After Decades of False Starts, Redevelopment Comes to a Historic Baltimore Neighborhood

Recognized this year as one of America's great neighborhoods by the APA, it seems like the historic maritime community of Fells Point is finally having its moment in the spotlight, "[a]fter decades of waiting and unkept promises from past developers," writes Jacques Kelly. 

"Residents told me they have seen the economics of the neighborhood change, so that this fairly expensive exercise in new construction dovetailed with a historic district is now possible," says Kelly. "They have also observed tired, empty storefronts sit vacant for years. Retail establishments such as Crabby Dick's and the 9th Life moved on. But now expensive development has moved away from the ledge along the harbor and settled into the heart of the South Broadway commercial corridor."

"In the past 12 years, I've watched the bars become restaurants, the taverns become bars and hole-in-the-wall liquor stores become taverns," said attorney Arthur Perschetz, president of the Fell's Point Residents Association.

"Fells Point is definitely drawing the empty-nesters and people who really want the best of city life, who want to walk to their shopping," he said. "The Circulator bus has made a huge difference, too."