After living in Washington, D.C. while advising Barack Obama on domestic policy, 38-year-old Jason Green was looking to relocate. Green, who holds a Yale University law degree and has always had an interest in community empowerment strategies, had been doing related work in Detroit, and saw a lot of the same activity happening in Baltimore.

“Both areas have a powerful spirit, an energy, and people investing in the city,” he says. “It made me want to live in Baltimore. And since I didn’t know anyone in the area, I was looking for a place that offered me a community.”

Green, who recently co-founded Skillsmart, a specialized recruiting firm, chose 414 Light Street, a new luxury rental.

And like many of the high-end apartments and condos that have been popping up in the metro area in recent years, it had everything he needed, and then some.

As an example, the 7th floor has 40,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor recreation amenity space where residents can sunbathe at the rooftop pool, have an evening meal in the al fresco kitchen, watch movies on the 16-foot, dual-sided screen, or work out at the 4,000-square- foot fitness center.

“The fitness center is so incredible that I gave up my gym membership,” says Green. And since so many people work from home—and even more are expected to in the wake of the coronavirus—Baltimore’s luxury residences have provided common areas for them, too. There’s also a space where you can hold a meeting.

The developers of these fairly exclusive communities haven’t forgotten Fido, either. At the 2Hopkins complex in Hopkins Plaza, for instance, the building offers indoor dog parks for both large and small canines, and a residents-only pet spa, while 414 Light Street has a pet park and pet spa, complete with a treat-filled vending machine.

It’s all part of a grand demographic plan, says Stephen Gorn, CEO of Questar, who, along with his VP son, Zachary, developed 414 Light Street, a 394-unit complex towering above Baltimore’s Inner Harbor that is Maryland’s tallest residential building at 44 stories.

“We wanted to be part of the urban renaissance going on around the Inner Harbor and throughout downtown Baltimore,” says Gorn. “And we think there will be a lot more high-quality residential buildings in downtown Baltimore, not just apartments for rent, but also condominiums.”

That’s already happening: Charm City is experiencing a building boom of residential high-end luxury apartments and condos, and the market for them is strong. (If you’re wondering why one would rent instead of buy a condo, it’s often about the time involved if you have to sell, the risk of losing money, and the hefty annual taxes).

According to a 2019 Yardi Matrix report, Baltimore’s market was riding the wave of employment gains in high-paying industries pre-COVID-19. It’s a trend marker watchers hope will continue.

Re-adaptive use of older buildings—of which Charm City has no shortage—has also played a part in the boom, such as in the case of 2Hopkins, which reinvtented the former Mercantile Bank Trust building.

But the primary drivers are two very different demographic groups that both want an urban live/work/play environment: high-paid millennials and baby boomers.

“Millennials and baby boomers want the same thing: convenience,” says Julie Thompson, senior vice president of Bozzuto Management Company, the 800-pound gorilla of high-end housing in the city. “They want proximity to entertainment, shopping, grocery stores, and restaurants. They want shorter commutes and walkability. They prefer the convenience of walking out of their apartments and having everything at their fingertips.”

Karen Hubble Bisbee, associate broker and principal of Hubble Bisbee Group of Long & Foster/Christie’s International Real Estate, says empty nesters, in particular, want the urban lifestyle. “They are footloose. They want that lock-and-leave, carefree way of life. When they travel, they don’t want to worry about their house and when they are home they want great restaurants and everything at their doorsteps.”

Although most of the boom in these high-end residences has, indeed, occurred in the city, the larger suburbs are also seeing some similar developments popping up.

Among them is the Towson Promenade, which is minutes from Towson University and the shopping and dining of Towson Town Center Mall, as well as Metro Crossing at Metro Centre in Owings Mills, which is right on the Metro line and I-795 and within walking distance of shopping and restaurants. And while lacking the bright lights of the big city, they offer high-end amenities similar to their urban cousins.

