Aug 18, 2008

more on the suburban shift



To pick up where my previous post left off, there's a spate of new scholarship about the re-emergence of city centers. (Not to gloat, but we've been pointing this out for years.)

At our last Business Over Breakfast meeting, we were fortunate to have Brookings Institute fellow Christopher Leinberber talk about the renewed interest in downtowns and how he thinks it will play out.

The gist of his presentation is expanded in his new book, The Option of Urbanism, and it follows a storyline that will be familiar to frequent readers of this blog - that, for any number of reasons, more and more people are opting for new urbanist lifestyles in walkable urban communities.

Leinberger doesn't herald the end of suburban living, but he clearly feels that new generations are being both pulled to downtown living, and pushed away from suburbia's car dependant isolation and energy inefficiency. And he strongly encourages an end to land use patterns and development incentives that led to the creation of the suburbs at the expense of urban centers in the first place.

The book is cited by Alan Ehrenhalt in a fascinating article in The New Republic (Trading Places, The Demographic Inversion of the American City, published on August 13, 2008) in which he goes beyond merely documenting renewed interest in downtown living to show that affluence is moving into cities from the suburbs and vice versa.

He cites examples in a range of places - Atlanta, Chicago, Charlotte, Vancouver, Washington, DC - where a "demographic inversion" may eventually cause these places to resemble the great capitals of Europe, having wealth concentrated in the hearts of cities and poverty dispersed to the hinterland.

According to Ehrenhalt, several trends back his assertion up:

-De-industrialization has removed the grime, pollution, and noise that characterized cities in the early- and mid-20th century.

-Most people recognize that urban crime is not random, and that younger generations do not grow up with the fear of street muggings that their parents and grandparents may have had.

-That the cultural icons of Gen Y are urban. "This is the generation that grew up watching Seinfeld, Friends, and Sex and the City..." not Leave it to Beaver.

-Finally, that fuel costs are more related to dwindling worldwide supply in the face of heightened demand and, therefore, more likely to have long-term implications on personal behavior than did the OPEC-induced fuel crises in the 1970s. In other words, people will drive less and live in communities where they can walk more.

While these trends are positives for cities, he writes that, "demographic inversion cannot be a one-way street. If some people are coming inside, some people have to be going out." Race is an issue, he writes, but economic status may have more to do with who lives where.

In Baltimore, Downtown's residential growth (within a one-mile radius of Pratt & Light Streets) has displaced underused commercial and manufacturing spaces not people, for the most part. (No one was living in Harbor East or City Center until a few years ago.) And we were one of the first major cities to replace our high rise public housing, what Ehrenhalt refers to as "Vertical Corbusian ghettoes" with mixed-income, mixed ownership townhouse communities.

And Baltimore is ahead of the curve when it comes to inclusionary zoning. Residential developments that receive taxpayer funds are under new mandates to provide affordable units, for example.

It's not easy to respect the force of the market on the one hand, while creating new opportunities for economic and racial diversity on the other. But it's a process that's worth getting right and Baltimore is working in that direction.

Downtowns are, and should be, melting pots where people of different backgrounds come together to exchange in commerce, ideas, and the arts. Ehrenhalt thinks this will happen. That people's craving for "community" will bring them together and that even the priciest enclaves will want to be a part of the street scene, not gated from it.

-Mike Evitts

Aug 5, 2008

slowing suburban migration


An interesting article in The Washington Post looks at the linkage between gas and the American Dream, basically explaining how the relatively low cost of fuel and the rise of the automobile helped drive people out of cities into suburban clusters for the past several decades - a trend that may be shifting now that gas prices have risen so dramatically.

Post reporter Eric Weiss writes:

Since the end of World War II, government policy has funded and encouraged the suburban lifestyle, subsidizing highways while starving mass transit and keeping gas taxes much lower than in some other countries.

Americans couldn't wait to trade in the cramped city apartments of the Kramdens and Ricardos for the lush lawns of the Bradys. Local land-use policies kept housing densities low, pushing development to the periphery of metropolitan regions and forcing families who wanted their dream house to accept long commutes and a lack of any real transportation choices other than getting behind the wheel...

...Federal spending is about 4 to 1 in favor of highways over transit. Today, more than 99 percent of the trips taken by U.S. residents are in cars or some other non-transit vehicle, largely as a result of decades of such unbalanced spending.

The policies -- building so many highways and building so many houses near those highways -- have had a direct bearing on how and where people live and work. More Americans, 52 percent, live in the suburbs than anywhere else. The suburban growth rate exceeded 90 percent in the past decade.

But there's been a radical shift in recent months. Americans drove 9.6 billion fewer highway miles in May than a year earlier. In the Washington area and elsewhere, mass transit ridership is setting records. Last year, transit trips nationwide topped 10.3 billion, a 50-year high.

Home prices in the far suburbs, such as Prince William and Loudoun counties, have collapsed; those in the District and inner suburbs have stayed the same or increased. A recent survey of real estate agents by Coldwell Banker found an increased interest in urban living because of the high cost of commuting.

Brookings says transportation costs are now second only to housing as a percentage of the household budget, with food a distant third.

The people are leading the revolution, but land-use experts wonder whether a government policy so etched into the American fabric will follow.

Here's a link to the article.

-Mike Evitts


Jul 30, 2008

Restaurant Week in B-more


I have celebrated my birthday a grand total of 7 times now, and it isn’t because I am popular or that I have hit some huge milestone, it is simply due to the fact that everyone has crazy schedules in the summer. It is absolutely impossible to get a group together without loosing someone. So you can imagine my surprise when I made reservations for 15 at the Black Olive to celebrate restaurant week and almost everyone posted.

