City-owned property near Little Italy could become part of a $17 million apartment and retail complex under a plan proposed by A&R Development Corp. of Baltimore and accepted by the city.
The Baltimore Development Corp. announced Tuesday that A&R has been selected over one other group that expressed interest in developing the parcels at 110 S. Central Ave. and 1120 Granby St. in the Jonestown/Washington Hill community.
A&R proposed combining the city land with several privately owned parcels to create a five-story mixed-use project containing 107 rental apartments, 156 parking spaces and 18,000 square feet of street-level retail space at the intersection of Central Avenue and East Lombard Street.
The company, which developed the Symphony Place apartments in the Mount Royal cultural district, now has the right to negotiate exclusively with the city to buy the land and develop the property. Marks, Thomas Architects would be the architect.
"This is a good project, a good spot and a developer with a good track record," said M. Jay Brodie, president of the Baltimore Development Corp. "We think they can pull it together."
A&R is one of two companies that submitted successful bids to develop city-owned properties in East Baltimore.
The development corporation also announced that Mitey LLC, an affilitate of Gerry's Tire Service at 39 S. Central Ave., has been granted exclusive rights to negotiate with the city to acquire 1301 to 1309 E. Lombard St. for an expansion of its automotive business. The company was selected over one other bidder and initially plans to use the land as a parking lot.
The development agency sought bidders for both parcels last August, as well as a site at 130 S. Central Ave. A developer has not been named for the third property.
The land awarded to A&R, near Corned Beef Row, was formerly home of the Saval Food Co. and was acquired by the city after Saval moved elsewhere in the city. Central Avenue has been targeted for upgrading to become a major north-south artery, to help take some eastside traffic off President Street several blocks away.
This is the second time the city has sought a developer for the Saval properties.
Logan Bailey-Perkins, development manager for A&R, declined to discuss the project. Brodie said A&R representatives have expressed confidence that they can acquire the additional parcels needed to carry out the proposed development.