So where do the younger residents, in particular, get the money? Kimberly Clark of the Downtown Partnership of Baltimore says part of the answer is Baltimore’s major employers, such as Under Armour, The Johns Hopkins University, the University of Maryland, Legg Mason, and a growing number of start-up companies. And those employers, in turn, are attracting well-educated millennials from out of the area.

These affluent millennials are highly discriminating, which Gorn, like the other developers of similar residences, understands. “We wanted to do something that was a new vision for the apartment market for our region and certainly for downtown Baltimore. And we wanted amenities that rival a five-star resort.”

That kind of concept was a draw for 39-year-old Chicago native Claudia Panning, who moved to Baltimore in 2015 for a job after living in Washington, D.C. and Memphis. “I was renting in one building, but decided I wanted more space and more amenities,” says Panning, who chose Liberty Harbor East, a Bozzuto property with 282 rentals and 33 condos.

Panning adds, “With such a great fitness center, I’ve started exercising again.”

Like many such developments, Liberty Harbor East has an area where you can host dinner parties, cabanas by the pool, workspaces, a study lounge, and a demonstration kitchen for resident events. And now, with the Flagship Whole Foods Market and its harborview cafe in the building, residents have another perk.

And, of course, there’s the requisite pet area—while Panning’s apartment overlooks the building’s dog park, and she loves seeing the dogs, she admits it’s her cat that is most obsessed with the action.

Think of these high-end complexes as neighborhood-meets-cruise ship.

And that environment doesn’t happen by accident—it’s orchestrated to some extent. 414 Light Street, for example, has two managers responsible for overseeing the lifestyle program, which includes robust health and wellness offerings, managing community engagement and resident events, and ensuring overall resident satisfaction. “They’ve hosted dinners at Morton’s and Phillips,” says resident Green. “And for New Year’s, we watched the fireworks.”

Given that the complex has such a massive TV screen, Green decided not to have a TV in his apartment. So, during football season, he watched the Ravens with fellow residents. “It’s sort of like a college dorm,” says Green, “where you can meet other people, but in an ultra-luxury setting.”

Convenience plays a big part in attracting residents, too. Green, who lived in a single-family home in D.C., says, “When I got an Amazon package, I had to worry that it might be taken. Here, I never have to think about it. I get a text when I get a package. And they can also take care of my dry cleaning.” The 24/7 concierge staff also can help with travel, restaurant reservations, and groceries. Gorn says, “They do the mundane to the more elaborate.”

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AMENITIES AND PRICING

Here are some examples of what Baltimore’s high-end apartments and condo towers have to offer:

414 LIGHT STREET APARTMENTS
414 Light St., 844-823-9996
Apartment features: smart home technology, walk-in closets, stainless-steel appliances
Prices: Studios $1,700–1,950; one-bedroom $1,900–2,700; one bedroom plus den $2,800–3,000; two bedrooms $3,200– 4,800; two-bedroom and den $4,700–4,800. Penthouse units include hardwood floors throughout the apartment and replaces, 10-foot ceilings, wine refrigerators, and private terrace gardens in select plans. Penthouses range from $4,000 to $8,000–plus.

LIBERTY HARBOR EAST APARTMENTS
1301 Aliceanna St., 443-701-4774
Apartment Features: designer kitchen with quartz countertops, tile backsplash, and under cabinet lighting; stainless-steel GE appliances; Kohler faucets; full-size washer and dryer; hardwood-style flooring in kitchen and living areas.
Prices: Studios $1,821–1,936; one-bedroom $2,190–2,406; two-bedrooms $3,716

Liberty Harbor’s Horizon Level has some exclusive amenities, services, and features: roller shades to allow
for privacy over the expansive glass windows; upgraded cabinetry, countertop, and lighting packages; solid slap backsplash; 12-foot ceiling heights in select units; a private lounge with daily hospitality, tea service, fresh orals, snacks, newspaper delivery, and shoeshine.