Our large group made us the perfect candidate for the back private room. The dim lighting was a tad romantic for this crowd, but the set-up of the room allowed for us all to chat with each other sans shouting. The portions were perfect and the rockfish was exceptional.

The meal gave us a chance to talk about work woes, long holidays, and most importantly weekends in Dewey. Witty banter, gluttony, and friendship—all for the low, low price of $30.08. God I love restaurant week.

-Faith

For more info visit www.baltimorerestaurantweek.com.

Jul 22, 2008

downtown rental market

the zenith - one of downtown's newest appartment buildings (photo by mitro hood)

The national housing slowdown hasn't hurt residential growth here in Downtown. We gained roughly 1,000 new residents last year, and we predict that number will grow this year.

Demand for apartments, in particular, is very strong. Many buildings are currently 100% leased, and new properties just hitting the market are leasing fast.

According to an article by Aaron Cahall in today's Baltimore Examiner, last month 148 rentals listed through a multiple listing service were leased - up 180% over June of 2007.

This makes sense. Typically, rentals increase when it's tough going in the "for sale" market. Like squeezing a balloon, if things tighten on one end, they'll expand on the other.

We anticipate demand to continue to be strong and are keeping our eye on the supply of apartments. With existing buildings close to full occupancy there should to be new properties hitting the market. But, as we document in our 2007 / 2008 State of Downtown Report, there isn't a lot of new housing construction in the pipeline right now.

-Mike Evitts

Jul 17, 2008

cities and food

photo of Red Maple taken by Mitro Hood

Good restaurants define great cities.

Think about it... A thriving food scene implies taste and sophistication, it underscores the creativity and entrepreneurialism of a community, and it provides places for people and ideas to come together, mingle, and regenerate.

Once known mostly for crabcakes, Baltimore's culinary traditions have been elevated dramatically in the past few years. The Charleston Group alone now has four of the top-rated establishments in the region. And they're keeping some good company.

Innovative restaurants and cafes are springing up all over, catering to all kinds of tastes and price points. So are farmers markets and organic co-ops, that bring the farm right to our tables.

We know from our market research that dining is, by far, the #1 reason people come to Baltimore from the surrounding counties. And it's one of the top things out of town visitors want to do when they're here.

People who haven't been Downtown in a generation are following their stomachs back to town. And, when they do, they're getting a taste of more than just great food. They're experiencing all the positive things that are happening in the city, first hand.

A college buddy of mine came back to town for a visit recently. He's lived in Manhattan, DC, and Boston, and he travels the world for work. But he was blown away by the way Baltimore has grown and become more energized and sophisticated.

Harbor East, where we dined, didn't even exist when he left for grad school.

This sort of thing is why we created the Chefs & Wine experience, and it's why we teamed up with the Baltimore Area Convention and Visitors Association (BACVA) to start Baltimore Restaurant Week three years ago. Both events are a way to engage food lovers and encourage them to explore new restaurants and experience this rapidly-evolving city.

Restaurant Week is also a good way to support Baltimore restaurants during what's normally a slow time of year for them.

As the years have passed, the buzz has grown. This year, there are more than 100 restaurants participating in Summer Restaurant Week, and we've expanded the number of weekend days included in the promotion. And we started the first-ever Winter Restaurant Week this past January.

I hope everyone takes advantage of the promotion (you're only cheating yourself if you don't).

-Mike Evitts

Jul 16, 2008

what lurks beneath

traffic has calmed at Charles Street & Saratoga, although crews are still working to repair conduit damaged by Monday's underground fire

The Sun's
Doug Donovan and Jessica Anderson had an interesting article today about the tangled web of public and private utilities underneath our streets.

Most of us are vaguely aware of power and sewer lines running below ground but have little idea just how complicated it all is. Donovan & Anderson write:

"Strung beneath the streets of Baltimore are 10 million linear feet of utility lines carrying electricity, cable, telephone, street light and fiber-optic service, city officials said. . . The lines are threaded through 3.7 million feet of conduits and accessible by 14,000 manholes, [Department of Transportation spokesperson David] Brown said.

"The department's conduit division manages the critical system with a $7.5 million budget, including about $3 million for improvements, $2.5 million for construction and maintenance and $475,000 for inspection and testing, budget documents show.Many private contractors, utility operations and telecommunication companies lease space in the conduit system from the city. The biggest tenants include BGE, Verizon and Comcast. Their lines are typically encased in cables that are strung through concrete holes that open into 6-by-12-foot access areas beneath manhole covers."

The Partnership's Streetscape initiative has brought us close to this complexity more than once. That program has invested more than $29 million over the past eight years to improve 88 block faces.

An important part of the program isn't just prettying things up at street level, with repaving, new sidewalks, better lighting, and landscaping. It's also about updating conduit and utilities that, as we've seen with Charles Street, can cause major problems when they fail.

The challenge to planning conduit improvements, or to fixing situations like the one on Charles Street, is that nobody really knows for sure what's going on down there. Maps and plans tend to be outdated or unreliable. Contractors for all the different entities with sub-grade utilities can sometimes move things around. Even with the use of ultrasonic equipment to try to map conduit, you may be surprised by what you find once you open up the street for improvements.

Which is why it can be difficult (and take longer than anyone expects) for necessary repairs to happen.

-Mike Evitts

Jul 8, 2008

absorption

Source: Greater Baltimore Board of Realtors

Going into 2008 the economic prognosticators were guarded about how the national economy would affect Downtown's.

We interviewed 68 regional business leaders for our recent
State of Downtown Report, and nearly all of them felt that things wouldn't be great, economically-speaking, but that Downtown's strengths would keep it from struggling the way it did during the downturn in the early 1990s.

