Wednesday, January 19, 2011

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Downtown Partnership: Getting Things Done

 

Flurry of New Improvement Projects
At a time when constrained government and corporate budgets have limited the number of capital projects throughout the region, Downtown Partnership of Baltimore has initiated almost two dozen new projects to improve how Downtown Baltimore looks and feels.

Some projects are small in scope, like installing holiday lights or removing leaves. Others, such as the creation of both a Downtown Strategic Plan and Open Space Master Plan, are major initiatives that will influence large-scale development and investment patterns in the coming years. Some of the programs are one-time only enhancements, others represent ongoing commitments. This list will grow as Downtown Partnership identifies new ways to improve the economic and cultural heart of the Baltimore region. Below is a partial list of projects to date. For the full list, visit us at GoDowntownBaltimore.com.

Public Space Improvements

  • Completed Open Space Plan to guide improvements, maintenance, and programming of Downtown’s parks and plazas;

  • Initiated analysis of creating a multi-property Tax Increment Financing (TIF) district that would include older Downtown neighborhoods;

  • Supported Mayor-initiated Urban Land Institute analysis of Downtown’s Westside;

  • Created “Operation: Storefront” program to increase street-level occupancy of Downtown buildings;

  • Ordered a trash compactor truck to handle increased amount of debris Downtown Partnership collects from corner trash bins;

  • Aerated, seeded and fertilized the lawns at Preston Gardens;

  • Planted seasonal landscaping and flower pots in Preston Gardens, Hopkins Plaza, and on Pratt Street;

  • Hired Park Stewards for Preston Gardens and Hopkins Plaza;

  • Hired consultant to apply for funding needed to repair Preston Gardens walls;

  • Removed leaves from Pratt Street and Preston Gardens.

 

More Than 95 Restaurants Participating- Make Your Reservations!

Winter Restaurant Week returns January 21-30 with more than 95 restaurants offering three-course prix-fixe dinners for $35.11 and lunches for $20.11. View menus and make reservations now at www.BaltimoreRestaurantWeek.com.

 

Sponsored by: Baltimore Eats, CityPeek.com, DowntownDiane.net, Foodspotting.com, SOBO Sports, Stella Artois, WTMD, and WYPR.

 

Brought to you by Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake, Downtown Partnership of Baltimore and Visit Baltimore.

 

 

We Want Your Feedback

Click here to complete a quick survey. We thank you for helping to us to continue our success in keeping Downtown Baltimore a vibrant community for businesses, residents, and visitors.

 

 

Pratt Street Sculpture Project
Downtown Partnership of Baltimore and the Baltimore Office of Promotion and the Arts are looking for artists' entries for The Baltimore Sculpture Project, a temporary outdoor sculpture exhibition that engages sites around the city. Downtown Partnership is offering a stipend of $2,500 per sculpture for two available sites on Pratt Street. These sculptures will be on display for two years beginning spring of 2011.

Submissions are due January 28. Click here for full requirements and specifications.
 

Kids Love Downtown During the Winter Months!

www.KidsLoveDowntownBaltimore.com has the cure for cabin fever. Check it out often for fun family-friendly events and exhibitions at some of Downtown's top museums and attractions throughout the winter.

 

Click here to read reviews by our Mom Ambassadors. Kids Love Downtown Baltimore Mom Ambassadors are real moms who are regular visitors to Downtown Baltimore.

 

      

 

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Five Additional Buses Added to the Orange and Purple Routes
To stabilize the operations of the Orange and Purple routes, and to return to and maintain the promised 10 minute headway, the DOT is leasing 5 Van Hool low floor transit buses on a short term basis. These buses will be added to the Charm City Circulator fleet and will be put into service only as required in the event of breakdown or unavailability of the Eco Saver IV buses. Although these vehicles are not hybrid, they burn diesel fuel cleanly, and their carbon footprint is only a fraction of that found on other diesel buses

East Side Shuttle Launched January 3
This free, non-hybrid, shuttle service is available to everyone. With two convenient routes, this shuttle will service portions of the upcoming Green Route.
 

Visit www.charmcitycirculator.com to sign up for mobile alerts, look at maps and routes, get stop updates and more.

 

 

Save the Date- Rockfish Celebration

Participating restaurants offer unique rockfish recipes February 17-28 during Rockfish Celebration. Click here for menus and to make reservations.

 

Visit the newly-updated Dine Downtown web site to print recipes, view featured chef profiles, browse special food and wine
events, and learn more about all of the great
dining options in Downtown Baltimore.


And, be sure to sign up for monthly emails so you don't miss any new menu additions, dining specials, events and more at some of Downtown's best restaurants.

 

 

Park Smart- Leave Your Car Empty

Remember to leave your car empty as you shop, eat and enjoy all Downtown Baltimore has to offer. Remove GPS units, i-pods, and gifts from view.

 

 

Dinner and a Live Show
Dine at one of Charles Street's many restaurants before or after a live show at An Die Musik, Centerstage or the Peabody to round out the perfect date night experience!
 

 

Working After Dark?

Call a Downtown Baltimore Guide to escort you to your car or bus stop. Downtown Baltimore Guide Escorts are available seven days a week, 10:30 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. Service is limited to Downtown Management District boundaries- call 410.244.8778 (day) or 410.802.9631 (evening).

