Robin Godwin: Wheelhouse Construction in Full Swing in Federal Hill

Monday, August 6, 2018

Wheelhouse Construction in Full Swing in Federal Hill

Construction is now in full swing at Wheelhouse in Federal Hill. The project replaces a former parking lot and 4,022 sq. ft. building that included a storefront, apartment, and a long-vacant auto body shop at 1100-1106 S. Charles St. The building was demolished in March. The site, which is across from Cross Street Market, also faces Cross St. and Olive St.

Wheelhouse is the latest project from Mark Sapperstein’s 28 Walker, which also owns, develops, and manages McHenry Row in Locust Point. The Wheelhouse planning team includes 28 Walker’s Alex Mandel, Jay Sapperstein, Mark Sapperstein, and Scott Slosson.

The property was sold for $2 million in July 2017, according to state records.

28 Walker is going for a “co-living” concept at Wheelhouse, inspired by buildings such as Ollie, which has a location in Pittsburgh and which is opening four additional buildings. Wheelhouse’s 29 apartments will be mostly three- and four-bedroom units, along with one-bedroom apartments and small studios. Apartments will have their own living rooms and kitchens with high-end finishes, but residents are encouraged to hang out in the common areas, which will include work spaces, a business center, a dining room and kitchen, and an outdoor courtyard.

“Our amenity spaces are designed for getting everyone together,” Mandel told SouthBMore.com in October of last year. Events will also be planned for Wheelhouse residents.

Some apartments will come furnished, and 28 Walker will assist individual tenants who are looking for a room within an apartment. Mandel told SouthBMore.com that the apartments will be ideal for a person who comes to Baltimore with just a suitcase and a checkbook and doesn’t have a lot of furniture. He also said the building will be ideal for residents who work from home.

Wheelhouse will also ideally look for tenants who do not have a car. The building will not have a parking garage and tenants will not qualify for area street parking passes, but each apartment will come with a bike. “We are looking for residents who want to live a car-free lifestyle,” said Mandel. “If someone has a car, we’ll encourage them to look at McHenry Row.”

Wheelhouse will have 5,500 sq. ft. of ground floor retail facing Charles St. and Cross St. It will mostly likely be filled by two or three tenants, which 28 Walker is working to secure. The building is not pursuing a liquor license.

Construction at Wheelhouse is expected to take about a year with an opening scheduled for next summer.

This Federal Hill site has been included in several real estate proposals in the past. In 2013, Michaels Café proposed a 5,600 sq. ft. restaurant at the site, but walked away from the project after disagreements with local community associations about aspects of the project. The Ryleigh’s Restaurant Group also proposed a restaurant called Federales around 2010, but failed to reach a lease agreement with the property owner. Townhomes and retail at the site have also previously been proposed.

A redevelopment of the adjacent 38,000 sq. ft. Cross Street Market by Caves Valley Partners is underway with the first phase expected to be completed in the coming months.