An $11 million apartment building will begin construction in the
Station North Arts and Entertainment District this year, bringing more life to an area undergoing revitalization.
The 74-unit Lillian Jones apartments will break ground at the end of the year and take about one year to complete, says Jim French, president of
French Development Co. The Baltimore real estate firm, which specializes in nonprofit and community-sponsored projects, won the development rights after the Baltimore Housing department issued a bid.
The Station North district is home to the Charles Theatre, Tapas Teatro, and a number of galleries and theater troupes, including Single Carrot Theatre and Annex Theater and Gallery. It will lose one of its anchors, Everyman Theatre Co., when the group moves to Baltimore's west side next year.
Located at Greenmount Avenue and E. Hoffman Street, the apartments replace vacant land and homes.
"The idea is to provide better housing for people in the community and create more life on the street by having people living on Greenmount Avenue," French says. The economic conditions aren't strong enough to build market-rate housing, but hopefully in time they will be.
The apartments will include one, two, and three-bedroom units. They are available to individuals and families who pull in 50 percent below the Baltimore metro area media income, or around $41,000 for a family of four.
Designed by Cho Benn Holback+Associates Inc., the four-story building includes a courtyard and exterior made of brick, cement and glass.
Sources: Jim French, French Co.; David Benn, Cho Benn Holback+Associates
Writer: Julekha Dash