2 Developers Submit Proposals For Historic Parkway Theatre

Two groups have submitted proposals to redevelop Baltimore's historic Parkway Theatre at 3-5 W. North Ave. and two adjoining properties at 1 W. North Ave. and 1820 N. Charles St. in the Station North arts and entertainment district.

The teams are headed by Teddy Kim, a Washington-based businessman, with Brown Craig Turner as the architect, and Maryland developer Samuel Polakoff, with Ziger/Snead and Cho Benn Holback + Associates as architects.

Kim is related to Tony Cheng, a Washington-based restaurateur who controls numerous properties near the intersection of Charles Street and North Avenue. Polakoff's Cormony Development recently agreed to bow out of the $250 million Gateway South development project on Russell Street south of Camden Yards so a slots parlor could be built on the land instead.

The Baltimore Development Corp. last May requested proposals that preserve the 1915 theater and adjoining properties for "cabaret, film, live music and live performance." Friday was the deadline for bids.

Mayor Sheila Dixon last year unveiled a "vision plan" that lays out a strategy for investing up to $1 billion to reinvigorate the arts district and identifies the Parkway Theatre as a key property for renovation. The development corporation required that the theater and the Charles Street building be preserved as part of any revitalization effort. City officials say they will now review the proposals and hope to select one group to move ahead with its project.