It's looking like they were right. A growing number of mid-year reports shows that Baltimore is doing well within the region, in spite of all the bad news about the national economy.

An office market analysis by
Colliers Pinkard shows that, in Downtown and Howard County, absorption of new office space exceeded the pace of delivery.

And data compiled by the Greater Baltimore Board of Realtors shows Baltimore City home prices haven't fallen the way they have in the surrounding counties (see chart above).

There's still a lot of uncertainty out there. But there's no denying that the city's economy is light years ahead of where it was even a decade ago.

-Mike Evitts

Jun 30, 2008

a city to watch

photo by Mitro Hood

Baltimore is one of "America's Best Cities for Design."

Almost.

According to a Baltimore Sun report by architecture critic Ed Gunts, we just missed being a top ten city the likes of San Francisco, Portland, New York, Chicago, and Boston - which all made the list.

Gunts writes that, "The independent survey by RMJM Hillier, a large architectural firm based in New York, ranks cities in terms of how well they are designed for "architecture, sustainability and transit."

Not having a top notch transit system was one of our weak points and, apparently we're behind the curve when it comes to adopting sustainable building design.

B
ut, in naming Baltimore as a "city to watch," the report said that we, "have demonstrated a strong sense of design intelligence and are well positioned to become [a] future force on the national scene."

-Mike Evitts

blueprint for prosperity

The Brookings Institution has launched something it calls the Blueprint for American Prosperity, a policy initiative to improve the health of the country's metropolitan areas (which it defines as, "old and new suburbs, and even exurban and rural areas that, by virtue of their interwoven labor and housing markets, share common economic destinies").

According to Brookings, "Maryland has three of the nation’s 100 largest metropolitan areas —Baltimore, Washington, and Philadelphia — which alone account for 89 percent of the state’s population, 89 percent of the state’s jobs, and 90 percent of the state’s gross domestic product (GDP).

"All six of Maryland’s metros constitute 95 percent of the state’s population, 95 percent of the state’s jobs, and 94 percent of the state’s GDP."


Looking at those numbers helps you understand why Brookings has deemed metropolitan areas so important: they represent the bulk of this country's economic output. (It also makes me wonder why exactly the Philly district extends into Northern Maryland.)

So the institution is putting out whitepapers and advocating policy that will promote new investment, entrepreneurship, diversity, and sustainability.

-Mike

Jun 18, 2008

fast cities

fast company photo/illustration by peter funch

The magazine Fast Company has named Chicago and London its 2008 cities of the year, praising them for their vibrancy and diversity as much as the strengths of their economies.

Chicago has been on our minds a lot lately. In the past three years, Partnership staff has taken several trips there to meet with local officials and see how they do things. For example, the Pratt Street redesign was inspired, in part, by Michigan Avenue. And Chicago has a lot to teach us about greening initiatives and how to make the most of public space.

Reading the Fast Company article, I was struck by the similarities between that city and ours. Obviously the scale is different. And Chicago can have an 'aw shucks' midwesterness about it.

But both cities convey a strong sense of place rooted in historic buildings and ethnic neighborhoods. Both have been quietly thriving outside of the attention that's typically paid to more glamorous places like New York or LA. And both are nurturing of creative energy, whether it's applied to entrepreneurialism or art.


The article contains the following quote about Chicago, but I've had people share similar observations with me about Baltimore:

"Sitting in a restaurant, you can hear the buzz of conversation - the discussion of innovative ideas. Driving downtown, you can see the cranes - the creation of an even greater community. It's living, breathing progress."

-Cheryl Rosner, CEO of TicketNow, as quoted in Fast Company

Before you accuse me of being overly generous to charm city, I should point out that it's not just me drinking the kool aid. Others are on to the good stuff that's happening here (check out the Rolling Stone post on Baltimore's scene, for example).

I was just in New York - the Williamsburg section of Brooklyn to be exact. It's the epicenter of hipness, but when people found out where I'm from all they wanted to talk about was Baltimore, its scene, how they're thinking of moving here, or they have friends who just have.

So take that, Chicago.

-mike

appreciating employees

For the second year now, we're hosting Employee Appreciation Week - a great excuse to get outside during the work day. I don't care how rich or powerful you may be, everybody appreciates free ice cream and pizza.

We had a great day on Center Plaza this afternoon as you can see in these photos.

The next event is a happy hour tomorrow at the Blue Door Bar (the plaza bar at Power Plant Live). There'll be a complimentary buffet courtesy of Mex, and cheap drink specials.

Hope to see everyone there.

-mike

Jun 11, 2008

women and leadership

This week we kicked off the new Women's Leadership Initiative (WLI) and an impressive group of executives joined us for a chic party, presentations by women entrepreneurs, and a private screening of the new Sex & the City movie.

The idea behind the initiative is pretty simple, and it came to us from our members. For some time we've heard from businesswomen who want new ways to connect with their peers (other than traditional networking). And, ultimately, they'd like to provide meaningful support to women trying to enter the workplace and work their way up.

We were fortunate to have Mayor Dixon as a speaker and guest for the evening. Including the Mayor, the top four elected officials in Baltimore are women. That fact, and the overwhelming support Hillary Clinton had in her near-miss presidential run are testaments to how far women have come in terms of being seen as leaders.

On the other hand, there is still a sense that women aren't yet equal with men in the business world. This certainly is true when it comes to the pay rates. The salary gap has narrowed, but nationally men still make more than women for comparable work. You could also credibly argue that cultural bias hindered Hillary Clinton's chances in the Democratic primary. And then there's the strong encouragement we got to create the WLI in the first place.

