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City approves sale of Recreation Pier; hotel planned for site
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BALTIMORE (Map, News) - Baltimore City’s spending board agreed to sell the Recreation Pier in Fells Point on Wednesday for up to $2 million, clearing the way for the development of a 130-room waterfront hotel.
The city’s Board of Estimates approved the sale to Baltimore developer J. Joseph Clarke, president of J.J. Clarke Enterprises, three years after the city’s Department of Housing and Community Development picked Clarke to develop the property.
“It takes a long time to do these complex deals,” Clarke said Wednesday. “This is complex because it’s extremely expensive to fix the pier.”
Under the terms of the agreement, Clarke and partner H&S Properties Development will pay the city a $350,000 nonrefundable deposit.
The property has been appraised at $8.9 million, and if the developers’ costs for rebuilding the pier exceed $6.9 million, the city could reduce or eliminate the remaining $1.65 million owed on the property, Clarke said.
Clarke said it would cost $9 million to $10 million to rebuild the pier, which was built in 1914 and has many structural deficiencies.
After the pier is rebuilt, construction will begin on a $45 million Aloft hotel, one of the Starwood brand hotels.
“This will allow development to occur while making the pier accessible to the public,” said Mayor Sheila Dixon said. “It’s a major gain for the city in terms of tax revenues as well.”
The development is a private project and will not receive city money, but Clarke said he expects the hotel to benefit greatly from a waterfront location.
“Baltimore is a very good hotel market,” Clarke said. “Locating an Aloft brand hotel on a pier surrounded by water on three sides and within walking distance to some of the city’s best bars and restaurants, we think it’s going to do stand-up business.”
A new, trendy hotel is needed in Fells Point, which is home to Admiral Fell Inn and The Inn at Henderson’s Wharf, said Bob Aydukovic, vice president of the Downtown Partnership of Baltimore.
“The Rec Pier is one of the architectural gems of Baltimore,” Aydukovic said. “Bringing a new hotel to the area is nothing but good news for Fells Point.”
Staff Writer Stephen Janis contributed to this article.
acannarsa@baltimoreexaminer.com
Comments from Examiner Readers
1:25 AM MST on Mon., Jul. 28, 2008 re: "Neighbors say creamery violates conservation pact, zoning laws"
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1:15 AM MST on Mon., Jul. 28, 2008
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6:49 AM MST on Sun., Jun. 29, 2008
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Examiner Reader said:
I don't understand why everyone is upset about this since the farm is doing this to survive. Selling land into preservation is protecting it from being developed but not from buildings for agricultural uses. Read about the MALPF goals and see for yourself...they want to preserve the farmland and make it so the farms can continue to produce food for Maryland residents...that is exactly what Mr. Prigel is doing!
4 agree | 3 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
It may specify "creameries" in the ML zoning code but the Prigels are in complete compliance with the RC-2 zone as well. I have been to the public hearings and heard the information presented. The people fighting the Prigels are only worried about the location of the building and they honestly have NO RIGHT to protest that since it is in compliance with the MALF preservation agreement the Prigels signed and in compliance with the zoning regulations for their land. Commercial agriculture is important and necessary for the future of farming and therefore the future of the economy. Why wouldn't we want to support the ONLY organic dairy farm in all of Baltimore county. There is a huge market and the Prigels would be crazy not to build this creamery. Also if you all value people putting land in preservation then stopping the Prigels will only deter future farmers from entering the preservation since it is taking away ALL of their rights even when that is not the agreement they signed.
4 agree | 3 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
As a taxpayer I am concerned about the money. I would hope you will do a follow-up and follow the money trail. With the state that our economy is in spending taxpayers money like this doesn't seem right. Could there be a politician helping a friend, look at the city and the political fall-out there. We don't want that in the county also. Examiner you need to follow-up I am going to research this on my own - something doesn't smell right here.
12 agree | 11 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
This is how you spell "illegal" - look at your own property
8 agree | 8 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
If more neighbors would look at this facility they will realize that we are going to have a commercial receiving station for milk, and by the way look at all the money that the taxpayers are paying to build this facility. Grant money, 2% interest loans of $250,000 over 10 years, from the state and county WOW! The rest of us keep paying all these tax increases and fees to the government and they keep throwing our money down the river. As taxpayers we need to say enough is enough. Now they have to change the law to justify the money they loaned the Prigels!!! And they call this fair government!! Say no to commercial facilities on ag ground!!
