South Baltimore Business Roundup

Federal Hill Natural Market Closing 

Federal Hill Natural Market is closing at 1205 Light St. after four years in business. The natural products store, which sells vitamins, healthcare products, teas, oils, and foods, is currently offering discounts on its remaining inventory.

Howard Street Tunnel Reconstruction Gets Funding 

A reconstruction of the Howard Street Tunnel is now fully funded after CSX and the State of Maryland have agreed to $103 million in additional funding for the $466-million project. The project will allow for the double stacking of CSX trains going to and from the Port of Baltimore. The Howard Street Tunnel runs under Downtown for 1.4 miles and reopens next to the Camden Yards Sports Complex.

The project received a $125-million federal grant this summer. CSX had previously committed to $91 million and the state to $147 million.

The Maryland Congressional Delegation said this is projected to create 7,000 jobs in Maryland.

A New Jamaican Restaurant in Brooklyn 

Straight JamDown Island Cuisine opened in recent months at 429 E. Patapsco Ave. in Brooklyn. It takes over a long-vacant retail space. The Jamaican menu features fried chicken, curry chicken, jerk chicken, oxtail, curry goat, red snapper, patties, and more.

Former Unleashed by Petco for Lease

Unleashed by Petco closed at 1100 Light St. in Federal Hill in November 2018 and now the 3,600 sq. ft. space is up for lease. A new ‘for lease’ sign was placed in the window by MFI Realty. The space sits at the prime corner of Light St. and E. Cross St. adjacent to Cross Street Market. The retail space shares a building with Dunkin’ Donuts.

New Murals Added to Hollins Market 

Phase 1 of improvements to Hollins Market has been underway since June. Improvements include new siding, trim, lighting, and fixtures to the exterior of the 14,000 sq. ft. shed. In recent weeks, three new murals were also added. The project was spearheaded by War Horse Cities CDC and was designed by design PI.KL Studio.

Baltimore Public Market Corporation (BPMC) will lead an interior renovation of the market. This is currently in the planning phase.

Kamala Harris to Close South Baltimore Campaign Office 

Senator Kamala Harris shut down her campaign for the Democratic nomination for President of the United States. Senator Harris’ campaign headquarters was located at Spaces in Stadium Square in South Baltimore, but that office will now close.

Suspended Adds Thursday Hours 

Suspended Brewing Company has been open for a year and a half at 912 Washington Blvd. in Pigtown, but its tap room has been limited to Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays. This month it added a fourth day to its lineup as the tap room is now open on Thursdays from 4pm to 9pm.

Diablo Doughnuts on Food & Beverage Magazine Cover

Michael Roslan, owner of Diablo Doughnuts in Federal Hill, appeared on the cover of the December issue of Food & Beverage Magazine. The magazine published a story on Diablo’s partnership with DuClaw Brewing Company on Sour Me Unicorn Farts beer.

Food & Beverage Magazine cover

via https://www.southbmore.com/2019/12/11/south-baltimore-business-roundup-166/

Mid-Week Listing: Custom Four-Bedroom Home Near Riverside Park with Parking, a Rooftop Deck, and Tax Credit

This Mid-Week Listing is brought to you by Federal Hill’s Upper Chesapeake Insurance Agency:

Welcome to Mid-Week Listing! Each week SouthBMore.com will showcase a home on the market listed between $250,000 and $500,000.

This four-bedroom home near Riverside Park features original hardwood floors; exposed brick; reclaimed wood walls, shelves, window sills, and countertops; sliding barn doors; custom bathrooms; stamped concrete floors in the basement; a parking pad; and a rooftop deck.

1820 Belt Street
Riverside         
Price: $449,900
Tax: $4,464
4 BD/3 BA
2,028 sq. ft.
Off Street Parking: Yes

Upper Chesapeake Insurance, your local Erie Insurance Agency, is located on S. Charles Street in Federal Hill. We are a full service agency providing home, auto, business and life insurance since 1996.  Our agents have lived and worked in the neighborhood are very familiar with the unique aspects of city row homes and city living. Contact us today to speak with a local agent with local knowledge – we know 21230! Erie offers the protection you need and the service you expect all at a great price.

via https://www.southbmore.com/2019/12/11/mid-week-listing-custom-four-bedroom-home-near-riverside-park-with-parking-a-rooftop-deck-and-tax-credit/

Efforts Underway to Connect the BWI Trail to the Gwynns Falls Trail

MedStar Harbor Hospital, Greater Baybrook Alliance (GBA), and South Baltimore Gateway Partnership (SBGP) are teaming up on an effort to connect the BWI Trail in Anne Arundel County to the Gwynns Falls Trail in Baltimore City. The Gwynns Falls Trail currently ends just south of MedStar Harbor Hospital’s Cherry Hill Campus and a spur of the BWI Trail currently ends at W. Maple Rd. near N. Camp Mead Rd. in Linthicum Heights.