This week's WLI kick off felt like the start of something big, and we hope everyone will consider getting involved. Our next event will be this fall. We're still working out the details, but we can promise this... it will be fun, educational, and it just might change the world.

-mike

May 30, 2008

vegas, baby

“What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas.” Normally, that’s a smart move. But we’re hoping that’s not the case with the International Council of Shopping Centers’ (ICSC) annual Global Retail Real Estate Convention we attended recently.

W
ith more than 50,000 attendees, this is the Mecca of retail recruitment. National retailers, real estate brokers, and developers make the trek each year to find the perfect location for that next retail expansion.

For the past seven years, The Partnership and Baltimore Development Corporation, in conjunction with local sponsors, have hosted a booth at the trade show. The main purpose, pure and simple, is to bring more shops and restaurants to Baltimore.

We go to ICSC armed with an arsenal of stats and data. More often than not, we're introducing people to the real Baltimore for the first time (not the wild west version they may have seen on TV). And, across the board people are impressed, and surprised, by what the data shows.

As we just released in the latest State of Downtown Baltimore Report, Downtown has 114,000 employees, 38,000 residents, and 20,000 students. Not to mention millions of visitors each year. We rank 7th in the country for population density, 15th for employment density, and 9th for the number of households earning $75K or more -- which puts us in a peer group with places like Denver and Boston.

So instead of hitting the casinos we spent our time in Vegas reviewing demographics, courting potential redevelopment opportunities, and marketing available retail spaces. We had formal meetings with more than 30 companies, some of which we’re trying to bring here. Others are here already, but we hope they’ll expand to additional locations.

It often takes years to bring a new retailer into a market and we work with them throughout the entire process, introducing them to local developers and real estate brokers, helping match the business with the right location, and assisting with building permits, signage, or marketing… whatever it takes.

After decades without much in the way of shopping, Downtown is re-emerging as a retail destination. When Filenes Basement opened last year it marked the return of department stores to Downtown. SuperFresh has opened in City Center. Lockwood Place and Harbor East are thriving. So, too, are retail corridors in Downtown’s adjacent neighborhoods like in Mount Vernon, Federal Hill, Locust Point.

Despite a slow national economy, the pace of Downtown retail openings should pick up. Whether or not these new deals started in Vegas, opening retail in Downtown is no gamble.

-nan

May 23, 2008

smart stadia

M&T Bank Stadium seen from Federal Hill park. (photo by Frank Klein)

If you're a lacrosse fan, chances are you at least considered making the trip to the NCAA final tournament at Gillette Stadium in Foxboro, Massachusetts. In it's infinite wisdom, the NCAA has moved a tournament that drew record crowds here in Baltimore the past few years. I can't fault them for trying to grow the sport and attract new regional fans.


But it's dumb to hold this event at Foxboro. Here's why...

If you look at Google's satellite image you can see that they built that thing in the middle of nowhere.

You can't walk to it. There are no shops or restaurants. Just forest and fields, interrupted by a sea of parking lots.

They did something similar with FedEx Field where the Redskins play. And I just don't get it.

Isolated stadia are bad developments. They eat up undeveloped land, require extra costs to build infrastructure and utilities, aren't well connected to mass transit, and they minimize spin-off revenue because there aren't any shops, restaurants, or other businesses where event-goers can spend their money.

And this isn't just my opinion. Studies by the Urban Land Institute among others have calculated the increased economic and environmental advantages that you get with a Downtown facility over a rural one.

So this weekend, instead of 50,000 people walking from their hotel or the harbor, stopping at Cross Street or one of the other nearby shopping / restaurant districts, you'll have traffic congestion, some parking lot tailgating, and the opportunity to spend way too much on a stadium hot dog because that's the only choice you'll have.

-mike

May 22, 2008

college town

Photo of Johns Hopkins Commencement by Will Kirk / HIPS, 2007



Earlier today I passed by a group of jubilant looking people in black robes who were either very young judges or newly minted graduates. Trailing a few paces behind were relieved looking people I assume were the parents. It seemed they were all headed off to a celebratory lunch somewhere near the harbor.

Seeing students Downtown is becoming more of a regular thing. Graduate and professional students tend to blend in with the office crowd on the streets, but it's easy to spot a Peabody enrolee lugging an instrument case, a med student in scrubs, a culinary student in their whites, or someone from the School for the Arts or MICA sketching up in Mount Vernon.

Downtown may not fit the stereotypical image of a campus town because there are so many other elements that define its identity (business, tourism, etc.). And we don't really have the leafy campus with the Georgian architecture and fraternity row. But Downtown Baltimore is a college town all the same.

Consider this: there are nine academic institutions that ring Downtown. Of the approximately 160,000 people in Downtown on any given day, 20,000 of them are students. That's about the size of Cornell, and twice as large as the undergraduate population at Harvard.

-mike

May 15, 2008

competitiveness

trading floor at T. Rowe Price (Photo by Mitro Hood)

A recent national study that compares the economic strengths of major metropolitan areas has ranked Baltimore as the eleventh most competitive place in the country. (They're talking about economic competitiveness, not trying to imply that we're all cut-throat.)

The rankings, compiled by the Beacon Hill Institute at Suffolk University, are based on eight categories: government & fiscal policy, security, infrastructure, human resources, technology, business incubation, openness, and environmental policy.

We used to be lumped in with Washington, DC (which ranks 5th this year). It's about time statistictians realized that Baltimore and Washington are two distinct cities.

-mike

May 14, 2008

trot, gallop, or hop to preakness

Today may have been the 42nd Annual Preakness Frog Hop, but it was the first time I placed in the top three (please see my excitement pictured.)

