Small Business in Remington: Learning from the Past Rezoning for the Future

Small Business in Remington: Learning from the Past Rezoning for the Future

Outline Vacancy is the Problem Proposed Solution -> B-1-2/C1 Historic Context - Monozoning Changes in Last Decade Transform Baltimore GRIA Actions Why is Remington So Special? What We Want to Avoid What Can You Do?

The Problem

Historic Remington Corner Property

Current Remington Corner Property

Current Remington Corner Property

Current Remington Corner Property

Proposed Solution Update the zoning within Remington. Submit an ordinance to change the corners from residential (R7-R9) to B-1-2/C1 zoning. Re-occupy vacant corner commercial with locally owned, small-businesses that are compatible with the neighborhood.

Permitted uses Antique shops but not including any chemical refinishing on the premises. Art and school supply stores. Art needlework shops. Automatic teller machines. Banks and savings and loan associations. Barber shops. Beauty shops. Bed and breakfast establishments. Bed and breakfast homes. Bicycles: sales, rental, and repair but not including any mechanical painting on the premises. Book stores: general. Bus passenger shelters Candy and ice cream stores. Clothes pressing establishments. Clothing shops. Day care facilities, as follows. Day nurseries and nursery schools. Drug stores and pharmacies. Dry cleaning and laundry receiving stations processing done elsewhere. Dwellings. Electrical and household appliance repair stores. Florist shops. Food stores, grocery stores, meat markets, bakeries, and delicatessens. Foster homes for children. Gift and card shops. Hardware stores. Launderettes no more than 2 employees plus 1 owner or manager on the premises. Laundries: hand no more than 2 employees plus 1 owner or manager on the premises. Libraries and art galleries. Multi-purpose neighborhood centers. Newsstands. Offices: business, governmental, and professional but not including sales and bulk storage of merchandise on the premises. Parks and playgrounds. Picture framing shops when conducted for retail trade on the premises. Radio and television antennas and towers that extend no more than 25 feet above the building on which they are mounted Radio and television sales and service. Record, tape, CD, and sheet music stores. Recreation buildings and community centers. Residential substance-abuse treatment facilities, if the facility (i) complies with 1-136(c)(3) { Dwelling: Multiple-family dwelling }, 1-137 { Dwelling unit }, and 1-142 { Family } of this article and (ii) meets the general requirements, the bulk regulations, and all other requirements of this article applicable to dwellings in the zoning district within which the facility is located Schools: elementary and secondary. (32a) Schools and studios: business, dance, and music. 06/30/12-161- ZG 6-207 BALTIMORE CITY REVISED CODE (33) Shoe and hat repair stores. (34) Shoeshine parlors. Tailor or dressmaking shops: custom work or repairs. Telephone exchanges. Tobacco shops. Travel bureaus no more than 2 employees plus 1 owner or manager on the premises. Variety stores Video movies: sales and rentals. (City Code, 1976/83, art. 30, 6.1-1b1 to 1b31, 1b33, 1b34, 1b36 to 1b39.) (Ord. 99-547; Ord. 03-638; Ord. 06-249; Ord. 12-027.)

Historic Context of the Problem

Historic Context of the Problem 1961 Initial construction of JFX (28 th /29 th ) 1968 - Baltimore riots 1971 Zoning Code adopted Auto-oriented development Mono-zoning (commercial -> residential) Separation of uses Isolating heavy manufacturing 80s-90s War on Drugs 90s-20s Rise of the Suburbs

Population Loss Year Population % Change 1960 939,024 1.1% 1970 905,759 3.5% 1980 786,775 13.1% 1990 736,014 6.5% 2000 651,154 11.5% 2010 620,961 4.6% Est. 2013 622,104 0.2%

What Happened in 2010 -> 2013?

People are Moving Back to Cities

More On Remington Later! How has Baltimore responded to more people wanting to live in cities?

Transform Baltimore Rezone 2012-2015? Planning Department recognized a change in how people want to use cities. Created C-1 category (amongst others). Ensure compatibility between neighboring residential and commercial uses. Maintain the proper scale of commercial use. Address the unique issues related to smaller commercial sites. Unknown when city council will complete

C-1 Category Per Planning

Rezoning in Remington? Many of the properties we are recommending have been left out of the Transform Baltimore Rezoning Initiative. GRIA has been making these recommendations since 2012/13.

Actions From GRIA 2012-2013 Land use committee voted to change the zoning of R7/8/9, vacant corner properties to commercial. 2015 Land use committee again votes to rezone 15 corner properties to commercial. 2015 Confirm/gather support of property owners, surrounding public, and other Neighbors in Remington.

Phase 1 Properties

Phase 2 Properties

Why 2 Phases? Start in concentrated Central Remington Fan out from there

Why is Remington So Special?

Neighborhood Boundaries

Remington Is Special Baltimore Planning: Baltimore s Remington neighborhood is undergoing rapid change. The quiet, mostly residential neighborhood in the city s north central area has seen an influx of new uses and new residents in the last decade Mary Pat Clarke: There is no question there is significant change going on

Population Increasing Per Planning, between 2000 2010 Remington s population went up 7%. Baltimore s population fell. Remington s millennial population jumped 55% JHU Homewood enrollment up 30% (9,800 -> 13,700) between 2003 and 2015 Per American Planning Association (2014) Millennials AND Boomers desire: Transportation choice (other than car) Walkability (local businesses) Job growth should be linked with planning/zoning

More Housing, Less Vacants Cresmont Lofts (2005) - 26 4-bedroom Apts Millers Court (2009) 40 Apts 30 Renovated Rowhouses by Seawall Remington Row 108 Apts Vacancy down by 90% between 2000 and 2015 from 202 to 22.

New/Improved Offices Steiff Silver FastForward Accelerator ~ 8 companies/startups Remington Row JHU Primary Care (proposed) Miller s Court Office Space 34,000 sq. ft. of office space Price Modern $6 million investment, job shift from suburbs

Increased Access JFX Expressway

Increased Access JFX Expressway JFX Traffic Volume North Ave to Falls 2008 2014 115,960 -> 124,310 (7% increase) 29 th Street Charles to Druid 2014-12,591 cars/day Huntingdon Ave 25 th to 29 th Street 2014-5,340 cars/year Fleet Street from President to Boston 2014-12,741 cars/day N. Charles St. from Baltimore to Mt Royal 2014 10,400

29 th Street Avg. Building Height - 2 Stories, Residential Zoning, 12,000 cars/year Fleet Street Avg. Building Height > 2 stories, Dense Commercial Zoning, 12,000 cars/year

29 th Street Avg. Building Height - 2 Stories, Residential Zoning, 12,000 cars/year Fleet Street Avg. Building Height > 2 stories, Dense Commercial Zoning, 10,400 cars/year

What We Want to Avoid Spot Zoning Undesired Bars Problem Businesses

Spot Zoning

Undesired Bars No corner commercial with historic liquor license. Must apply for liquor license and go through community approval process. WC Harlan has not been a problem property.

Problem Businesses Pat Clarke, Henry adopting harsh nuisance legislation. Strong neighborhood organizations: GRIA, RNA. Responsive City Council representatives: Stokes, Pat Clarke. Your voice is important.

What Can You Do? Come To GRIA Meetings 3 rd Wednesday at 7:00 at Kromer Hall Sign up for letter writing/hearing attendance when we know, you will know. Go To RNA Meetings 2 nd Tuesday at 7:00 at Greenmount School

Summary Remington is Special We are tired of vacant corners. We want B-1-2/C1 zoning for our corners We want to walk more and we want more local jobs/services/goods. Problem businesses are accountable to the community. Your voice counts!