Prices: One-bedroom penthouse $2,940–3,050; two-bedroom penthouses $3,867–4,349; three-bedroom penthouses $5,197–5,262

LUMINARY AT ONE LIGHT
100 E. Redwood St., 844-805-2109
Apartment Features: Apartments are complete with a gourmet kitchen, luxurious bathroom, and high-end, energy-efficient appliances, 360-degree city and harbor views, 24-hour concierge, rooftop infinity pool, fitness center and yoga room custom-designed by Under Armour, rooftop bark park and pet spa, rooftop Zen garden, grilling stations.
Prices: Studios $1,443–1,795; one bedroom $1,570–2,170; two bedroom $2,323–3,265; penthouse units $1970–4,095

2HOPKINS PLAZA APARTMENTS
2 Hopkins Plaza, 410-216-3044
Apartment Features: stainless steel appliances; floor-to-ceiling windows; full- size washers and dryers .
Prices: Studios $1,300–1,400; one-bedroom $1,500-1,900; two-bedroom $2,100–2,700

LIBERTY HARBOR EAST CONDOMINIUMS
1301 Aliceanna St., 410-421-7491
Condominium Features: Hardwood flooring through all living spaces; bathrooms with marble ooring, oversized showers
and baths; balconies with harbor or skyline views; designer kitchens with stone countertops and Thermador appliances; most residences offer living-room replaces.
Condo owner Amenities: Dedicated condo resident front desk concierge; automated and secured package room; Butter yMX intercom security system; social lounge.
Prices: One-bedroom $599,000; two- bedroom $799,000; three-bedroom
$1.3 million. Penthouse loft: four bedrooms, two stories, and 47,000 square feet with terrace, $4 million.

The Inner Harbor skyline has a new addition: 414 Light Street, a grand apartment tower that boasts upscale views and amenities, as well as 12,300 square feet of retail space on the ground floor. The 44-story, $160-million high-rise, which opened in August and still has rent-only units available, is now Maryland’s tallest residential building and one of the city’s most expensive living options, with rent ranging from about $1,890 to $8,000 per month. Luxury amenities include dog-walking services, on-demand car wash and detailing, grocery delivery and pantry-stocking services, and smart-house customization. Check out the facts and figures on this record-breaking building.

If you’ve traveled to Harbor East within the last year, you may have noticed lots of ongoing construction—the new Harbor Point bridge, The Liberty apartments, Della Notte demolition—now add to the list the erection of a new luxury apartment building at 900 Fleet Street, which is set to be complete in 2019.

The current space is currently being used as an industrial switching station for Verizon. The new development of the space by Washington, D.C.-based developer Monument Realty calls for the partial demolition of the existing structure to build high-rise apartments. After much success with their recent building at 225 N. Calvert Street, Monument decided to set their sights on the popular “luxury district.”

“We look forward to delivering a new apartment building in Harbor East which is a spectacular submarket with some of the highest rents in the city,” said Colleen Kittell, spokeswoman for Monument Realty. “We love the neighborhood and think that more and more people will be interested in living downtown.”

This new property will be following a new trend that has hit Baltimore with the arrival of new residential buildings—Anthem House, 414 Light Street, Hanover Crossing, and The Liberty—with retail on the lower levels. The project is planned right next to 380-unit apartment tower going up on the former Della Notte restaurant site on Fleet and President streets.

The 377,000 sq. ft. building will feature 400 studio-, one-, and two-bedroom apartments and 300 parking spaces above 20,000 square feet of retail space on the street level. The area has morphed into a developer’s dream with expensive apartments, condos, shops, and restaurants.

“We have already received interest from potential tenants,” she said. Although she can’t reveal who they are just yet.

The $100-million building will feature a modern contemporary design with indoor and outdoor amenity spaces including a rooftop pool, fitness club, and pet amenities. Rental rates have not yet been determined but Kittell says they will be comparable to the rates of existing properties in Harbor East.

One concern that comes along with massive development is whether or not all of these new units will get filled—especially in a city like Baltimore whose population has remained stagnant for the past few years.

A unique model that’s been used by Monument Realty already is the pop-up hotel company, WhyHotel, which temporarily leases out vacant apartment units. There is no word yet on if this new apartment building will make a similar arrangement.

