Hopkins: No Timetable to Develop Vacant Lot

Johns Hopkins University has no timetable to develop a vacant lot it owns at the corner of 33rd and St. Paul streets in Charles Village.

“The university does intend—at the appropriate time when the economy allows—to develop that property,” said Dennis O’Shea, a university spokesman.

O’Shea said the development will include parking that is needed in the Charles Village neighborhood, as well as street level retail and university uses.

On Sunday, a small group of city residents held a picnic at the grass covered vacant lot to draw attention to the empty space.

Several years ago, a development proposed by Struever Bros., Eccles and Rouse would have had a garage, retail space and apartments on the site. That project was, in part, going to be financed through tax increment financing. Tax increment financing uses city bond money to help pay for infrastructure improvements up front and the bonds are paid back by increased property taxes.

But the proposed development fell through after the economy soured and in 2009, Johns Hopkins purchased the land from the developer.

The university had previously objected to the plans proposed by Struever Bros. because the proposed mixed use development would have been taller than its Charles Commons dorm complex across 33rd Street.

Struever Bros. purchased the properties along the east side of the 3200 block of St. Paul Street, which included a fraternity house, and demolished them creating the vacant lot.