Baltimore's housing department and Mayor Sheila Dixon have selected a team headed by a group called Gateway to Baltimore LLC to redevelop 33 city-owned properties on both sides of the 3000 block of W. North Ave. in West Baltimore. Gateway is headed by Walter "Skip" Bennett of Edgewater, and Klaus Philipsen of ArchPlan is the architect. They proposed a $4.8 million residential development called North Avenue Gateway, with 48 "modular" apartments on the south side of the block and a mix of new and rehabbed town houses on the north side. The developer also plans to restore an 1892 mansion at 3044 W. North Ave., on the north side of the block, for residential use. Bennett's group, one of two that responded to a request for proposals issued by the city earlier this year, was selected last month to enter an exclusive negotiating priority period to finalize its plans. T. E. Jeff Inc. is a minority contractor on the team, and North American Housing Corp. has been identified as the likely builder of the prefabricated apartment homes.

- Edward Gunts