Linda (pictured, far right, in the midst of a valiant fist pump) helped me co-jockey “Downtown Kirby” to a whopping 4 feet 6.5 inch jump. Not bad for a frog named after our own Downtown Partnership President, Kirby Fowler.

Maybe next year we will bring home the gold. Until then, I can only hope that my luck. . .err. . .I mean skill . . .will last through the weekend at the actual Preakness this Saturday!

$20 on Big Brown—win, place, or show.




--faith

May 9, 2008

renters beware!

I generally like to think I live a charmed life. My concerns usually consist of:

Work: Why does the printer hate me?
Family: Is everyone safe?
Friends: Where are we going tonight?
Money: When do I get paid again?

I watch the news, but to be perfectly honest, I find that most of the national and even local news has little direct effect on me (other than the $50 it costs me to fill up my gas tank).

Two weeks ago my roommates and I started receiving letters in our landlords name from about a dozen banks, mortgage companies, and lawyers. I had heard about landlords failing to pay mortgages, and I decided to do a little investigating.

Upon googleing our address, I found out that our house was being foreclosed on and set to be auctioned at the Courthouse this past Thursday, where it was sold back to the lender.

In retrospect, I think I would have benefited from reading this article in the
Baltimore Business Journal, which outlines the rate at which renters are being evicted from their homes due to unforeseen foreclosures. Perhaps, then I would have been privy to my current situation.

So for the time being my roommates and I are living in limbo and fighting to get back our last month of rent and deposits. Hmm, I could have sworn this was the exact reason we decided to rent and not own in the first place.

--faith

May 7, 2008

(urban) farm to table

New York Times photo by Todd Heisler

It feels like summer out right now which makes me think two things: how long before the good local produce starts rolling into area farmers markets, and why am I still inside typing on the computer?

This link to the Sun has information on all the area farmer's markets including the newest one in Harbor East.

Coincidentally, there's a great story in today's New York Times about an urban farming movement that's becoming more and more popular.

The idea behind it is simple - help citizens transform vacant lots into community gardens where they can grow organic produce to sell at local greenmarkets. New York's got an interesting model that could be easily replicated.

With so many empty lots, a scarcity of nourishing food for sale in poorer neighborhoods, and a mayor committed to healthy communities (in every sense of the word) this is an idea we should get behind here in Baltimore.

-mike




new ideas for old arena space

the current arena

Plans for a new Baltimore arena aren't even finalized yet but, to its credit, the Urban Design Committee of Baltimore's American Institute of Architects (AIA) chapter wants to start planning what could go on the current arena site - provided that location isn't used for a new arena.

We've always felt the site (along with the Superblock just to the north) is critical to linking City Center and the Westside. It's a lot of space, it's right next to a light rail stop, and it's convenient to pretty much everything, including the University of Maryland, the Pratt Street corridor, hotels, parks, MARC trains, Camden Yards, the Hippodrome, and Lexington Market.

And there are already thousands of residents living there. In fact, nearby apartment buildings are almost 100% rented. But you'd never guess it because there aren't many people out on the street in the evenings or on weekends. Maybe that's because there's not much to draw people out. The Howard Street side of the arena is one huge blank wall.

The AIA committee would like to see that change and, today, informally presented some trial balloon ideas to replace the current structure with mixed use developments that engage the surrounding neighborhood and encourage year-round pedestrian activity.

The Partnership is one of the groups pushing for a new arena and our president, Kirby Fowler, sits on the city panel that will ultimately decide where a new arena will be located. Once that's settled, the city will begin to entertain options about how to use the current space. But it's never too soon to start thinking big.

-mike

May 6, 2008

speedy commuting


The city has opened a kind of mission control center for Baltimore traffic that should alleviate gridlock and quickly detour drivers around accidents or construction. Operators at the center can monitor traffic around town via live cameras and, at the push of a button, change traffic light timings. That means they can turn lights green to speed things up in a congested area, route traffic around accidents or detours, and give busses and emergency vehicles priority.

This article in Today's Sun explains what's involved.

Congestion is among the top complaints we hear from businesses and residents. On the one hand, it's a nice problem to have. A few years ago there were much fewer people working Downtown and there was virtually nobody living here. So if congestion is a byproduct of success, it's one we'll happily learn to fix. On the other hand, if things get much worse it could choke future growth. So the city's efforts to improve traffic control are most welcome.

A big part of the solution to congestion is to improve mass transit. That's why Downtown Partnership is teaming up with the city to launch a new Downtown Circulator in the coming months. The details are still being worked out but, once it's up and running, the shuttle will be fast, convenient, and totally free. (Check out our previous post about the hybrid busses that are being considered for the shuttle.)


We'll post info about the shuttle as soon as it's available.

-mike

May 1, 2008

hills star with possible orioles player


Lauren Conrad has been spotted with Doug Reinhardt, a minor leaguer for the Baltimore Orioles. We hope his stats don't suffer if he spends more time with the formerly known LC than at the batting cages, however I think we should give him a try. Something tells me the female attendance count might shoot through the roof. How about giving him a shot at the big time, Mr. Angelos?
--faith

Apr 30, 2008

buy 'em by the bag

buy 'em by the bag
Baltimore Sun photo by by Monica Lopossay / April 25, 2008

RIP Little Tavern. The last of these throw back hamburger stands just closed in Baltimore after holding on for so many decades. The closing is ironic given that sliders are such a hot trend, popping up on the menus at corner bars and pricey bistros.

S
mall square hamburgers were Little Tavern's stock in trade. They came with mustard, pickles, and the tiniest onions you could imagine. You didn't just buy one or two at a time, you bought 'em by the bag. And they were terrific.

