BDC OFFERS THE SPHINX CLUB FOR REDEVELOPMENT
(BALTIMORE - July 30, 2008) - The Baltimore Development Corporation (BDC), on behalf of the City of Baltimore, last week issued a Request for Proposals (RFP) for the revitalization of a vital piece of Baltimore’s African American heritage and culture: the Sphinx Club at 2101-2111 Pennsylvania Avenue in West Baltimore.
Located in the Druid Heights neighborhood on the northeast corner of the Pennsylvania Avenue/Bloom Street intersection, the 12,000 square foot site, part of the Upton Urban Renewal Plan, consists of six commercial properties – 2101-2103 Pennsylvania Avenue, 2105 Pennsylvania Avenue, 2107-2109 Pennsylvania Avenue and 2111 Pennsylvania Avenue. The Avenue Market, a public market renowned for great produce and shopping, is just a few blocks south on Pennsylvania Avenue.
BDC is seeking proposals from qualified developers for the redevelopment of the Sphinx Club in a manner that best capitalizes on its cultural significance and appropriately integrates the project into the surrounding community, while increasing employment opportunities for city residents and generating new taxes.
Working collaboratively with BDC, the Pennsylvania Avenue community has suggested a number of possible reuses for the Sphinx Club site: a senior center, multi-purpose lounge/center, museum, arts center with lofts, family restaurant, a performing arts center for children, business incubator, music or dance studio, bookstore, office space for programs or services linking youth and seniors, police substation, retail shops, or affordable rental housing/condominiums.
Pennsylvania Avenue is a treasure trove of historical and cultural significance. “The Avenue” was once known worldwide for its jazz clubs, theaters and nightclubs as the heart of African American entertainment in Baltimore. The former Royal Theater hosted many of the great musicians of the 1920’s to 1960’s. The Sphinx Club, a private club known for its after-show parties, is where the jazz greats congregated with local celebrities. The Sphinx Club opened in 1946 and closed nearly 50 years later in 1992.
Today, Pennsylvania Avenue is a commercial corridor connecting several city neighborhoods. While the City of Baltimore is investing in modernizing the infrastructure, private developers are seeing opportunities in revitalization and renovation projects.
To learn more about this offering, contact BDC Business District Specialist Mica Fetz at 410.837.9305 or mfetz@baltimoredevelopment.com. The RFP can be downloaded from BDC’s website at www.baltimoredevelopment.com.
All proposals, accompanied by a $100 non-refundable check, are due by 12 noon on Monday, September 22, 2008.
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