Robin Godwin: Construction Begins at Anthem House II, a 52-Unit Apartment Building in Riverside

Monday, June 12, 2017

Construction Begins at Anthem House II, a 52-Unit Apartment Building in Riverside

Construction has started on Anthem House II (A2) at 1430 Lawrence St. in Riverside. Anthem House II will be a five-story, 52-unit apartment building at the site of the former Rallo’s Restaurant parking lot. The project is a partnership between Bozzuto Development Company, Solstice Partners, and War Horse Cities.

A2 is across the street from Anthem House, the $100-million redevelopment of a former GE site at 900 E. Fort Ave. by the same team. Anthem House will include 292 apartments, 449 parking spaces, and 20,000 sq. ft. of ground floor retail. The leasing office opened in May and some tenants have already moved into the building. The Bar Method has announced a 3,000 sq. ft. fitness studio at Anthem House and Amber has announced a 2,000 sq. ft. restaurant.

A2’s 52 units will include “small studios” and two-bedroom apartments. Residents at A2 will be able to park at a 17-car parking garage in the building and in the parking garage at Anthem House. The lobby to A2 will be directly across the street from the parking lobby of Anthem House.

The new building will feature a setback of up to 25 ft. facing the alley on Boyle St. and a nine-foot setback facing Lawrence St. New landscaping and trees will be planted around the perimeter of the building. New angled parking will be added along Lawrence St. The team stated at a Riverside Neighborhood Association meeting in 2016 that one of the primary goals of the project was to improve the walkability of Lawrence St. and to “activate it.”

A2 is designed by David Baker Architects of San Francisco and the streetscaping around the project will be designed by Baltimore’s Mahan Rykiel.

A2 is expected to open in approximately 13 months.

“In partnership with War Horse Cities and Solstice Partners, we are thrilled to have begun construction at A2, a smaller boutique redeveloping that will add further diversity of product-type and pricing to the Anthem House community,” said Jeff Kayce, senior vice president and managing director of Bozzuto Development Company, to SouthBMore.com. “Located on the west side of Lawrence Street, A2 will better weave together the pedestrian experience between Federal Hill and Locust point.”

A townhouse development was presented for this property several years ago by a different developer, but never moved forward.

The development team also owns the former Rallo’s Restaurant at 838 E. Fort Ave. and the two adjacent rowhomes at 834 and 832 E. Fort Ave. The buildings will be renovated as part of the project. The former Rallo’s space acquired and successfully transferred the liquor license from Thorton’s Pub in 2015.

Bozzuto and War Horse have also partnered on Alta 47, a 47-townhome project in Locust Point that is currently under construction.