Mar 11

Mar 11 Piercing It Together

Actor Wendell Pierce's New Apartment Complex, Set to Open in April May Be Beginning of Revitalization for West Baltimore Area

Actor Wendell Pierce, best known as the foul-mouthed homicide detective Bunk Moreland on The Wire, announced the grand opening of his new apartment complex on his Twitter feed, “Grand Opening of the Nelson Kohl Apartments 20 E. Lanvale. April 6th 11:30am. Come and join me as we cut the ribbon!!!”

Pierce, who’s already built 40 homes in his native New Orleans neighborhood of Pontchartrain Park which was devastated by Hurricane Katrina, has partnered with Ernst Valery’s SAA / EVI Development in this $20 million, 103-unit complex in Baltimore and has said he hopes it’s the first of many Baltimore projects for him. Pierce states he’d like to help boost the West Baltimore area.

Built on a former parking lot overlooking Penn Station and in the midst of several transportation options, Pierce said he hoped to keep the prices affordable for a mix of renters. The property’s website lists studios starting at $1,195 a month and 2-bedroom units starting at $2,145.

The website also boasts the apartment building is “designed, inside and out, to pay homage to the arts and entertainment district in which it sits. It’s a collection of many elements – metal, glass, wood, himsey, design, texture, color, people – life.”

Surrounded by art galleries, music venues, theaters and street art, as well as cafes and restaurants; and even the Maryland Institute College of Art, one of the nation’s premiere schools for the visual arts; it may indeed fit the bill.