Canton Crossing's residential developer unveils condo plan along

Daily Record, The (Baltimore), Oct 20, 2006 by Jen Degregorio

The Bush Cos. revealed this week it plans to build 500 condominiums that will comprise the residential portion of developer Edwin F. Hale Sr.'s mixed-use Canton Crossing project.

The Virginia-based developer expects to build three 28-story towers on 65 acres along the Southeast Baltimore waterfront, a project Hale describes as "the city within a city."

"It's a wonderful big development they have there," said Andrew Viola, vice president of the Bush Cos. "I think it could be a very interesting project. It would have views from Fort McHenry to the city skyline."

In addition to the homes, Canton Crossing will ultimately include 1 million square feet of office space, 250,000 square feet of retail space and a 450-room luxury hotel. The 1st Mariner Bank office tower, located at the corner of Boston and South Clinton streets, was the first building Hale Properties LLC delivered at the complex. Tenants in the 17-story building include 1st Mariner Bank, of which Hale is chief executive, and health insurer CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield. A second, 500,000-square-foot office tower is currently being planned.

Duane Rhine, vice president of Hale Properties, said it is too early to tell when Bush might break ground on the condominiums. Both Rhine and Viola declined to say how much the residential project would cost.

KSI Services Inc., also a Virginia-based development company, was originally partnered with Hale Properties on the residential and retail components of Canton Crossing, Viola said. That partnership ended months ago, he said. KSI is now working with Hale on a different project in Greektown, which calls for more than 1,000 homes.

Viola is excited to begin another residential development in Baltimore. His company's 414 Water St. condominium tower is now under construction downtown and shaping up to be a huge success. Viola said the company has sold 270 of the 350 units, at an average price of about $375 per square foot.

Canton residents are not exactly thrilled to see Canton Crossing moving ahead. The project was initially supposed to have only 100 residential units but now calls for 500, according to newspaper reports. Traffic is already a problem on narrow Boston Street, and Canton Crossing's completion will only exacerbate that problem, said Cathi Webster, vice president of the Canton Community Association.

"The feeling in Canton is pretty much mixed about the project," Webster said. "I don't think anyone thinks that it's a bad thing, but they worry about - traffic and the density levels."