The organizations received a $500,000 grant from the Maryland Department of Housing & Community Development for a 30% engineering design of the trail. Ryan Moran, MedStar’s Director of Community Health for Baltimore City, told SouthBMore.com a 30% engineering design is required to apply for construction grants.

The engineering design process will determine the route of the trail and where construction would occur, as well as study traffic patterns. There will be a community engagement process during the engineering design. The engineering design will begin in January and take about 18 months.

Moran said the goal of the connection between the two trails is for recreation and bike commuting. He noted 50% of households in Cherry Hill and 33% in Curtis Bay do not have access to a car. This is higher than the 29% city-wide average and 6.1% in Federal Hill.

Moran said the grant proposals presented points of improvement for the trail connection. They include resident access to Middle Branch Park and its 11 miles of shoreline; access to the soon-to-be renovated Reedbird Park; closing the gap between the Gwynns Falls Trail and BWI Trail; improving access to the Patapsco Light Rail Station; increasing economic activity in Brooklyn, Brooklyn Park, and Cherry Hill; creating opportunities to access care at MedStar Harbor Hospital; and to foster a community culture of health and outdoor recreation.

GBA Executive Director Meredith Chaiken told SouthBMore.com the trail connection would be a huge boon to the area and the unified system of trails will attract tourists.

The gap between the two trails is about 4.5 miles. While a route for the trail will be studied and has not been determined, a connection would likely go through Pumphrey, Brooklyn Park, and Brooklyn before connecting in Cherry Hill. The BWI Trail is connected to the Baltimore and Annapolis Trail that travels south to Annapolis along the former Baltimore and Annapolis Railroad tracks.

The Broadneck Peninsula Trail in Arnold and Annapolis is being constructed in phases and will eventually connect the Baltimore and Annapolis Trail to Sandy Point State Park next to the Bay Bridge.

The Gwynns Falls Trail currently travels from Cherry Hill to the Inner Harbor and runs west through Carroll Park and west through Gwynns Falls/Leakin Park.

If the connection is made between the BWI Trail and Gwynns Falls Trail, a cyclist would be able to ride a trail entirely from Baltimore to Annapolis and Baltimore to Sandy Point State Park, as well as to the Bay Bridge when the Broadneck Peninsula Trail is completed.

Additional improvements to the Gwynns Falls Trail are eyed as the Baltimore City Department of Transportation (DOT) is partnering with Rails-to-Trails Conservancy, Baltimore Greenway Trails Network, and SBGP to “establish a better connection between the Middle Branch trail and the Inner Harbor.” This connection, which is also part of the Gwynns Falls Trail, would go through Sharp and Stockholm Streets in Stadium Area and Solo Gibbs Park in Sharp-Leadenhall. This effort received a $250,000 federal grant last year.

The Baltimore Development Corporation (BDC) in partnership with Topgolf and Horseshoe Casino Baltimore owners CBAC will begin renovating a park early next year that is along the Gwynns Falls Trail. The park is behind the casino garage and on the Ridgely’s Cove waterfront.

The Gwynns Falls Trail was also expanded in recent weeks along Key Hwy. adjacent to Rash Field as part of the reconstruction plans for the Key Hwy. and Light St. intersection. This expansion connects to a new Covington Street Cycle Track which travels from the Inner Harbor to Riverside Park.

SBGP, Parks and People Foundation, and the City of Baltimore announced in July that Dutch architecture firm West 8 won the Middle Branch Waterfront Design competition to lead planning for a phased, multi-year design and construction project for the 11-mile-plus park system along the shoreline of the Patapsco River in South Baltimore. West 8’s design competition proposal added a trail system looping around the Middle Branch and into Ridgely’s Cove with new pedestrian bridges and new marshlands adjacent to each shoreline. The plan also converts the Spring Gardens Swing Bridge into a pedestrian bridge.

Screenshot courtesy of Google Maps showing a bike route (not a trail) between the end of the BWI Trail spur in Linthicum Heights and Medstar Harbor Hospital in Cherry Hill where the Gwynns Falls Trail ends. 

Picture from last year of the Gwynns Falls Trail on MedStar Harbor Hospital’s campus

Gwynns Falls Trail adjacent to the Horseshoe Casino Garage. This park space will be renovated next year. 

Photo from last month of the new Covington Street Cycle Track (pre-completion)

Photos of West 8’s display boards in the Middle Branch Waterfront Design competition  (click to enlarge)

via https://www.southbmore.com/2019/12/11/efforts-underway-to-connect-the-bwi-trail-to-the-gwynns-falls-trail/

South Baltimore Crime Updates

From Baltimore Police Department (BPD):

UPDATE

Southwest / Southern District
Arson Investigation

Detectives have arrested and charged two suspects in connection to several recent arsons in Southwest Baltimore.