“We’re in the early stages of planning,” Kittell said. “We’re looking for next year for things to get underway. We’re really excited.”

It’s not a hotel, but also not quite an Airbnb. It’s a combination of both and it’s coming to 225 N. Calvert Street in the form of a pop-up concept. The Washington, D.C.-based company WhyHotel is using a unique business model to provide guests with a hotel experience inside an apartment atmosphere.

“Why would you stay at a hotel when you could have a place like home?” Jason Fudin, CEO and co-founder of WhyHotel said. “You get the space, comfort, and amenities of an Airbnb but you get the newness of the building. Most importantly, you get that level of service like a hotel, which is very different than the service level of an Airbnb.”

The concept came to Fudin when working with Washington, D.C-based Vornado Realty on million-dollar projects and he realized that, across all markets, there was a very underutilized asset—new, empty apartment buildings. Following the success of the initial site launched in 2016 in D.C. that saw a 90 percent occupancy in just 60 days, he decided to spin out from Vornado and create WhyHotel.

While Monument Realty handles the leasing, WhyHotel will take about 160 units to help “de-risk” the initial growing pains of leasing a large luxury building. Fudin says that these buildings can take anywhere between 18-24 months to reach maximum occupancy and that’s where his company steps in to help fill the gap.

“Our goal is to obviously produce interim income for the building, which benefits the owner and helps drive leasing,” he said. “Also, the residents of the building get an amenity that they would never find in another residence in Baltimore—a place for guests to stay at half the price of a hotel in the neighborhood.”

The pop-up not only allows guests to get a taste of downtown Baltimore living, but it also offers additional space for apartment tenants. Long-term leases will receive a 50 percent discount on any unit they would like to reserve for as long as WhyHotel is occupying the space. As the building leases up, WhyHotel decreases its presence and eventually moves out. So far, the reservations have been rolling in and opening weekend, slated for June 29, is 70 percent sold.

“We don’t actually book out farther than when we expect to be here,” Fudin explained. “We have a rolling booking. Today, you couldn’t book for next year at this time. We hope to be here, but we don’t know it yet. That’s the model, it is temporary in nature, but you get this amazing experience while we are here.”

As for the rooms, they are pet-friendly one- and two-bedroom floorplans with new modern furniture and technology. Each apartment is equipped with quality linens, flat screen TVs, and Amazon Echo. All guests will also have access building amenities including the rooftop pool, fitness center, game and theater room, and 24/7 concierge and hotel staff.

Doug Brooks, who is the chief hotel officer with more than 30 years of hospitality experience, says he took great care in every detail of this project from hiring his staff to selecting the furniture in each unit.

“One of the exciting things we get to do is create this like-home Baltimore experience,” Brooks said. “We have Natty Boh in the fridge, our logo has Orioles orange in it, we really made it a point to embrace local and that also means our team.”

The latest pop-up at 225 N. Calvert is only the second site for WhyHotel, but Fudin always knew that Baltimore was going to be his next move.

“We see this as a forever market for us,” he said. “The city has done a great job at encouraging the development of housing, so we’re excited about that. We definitely have our eye on other developments here. I can’t say who or what, but we do plan on being here forever.”

When Tracy Nyce sold her 5,000-square-foot Lutherville home two
years ago, she moved into a 1,700-square-foot rental unit in The
Crescent, a high-end apartment complex in Fells Point, and never looked
back.

“My house was on the market for almost two years and, in order to
sell it, it ended up being a short sale,” she explains. “I said to
myself, ‘There’s no way I’m buying another property.’ I decided I would
rent because I didn’t want to have to go through that again.”

Nyce is not alone. Soured by the housing bubble, turned off by
tightened lending standards, or just not in the mood for the
responsibilities of owning, Baltimoreans are joining a nationwide trend
and becoming renters. And industry observers say that new category of
renters—renters by choice—is growing fast, despite low interest rates
that make home ownership relatively cheap.

