The first new construction along the Westport waterfront in Baltimore will be -- wait for it -- a luxury apartment complex. That's the plan, at least: Developer Patrick Turner has a contract to sell an acre of land to Landex Development LLC for that purpose, Lorraine Mirabella reports:

Landex, based in Linthicum, plans to build a 200-unit, six-story, glass-facade building that will have balconies and terraces, secured underground parking and concierge services. Construction is slated to start during the last three months of next year.

The site is 1/50th of the Westport land Turner intends to transform into a mixed-use community with businesses, homes and a hotel. I thought it was interesting that the first piece is high end, even in this downsizing, penny-pinching economy. (Of course, they're high-end rentals, not condos.)