T
he Little Tavern chain wasn't exclusive to Baltimore. It didn't even start here. But it fit right in and became a local institution. With so much change and newness around town lately, it's sad to lose a place that was such a Baltimore institution. It's places like that that helped Baltimore become Charm City.

So cherish the things we still have left. Go have lunch at Pollock Johnny's at Lexington Market. Support your local Arabber. Hang out someplace your grandparents might have loved and make it your own.

-mike

what's wrong with miller light and coronas?



I live in Federal Hill. People who live in Federal Hill don’t often venture any where else--maybe the occasional Canton, or if we get crazy, Mt. Vernon. But in all honesty we are happier in the 21230. In fact, last week I was told, “You Federal Hill kids drop anchor and it takes a tornado to get you to move, except if you're in Canton. Then a mouse passing gas is enough to send you back to The Hill.”

I had to prove him wrong. So, this past Saturday a group of my friends and I went to NYC for a night out. I was determined to do something different. We started with cocktails and appetizers at this really great bar called Bar Martignetti in SoHo. I have to admit, I picked it because it was supposed to be a great post-collegiate preppy scene. Considering that describes most of Federal Hill, I wasn’t really getting too far out of my comfort zone. However, there wasn’t one popped collar or polo shirt to be seen. These people took prep to a whole new level, and I would be lying if I didn’t say, we couldn’t hang.

A friend of mine told me about this really great underground bar that we should check out. Her directions were explicit.

Walk into the diner (it looked a lot like Sip n’ Bite)
Go to the Employees Only Door
Don’t say anything to the man at the door
Wait to be admitted

The bouncer looked at us suspiciously and after deeming to let us in, we went down to the kitchen, through this long corridor and came out into this antique cave of sorts. It was like stepping into a scene from Dead Poets Society.

When I asked the bartender for some Coronas and Miller Lights he looked at us like we had asked to lick the floor. Next we tried to order some red bull and vodka, but were informed, “We don’t carry red bull.” We hung at this place all night, but it is safe to say they probably couldn’t wait until we left.

I got back to Baltimore on Sunday afternoon just in time to hit up Little Havana’s and the Federal Hill Festival. I got a Miller Light as big as my face, ran into about 100 people that I know, and danced liked a crazy person. It's time like these that I am reminded how much I love this city, and I will be pretty content until a tsunami comes to town.


--faith

Apr 28, 2008

nyc transit plan

New York City has unveiled a new transportation plan that promotes sustainable growth, improved traffic and pedestrian flow, and the goal of doubling the number of bicycle commuters.

It's an impressive plan not just in scope, but because it's so forward-thinking and substantive. Check it out here.

-mike

green is the new blog


Right now everything is GREEN. However I am more inclined to agree with Kermit—it’s hard being green. I turn off my lights when I am not using them (at least when I remember), I recycle (however, I have no idea if the stuff I put in the specially marked trash can in my kitchen is actually recyclable, and I walk to work (most of the time). Aside from that, I really am unconcerned with the whole green wave.

I don’t buy green cosmetics, handbags, clothing, etc. etc. etc. I run the water the entire time I brush my teeth, I have already turned on the air conditioning, and I buy bottled water like it is going out of style. I may wear a size 5 shoe, but my carbon foot print is gargantuan.

Last week I went to look at an electric hybrid bus that could be the face of the new Downtown circulator. The Partnership and other agencies in the city are trying to fund a Downtown circulator that would be geared toward business professionals trying to get around the city.

In all honestly, I only went to look at the bus, because it was a nice day and I wanted to go for a walk. I mean it is a bus. How cool can it be?

No other city in the United States currently employs these buses; however New York City just purchased a small fleet of them, and for a good reason. It is clean, quiet, and surprisingly sleek for a public mode of transportation.

Although we are still in the planning phases, the idea that I might be able to jump on a shuttle bus Downtown and have lunch in Harbor East without paying a $15 dollar cab is pretty cool, and (dare I say it) GREEN.
-Faith

north avenue redevelopment

Historic photo of the North Avenue Market as posted on the Load of Fun website.

There's a good article in The Daily Record today (subscription required) summarizing the redevelopment of the old North Avenue Market and some of the other projects that are putting that area back on the map. (Here's an older article from Urbanite magazine about the SoHo effect - the delecate balance required to improve an area invigorated by lots of artists without pricing the creative class out of the neighborhood.)

Individual efforts, like Joe's Squared Pizza and the Load of Fun space, have quietly created a scene (see the previous post) on North Avenue over the past two years, but revving up the market space will go a long way toward connecting that energy with the popular theatres and restaurants around the corner on Charles Street.

Neglect and some bad architectural choices have given North Avenue a sort of strip mall feeling, but there are good bones there. It's a broad avenue with a wide median and lots of pedestrian room on both sides of the street. There are mixed building types, some of which offer large footprints that could easily accommodate retail, restaurants, and gallery or performance space. It's got good transit access and is convenient to the MICA, University of Baltimore, and Johns Hopkins Homewood campuses.

Standing at Charles and North, if you squint and use your imagination, you can picture what the avenue could be with a little more attention and some modest investment.

Visit the Station North A&E District website to find out more about the area and learn about upcoming events.

-mike

Apr 24, 2008

it's official. rolling stone says: baltimore rocks

Rolling Stone photo by Josh Rothstein


In case you don't get out much, the new issue of Rolling Stone gives you some idea of what you're missing. The current magazine includes a Best of Rock section that calls out Baltimore for having the Best Scene.

What's cool about the recognition is that it underscores just how diverse Baltimore's hip hop, art, and alt-rock culture is.

