166 replies to this topic

[NewMarketSean]

I thought we could use a general discussion on Baltimore development. If there is another thread like this, please merge it Chris, but I looked through some of the forums and couldn't find anything.

 

Anyways...The Mechanic Theater is in the beginning stages of being torn down.

 

On a development forum I frequent, there were some brutalist architecture apologists who wanted it to survive....I was shocked anyone would actually want it to stick around...

 

Hopefully something relevant will go there. It's essentially the center of the city and it's been abandoned for years.

 

Anyone ever see a show there? 

 

 

[DJ MC]

Every time I drive past that I wonder how anyone thought it would be a good idea.

[BSLMikeLowe]

I thought we could use a general discussion on Baltimore development. If there is another thread like this, please merge it Chris, but I looked through some of the forums and couldn't find anything.
 
Anyways...The Mechanic Theater is in the beginning stages of being torn down.
 
On a development forum I frequent, there were some brutalist architecture apologists who wanted it to survive....I was shocked anyone would actually want it to stick around...
 
Hopefully something relevant will go there. It's essentially the center of the city and it's been abandoned for years.
 
Anyone ever see a show there? 

Ugh. It's sad that those are the people that seem to have the loudest voice at times. The Mechanic was an eyesore even when it was still a serviceable theater. Anyone who likes it is probably a huge fan of Soviet-era architecture....or blind (though it could be argued they are one-and-the-same).

We have those types in Portland too. Thanks to them, the ugly Coliseum still stands next to the Rose Garden, practically useless and costing the city millions per year in maintenance, and costing us our AAA baseball team. All because a bunch of whiny architects managed to scuttle a plan to knock it down and build what would have been a beautiful ballpark right on the Willamette River. Idiots.

[DJ MC]

Proposed White Marsh outlet mall gets OK

[NewMarketSean]

I wonder how Rob feels about this. He lives a stones throw away, right?

[Mark Carver]

Hey, you know that plot along Light Street where they're always going to build a new skyscraper but never actually do?

 

http://www.baltimore...0,7798013.story

 

Why not....

 

Amenities for residents are to include a 7th-floor dog park and a 35th-floor library.

[BSLChrisStoner]

Let's use this thread to just post about ongoing projects, without discussing the mechanics behind the scenes and decisions made.

[DJ MC]

Let's use this thread to just post about ongoing projects, without discussing the mechanics behind the scenes and decisions made.

 

Fair enough. I just didn't want to start a new thread

[RShack]

Fair enough. I just didn't want to start a new thread

 

I think he was mainly talking to me :-0

[BSLChrisStoner]

South Bmore.com: Plans Revealed for First Phase of Stadium Square

[KWebz]

Also why is there no ferry in Saint Mary's County to go across the Bay? I googled it and it seemed like one was in the works but the project was cancelled. People have to drive an hour north to the bay bridge when there could be a ferry to cover the 11-13 miles of bay.

[RShack]

Carroll County? I don't see why -- it wouldn't come close to CC.

 

https://en.wikipedia...ounty,_Maryland

[NewMarketSean]

Also why is there no ferry in Saint Mary's County to go across the Bay? I googled it and it seemed like one was in the works but the project was cancelled. People have to drive an hour north to the bay bridge when there could be a ferry to cover the 11-13 miles of bay.

 

I found this:

 

http://somd.com/news...icles/142.shtml

 

According to the politician, it would cost $140 for a vehicle, and the ferry company was going to owned by a trucking company with the main purpose to move shipping trucks across the bay.

 

Who knows if that is actually the case.

 

But vehicle ferries are pretty expensive, the trip would still be pretty long and dependent on weather conditions, and with St. Mary's Co. being pretty rural, I wonder if the demand is actually there.

[Pedro Cerrano]

I always thought it was a tad odd that the Bay has basically one bridge crossing.  I would think one further north might ease traffic.  But what do I know?

[Pedro Cerrano]

Also, I'd like to change Route 50 or build bypasses next to it so that you're not stuck at traffic lights in Easton and Cambridge.  They have that in Salisbury already.  One highway with a 65 MPH speed limit.

[RShack]

I found this:

 

http://somd.com/news...icles/142.shtml

 

According to the politician, it would cost $140 for a vehicle, and the ferry company was going to owned by a trucking company with the main purpose to move shipping trucks across the bay.

 

Who knows if that is actually the case.

 

But vehicle ferries are pretty expensive, the trip would still be pretty long and dependent on weather conditions, and with St. Mary's Co. being pretty rural, I wonder if the demand is actually there.

 

How long does the ferry trip take?  There's a ferry close to me that takes 40 minutes each way... and it's $20.  

 

The state does it now, but it used to be a private company... several years ago, some Greek freighter ran into a major bridge over in Pensacola and screwed it up, and the dang ferry company just took their boats and went over there to cash in, leaving us ferry-less... which is why the state took it over... the point being that it's not some heavily subsidized thing...

[NewMarketSean]

How long does the ferry trip take?  There's a ferry close to me that takes 40 minutes each way... and it's $20.  

 

The state does it now, but it used to be a private company... several years ago, some Greek freighter ran into a major bridge over in Pensacola and screwed it up, and the dang ferry company just took their boats and went over there to cash in, leaving us ferry-less... which is why the state took it over... the point being that it's not some heavily subsidized thing...

 

By comparison, the Cape May/Lewes ferry is 15 miles, takes 80 mins and costs $45 for a car & driver.

[NewMarketSean]

Also, I'd like to change Route 50 or build bypasses next to it so that you're not stuck at traffic lights in Easton and Cambridge.  They have that in Salisbury already.  One highway with a 65 MPH speed limit.

 

It would be nice.

 

Hogan would have won some people over by setting aside money for an Easton/Cambridge bypass.

 

Easier said than done though.

[RShack]

By comparison, the Cape May/Lewes ferry is 15 miles, takes 80 mins and costs $45 for a car & driver.

 

Well, judging by our 2 examples, a $140 ferry ride oughta last about 4 hours... so, either the water at St. Mary's got a whole lot wider since I was there, or else that price would be including some hefty ROI for lots of bribes...

[NewMarketSean]

I am sure there was some spin in that press release. $140 is insane.

 

Now, $30-50 is tempting if I was going to OC and lived in SoMD, and I get a nice little boat ride out of it.

 

That's still $80-100 round trip.