Fell’s Point Commercial Wharf and Recreation Pier
| Fell’s Point Commercial Wharf and Recreation Pier | |
|---|---|
| |
| Site Information | |
| Address | 1715 Thames Street |
| Geo-reference | 39°16′52″N 76°35′31″W / 39.28111°N 76.59191°W |
| Owner | Sagamore Pendry Hotel |
| Building Data | |
| Building Type | Commercial |
| Design | |
| Architect | Theodore Wells Pietsch |
| Construction | |
| Completed | 1914 |
The Fell’s Point Commercial Wharf and Recreation Pier is a striking example of Beaux-Arts architecture with its unique masonry, symmetry, statuary, festoons, and keystones. Theodore Wells Pietsch was commissioned to draw plans for the pier on May 19, 1912. His plans were accepted and bids were received for construction on July 31, 1913. The pier had a formal opening ceremony on August 20, 1914, where the architect and others gave speeches. The pier was financed by the city and for decades served as a commercial pier with recreation facilities, including a ballroom. From 1993 to 1999, the pier was featured as a police headquarters for NBC’s network television series, Homicide: Life on the Street. Over the years, several developers tried to renovate the pier, but they kept struggling to finance it. It was an expensive job, as a major piece of restoration involved replacing old pilings that needed to be driven underwater and into the harbor’s bed. It wasn’t until the luxury hotel—the $60 million Sagamore Pendry, designed by BHC Architects, and completed in 2017—did the pier undergo needed transformation, ushering in a phase of newfound glory for a building that's over one hundred years old.