The first suspect is 37-year old William Ritchie. He was arrested on December 2, 2019, and charged with an arson that occurred in the 1900 block of Ramsey Street.

The second suspect is 41-year old Shawn Krainer. He was arrested on December 7, 2019, and charged with an arson that occurred on December 6, 2019, in the 2400 block of Christian Street.

Since December 2, 2019, there have been 17 fires reported. Five of these fires have been ruled arson and the others remain under investigation. Each fire occurred in a vacant home and there have been no injuries reported.

Detectives are continuing to work to determine if Ritchie and Krainer are responsible for any additional arsons. The investigation remains ongoing.

***The correct age for William Ritchie is 37***

According to the BPD  Crime Map, the following crimes were reported from 11/30/19 – 11/29/19:

Ridgely’s Delight

NONE

Stadium Area

NONE

Barre Circle

NONE

Otterbein

LARCENY- OTHER SUNDAY, DECEMBER 01, 2019 12:53 1XX W LEE ST ROWHOME/TOWNHOUSE

STOLEN AUTO TUESDAY, DECEMBER 03, 2019 18:40 6XX S CHARLES ST PARKING LOT – INSIDE

Sharp-Leadenhall

NONE

Federal Hill

LARCENY- OTHER SUNDAY, DECEMBER 01, 2019 13:00 10XX S CHARLES ST RESTAURANT/BA

Federal Hill South/Riverside

ROBBERY – STRONG ARM TUESDAY, DECEMBER 03, 2019 12:22 11XX COVINGTON ST SCHOOL

LARCENY- FROM AUTO SUNDAY, DECEMBER 01, 2019 09:00 7XX E HEATH ST STREET

LARCENY- FROM AUTO TUESDAY, DECEMBER 03, 2019 19:45 11XX RIVERSIDE AVE STREET

South Baltimore Neighborhood

LARCENY- FROM AUTO TUESDAY, DECEMBER 03, 2019 21:00 16XX PATAPSCO ST STREET

LARCENY- FROM AUTO TUESDAY, DECEMBER 03, 2019 17:20 XX E RANDALL ST STREET

Key Highway/HarborView

NONE

Inner Harbor

LARCENY- OTHER SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 30, 2019 16:05 2XX E PRATT ST STREET

LARCENY- FROM AUTO SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 30, 2019 17:00 4XX W PRATT ST RESIDENTIAL PARKING LOT

LARCENY- OTHER SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 30, 2019 18:48 6XX E PRATT ST RESTAURANT/BAR

STOLEN AUTO SUNDAY, DECEMBER 01, 2019 22:48 4XX W PRATT ST STREET

Port Covington

NONE

Locust Point

LARCENY- OTHER MONDAY, DECEMBER 02, 2019 15:00 12XX HAUBERT ST Unknown

Pigtown

LARCENY- FROM AUTO MONDAY, DECEMBER 02, 2019 11:00 8XX S PACA ST STREET

Carroll – Camden Industrial Area

NONE

Hollins Market

NONE

Union Square

ROBBERY – STRONG ARM TUESDAY, DECEMBER 03, 2019 02:00 17XX W PRATT ST STREET

Offense definitions from the FBI

South Baltimore Peninsula Neighborhoods Map

via https://www.southbmore.com/2019/12/10/south-baltimore-crime-updates-164/

Baltimore Man Found Guilty of Murder of Federal Hill Resident Timothy Moriconi

Yesterday, Deandre Devon Sleet, a 24-year-old Baltimore resident, was found guilty by a jury of murdering 25-year-old Federal Hill resident Timothy Moriconi on September 27, 2018 on the 1200 block of Riverside Ave. Sleet was found guilty of first degree murder, as well as guilty of additional robbery and firearm-related charges.

Sentencing of Sleet is scheduled for March 10, 2020.

Sleet’s attorney told The Baltimore Sun that they will file an appeal.

Moriconi’s family is not making a statement at this time.

In separate open cases for incidents in Fall 2018, Sleet is also charged with armed robbery, possession of a firearm, and attempted first degree murder. Sleet has two co-defendants in several cases.

Sleet was found guilty in May 2013 for armed robbery by the Baltimore City Circuit Court. In the case he was charged with four counts of robbery, four counts of assault, two counts of probation violation, and two charges of theft. He was sentenced to five years with three years suspended.

A 2015 second degree rape case against Sleet was dropped in 2015. In October 2017 he was found guilty on a misdemeanor drug distribution charge in Anne Arundel County. He was sentenced to eight years with all but 18 months suspended.

