We've been to Brewerytown a bunch of times over the years, but somehow never found our way to the 3000 block of W. Cabot Street. Perhaps that's because the block extends only about eighty feet before abruptly terminating in a dead-end. If you ever visit, you'll discover a mere six homes on the north side of the street and only four on the south side. It's possible the street was once used for access to the J&P Baltz Brewing Company, but they've been gone for decades. As recently as 2011, six out of the ten homes on this block were vacant.
But the block has changed somewhat in the last couple of years. A partnership between MM Partners and BMK Homes purchased three of the homes from the Redevelopment Authority a couple years ago and they've been renovating them as part of the Stiles Row project. All three homes have sold this year, and the positive change on the block is noticeable.
Also quite evident is that three vacant buildings remain on the block. On the south side of the street, a developer has been sitting on 3008 W. Cabot St. for almost a decade, and an individual with family that lives on the block has owned 3010 W. Cabot St. since 2003. On the north side, PHA retains ownership of 3015 W. Cabot St., seemingly for no reason. They own a seemingly occupied home next door. Wouldn't it be cool if PHA repaired or sold the long vacant properties that they own?
One would have to think that two of the vacant homes on the block will turn over eventually, given all the development nearby. Right around the corner, 30 Baltz casts an impressive shadow on 30th Street.
And on the other side of the fence that blocks the end of the street, Westrum is building a residential project similar to 31 Brewerytown. We wonder, when that project finishes, might Cabot Street open up to the other side? We shall see.