Robin Godwin: 165-Unit Apartment Building Planned for Shofer’s Warehouse in Otterbein

Monday, December 19, 2022

165-Unit Apartment Building Planned for Shofer’s Warehouse in Otterbein

Baltimore-based Workshop Development is planning a six-story apartment building at 810 Leadenhall St. in Otterbein/Sharp-Leadenhall. The development would replace the two-story, 81,390 sq. ft. former Shofer’s Furniture warehouse which also currently includes tenants Protean Books & Records and Apple TV’s Lady in the Lake.

The property at 810 Leadenhall St. was purchased by MOSB Holdings LLC in July for $3,045,000, according to state records.

Workshop Development has already held one community meeting and plans on holding another in the near future. Workshop Development Principal Doug Schmidt told SouthBMore.com they took the community feedback to heart. He added that while they won’t be able to accommodate everyone’s wishes, they will make some revisions to the plan.

The proposed building will have about 165 market-rate apartments and 165 parking spaces in a two-level interior garage. The project will have street access units along Leadenhall St. to keep a “similar rhythm” to the nearby rowhomes. There will not be any retail.

Schmidt said there will likely be some “fairly small” units that will be available at a lower price.

The Shofer’s warehouse will be torn down, but Workshop Development plans on saving the corner facade at Leadenhall St. and Henrietta S. which is the oldest part of the building.

Schmidt said construction is at least a year out. He noted the design and permit process still must take place.

He said the company is not pursuing the former Shofer’s Furniture showroom at 930 S. Charles St. in Federal Hill which was also put up for sale.

This is Workshop Development’s first project in South Baltimore. Most of the company’s developments have taken place in Southeast Baltimore including Canton Crossing, Brown’s Wharf, and 1300 Fleet Street.

Protean Books Owner Matthew Benecewicz told SouthBMore.com that significant changes in his lease have forced him to close or look elsewhere for a space in the coming months. Protean currently has half the square footage it had with previous ownership.

Schmidt told SouthBMore.com that Protean is welcome to stay “up until the last minute.”