, I have a natural interest in the project’s progress. Here’s a synopsis of what’s happened at the construction site since last October: NOTHING. Or at least not much more than nothing. I snapped the photos here back in October of 2008 – almost 9 months ago. If you drive by today, you’ll see not much has changed. Developer Mark Sapperstein ran out of financing back in the fall (BBJ article), and apparently is still working on the new funding.

I say the project’s a tease because the amount of buzz and excitement it has stirred up with area residents. Federal Hill and Locust Point desperately need a decent grocery store. Unless you have a special taste for moldy produce, the Shoppers at Southside Shopping Center comes no where close to “decent.” McHenry row promises to bring relief in the form of a sparkling new Harris Teeter.

Additionally, many of us are excited about other tenant names being thrown around like Panera, Starbucks, Dunkin Donuts, and Greene Turtle. The latter two are both shown on the McHenry Row Website, so there’s likely already a deal in place with those two. But given the delays, those deals could fall through perhaps. Green Turtle is particularly exciting. Having a nice restaurant/bar with outdoor seating and parking in South Baltimore will be a unique luxury.




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Jan
30
2008
McHenry Row – Locust Point Update
Published by Glen under Apartments,Commercial / Office,Locust Point,Real Estate

For those not familiar with the McHenry Row project, it is the large retail & residential development project currently in progress in Locust Point. Read these posts for some more background.

Baltimore’s McHenry Row – Panera, Starbucks…
McHenry Row – Baltimore – Locust Point

If you have driven down Key Highway recently, you know the McHenry Row construction is well under way on the first structure – the parking garage.? It appears the earlier reports of Harris Teeter being the grocer and anchor store, are about to become true. Developer Mark Sapperstein? hopes that the deal will soon be announced. The store will be their largest location and will likley stay open 24 hours. If what’s being said is true – this will be the nicest grocery store in the city. It’s proposed to have a high-end selection of prepared foods, deli/butcher, bakery, seafood, sushi bar, cheese bar, on-site pizza makers, etc. The store will have a big focus on fresh produce and organic products. The projected completion for the grocer is Summer/Fall 2010, months after the residences will open.

Harris Teeter opening a Baltimore location is a bit of a stretch for them. It’s outside of their existing geographic area, and this area of Baltimore does not yet support their typical demographics.? The success of the overall project, and bringing in additional high-end retailers, really hinges on locking in Harris Teeter.? Once that happens the other tenants should be lining up.? I’ve heard that Starbucks and two banks are likely, and Panera, Cosi, Cold Stone, Legal Sea Food and other restaurants are possible.? If the project plays out as hoped, it will certainly become one of the nicest retail centers in Baltimore.

Sapperstein is also planning on doing some interesting lighting and signage on the existing water tower at the site. He’s proposing to use some variation of neon or a well lit sign, as well as some automated lighting effects that “go off” every 7 minutes. It sounds a bit cheesey, but is supposed to play off existing Baltimore landmarks like Domino Sugar, Phillips Crab, Natty Boh, and UTZ signs.

Key highway will also undergo a large amount of work that includes a landscaped medium between the existing four lanes.