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Adam Meister
Baltimore Politics ExaminerAdam Meister's scribe spreads his innate enthusiasm for all things Baltimore--and, in particular, the political inner workings of his beloved hometown.
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The Urban Renewal - Key Highway - Amendment Update
Adam Meister - Baltimore Politics Examiner
I have been told that bill 08-0117 (The Urban Renewal - Key Highway - Amendment) passed and has moved on to third reader. Opposed to the bill were: Bill Cole, Mary Pat Clarke, Ed Reisinger, and Jim Kraft. Nick D'Adamo passed on the vote.People in Federal Hill are not happy. Read the comments under my previous post and check out this email from FHNA President Paul Robinson:
"And in about 48 hours time (since the Urban Affairs vote last Thursday), Swirnow has all but completed construction of a massive guard house at the Warren Avenue “access” to the so-called “Public” promenade along the “waterfront”.
So, now that Council is on the verge of creating brand new development rights (above and beyond those stipulated in the original Key Highway URO) relaxing the lot coverage and height ratios on both Lot #3 and Lot #6, the Mayor and the Council President are going to send Doug McCoach into battle against Swirnow and force him to relinquish these rights on Lot #6 so that the Public Waterfront Park with “active open space” they promised us before last year’s Election actually becomes a reality?
Here’s what will happen. Swirnow will demand that the City sell the Fire Department Repair Facility land to him AT HIS PRICE! Or he will refuse to cooperate at all by accepting tighter development area controls on Lot #6. The City will threaten him by introducing another Amendment to the KHURO changing the boundaries to exclude Lot #6. Swirnow (THE most litigious developer inBaltimore history – ask Michaela Gallagher) and Frank Wise will threaten to sue for irreparable financial damages. Andy Frank will capitulate. The Mayor will come back and apologize.
Game Over…..
What puzzles me is that we suggested a compromise (that was a bitter bill for Federal Hill residents, anyway). Essentially the Amendment (which was rejected by the Mayor and the Council President as “offensive” in that it demonstrated “a lack of trust” in them to keep their commitment to us) required Swirnow to cooperate fully on Lot #6 (Hell - without the Amendment passed yesterday he could build NOTHING there anyway). If he failed to comply, the original KHURO development area controls on both Lot #3 and Lot #6 would be re-instated in full force and effect.
Had the Amendment been introduced and supported it would have boxed Swirnow, the Planning Department and the Administration into a corner. Swirnow would have had no choice but to cooperate. So, when presented the opportunity to either assure Swirnow’s cooperation or provide him with the leverage he needs to negotiate any future Key Highway development deals from a position of greatly increased strength, the powers that be choose the former.
Here’s the real deal. Swirnow staged a couple of fundraisers. The Mayor and Council President did not carry our precincts last fall. Mitchell and Sarbanes did. We couldn’t even deliver the local precinct for Ed.
Welcome to Baltimore politics. Pay-back is Hell!"
Below are some campaign contributions by developer Richard Swirnow and his company HarborView properties:
| Candidates Account | Contributor Name(Address) | Amount | Date Received | Contribution Type |
| Democrats 2000 Slate | Harborview Limited Partnership No. 3 (112 East 25th Street , Baltimore, MD, 21218) | $1,000.00 | 05/24/2001 | Ticket purchases by Business Entity |
| Dixon, Sheila Friends For | Harborview Limited Partnership No. 7 (500 Harborview Drive 3rd Floor, Baltimore, MD, 21230) | $250.00 | 04/23/2007 | Business Entity |
| Dixon, Sheila Friends For | HARBORVIEW LIMITED PARTNERSHIP NO.3 (500 HARBORVIEW DRIVE, 3RD FL. , BALTIMORE, MD, 21230) | $500.00 | 08/04/2003 | Business Entity |