The article provides a tip-of-the-iceberg list of artists, scenesters, and places that are putting us on the map, including: Darkroom Productions, Wham City collective, Beach House, Double Dagger, and Deep Flow Studios.

This corresponding web post goes into a little more detail.

-m.e.

Apr 22, 2008

earth day / green week


Happy Earth Day everyone. This may not be as lively a celebration as, say... St. Patrick's Day, but there's no denying it's relevance. Most people don't associate environmentalism with Downtowns, but as we've noted on this blog, there's increasing evidence that dense transit-oriented communities like Downtown are much more eco-friendly than developments that gobble up land and require a car to go anywhere.

We'd also like to point out that, as far as The Partnership is concerned, every day is Earth Day. Each year our Clean, Safe & Beautiful Team picks up more than 700 tons of litter. We plant and maintain 300 flowerpots and hanging baskets. We've spent more than $30 million on streetscape improvements to make Downtown Baltimore even more walkable. And we're dramatically improving parks and plazas by adding green space, trees, energy efficient lighting, and surfaces that minimize runoff.

If you're interested in learning more about how you can help the environment, or if you're just looking for something fun to do, this Friday kicks off Baltimore Green Week - a series of free or almost free, eco-centered activities. The biggest event is EcoFest, which takes place this Saturday in Druid Hill Park. Check it out here.
-m.e.

we couldn't have said it better

There's no glossing over the serious crime problems that Baltimore, and cities just like us, are facing. But, here at The Partnership we do our best to let the world know that crime is only one small piece of Baltimore's story, and it certainly shouldn't define us.

We've documented in the past several State of Downtown reports that Baltimore is enjoying steady rises in investments and jobs, that it has turned around a decades-long trend of population decline thanks to thousands of people from outside the city who are choosing to make a life here, and that there are growing numbers of students, retail stores, hotel rooms, visitors, and quality of life improvements. You'll see in the upcoming State of Downtown report, to be released at our Business Over Breakfast on May 28, these trends are continuing even in spite of the slowing national economy.

But don't just take our word on it. An April 17 article in The Economist magazine has a feature on Baltimore that has this to say:

"Television dramas such as “The Wire” may give the impression that Baltimore is a hellhole. It is not. Most of the city is calm and pleasant. Only a couple of areas are crime-ridden. And even in these areas, relatively few young men commit—and are the victims of—the most serious crimes."

-m.e.

30,000 tons of junk

The pace of improvements to the south shoreline of the harbor (the Middle Branch) seems to be picking up as the north fork of the Patapsco (the Inner Harbor, Key Highway, Locust Point, Harbor East, Fell's Point, Canton) becomes fully developed and as more people realize the potential of all the available, and largely under-used shoreline on the other side of the Hanover Street Bridge.

As anyone who has ever walked the Inner Harbor promenade knows, the north shoreline is all hardscape. Which is to say, it's all bricks and concrete. By contrast, most of the new plans for the Middle Branch will keep it green and park like. The Westport development that Pat Turner is working on, for example, will replenish the shoreline, adding new wetlands and biofilters. The National Aquarium has plans to do the same at its forthcoming learning center.


Sun photo by Kathryn Whitney shows Delegate Brian McHale and Governor O'Malley surrounded by schoolchildren at yesterday's environmental center groundbreaking.

Standing in the way of all this greening is the sorry environmental legacy of heavy industry in that part of the city. Remediating a brownfield is not cheap nor easy. Case in point: to kick off Earth Week, yesterday the Mayor and Governor broke ground on a multi-million dollar environmental education center on the shoreline near Brooklyn and Curtis Bay. But first, according to today's Baltimore Sun, this had to happen:

"The cleanup of 22 acres of shoreline along the Middle Branch of the Patapsco River - one of the most contaminated areas in the city's harbor - has led to recovery by the Maryland Port Administration of 30,000 tons of trash, roughly the same weight as 4,000 buses, including timber, concrete, pollutant-containing electrical equipment, more than two dozen shipwrecks and nearly 200,000 gallons of petroleum-tainted water. Some of the debris dates to the Great Baltimore Fire of 1904."

-m.e.

Apr 21, 2008

high cost of suburban living

Light Rail Commuters in Downtown Baltimore.


Today on NPR, Morning Edition reported that home prices are falling most in areas with the longest commute times, and that both developers and home buyers are embracing smart growth policies as a result.

National studies have shown that in-town and transit-oriented neighborhoods are maintaining or gaining in value as people tire of long commutes, calculate rising energy prices, and factor in the higher environmental costs of suburban living.

David Goldberg was interviewed for the report. He's with Smart Growth America which has documented that, over the past two years, construction in formerly undeveloped land has slowed while urban construction has held steady.

He specifically mentioned Baltimore as a place where more and more suburban residents are opting for Downtown living, and he sees the trend continuing as baby boomers downsize in retirement, and Gen Y eschews the long commutes and lawn care that come with suburban living in favor of city centers.

Here's a link to today's
NPR story.

Here's a link to a separate, two-part NPR series on how suburban living takes a toll on families and the world's climate.


Here's a link to a Smart Growth America study that "found that people who live in compact urban neighborhoods drive about a third less than those living in sprawl. It also found that that shifting 60 percent of new growth to compact patterns would save 85 million metric tons of CO2 annually by 2030."

-m.e.


