Guerilla's Guide to Remington, Baltimore
Remington is a centrally located neighborhood that has been trending for some time now. Historically it was a working class neighborhood that was built in the 12 years that followed World War I, and served as a bedroom community for workers from the Jones Falls mill center. Today, it still has its old-school, blue-collar vibes, but it is going through a substantial transformation with a new generation of urbanites buying homes and popular bars and restaurants moving in. Some favorites include Clavel, a mezcaleria and taqueria with the perfect outdoor seating; Papermoon, an ecclectic diner; Charmington’s coffee shop – the area’s go-to source for caffeine boosts and work meetings; Sweet 27, a gluten free bakery, restaurant and bar with an international feel - and some of the best dive bars in the city (such as popular karaoke destination 3 Miles House.)
Resurgent Remington
In recent years, Seawall and other developers' expanding presence in the area has contributed to an economic growth spurt. Adding to their area row-home rehabs aimed at teachers and first-responders, and their Miller’s Court project – which houses Charmington’s and several other businesses and residences - Seawall's mixed-use building Remington Row and adjacent R-House food court and have both helped spur an influx of attention to the area.
In addition to the eclectic food court, the R-House building is also home to the Movement Lab fitness and yoga studio, as well as the Greater Goods Market on the first Saturday of every month. Giving local craftspeople a chance to showcase their work -from handmade clothes to body care products - the Greater Goods Market donates a portion of its booth fees to charity. The market was started by local entrepreneur Liz Vayda, who owns the adjacent B. Willow plant shop - which offers a broad array of plants and plant care products and classes. (B. Willow also has another storefront in Canton and a new sister flower shop, Florigen, in Broadway Market.)
As an example of the cross pollination in the area's fertile small business scene, check out Vayda's recent "People and Plants" blog entry in which she interviews fellow business owner Lane Harlan - the proprietor of Clavel. Harlan is also the co-owner of Remington's speak-easy style bar W.C. Harlan which she opened before Clavel, as well as her latest wine and food destination - the nearby Faddensonnen, which just opened last fall.
Spurred by the success of his popular Hampden location Old Bank Barbers, another Remington business owner is Daniel Wells, whose location in Remington - Old Market Barbers - sits on the corner of Lorraine and Howard Streets and is a popular spot for locals and Hopkins students to get a trim.
Even newer to the area is Beyond Video, which offers an old-school video store experience with a curated selection. It sits right next to the legendary Ottobar, a local watering hole and venue that has hosted some of the city's most iconic local musicians, as well as many big-name touring artists.
All this activity from developers, business owners, and new residents, has of course resulted in steadily rising Remington home prices. According to BrightMLS statistics, the average sold price of a Remington home was $117, 058 in 2013 and has taken a ride up to an average sold price of $192,356 in 2019. Despite this, there are still many bargains to be had and the area remains attractive to a broad demographic.
Like much of the city, Remington is comprised of the iconic Baltimore row-home. They range in size, from quite small and compact, to mid-sized, multi-bedroom homes. Some of them might seem outdated, since they were built so long ago, however they typically have excellent foundations. And some are even time capsules - such as the "Stella House" that guerilla / realty broker Rachel Rabinowitz sold there several years ago. Many of these houses, because of their size, are poised for manageable renovations, and great for first time homebuyers. Additionally, acquiring two adjacent properties and combining them to create a contemporary layout is a smart move for the more ambitious.
Remington is also desirable because if its proximity to green space, with Druid Hill and Wyman Park on either side. One can live in the middle of the city and also have the ability to be immersed in nature in minutes. Druid Hill Park is a Baltimore treasure, with over 700 acres of rolling green space that includes nature trails, lakes, pools, tennis courts, the Baltimore Zoo, the Rawlings Conservatory and Botanic Gardens, and so much more. It is a favorite place for many in the summer to have a picnic or BBQ, and in the dead of winter the Botanic Gardens are a welcome antidote to the cold weather.
Remington has a cool retro charm paired with a contemporary edge. It is great option if you are in search of an affordable central location that is mostly residential but that also hosts a fair number of bars and restaurants. It’s also easy to hop over to Station North, Johns Hopkins Homewood campus, or Hampden; you are everyone’s neighbor.
With all this activity going on, the area is likely to remain attractive to prospective homeowners and investors for quite some time. The businesses mentioned here are only scratching the surface, and numerous other artists and entrepreneurs are taking on exciting projects in the area and calling it home.
If you are considering Remington yourself, keep in mind that guerilla / realty not only knows the area - we also have unique expertise when it comes renovation loans and rehabs.
Ready to explore Remington?
Schedule a consultation with Rachel Rabinowitz