Moriconi’s parents, Andy and Laurie, shared the following about Moriconi’s life in a Facebook event titled Celebrating the Life of Timothy Moriconi: “Tim comes from a warm loving family and has cast a wide net of friendships between Crozet, Virginia, Richmond, Virginia, and Baltimore, Maryland. Tim was 25 and a graduate of VCU. He worked at Northrop Grumman in Baltimore. Tim loved sports, music and hanging with his friends. He enjoyed working out and loved cars. He had a very good and smart sense of humor. Most people used the same description for Tim … and this is, “He’s such a good kid.” We’ll miss Tim, but keep him in our hearts forever.”

A scholarship has been created in Timothy Moriconi’s name for Fishburne Military School in Waynesboro. The family has also asked for donations to be made the Thread in Memory of Tim Moriconi.

Screenshot from a Baltimore Police Department press conference 

Timothy Moriconi 

via https://www.southbmore.com/2019/12/10/baltimore-man-found-guilty-of-murder-of-federal-hill-resident-timothy-moriconi/

Jury finds Baltimore man guilty of first-degree murder in the shooting death of Tim Moriconi

A Baltimore man has been found guilty of gunning down Tim Moriconi in Riverside, near Federal Hill last year as the 25-year-old was walking home.

De’Andre Sleet, 23, was in the middle of a multi-day armed robbery spree when he confronted and shot Moriconi on a rainy October evening, jurors were...

via http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/crime/bs-md-ci-moriconi-guilty-20191209-upvdb42c2vh3tkgywz4tfujeue-story.html

How South Baltimore Public Schools Rated in Maryland’s New Report Card

The Maryland State Department of Education is in the second year of its new grading system for Maryland’s public schools. The Maryland Public Schools Report Cards rate schools between one and five stars.

Below is look at how the 2018-2019 report card rated schools on the South Baltimore Peninsula and in SoWeBo. Click on each school for more information about enrollment, proficiency, test scores, demographics, and graduation rates for high schools.

Elementary Schools

Federal Hill Preparatory School – Federal Hill
School Type: Neighborhood School
Grades: 3/Pre-K to 5th Grade
Enrollment: 323
Report Card: 3 out of 5 stars (4 stars in 2017-2018 report)
Overall Score: 57% (69% in 2017-2018 report)

George Washington Elementary – Pigtown
School Type: Neighborhood School
Grades: Pre-K to 5th Grade
Enrollment: 222
Report Card: 2 out of 5 stars (2 stars in 2017-2018 report)
Overall Score: 43% (43% in 2017-2018 report)

Photo courtesy of Under Armour

Sharp-Leadenhall Elementary – Sharp-Leadenhall
School Type: Special Education Public Day School 
Grades: 1st to 5th Grade
Enrollment: 29
Report Card: 3 out of 5 stars (2 stars in 2017-2018 report)
Overall Score: 52% (35% in 2017-2018 report)

Note: Sharp-Leadenhall Elementary will be closing in 2020

Elementary/Middle Schools

Francis Scott Key Elementary/Middle School – Locust Point
School Type: Neighborhood School
Grades: Pre-K to 8th Grade
Enrollment: 490
Report Card: 3 out of 5 stars (3 stars in 2017-2018 report)
Overall Score: 49% (57% in 2017-2018 report)

Photo courtesy of Under Armour

James McHenry Elementary School – Hollins Market
School Type: Neighborhood School
Grades: Pre-K to 8th Grade
Enrollment: 512
Report Card: 2 out of 5 stars (2 stars in 2017-2018 report)
Overall Score: 36% (37% in 2017-2018 report)

Southwest Baltimore Charter School – Pigtown
School Type: Charter School
Grades: Kindergarten to 8th Grade
Enrollment: 427
Report Card: 3 out of 5 stars (3 stars in 2017-2018 report)
Overall Score: 46% (52% in 2017-2018 report)

Thomas Johnson Elementary/Middle School – Riverside
School Type: Neighborhood School
Grades: Pre-K to 8th Grade
Enrollment: 544
Report Card: 4 out of 5 stars (3 stars in 2017-2018 report)
Overall Score: 67% (59% in 2017-2018 report)

High School 

Digital Harbor High School – Federal Hill
School Type: School Choice – Lottery School
Grades: 9th to 12th Grade
Enrollment: 1,196
Report Card: 2 out of 5 stars (2 stars in 2017-2018 report)
Overall Score: 41% (41% in 2017-2018 report)

Vivien T. Thomas Medical Arts Academy – Union Square
School Type: School Choice
Grades: 9th to 12th Grade
Enrollment: 371
Report Card: 3 out of 5 stars (2 stars in 2017-2018 report)
Overall Score: 46% (40% in 2017-2018 report)

The only five-star school in Baltimore City in the 2018-2019 report card was citywide magnet high school Baltimore Polytechnic Institute.

via https://www.southbmore.com/2019/12/06/how-south-baltimore-public-schools-rated-in-marylands-new-report-card-2/