| Dixon, Sheila Friends For | HARBORVIEW LIMITED PARTNERSHIP NO.3 (112 E. 25TH STREET , BALTIMORE, MD, 21218) | $250.00 | 05/22/2001 | Ticket purchases by Business Entity Remarks: 2001 PRAYER BREAKFAST |
| Ehrlich, Bob For Maryland Committee | Harborview #3 Limited Partnership (c/o Richard Swirnow 500 Harbor View Dr, Baltimore, MD, 21230-5400) | $1,000.00 | 08/03/2005 | Business Entity |
| Ehrlich, Bob For Maryland Committee | Harborview #7 Limited Partnership (c/o Richard Swirnow 500 Harbor View Dr, Baltimore, MD, 21230-5400) | $1,000.00 | 08/03/2005 | Business Entity |
| Ehrlich, Bob For Maryland Committee | Harborview Limited Partnership No. 3 (c/o Richard Swirnow 500 Havorview Drive, 3rd Floor, Baltimore, MD, 21230-) | $1,000.00 | 05/28/2003 | Business Entity |
| Hammen, Peter A. Friends Of | Harborview Properties No. 3 (500 Harborview Dr, 3rd Fl , Baltimore, MD, 21230) | $125.00 | 10/31/2005 | Business Entity |
| Holton, Helen Citizens For | Harborview Limited Partnership #2 (500 Harborview Drive 3rd Floor, Baltimore, MD, 21230) | $250.00 | 05/12/2006 | Ticket purchases by Business Entity |
| House Democratic Unity Committee, The Maryland | Harborview Limited Partnership No. 3 (112 East 25th St. , Baltimore, MD, 21218) | $1,000.00 | 10/02/2002 | Business Entity |
| Jones, Verna L. Friends of | Harborview Limited Partnership #2 (500 Harborview Drive, 3rd Floor , Baltimore, MD, 21230) | $500.00 | 01/11/2005 | Business Entity |
| Klein, Nicole Pastore Friends Of | Harborview Properties, l.p. (112 east 25st , baltimore, MD, 21218) | $250.00 | 07/01/2003 | Ticket purchases by Business Entity |
| Kraft, Jim Friends Of | HARBORVIEW LIMITED PARTNERSHIP NO.3 (500 HARBORVIEW DRIVE, 3RD FLOOR , BALTIMORE, MD, 21230) | $250.00 | 11/08/2005 | Business Entity |
| O'Malley, Martin Friends Of | Harborview Limited Partnership No. 3 (500 Harborview Dr. 3rd Fl., Baltimore, MD, 21230) | $1,000.00 | 06/20/2005 | Business Entity |
| O'Malley, Martin Friends Of | Harborview Marina, LLC (112 E. 25th Street , Baltimore, MD, 21218) | $100.00 | 02/05/2003 | Ticket purchases by Business Entity |
| Rawlings-Blake, Stephanie Friends Of | Harborview Limited Partnership No. 7 (500 Harborview Drive 3rd Floor, Baltimore, MD, 21230) | $250.00 | 05/11/2007 | Business Entity |
| Rawlings-Blake, Stephanie Friends Of | Harborview Limited Partnership No. 3 (112 East 25th Street , Baltimore, MD, 21218) | $250.00 | 05/11/2007 | Business Entity |
| Rawlings-Blake, Stephanie Friends Of | Harborview Limited Partnership No. 7 (500 Harborview Drive 3rd Floor, Baltimore, MD, 21230) | $250.00 | 08/09/2005 | Business Entity |
| Rawlings-Blake, Stephanie Friends Of | Harborview Limited Partnership No. 3 (112 East 25th Street , Baltimore, MD, 21218) | $250.00 | 08/09/2005 | Business Entity |
| Reisinger, Edward L. Friends Of | Harborview Limited Partnership No. 7 (500 Harborview Dr 3RD Floor, Baltimore, MD, 21230) | $250.00 | 04/11/2007 | Business Entity Remarks: Host sponsor |
| Schaefer, William Donald Friends Of | Harborview Limited Partnership No. 3 (500 Harborview Drive 3rd. Floor, Baltimore, MD, 21230) | $250.00 | 09/15/2005 | Ticket purchases by Business Entity |
| Schaefer, William Donald Friends Of | Harborview Limited Partnership No. 3 (500 Harborview Drive 3rd. Floor, Baltimore, MD, 21230) | $250.00 | 06/15/2004 | Ticket purchases by Business Entity |
| Spector, Rikki Friends Of | Harborview (112 E. 25th St. , Baltimore, MD, 21218) | $500.00 | 12/05/2000 | Business Entity |
| Young, Bernard C. Friends Of | HARBORVIEW LTM PARTNERSHIP #7 (112 EAST 25TH STREET , BALTIMORE, MD, 21218) | $250.00 | 03/21/2007 | Business Entity |
| Young, Bernard C. Friends Of | HARBORVIEW LTM PARTNERSHIP #7 (112 EAST 25TH STREET , BALTIMORE, MD, 21218) | $500.00 | 01/19/2001 | Business Entity |
| Dixon, Sheila Friends For | Richard Swirnow (500 Harbor View Dr 3rd Floor, Baltimore, MD, 21230-5415) | $250.00 | 04/05/2006 | Individual |
| Spector, Rikki Friends Of | RICHARD SWIRNOW (114 E. 25TH STREET , BALTIMORE, MD, 21212) | $500.00 | 05/15/2003 | Individual |
Topics: City Council , Rikki Spector , developers , Federal Hill , Sheila Dixon , Richard Swirnow , HarborView
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