Pornography And Urban Renewal

Could Larry Flynt's new Hustler Club in Baltimore generate a vibrant new commercial district?

1 minute read

November 23, 2003, 7:00 AM PST

By David Gest


A Baltimore columnist reports that "[t]he opening of Larry Flynt's 14,000-square-foot Hustler Club on East Baltimore Street last week caused a stir in the media and among politicians," many of whom did not want to see an expansion of business in Baltimore’s red-light district. "Slots, casinos, strip clubs, oh my!...I fail to see the harm in Flynt's new enterprise and, if it is successful, a bunch of copycat entrepreneurs following suit...if this new flesh emporium causes spillover business to nearby restaurants and hotels, what's the big deal? Understandably, this isn't the sort of economic expansion [Mayor] O'Malley wants to be associated with, but he has an entire city at his disposal for creating vibrant commercial districts..." Perhaps the city should stop worrying about Flynt, and focus on reviving its more legitimate, yet not as successful, major league baseball team.

Thanks to David Gest

Wednesday, November 19, 2003 in Baltimore City Paper

"Planetizen federal action tracker" logo superimposed over black and white image of US Capitol dome.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

October 28, 2026 - Zachary Whalen

A car drives through a puddle, making a large splash. Rain pours down.

California plans to bury El Niño’s downpour

If the state plays its cards right, it may be able to store a billion acre-feet of El Niño’s water in aquifers.

October 28, 2026 - Grist

Lake Powell with much of the water evaporated.

Desperate measures: Advocates weigh draining Lake Powell to fill Colorado River

Draining the reservoir could reduce evaporation losses by a couple hundred thousand acre-feet.

October 30, 2026 - Yale Environment 360

A Firefighter sprays water from a hose at a tall blaze.

US buildings threatened, destroyed by fires set to triple by 2060

Researchers found a high fire risk for socioeconomically vulnerable neighborhoods in the American West.

November 4 - Inside Climate News

People cross a crosswalk in Los Angeles.

LA residents may be allowed to paint their own crosswalks

Councilwoman Katy Yaroslavsky put out a motion instructing the Los Angeles Department of Public Transportation to study the feasibility of allowing volunteers to paint crosswalks.

November 4 - ABC7

Two women walking on the sidewalk in Dallas.

Dallas moves to overhaul its zoning code

The city's zoning reform will allow more multi-family and mixed-use developments.

November 4 - Yahoo News