Baltimore Checkbook

Exclusive: COPT plots 500,000 square feet of new...

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Corporate Office Properties Trust plans to develop 500,000 square feet of new office space at Columbia Gateway, looking to capitalize off the region’s strength as a hub for growing cybersecurity firms. The Columbia real estate investment trust is in the early stages of marketing three proposed buildings in the office park, where it already owns 2.3 million square feet of space that is 93 percent leased. One of the projects, at 7055 Columbia Gateway Drive, is being planned as a seven-story, 210,000-square-foot…

Baltimore Development Corp. CEO Cole says he...

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Three weeks before a new administration takes root at City Hall, Baltimore Development Corp. CEO William H. Cole IV said he is planning to remain in office. “I have no reason to believe that I am not,” Cole said after a BDC board meeting downtown Thursday. “There is a lot of stuff [outstanding] requiring a lot of interaction.” Cole’s comments were made as the city’s next mayor, state Sen. Catherine Pugh, has pledged to make some changes to the structure of the quasi-public BDC. In a press conference…

Canton water wheel to be installed, begin work...

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Baltimore’s second trash wheel will be installed Dec. 4 at the outlet of Harris Creek in Canton. The Waterfront Partnership of Baltimore will introduce Professor Trash Wheel, as the water wheel has been dubbed, to the community during an event from 2:30-3:30 p.m. Dec. 4. The water wheel joins the already up and running wheel at the outlet of the Jones Falls in the Inner Harbor, or Mr. Trash Wheel as it is better known. The Waterfront Partnership completed the funding for the project in September,…

COPT plans three-level retail, restaurant space at...

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The intersection of Pratt and Light streets could soon sport a new look. The wide-open brick promenade along Pratt Street has been targeted to sprout a new “bump out” development. On Thursday, a Baltimore Development Corp. committee recommended a proposal for a three-level, 23,000-square-foot retail and restaurant project. The committee endorsed the design by Corporate Office Properties Trust, owner of the 35-story Transamerica Tower next to the site, and Metropolitan Partnership Ltd. over two…

Architect of new Exelon tower: 'It has definitely...

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For the past two years, Mike Johnson II has been focused on designing the interior spaces of Baltimore’s newest landmark: The Exelon building at Harbor Point. He is a Washington, D.C.-based architect for SmithgroupJJR, hired by the energy giant to be part of a team of eight architects and several consultants to outfit 450,000 square feet of work space for 1,500 employees. When the $160 million, 21-story project officially opened last month, he was there to take it all in. In an interview with…

8 things you need to know this morning

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Good morning, and happy Thursday. Of course, for me, it’s happy Pokemon Release Day. If for some reason you’re still holding onto the Pokemon Go hype, the latest games in the franchise, Pokemon Sun and Moon are out today, and are expected to sell millions of copies. And I’m very excited about it. If you’re a normal person over the age of 18 and don’t care about Pokemon, the weather is going to be beautiful today. Temperatures in the high 50s and much sunnier than yesterday, so get outside. Here…

Baltimore startup wins $500,000 grant from Johnson...

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Baltimore-based Glyscend Inc. was awarded one of three $500,000 research grants from Johnson & Johnson Innovation LLC and its research arm Janssen as part of the health care giant’s World Without Disease QuickFire Challenge. Glyscend was spun out of Johns Hopkins University and continues operations as part of the Johns Hopkins Technology Ventures program. The company is currently in the process of raising a Series A funding round, with a goal of between $5 million and $10 million. The Johnson &…

Black Friday: Macy's releases list of Thanksgiving...

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Macy’s has announced doorbuster deals at its 5 p.m. on Thanksgiving Day opening, which is one hour earlier than last year.

The struggling department store chain will stay open until 2 a.m. and close and reopen at 6 a.m. on Black Friday, Nov. 25, according to a news release.

Here’s doorbusters featured…

Abell Foundation report says city must find way to...

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A report on Baltimore’s water and sewage rates recommends that the city establish a two-tiered system for billing based on income. The 29-page report is titled “Keeping the Water On: Strategies for Addressing High Increases in Water and Sewer Rates for Baltimore’s Most Vulnerable Customers” and also advocates to stop water bill delinquencies from forcing properties into the annual city tax lien sale. The report was released on Wednesday by the nonprofit Abell Foundation. It was researched and written…

93-year-old Howard County kitchen supplier seeks...

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Calico Industries Inc., a Howard County commercial kitchen supplier, has retained Equity Partners HG to seek a sale or merger of the company as it looks to expand. Dirk Wiersma, who has served as president at Calico since 2006, said he is seeking the deal now because he wants to expand the business and thinks having a partner company could help him do that. He also said Frank Jaret, his partner and father-in-law, is looking to retire and exit the business, making it a good time for the company to…