Pula also said a new arena could boost an area that is finally recovering after years of neglect. "There's been so much money spent, so much effort, on the west side, and it's working," he said. "We ought to continue that and not go put $200 million or $300 million out in a field somewhere."
Several leading Baltimore architects cautioned yesterday that the design of the arena is critical to is success and must be part of the discussion from the beginning. They want specific guidelines for developers and say design should be an integral part of the arena planning process, which will be led by the Baltimore Development Corp.
"The BDC moves these [projects] forward on the basis of the quality of the development teams and financial wherewithal, but they rarely if ever put any real requirements up front that deal with urban or architectural design," said Klaus Philipsen, president of the architecture and planning firm ArchPlan Inc. in Baltimore. "They always say, 'Let's talk about design later.' "
He said the Hilton Convention Center Hotel, opening next month, is an example of a process that didn't make design a priority from the start. "The result speaks for itself," he said.
Philipsen is co-chairman of the AIA Baltimore Urban Design Committee, a volunteer group promoting good design in the region. The group has challenged the notion that a new arena would provide the most benefit to the west side.
Instead, they suggested the site be used for an urban park, a transit center and a mix of retail, residential and office space.
"We're disappointed the arguments we put forth were not heard," Philipsen said. He said small, intimate blocks would be more inviting than a massive arena which, at 18,500 seats, would be even larger than the present 14,000-seat arena.
His group and others have also suggested that the city could reap a greater economic benefit if it leased development rights to the arena land - which is owned by the city - and used the revenue to build an arena elsewhere.
Housing has shown strength on the west side. Apartment projects, including Camden Courts, the Atrium and Centerpoint have high occupancy rates. Restaurants and coffeeshops have also moved into the area, and the city pressured the expanding University of Maryland, Baltimore to build a Barnes & Noble bookstore at Baltimore and Eutaw streets.