26 agree | 16 disagree
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Zoning facts said:
Creamery ONLY in Manufacturing light (ML zones) see section 253.1 Baltimore County zoning regulations Dairy products store BL zones See Baltimore County Zoning Regulations Section 230. Need a special exception for a processing plant in RC2 zone.
11 agree | 8 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
There is no zoning change that needs to take place in order build this building to bottle his own milk. The land is in agricultural preservation, this is part of agricultural preservation. The zoning change is simply for a small retail store to sell his milk, yogurt, cheese etc. This article makes it sound as if he has done something illeagal. The Examiner needs to get its facts straight! Carrie Prigel
11 agree | 19 disagree
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upset by zoning said:
It seems like a 10,000 SF processing plant really belongs in Glen Arm (a short distance away) where commercial businesses are located. Doesn't the family even own land in Glen Arm. We could still buy local and support this farming family and their new business. And what's up with the County? If the zoning says a creamery can only be in Manufacturing Light and dairy stores only in Business Light how can this dairy processing place be in this RC 2 zone and on preserved land? Can the County just change the zoning like this without input?
15 agree | 9 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
good try. but if first sentence reads like an encyclopedia, nobody's gonna get to the second one, m.e.
8 agree | 11 disagree
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P Kelly said:
Across the country, family farms are disappearing at alarming rates. Large corporate agribusiness operations are taking their place and we as consumers are losing control over the food we eat. Evidenced by the frightening amount of contaminated food recalls, does it not make sense to know where our food is produced and under what conditions? And with the rising energy costs, keeping food close to where it is produced surely will help reduce energy needs. I assume by the author’s use of quotation marks around the phrase roadside stand there is an inference that the facility is more than that. I would direct the author to Baltimore County Zoning Regulations which defines a roadside stand as “an accessory structure owned and operated by an agricultural producer, used for the sale of indigenous farm products, the majority of which have been grown on the premises, on adjacent land or on properties farmed by the same agricultural producer.” I applaud Mr. Prigel’s efforts to preserve
20 agree | 19 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
The study is very interesting. It would be nice to live in a thriving, growing city with vitality. Not the Baltimore I have been given by the so called leaders.
6 agree | 8 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
This study is the truth
8 agree | 8 disagree
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Johnny Apple seed said:
Read between the lines. A name on a paper delivered to the County Executive is an obvious headhunt and political bias comment. Grasping at straws so the slander suits await. The democrats are being conservative and honest, a republican can only dream up the ladder. The elected political elite do favors for legal contributions, period. Grow up, examiner.
8 agree | 15 disagree
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Steven Lessner said:
The corruption in the city and state which allows rich developers to have their way with the city is the reason.With dixon on the verge of being charged with crimes against the citizens of Baltimore and the council's presdient not far behind. Hopefully they will soon investigate owe'malley and his corruption. The democrats are destroying all the cities and state. They need to be ousted before our governments are all broke. All the deals dixon has given her developer friends have left the city without tens of millions of dollars.Dixon is the worst kind of thief she not only steals from taxpayers but lines her pockets from the developers. Dixon is the being assisted by the baltimore developement corp. who is assisting with this corruption of the highest kind.
5 agree | 6 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
Why is Resolution 51-07 off the Council website? Are they covering up a development matter that was facilitated to benefit the friend of a high County official?
9 agree | 9 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
I think Jim Smith & John Olszewski Sr. have done a remarkable job with tearing down the YorkWay Apartments. This area was full of crime, drugs, and people on welfare who do absolutely nothing to "better themselves" while "we" working people pay their bills. Even after this, they still bring down the neighborhood. This has been needed for a very long time because Dundalk will thrive once again. It's time to clean up and our local & County officials have stepped up to the plate. If you read all of the facts in this story, the new owner & developer have stipulations regarding what they "can" or "cannot" do with this land. Jim Smith has "legal" clauses in the contract that this developement cannot hurt the residents or the neighborhood. Keep the faith and be supportive instead of negative. That's the problem with this world. Many people have their opinions and run their mouth, but yet they never go to any of the town meetings and help volunteer or give suggestions. Take action!
11 agree | 11 disagree
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reader said:
Built it and they will come.
25 agree | 35 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
This is being done for increased Tax Revenue for our Goverment. They need the money badly for there families.
36 agree | 32 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
how much will jim smith and johnny o. get out of this. no politician, espically in maryland does something for nothing.
27 agree | 40 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
should be building office space in india,china and mexico.really no need for it in the us.
61 agree | 64 disagree
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