Johns Hopkins has chosen a team headed by Baltimore- and Virginia-based Armada Hoffler to develop a mixed-use retail and residential complex with garage parking on university-owned land in the 3200 block of St. Paul Street in Charles Village.
The Armada Hoffler development team, which includes Beatty Development Group and Skye Hospitality, is anticipated to bring new life to the southwest corner of 33rd and St. Paul streets, where the university purchased the vacant 1.13-acre parcel in 2009, with no immediate plans to develop the site. The university's leadership felt it was important to buy the land when it was available, ensuring that any future projects would serve the interests of both the university and its neighbors.
The proposed development, with the working name of the St. Paul Street Project in Charles Village, dovetails with the goals of the Homewood Community Partners Initiative, a collaborative effort convened by Johns Hopkins in the summer of 2011 to recognize the alignment of interests between the university and community. Since its formation, the partnership has assessed what it will take to ensure that 10 neighbor communities and one nearby commercial district will thrive.
The Armada Hoffler team was chosen by a committee of trustees and administrators from more than two dozen proposals solicited by Johns Hopkins. The final terms of the transaction are subject to approval by the university's board of trustees. The Armada Hoffler team will own the improvements on land that will remain controlled by the university. The developer is responsible for overseeing design, soliciting community input, securing financing, obtaining public approvals, and managing the property long term. Key principals of this team include Baltimore's Michael Beatty of Beatty Development Group and Tony Nero of Armada Hoffler.
Beatty, former president of Harbor East Development Group, has extensive experience with projects in Baltimore. Jointly with his former company, Beatty and Armada Hoffler have constructed more than 5.5 million square feet in Baltimore. Beatty Development is currently working on the redevelopment of Harbor Point, a 2-million-square-foot mixed-use project adjacent to Fell's Point.
Armada Hoffler's higher education resume includes a hotel and conference center at Emory University in Atlanta and all the work of Hampton University in Virginia over the past 25 years.
The company has contracted with minority- and women-owned subcontractors and vendors approved by the city of Baltimore for work valued in excess of $150 million. An integral goal for each project is committing to overall quality and excellence while providing opportunities for local, small, minority, and disadvantaged business enterprises.
Planning and design work will occur in consultation with the surrounding community; Johns Hopkins students, faculty, and administrators; and Baltimore City officials. The developers anticipate that those consultations will begin this winter.
Johns Hopkins has made the lot available to Baltimore City for development of a temporary metered parking lot to alleviate the parking shortage caused by the reconstruction of Charles Street. The schedule for the St. Paul Street Project is not yet determined.
