Rotunda Update for November 2007
By: George L Peters Jr
Z&LUC Chairman

On October 22, 2007 members of the HCC attended the latest Rotunda Task Force Meeting. Chris Bell, Senior Vice President of Acquisition & Development for Hekemian, lead the meeting and provide the community representatives with the latest news regarding the development of The Rotunda Project. The highlights of the meeting are as follows:

- The general contractor for the project will be Bovis Lend Lease.

- Hekemian is currently developing engineering construction drawings.

- The previous plan for 100 condominium units has been amended and will now consist of 40 condominiums and a 100-120 room select service hotel.

- Hekemian would support the extension of the Residential Permit Parking district to include both sides of the 3800 and 3900 blocks of Elm Avenue.

- Hekemian will set up a meeting with representatives of the area neighborhood associations in order to discuss the issue of transportation in greater depth, with representatives of the City Transportation Department and Hekemian’Äôs transportation consulting team present.

- Hekemian has implemented an artist collaboration program to facilitate the inclusion of a lasting local art component to this project.

- Construction is scheduled to begin in April 2008 and will last approximately 31 months.

- Hekemian is seeking to form a group of representatives of the adjacent residents most directly affected by the construction to facilitate the ongoing policing of the construction project, so that they can efficiently respond to any concerns and/or problems that materialize during the construction process. A representative would ideally be appointed from each of the following areas, Elm Avenue Residents, 38th Street Residents, Keswick Multicare, Roland Park Place, Zurich, the apartment complex at 40th and Roland and the Keswick Road Residents.

The HCC is also in the process of working directly with Hekemian, and Baltimore City to ensure that the traffic and parking issues are properly addressed and dealt with. Full plans for the Rotunda Project and the complete meeting minutes for the October 22, 2007 Rotunda Task Force Meeting can be found in the links on the right hand side of this page.