Apr 16, 2008

cities doin' it for themselves


The April edition of Metropolis magazine features an article by Karrie Jacobs about how cities are taking the lead on issues of national importance (like California did on CAFE standards and curbing auto emissions), while the feds are slowly having to catch up. She writes:
"I’ve noticed that America’s big-city mayors have emerged as a sort of government in exile, putting forth a remarkably progressive, and occasionally visionary, domestic agenda while the federal government has been AWOL."
Jacobs started thinking about this role reversal during a talk by then-Mayor O'Malley. He was frustrated by the lack of help and information he wasn't getting out of Washington in the wake of 9/11. Instead of waiting for DC to get its act together, Jacobs writes that O'Malley, "organized with his fellow mayors in Maryland, Delaware, and Virginia—a sort of mini-NATO pact for the Delmarva region."

Jacobs continues:
"What struck me while listening to O’Malley was the extent to which America’s cities are on their own, taking a leadership role on issues that used to be the job of the federal government. New York City, for example, now has a crack antiterrorism agency within the police department, one that I instinctively trust more than the FBI. And it’s not just in preparation for cataclysmic events like 9/11 or Katrina; cities have stepped up to address issues such as global warming and the decay of our infrastructure."
Unfortunately, there are limits to this bottom-up approach. The feds are fighting tooth and nail to keep states like Maryland from adopting their own regulations on things like auto emissions. And earlier this week, Mayor Dixon testified to Congress that, despite stepped-up local efforts to curb gun crimes, meaningful improvements to gun control laws are needed at the federal level if we hope to slow the rate of gun violence. According to today's article in the Baltimore Sun, Mayor Dixon testified that, "If we could solve the problem of illegal guns without coming to Washington, we would. But we need help from the federal government."
-m.e.

Apr 15, 2008

"the wire" is over! (or is it?)

For the past five years, David Simon and his amazing crew have made my job—what's the word I am looking for—challenging. And while I am absolutely addicted (no pun intended) to The Wire, I am slightly elated that HBO won't be syndicating a show that depicts my city as an arm pit.

I recently downloaded the theme song from "The Wire" to listen to while I walk to work. It is a two mile trek from my house in South Baltimore to City Center in the heart of Downtown. Needless to say, I pass many of the sites that are frequently viewed on the wire—The Court House, Lexington Market, The Baltimore Sun, and numerous underpasses and alleys. Every day I see more Under Armour clad runners, popped collar Loyola Grads, and local yuppies walking their tea cup yorkies, than straight up gangsters.

However, for those of you who don't know what to do without your fix, (man I am on a roll) there is a rumor that "The Wire" will be made into a movie. More to come. . .

"When you walk through the garden gotta watch your back. Well I beg your pardon; walk the straight and narrow track."—Way Down in the Hole

faith

one mossy roof

There's an interesting article in today's Examiner about the green roof being installed at the new Hilton Baltimore Convention Center Hotel. The plans call for 32,000 square feet of green roof comprised of six different species of plants. According to the article, this will make it bigger than the one over at Montgomery Park.

Of all the benefits to green roofs (increased efficiency, runoff control, longer life of the roof membrane), I've never seen any discussion of their connection to the heat island effect created in urban areas where there are lots of reflective building surfaces. Green roofs help keep the interior of a building cooler in the warmer months. Might they also help keep the surrounding area cooler since they don't bounce as much sunlight & heat off into the air? If so, and if enough buildings in an area had green roofs and other ground-level landscaping, we could probably create micro-climates in the city - places where the air temperature drops in the summer.

This is what happened in Center Plaza after it was redesigned. The old plaza was almost entirely concrete and in the summer it felt like a hotplate. It was miserable. The new space is grassy with young shade trees and gravel pathways. Last summer it was noticeably cooler than the surrounding streets and sidewalks.

-m.e.


The revamped Center Plaza.

Apr 14, 2008

first daughter in federal hill

The water cooler talk last Friday was all about the confirmed news that Jenna Bush will be moving with her soon-to-be husband to South Baltimore. Some people who work here and live in that area are wondering how this will change the neighborhood, if at all. Will that mysterious guy next to you at Cross Street Market be Secret Service? Will there be traffic jams in front of the house? What happens if the in-laws come for a visit?

Whatever people's feelings about the move, the general consensus seems to be that it's pretty cool for a couple who could live anywhere to choose Baltimore. In fact, thousands of people have moved into Baltimore from outside the city and the region over the past few years. Here in Downtown, the population has more than doubled. Still, there's a lingering sense among many natives that Baltimore is an also-ran... the homely step-sibling to glam spots like Washington or Philly.

IMHO, the more people move here the more Downtown Baltimore is starting to feel like those other cities. I've lived and worked Downtown since the early 90s and walking around is different now than it was even five years ago. There's more energy. Sidewalks are more crowded. The restaurant scene is sooo much better. There are more places to shop. I had a friend in town on Saturday. He went to college here two decades ago and has since lived in Manhattan, DC, and now Boston. He was blown away by all the changes.

-m.e.


basilica prayer garden

Anyone wondering what was going to happen to the plot of land where the Rochambeau once stood got their answer last Friday when the Baltimore Archdiocese broke ground on the Pope John Paul II Prayer Garden.

What's currently a grassy field will become a $1.5 million green space along a well-traveled portion of Charles Street (at Franklin). It will feature a winding path of flowers and shade trees, and a monument to Pope John Paul II designed by Baltimore-born artist Joseph Sheppherd.

Artists rendering of the prayer garden coming to Charles & Franklin Streets, courtesy of Mahan Rykiel Associates.

A large scrim will cover the portion of the Franklin Street garage that overlooks the park. Everything should be ready in a couple of months.

Hopefully, the completed space will cast its zen vibe out to calm drivers as they pass by. During the groundbreaking, the speakers were occasionally drowned out by loud trucks and honking motorists. Otherwise, it could be a noisy place to find inner calm.

-m.e.