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There’s a new gateway to downtown Baltimore for those who travel by intercity bus lines.

With no fanfare, a new Greyhound bus station opened last month at 2110 Haines Street, near the Horseshoe casino, a Holiday Inn Express and the Wheelabrator Baltimore incinerator along Russell Street. Serving the Greyhound and Peter Pan bus lines, the station replaces a smaller terminal that was nearby and has already been demolished.

The station was supposed to be complete by January 1, and then the contract was extended to July 1. Contractors are still putting the finishing touches on the landscaping.

The one-story building is essentially a large, airy open space that contains a ticket counter and self-service machines, a waiting area, a concessions area and restrooms. The interior is fairly utilitarian, with a high ceiling, exposed mechanical systems and a glass wall on the entrance side that lets in natural light.

The blue and white exterior has a sloping roof, the distinctive Greyhound logo and a large sign in the front window that reads NOW OPEN. At the rear of the station are eight bays for buses to arrive and depart.

Though close to the city’s vaunted waterfront, the building does not take advantage of it. There are no direct connections to the light rail line or signs of how to get to the nearest light rail station. There is an area in the front where passengers can hail a cab.

On Saturday afternoon, the station was filled with people arriving in Baltimore or waiting for a bus out of the city. After arriving, more than a few travelers could be seen outside the station pulling suitcases on wheels, looking lost as they walked toward the casino and other parts of town.

Proposal for two-way traffic on Calvert and St. Paul streets “pretty much dead,” councilman says

A proposal to convert sections of Calvert and St. Paul Streets from one-way traffic to two-way traffic is “pretty much dead,” Baltimore City Councilman Eric Costello said during a meeting of the Mount Vernon Belvedere Association last week.

In a question and answer session, Costello was asked the status of a city study to convert the streets, both one-way, to accommodate two-way traffic along a four-mile stretch from University Parkway to Fayette Street.

The city’s Department of Transportation hired Sabra, Wang & Associates of Columbia to study the idea at a cost of $140,000 and held several public meetings, saying agency director William Johnson would make a final decision about what to do. But Johnson left his job earlier this year without announcing any decisions.

“I think that’s pretty much dead. I haven’t heard anything about it in a long time,” Costello said last week about the two-way traffic study. “There was a lot of resistance to it from the downtown community.”

Adrienne Barnes and Kathy Dominick, public information officers for DOT, did not respond to requests for additional information.

Vacants to Value program can assist up to 70 more buyers

Up to 70 more people will be able to purchase homes in Baltimore with help from the Vacants to Value Booster Program now that more funds have become available – and the extra money is largely due to people who park in an Inner Harbor garage.

City housing officials say they have increased funding for the Baltimore Housing Incentive Program by $1.5 million for fiscal 2017. Of that amount, the Vacants to Value Booster Program received an additional $700,000, bringing the total for fiscal 2017 to $1 million.

The Booster Program provides incentives of $10,000 to help potential buyers purchase vacant city-owned properties offered through the Vacants to Value program. The money is typically used toward closing costs.

The city housing department originally had allocated $300,000 to the program for fiscal 2017, and officials ran out of funds after just six weeks. The extra $700,000, more than twice the original amount, will help fund up to 70 additional cases.

Where did the extra money come from? According to Tania Baker. Director of Communications for the housing department, “additional funds were made available from the completion of a new lease agreement for the Hyatt Garage,” a document that was approved by the city’s Board of Estimates two weeks ago.

Tour of Whitehall Mill

Baltimore Heritage and the Greater Hampden Heritage Alliance are leading a tour of Whitehall Mill, a former mill in the Jones Falls Valley that is being converted to apartments and commercial space, on September 27 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. David Tufaro’s Terra Nova Ventures is the developer, and Alexander Design Studio is the architect.

The mill is at 3300 Clipper Mill Road. It was last used as one of the East Coast’s largest warehouses for sex toys and pornography. The tour will be followed by a screening of the 1983 short film, “Baltimore’s Geography, Jones Falls, The Stream That Shaped a City.” Tickets cost $15 for Baltimore Heritage members and $25 for non-members. Tickets are available at baltimoreheritage.org.

Green Street Academy named Public Building of the Year

The Green Street Academy, a middle and high school at 125 North Hilton Street in West Baltimore, was named “Public Building of the Year” this month at the design awards program sponsored by the Maryland chapter of the American Institute of Architects. Hord Coplan Macht was the architect.

Decorators Show House opens in Ellicott City

“Avoca” is the site of the 30th Annual Decorator Show House sponsored by Historic Ellicott City. The historic manor house is at 4824 Montgomery Road. Tickets cost $20. The event runs until October 23. More information is available at historicec.com.

Memorial Service for Chris Delaporte

A memorial service for former city parks and Maryland Stadium Authority director Chris Delaporte, who died this summer, will be held at 10 a.m. on October 1 at the Retired Numbers Plaza at Oriole Park at Camden Yards, 333 West Camden Street. A reception will follow at Dempsey’s Restaurant at Oriole Park.

Community campout in Wyman Park Dell

The Friends of Wyman Park Dell are holding a campout and sleepover in the “lower Dell” from 5 p.m. onOctober 1 to 9 a.m. on October 2. Activities will include a cookout, music and stargazing. Registration is required. One adult must attend for every three kids registered. Tickets are available at dellcampout2016.brownpapertickets.com

Thai restaurant opens in Mount Vernon

A Thai restaurant, Khun Nine Thai, has opened at 804 N. Charles Street in Mount Vernon, between Dooby’s and The Helmand.

Owings Mills liquor store application to be considered



Baltimore County’s liquor board will hold a hearing at 2 p.m. on October 4 to consider an application from Jane Sopher to open a liquor store called Foundry Row Wine and Spirits near the new Wegmans market on Reisterstown Road in Owings Mills. The hearing will be held in Room 104 of the Jefferson Building, 105 West Chesapeake Avenue in Towson.

Speaking of the Owings Mills Wegmans, what red-headed former city housing department spokesperson was seen placing an order in its deli last Friday? Hint: She is behind the Explore the Core campaign to promote neighborhoods in the center of Baltimore.