100 Jobs may come to Baltimore
   Lutheran World Relief and the Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Services Organization are planning to relocate their headquarters from New York City to South Baltimore. In addition, smaller groups such as the Delaware/Maryland Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church and Tressler Lutheran Services are also seeking new office space. In total, about 100 jobs would be involved, 50% locally hired and 50% relocating from the Big Apple.

    Apparently the groups have enlisted Reverend John Sabatelli, the pastor of Christ Lutheran Church, to take charge of the project, which may have impact upon the residents of South Baltimore.

Alternatives for the site
    Three options for the headquarters are being studied;

1. Buy and rehab an existing building somewhere in Baltimore,
2. Rent space downtown, or
3. Build a new building on the small plot of grass-covered land just south of the senior citizens housing on Light street and north of Hughes Street - the little one-lane, one-way street between Light and Charles streets. This land would be leased to these organizations by Christ Lutheran Church for $1.

Parking Problems a Forgone Conclusion
    The new building could be several stories high and contain as much as 13,000 square feet per floor. B-5 (office building) zoning is already in place, and Reverend Sabatelli has stated that while parking needs will be considered, there is no requirement under current zoning to provide any additional parking spaces. Although residents on Montgomery, Charles and Hughes streets will lose what little view of the harbor and Science Center that they may now possess, Reverend Sabatelli indicated that he feels that development has always been envisioned and will eventually occur on this parcel.

Neighborhood Reactions
   Federal Hill Improvement Association conducted a survey of the affected area. As of mid-December, the following issues have been mentioned by multiple neighbors of the proposed development:

• -the loss of views and consequent impact upon property values,
• -the loss of this small amount of green and open space,
• -the impact of 100 new office jobs on a parking situation which is already nearly impossible at mid-day on a normal work day,
• -the belief that there are numerous vacant buildings in downtown Baltimore that could be rehabbed and which would provide a more suitable location, surrounded by available daytime parking, restaurants, drug stores - the infrastructure to support office workers, and,
• -the fact that such an office building also effectively seals off the only view of the church itself, that from Key Highway.