With food trucks, massages and champagne, developer Michael Beatty celebrated the opening of the first apartments at Harbor Point.
The festivities were a far cry from the controversy that enveloped the project at its start, when some fought the city's decision to float more than $100 million in bonds for the project's infrastructure, to be repaid by future property taxes generated by the 27-acre site.
"Sometimes I think when you come to something like this and it makes so much sense, people forget the uphill climb," Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake said.
The 1305 Dock Street Apartments, which boast floor-to-ceiling windows, plank floors and a clean, mirrored look, are the first part of the $270 million, 20-story Exelon tower to open.
The energy giant, the parent of Baltimore Gas & Electric Co., expects to start moving about 1,500 employees into the building in October. Furniture retailer West Elm plans to open in September, with other stores, including Ceremony Coffee Roasters to follow.
About 60 percent of the 103 apartments in the building, which start at $1,800 a month, have been leased, with about 40 tenants already moved into the units.
"We had a very challenging time getting through the TIF process, but everyone came together and now you'll see that everybody will come down and say, 'Wow, that was a really good idea," said Beatty, the president of Beatty Development. "Look at all the people that are living here, look at all the jobs that are being created and obviously look at all the taxes.'"