David J. Doyle, president and co-founder of the luxury rental site, LuxeListHome.com,
says his consumer research shows that high-end renters like to be
catered to and value the luxury rental experience as a lifestyle choice.
They’re active, like to shop and eat out, and have a sense of immediacy
when it comes to consumer satisfaction.

“People who value renting are looking for a sense of style, luxury, and service, and they want it now,” he says.

For the most part, he’s talking about people who could perfectly well buy a house if they wanted to.

“Affordability is pretty good right now by historical standards, for
buying versus renting,” says Michael Lasota, an investment analyst in
the equity division of T. Rowe Price. “But the market for these
higher-rent places is often people who are getting married later in
life, and having kids later in life. They want the mobility and the
convenience of living in an apartment versus a house.” And they don’t
mind paying a premium for luxurious units with lots of amenities.

Nyce’s apartment at The Crescent, for instance, has large windows
facing the water, hardwood floors, stainless-steel appliances, and
granite countertops. She loves her spacious closets and the overall
upscale feel of the place. She can use the pool, gym, theater, and club
room. If she wants a dinner reservation or needs to call a car, the
concierge will take care of it for her. But mostly, she enjoys walking
away from her home without a care.

“When I had a single-family home, I had to worry if there was a
hurricane or a major storm what would need to be repaired,” she says.
“Here, I pick up the phone if I need a repair and it’s done the same
day, next day at the latest.” And when her lease is up, she can leave
without the hassle of selling.

So what about the math of renting versus owning? Nyce pays $3,758 a
month, but when she added up her mortgage payment, lawn care and snow
removal, and repairs to the house and appliances, plus utility costs,
she determined that she’s actually saving money by renting. “The house
was 12 years old and things were needing to be repaired and replaced,”
she recalls. “It became a monthly expense.”

One of the major factors driving the rental market is the mindset of the millennial generation.

“When you look out to 2020, the number of echo boomers coming into
prime renting age is going to rise each year,” says Lasota. “Those 18-
to 35-year-olds are more likely to rent.”

One company seeing that trend first-hand is Southern Management
Corporation (SMC), which owns and manages more than 24,000 apartment
homes in 74 different communities in the Baltimore-Washington area.
According to John Cohan, director of marketing, business has been brisk,
with the entire Baltimore-area portfolio seeing only 2.2 percent
vacancy as of June 2013, a rate even lower than the city’s average. The
company’s higher-end apartments, like 39 West Lexington in Baltimore
City, were leasing so quickly—despite monthly rents as high as $3,415
for a penthouse—it was obvious the demand for a luxury product was
there. Since many work downtown anyway, renters age 33 and under are
typically the target demographic for places like 39 West Lexington.

“The millennials are much more likely to choose to rent than
purchase,” says Cohan. Millennials tend to move around for work and,
therefore, do no want to be tied to a purchased home. They want to live
close to work and play in crowded metropolitan areas where home pricing
might be high. And they no longer believe that a home is a safe place to
put their cash.

“They’re helping drive the luxury market, too,” Cohan continues.
“These are people who may have the wherewithal to purchase a house, but
they’re leery to do that. But they still want the same quality in
design, construction, and finishes in a apartment home that they would
find in a for-sale home.”

Good employment opportunity in the metro area is another thing
driving the sector. Renting in Baltimore appeals to doctors and nurses
from Johns Hopkins and the University of Maryland, financial folks from
Legg Mason and T. Rowe Price, government workers, and contractors. Many
are single and most are young professionals, with a smattering of
emptynesters. Younger renters can offset the steep rent by splitting a
two-bedroom with a roommate.

SMC is currently leasing its most exclusive property, The Palisades
at Arundel Preserve near the new Maryland Live! Casino. The 330
“ultra-luxury” apartments opened in April 2013. Average rent starts at
$2,000. Within four months, the place was 70 percent occupied.

