Turner site in cleanup mode

5.19.2006

Baltimore Business Journal

It's no secret that local developer Pat Turner wants to build homes on aging, industrial land in the Westport section of Baltimore City.

But the businessman still has some environmental hurdles to clear first.

His attorney Michael C. Powell said Turner is "completing remediation" on one site the developer controls in Westport. Once home to the Carr-Lowrey Glass Co., the nearly 17-acre property is on Kloman Street. The site contains contaminants, including arsenic, chromium and mercury.

The land was accepted into Maryland's Voluntary Cleanup Program, which requires Turner to cap the property and seal certain areas.

"He's putting a cap on the site, so there's lots of distance from low levels of residual contamination," Powell said.

All told, that remediation should be wrapped up by year's end, the attorney said.

Turner isn't as far along on another contaminated site that he plans to redevelop in Westport. Previously owned by Constellation Power Source, the other property is off Kloman Street. That land, which also contains elevated levels of metals, has been accepted into the remediation program, the attorney said.

"It's in the program, but we don't yet have an approved plan," said Powell, who specializes in environmental law for Baltimore firm Gordon, Feinblatt, Rothman, Hoffberger & Hollander LLC.

Powell referred all calls pertaining to cleanup costs and future plans for the sites to Turner. Yet, he downplayed the presence of metals on the sites. "It's pretty much typical contamination that we are finding everywhere in Baltimore," he said.

Still, state and federal governments can prevent developers from building residences on contaminated sites -- even once the property is cleaned up. This was the case with what is known as the AlliedSignal site -- former home of a chromium plant -- on the edge of Fells Point.

Turner, principal of Henrietta Development Corp., could not be reached for comment. The developer, who is converting the former Archer Daniels Midland plant in Locust Point into a mixed-use project, has said in previous interviews that he is planning residences for Westport.

Rod Hart, vice president of operations for Pulte Homes, said his company is interested in Turner's vision for Westport and plans to be involved in some capacity. He declined further comment. Pulte Homes is building townhouses in conjunction with Turner's redevelopment in Locust Point.

Baltimore firm buys up apartments

Multi-Properties Inc., a Baltimore real estate investment and management company, has acquired two apartment complexes.

Financial terms of the deals were not disclosed.

The first, the Village of Laurel Ridge in Harrisburg, Pa., encompasses 186 garden and townhome apartments. The second, Edgewood Park Apartments in Harford County, includes 132 garden units.

The latest purchase adds to Multi-Properties' portfolio, which also incorporates retail, industrial, office, flex and self-storage facilities.