Blight seems to be reducing around Center Street light rail station?

Submitted by Cheomesh t3_126t7gw in baltimore

There's that stretch of blight along the light rail around the Center Street station that last weekend I noticed seems to be getting some attention. A number of buildings seem to have some construction work going on or some "coming soon" signs (such as what appears to be an old greyhound bus station). I know that area has been pretty much derelict for years so if this is a sign of improvement I'm glad for it!

I heard the City had some change to how it can reclaim vacants - no idea if that went through or not - is this maybe a result of that?

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PleaseBmoreCharming t1_jeav9oc wrote

The old Greyhound station is the new home for Squashwise, and the building across Howard next to the dog park will be apartments.

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Cheomesh OP t1_jeb2kd3 wrote

Ah so it definitely was a station at one point then - my wife and I used to joke that we should drop out of life, rehab that building as a game shop and call it Greyhound Games. Glad to see something's actually happening to it though!

Speaking of the dog park it seems like they're excising the ground directly in front of it, too. Wonder what that's about.

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jizzle26 t1_jeavk49 wrote

There’s a lot of activity finally happening in that area you mentioned. There are many projects that have been in the works for years, with some big ones finally commencing - those include the old Greyhound station becoming a Squash center, the Mayfair theatre facade being saved and incorporated into new apartments and office space, and 600 N Howard is turning into apartments as well.

Glad it’s finally starting to be noticeable to those not in the development loop!

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Cheomesh OP t1_jeb2qkg wrote

Cheers; yeah whenever I'm in the area and on the train that area always gives me The Sads since there's so many gorgeous old buildings there just left to their own devices. Glad they're keeping the theater fascade at least - maybe that'll be an apartment I move into someday...

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PigtownDesign t1_jeazqky wrote

Hopefully, some new antiques dealers will move back to Howard Street.

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PleaseBmoreCharming t1_jecgi8z wrote

Yeah, sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but that's a pipe dream. Residents in this area have too little wealth to support niche retail like antique shops. You need places with high median income, like Howard County, to support antique dealers and even that's been difficult in that area after the Ellicott City flooding decimated their historic retail street. If they can't do it, I see no hope for the Howard Street area. Better it turned into more diverse retail options.

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Cunninghams_right t1_jed0fgw wrote

I don't think that's accurate. Hamden started out with pretty little rent which attracted a lot of antique dealers which then went to a lot of bars and restaurants taking advantage of the foot traffic.

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sit_down_man t1_jeb43us wrote

Yea it seems that a lot of development was always around the corner for that section Howard, but I think the redevelopment of Lexington Market and the new Arena are prob some kinda “signal” that it’s Go Time lol. And tbqh it’s a very good thing since it’s all oriented around our existing transit of the light rail

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Complete-Ad9574 t1_jebsac3 wrote

I travel past this area every weekday. The Squashwise signs have been up for months, but nothing seems to be happening, other than the building is being targeted for graffiti. Its great to see the building on Ross and Howard, (next to dog park) is being renovated. This spot was the site of the first Hopkins University. It was small, only about 5-6 buildings. The students lived in rooms rented in the large homes on Howard, and the Market at the top of Howard & Read was busy with people buying their daily needs.

The land that the bus station now sits, was the walled garden and part of the Visitation Convent, and Girls school. The complex stretched from Howard across to Park Ave.

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Gorgon86 t1_jecoqen wrote

The Squashwise building got held up due to CHAP negotiations. Those are done and they will start construction this summer.

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SeaworthinessFit2151 t1_jecg7kk wrote

A lot of that is spillover from the market center the city is pushing a little south. I’m in seton hill. I ain’t mad about it.

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Notonfoodstamps t1_jeb6qhy wrote

The whole Howard Street cooridor is getting long overdue love for sure. I'd imagine investment is going to ramp up if these "testing the water" projects prove to be successful

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Complete-Ad9574 t1_jedvrdn wrote

It can only be a good thing if the lower blocks of Howard are able to grab the coattails of this Centre street rebirth. Sadly the wild meandering of the light rail discourages all traffic flow. I am not against transit over cars, but this stretch of road is terrible for both. We have seen that it has discouraged renovation for decades. Additionally the side streets are used by commuters to exit the city, and these streets are also hampered by decayed roadbeds and crazy traffic patterns. If parking could be had near but not on Howard, it might be a reasonable answer to rebirth.

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