Another major player in the local high-end rental industry is The
Bozzuto Group, which has established a niche as the owner of such tony
addresses as Spinnaker Bay, where rent can top $5,000 a month, as well
as some of the city’s premiere apartments including Eight 50 Aliceanna,
The Fitzgerald, and The Promenade at Harbor East. It also manages
McHenry Row and The Zenith.

“We hope we’re really good at delivering the equivalent of a
Ritz-Carlton or Four Seasons experience to our customers,” says
president Toby Bozzuto. He explains that value takes on new importance
with the by-choice renter. “I don’t want people to feel they’ve overpaid
for something. I want them to feel the way they feel after they leave a
really nice restaurant—‘Yes, I paid a little more, but it was an
amazing meal, it was worth it, and I chose to do it.’”

When his company developed Union Wharf, its new 281-unit project in
Fells Point, Bozzuto says the intention was to “wow with design,” to
take the customer experience to new heights.

The glassy, hotel-inspired lobby offers a peek-a-boo view of the
harbor just beyond the zero-edge infinity pool. There’s a resort-style
12,000-square-foot clubhouse with fitness center, screening room, bar
area, and billiards. An outdoor courtyard features a large fireplace.
The interior design uses wood, metal, and concrete to create a warm,
industrial vibe, complemented by the work of local artisans like those
from Gutierrez Studios.

“We live in a design-centric culture,” says Bozzuto. “Whether
intentionally or unintentionally, I believe people perceive design as
something important. I don’t mean hoity-toity, unapproachable design,
but things with functionality. You like your iPhone because of
everything you can do with it. It also happens to be a beautiful thing.
Why can’t our buildings be like that?”

That kind of thinking is responsible, in part, for the demise of the
rental stigma. After all, if you’re living in Spinnaker Bay, no one’s
going to ask, “What’s wrong with you, anyway?”

“It depends on where you are in your life,” says Tracy Nyce. “If
you’re young and want a family, a house is perfect, but if you’re a
young professional, renting is perfect. There are no worries.”

Demand in the Baltimore metro region seems unquenchable and though
city development has focused on the harbor in recent years, the trend is
spreading. Data released by Downtown Partnership of Baltimore,
supported by the 2010 Census, shows the central business district
downtown has seen 130 percent growth in the past decade, ranking it
eighth among the nation’s 25 most densely populated areas.

“Strong demand for downtown living has sent the apartment occupancy
rate to 97 percent,” says Michael Evitts, vice president of
communications at Downtown Partnership of Baltimore. “[Our] recently
released housing-demand study, Outlook 2017, shows the marketplace can
absorb an additional 5,800 new residential units over the next five
years.”

If vacancy rates inch up in the near term, it won’t be because of any
letup in demand, but because of increasing supply. Developers are
cautiously optimistic, with SMC indicating they have more luxury
apartments in the pipeline. Bozzuto also has another project in the
works for Locust Point.

And in Owings Mills, the new $500 million Metro Centre, a 1.6
million-square-foot development next to the subway station, has started
leasing the first 232 apartments in what will be a 1,700-unit
residential component of the David S. Brown Enterprises transit-oriented
project. There will also be 1.2 million square feet of office space,
retail and restaurant space, a hotel, and educational facilities.

Despite the new construction on the horizon, “demand will continue to
outpace new construction for the remainder of the year,” says Victor
Calanog, vice president of research and economics at Reis, in a report.
“Apartment investors who focus on high-quality buildings in desirable
(and supply-constrained) downtown locations are likely to find fewer
reasons to worry.”

Union Wharf

Location Fells Point
Number of Units 281
Average rent $2,355
Highest rent$3,215

What that buys you Located in the heart of Fells
Point, there are three private outdoor courtyards, a fitness center with
TRX and kick-boxing stations, as well as a yoga studio with Apple TV,
all overlooking the infinity pool.

Spa Cove

Location Annapolis
Number of Units 178
Average rent $1,710
Highest rent $2,400

What that buys you Only a 10-minute drive to the
U.S. Naval Academy, Spa Cove has all the high-end touches one would
expect (granite counter tops, stainless-steel appliances) with the added
benefit of waterfront amenities like a private marina with boat slips
and kayak storage available for a reasonable extra fee. It’s also
convenient to the water taxi.

