Developers Rehabbing Former Odell's Nightclub In Station North
Two Baltimore developers are reviving a historic building in the Station North Arts and Entertainment District that dates to the early 20th century and was once a popular nightclub.
Sam Polakoff's Property Consulting Inc. and Jubilee Baltimore purchased the vacant building at 19-21 East North Ave. for $400k in October, just before it was set to go to auction. Renovating the 18k SF building will cost between $5M and $8M and include new HVAC, wiring, windows and plumbing, Jubilee Baltimore president Charlie Duff said. The developers have been awarded $835k in state historic tax credits that will go toward the renovations.
Renovations won't begin until 70% of the building is leased, Duff said. The developers are talking to a variety of prospective tenants, which include office, retail, a performing arts organization and collaborative workspace The scope of the renovations will be determined by the type of tenants that sign up for the project.
Built in 1905, the Tudor-style building originally opened as a car dealership.
"North Avenue was a fashionable street, so they built a car dealership that looked like a big house in Roland Park," Duff said. It later became a disco club in the '70s and '80s.
The Odell's building conversion is the latest adaptive reuse project on North Avenue.
Jubilee refurbished the former Centre Theatre at 10 East North Ave., which houses nonprofits, university film programs and jewelry makers, in 2015. Baltimore Arts Realty Corp. converted the former Load of Fun building at 120 West North Ave. into an office building, arts facility and makerspace. And the Parkway Theatre at 5 West North Ave. is undergoing an $18M renovation that will turn the 100-year-old building into a performing arts, film education and theater space.
