Baltimore Checkbook

Columbia Gateway portfolio sells for $32 million

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A five-building, 200,000-square-foot portfolio in the Columbia Gateway business park has traded hands for $32 million. Abrams Development Group, which developed a significant chunk of Columbia Gateway, acquired the properties from Connecticut-based Greenfield Partners LLC. Greenfield purchased the buildings in 2012 for $30.7 million, according to state tax records. The deal was part of a larger portfolio acquisition. The single-story buildings at 7151, 7155, 7161, 7165 and 7175 Columbia Gateway…

How Donald Trump's victory might affect the FBI...

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The future FBI headquarters belongs in Prince George’s County, its leaders say, and logic dictates that Democrat Hillary Clinton’s shocking loss in Tuesday’s presidential election benefits Maryland in that huge competition. That is, assuming the competition goes on. Donald Trump, a real estate developer and the next president of the United States, is a wild card. We simply don’t know what he’s going to do. But here’s our best guess. Clinton is a close friend of Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe,…

Voter-approved referendum clears the way for White...

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Voters in Baltimore County have approved the zoning law needed for an upscale outlet mall to be built near Interstate 95 in White Marsh. The ballot referendum was the latest in a long process for the outlet mall that is being developed by Baltimore-based Paragon Outlet Partners LLC. Legislation was passed in August 2015 that allowed for a “regional outlet shopping center” to be built on 45 acres directly off I-95 in business local and light manufacturing zones. However, a petition by neighbors,…

From Rash Field food trucks to new spending, all...

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You will now be able to eat and drink on Rash Field. A provision to legalize food carts and trucks operating near the public park was just one of the 10 referendums approved by Baltimore City voters yesterday. They were all approved by a margin of 78 percent or higher. Here’s a look at what each referendum does: Question A: The City Council and mayor’s office will take out a $6 million loan to fund a new program aimed at spurring affordable housing development. The money will cover the cost of…

Newspaper front pages mark a historic upset

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There are news alerts, tweets and posts, but there’s nothing like making it official on the front page of a newspaper. On the occasion of last night’s historic election, here’s a sampling of front pages from around the country reporting the election of Donald Trump as the 45th president of the United States. The race was called just before 3 a.m. ET after Trump was declared the winner in Wisconsin, wrapping up six-state sweep of swing states. It also was well after print publication deadlines for…

Viewpoint: Pugh must make good on promise to 'move...

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Catherine Pugh campaigned on a slogan of “Moving Baltimore Forward.” Now she must prioritize what it will take to accomplish that. The city is booming with private development, a robust pipeline of projects and a wave of entrepreneurs — from education and health care to tech and manufacturing — populating the region with new ideas. Downtown is experiencing a rebirth, with apartment conversions and new construction sprouting up at each corner, driven by an influx of empty nesters and millennials. But…

Donald Trump elected 45th president

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After an election season that regularly confounded veteran political observers, the 2016 presidential vote continued the trend. Donald Trump late last night was named the nation’s president-elect, defeating Hillary Clinton after top poll analysts had largely forecast a resounding Clinton victory. “I just received a call from Secretary Clinton,” Trump told supporters in New York early Wednesday morning. “She congratulated us, and it’s about us, on our victory.” Trump was gracious in victory…

PharmAthene shareholders to begin seeing payout...

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Nearly two years ago, Annapolis biodefense firm PharmAthene Inc. won a $195 million judgment in a long-running lawsuit with Siga Technologies Inc. Now, PharmAthene (NYSE: PIP) told shareholders as it released its third quarter earnings Friday, they may soon reap the rewards from that payout. Company officials said they intend to distribute at least 90 percent of the after tax, net cash proceeds of those payments from Siga in the first quarter of 2017. In a Securities and Exchange Commission filing,…

GOP poised to retain control of Senate, House

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Republicans appeared poised late last night to retain control of Congress. The GOP went into Election Day with 54 U.S. Senate seats and facing threats of a Democratic takeover. That didn’t happen on a night that appeared as of 2:30 a.m. ET to be going for Donald Trump in the presidential race. U.S. Sen. Roy Blunt of Missouri held off a challenge from Jason Kander, and U.S. Sen. Pat Toomey of Pennsylvania defeated Democrat Katie McGinty in two late races to keep the upper chamber in GOP hands. U.S.…

Mayor-elect Catherine Pugh: 'We've got a great...

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Rebuilding struggling Baltimore communities like Park Heights and Sandtown-Winchester. A focus on jobs for thousands of unemployed city residents. Ending homelessness and healing the scars of last year’s unrest. Fixing the broken water billing system. These are some of the issues cited by mayor-elect Catherine Pugh Tuesday night as she declared victory in the ballroom of the Radisson Hotel downtown before about 200 supporters. The list is long, but Pugh pledged to be a multi-tasker to get it started. “We've…