Luxury high rise apartments in major American metropolises have really stepped their game up in the past few years. And when I say up, I am specifically talking literally in this instance about the gleaming and spectacular, 44-story work of art located in downtown Baltimore on the waterfront in the trendy and historic Inner Harbor section. It’s called 414 Light Street, and the property owners and management have made a concerted effort to give residents of Baltimore who personify the Jetset lifestyle an amenity-laden sanctuary that they can call home.
At 44-stories, it is the tallest residential tower in Baltimore, and what caught my eye is the meticulous commitment to luxury that the owners have put into their top floor Penthouse units. Each Penthouse suite has Bosch stainless steel appliances, Miele wine refrigerators, soaring 10-foot ceilings, and in some instances, lush private terrace gardens for residents to enjoy in solitude and peace. And here’s an amenity that is impossible to duplicate and invaluable for some of the local celebrity and professional athlete clientele the property appeals to; the highest-floor units have direct views into Oriole Park at Camden Yards, the home of the Baltimore Orioles of the American League, who play 81 home games each spring and summer. So even non-native Baltimoreans who may have grown up or lived in New York, Orange County, Boston, Houston, Minneapolis, Dallas, Tampa, the Bay Area or Seattle, you’d be able to see your home town team live and in action from the comfort and privacy of your very own living room sofa a handful of times per year.
The views from throughout the building, and specifically the Penthouse suites are stunning, and the distinct and eclectic skyline of Baltimore provides a fabulous and diverse backdrop. The renowned architectural firm of Solomon Cordwell Buenz, the same group behind award-winning high-rises in Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Chicago, have envisioned 414 Light Street as an iconic design that takes its inspiration from Baltimore’s nautical heritage. Soaring sail-inspired forms evoke the elements that surround the Inner Harbor, and the light blue glass exterior reflects the high-rise office buildings neighboring the property and mirrors the water of the harbor below.
The proximity to the city’s best dining, shopping, sports and cultural attractions is a big draw for residents of this urban high-rise. The building lies just steps from both Oriole Park at Camden Yards and M&T Bank Stadium, the home of the Baltimore Ravens, as well as the National Aquarium and Maryland Science Center.
The attention to detail is quite impressive, as the building was built to reflect the rich history of Baltimore, and at the same time offering the most successful and well-known residents of Charm City an opportunity to have a cool and sophisticated downtown living option loaded with upscale amenities and service.
Baltimore is a city that’s known for its crab cakes, the activities in and around the Harbor, hit TV shows that were set in the city, and the success of the Baltimore Ravens and their recent Super Bowl win. It’s a city that really needed an urban upscale living experience for a segment of their population that was used to it, and demanded it. Now that option exists, and there is a gleaming, glass-encased building full of affluent lifestyle residents that are certainly glad that it does.