Little Havana has been a South Baltimore landmark since March of 1997. As our business has grown over the years, we have witnessed the revitalization and development of the Key Highway corridor and are proud to be a part of this thriving community. With this development along Key Highway and potential change to the zoning in our current location at 1325 Key Highway; it became apparent some years ago that Little Havana would soon be without a home. The obvious step was to find a new location for the restaurant. One of the main criteria was that the new building be in the same great area. We found what we believed to be the perfect spot in the Egan Marine property just a few blocks east at 1000 East Key Highway. Not long after the deal for the property was finalized the City of Baltimore enacted the Maritime Industrial Zoning Overlay District (“MIZOD”). The MIZOD limits the uses for any property within its scope. Any maritime related uses are allowed and other uses, such as restaurants, are prohibited.

Caught up in the net of this protection was Egan Marine. At the inception of the MIZOD it had been all but abandoned. It was in this state when we took over. The Egan Marine property has slightly more than 60 feet of usable waterfront space. The water at the bulkhead is never more than 6 feet deep. The property is useless for any true Maritime Industry.

This act was an effort to protect the irreplaceable maritime industry which has kept Baltimore so strong for so long. The local maritime industry is still very vital on a global scale. However, fluctuations in the markets may weaken holdings so that it appears temporarily that different uses for the land would be more beneficial for both land holder and for the tax base of the city. Historically a balance of residential and industrial makes a city more diversified and less exposed to dips in the world economy which we have seen so vividly in recent days.
There is a new proposal before the city council to extend the MIZOD an additional 10 years until 2014. This extension would effectively end our presence in South Baltimore. This is why we want to be allowed out of the MIZOD.

We don’t want to eliminate the MIZOD. We understand its importance to the industry and the city. We just want out of it so we can use our land the way we need to. We are willing to work with the surrounding businesses in order to show them that there is no desire to cause them problems.
Little Havana is the perfect example of the type of a “buffer” property between heavy industry property and residential properties. It will help blend the industry with an ever-expanding community.

Your support with letters, emails, and phone calls can show your representatives in the city council that you believe that Little Havana/ Egan Marine should be removed from the MIZOD.

CouncilPresident@baltimorecity.gov
Edward.Reisinger@baltimorecity.gov
William.Cole@baltimorecity.gov
Mayor@baltimorecity.gov