The Baltimore Sun
By Sarah Gantz
September 19, 2017
Greenmount Avenue warehouse to be converted to 50 artist apartments
“A Baltimore developer plans to turn a vacant warehouse near Green Mount Cemetery into a 50-unit apartment building for artists. Half the units are to be made available at a reduced rate by allowing artists to barter services such as painting or providing art to decorate the building, in exchange for reduced rent, said Ernst Valery, founder and president of SAA | EVI Development. Valery said he intends to make high-quality housing more affordable for artists, while making the building itself more unusual. “Instead of having a contractor paint our hallways, we can have an artist do something much more interesting,” he said. The remaining units are to be rented at market rates. SAA | EVI Development is also moving forward with an eight-story, 103-unit building overlooking Penn Station. Called Nelson Kohl, the building is also designed with artists in mind, with 20 units offered at discounted rates through Valery’s barter system..."