The Crescent

Location Fells Point, Baltimore
Number of Units 252 units
Average rent $2,426
Highest rent$4,000

What that buys you Check out the spinning studio in
the fitness center, the heated pool, the outdoor fireplace and grills in
the courtyards, and the private screening room with its stadium
seating. The apartments feature 10-foot ceilings and kitchens with
built-in wine racks. There are marina slips available for additional
rent.

The Eden

Location Harbor East, Baltimore
Number of Units 270
Average rent $2,244
Highest rent$3,130

What that buys you The 24-hour concierge can cater
to your every need and dog-walking services are available. The garden
area is popular with residents and is used to host monthly
Eden-sponsored events as well as free “yoga in the garden” every
Wednesday. The rooftop pool and club room boast amazing views.

The Fitzgerald

Location Mt. Vernon, Baltimore
Number of Units 275
Average rent $1,901
Highest rent$2,542

What that buys you Get buff in the 2,300-square-foot
fitness center and yoga studio, then chill in the three stylish lounges
with fireplace, billiard table, and bar. There’s also the de rigeuer
swimming pool, a waterwall courtyard, business center with Mac and PC
computers, conference facilities, movie theater, 24-hour front desk, and
garage with EV car chargers. And bring your pet.

The Palisades of Towson

Location Downtown Towson
Number of Units 357
Average rent $1,900
Highest rent$2,520

What that buys you Pet-friendly units, some with
balconies, have granite kitchen countertops and stainless-steel
appliances, full-size stackable washer and dryer, and Wi-Fi. There’s a
fitness center, a community room with several flat-screen TVs, a heated
rooftop pool, sundeck/courtyard with outdoor fireplace, 24-hour
concierge, and a business center with complimentary print and fax
services. And the parking is unique: It’s the automated elevator-type
you operate with your security card.

Spinnaker Bay

Location Harbor East, Baltimore
Number of Units 315
Average rent $2,366
Highest rent $5,482
What
the price tag means There are restaurants and shopping steps away from
the building or a free bus can take residents from Harbor East to work,
shopping, restaurants, attractions, transit hubs, and parking facilities
in downtown Baltimore. There’s always someone at the front desk, the
clubroom has a catering kitchen, and the garden terrace has a heated
pool and spa with a water view.

The Zenith

Location West Side, Baltimore
Number of Units 191
Average rent $2,077
Highest rent$4,650

What that buys you It’s the downtown location for
the ultra hip: The Zenith has a state-of-the-art fitness center,
high-tech business center, full-service concierge, and private garage
parking with elevator access to main building.

39 W. Lexington

Location West Side, Baltimore
Number of Units 181
Average rent $1,765 (not including penthouses)
Highest rent$3,415

What that buys you This building is on the National
Register of Historic Places. Utilities are included in the price and
sound-proofed apartments feature cherry cabinetry and marble-floored
bathrooms with Kohler fixtures. The gym has a dry sauna, there’s valet
dry-cleaning, and an on-call limousine provides chaffeur service around
Baltimore.

Dorsey Ridge

Location Hanover
Number of Units 323 mid-rise apartments; 238 villas
Average rent $2,000 for two-bedroom
Highest rent$2,975

What that buys you Residents can use two clubhouses,
each with surround-sound movie theaters, fitness centers with kinder
care, and yoga/aerobics rooms, as well as the infinity pool. All
apartments have a fireplace and are fitted with a “Smart Panel” that
lets the resident control thermostat and lights via smartphone.

Mariner Bay

Location Annapolis
Number of Units 208
Average rent $2,320
Highest rent$3,745

What that buys you Forget the party in 3B: The fun’s
on the rooftop where there’s a clubroom with plasma TVs, fitness center
with yoga room, outdoor pool and landscaped terraces with views of
downtown Annapolis. An added benefit is direct-access garage parking and
even organic dry cleaning services.