 

Members Can Post Events and Offers at GoDowntownBaltimore.com

If you are a member of Downtown Partnership, you can promote events and special offers on our web site GoDowntownBaltimore.com. For more information, please contact Kate McGraw at kmcgraw@dpob.org.

 

Downtown Member, Development and Retail News

We compile the following information for the benefit of Downtown stakeholders and investors.  Any use or reprint of this information should be credited to Downtown Partnership of Baltimore.

 

For a downloadable pdf of the following information, click here.

 

Retail News

 

Now Open
Beef Brothers is now open in the EATS Charles Plaza Food Court at 222 N. Charles Street, offering sandwiches, salads, soft pretzels, and other fare. The new location is an expansion of their existing business, which includes a seasonal food cart that has already become popular with Hopkins Plaza employees.

Harbor Market and Deli is now open at 100 St. Paul Street. The market sells snack foods, grocery items, and other convenience products.


Jimmy John’s Gourmet Sandwiches is open for business at 401 W. Pratt Street. The new casual restaurant offers a menu that features more than 25 different sandwiches.


Tasty Creations is now open at 803 Washington Boulevard in Pigtown. The bakery and coffeehouse sells cupcakes, pocket pies, and various other home-baked treats.
 

Coming Soon 

H&M, a Swedish clothing company, is coming to the Light Street Pavilion of Harborplace. The new two-story 20,000 square foot space will be located next to the existing Urban Outfitters store and will feature its own waterside entrance. H&M offers fashionable clothing and accessories for men, women, and children.

PBR (Professional Bull Riders) Baltimore will open in spring 2011 on the second level of the Power Plant Live! complex at 34 Market Place. The country-themed bar has existing sister sites in Kansas City and Las Vegas.

Royal Farms, a locally-owned convenience store chain, has purchased the building at 36 Light Street and will be opening soon. In addition to standard offerings, the store plans on selling Burke’s famous onion rings and other food items.

Subway Sandwiches will be opening a new location at 501 W. Lexington Street. The casual chain offers sandwiches, salads, breakfast items, and other quick meal options.

The Comedy Factory is relocating and will open later this year in its new space at the Power Plant Live! entertainment complex at 34 Market Place.

 

If you have available retail space for lease in Downtown or have recently signed a new retailer to your location, please contact Mackenzie Paull at mpaull@dpob.org.

 

Development News

The Department of Transportation is offering free bike racks to interested commercial property owners in the Downtown Baltimore area. The bike rack program was recently restarted thanks to a generous donation of racks from the Department of Recreation and Parks. There are two styles of racks available. For more information, to request a rack, or to suggest a site, please contact Nate Evans by email at nate.evans@baltimorecity.gov.

Forbes business magazine has ranked Baltimore among the best shopping areas in America, coming in at number three after only Houston and Dallas. The metro area’s low sales tax on consumer goods helped it to edge above larger competitors like Los Angeles and New York.
 

City Center

Ammon Heisler Sachs, an architecture firm, has signed a lease for 3,837 square feet of office space at 1 N. Charles Street. MacKenzie Commercial Real Estate Services, LLC represented the building owner and Manekin, L.L.C. represented the tenant in this deal.

Andrea E. Jaskulsky, Attorney at Law, has signed a lease for 323 square feet of office space at 8-10 South Street. Transwestern helped broker the deal.

The Law Offices of C. Justin Brown, LLC has signed a lease for 2,172 square feet of office space in the American Building at 231 E. Baltimore Street. MacKenzie Commercial Real Estate Services, LLC helped broker the deal.

The Law Offices of Richard C.B. Woods has signed a lease for 1,620 square feet of office space at 8-10 South Street. Transwestern helped broker the deal.
 

Inner Harbor

Concord Litho Group, Inc. has signed a lease for 2,299 square feet of office space in Harbor Court at 575 S. Charles Street. MacKenzie Commercial Real Estate Services, LLC represented the building owner and Cushman & Wakefield of Maryland, Inc. represented the tenant in this deal.

Equinox Corporation, a Department of Defense contractor, has signed a lease for 2,611 square feet of office space at 250 S. President Street. Transwestern represented the tenant in this deal.

The Four Seasons Hotel project at 200 International Drive in Harbor East has received $45 million in tax-exempt stimulus funding through the federal Recovery Zone bonds program. The financing will aid in the completion of the $197 million hotel project led by H & S Properties Development Corporation. The hotel is scheduled to open in late 2011.

The Power Plant Live! entertainment complex at 34 Market Place will undergo renovations this year. The Cordish Company plans to spend $11 million on a facelift for the site, which includes the installation of an outdoor roof, new designs for the valet area, and the addition of a water fountain to greet visitors at Lombard Street and Market Place. The renovations are expected to be completed by spring 2011.

 

Westside

Wexford Science & Technology has been awarded $65 million in tax-exempt stimulus funding through the federal Recovery Zone bonds program. The financing will go towards the construction of a third building at the UMB BioPark. This new 200,000 square foot building will be equipped with wet lab space. Construction is expected to begin this year.

 

Adjacent Neighborhoods

The Baltimore City Planning Commission granted final design approval for plans to build the 11-acre 25th Street Station development at the former Anderson Automotive site in Remington. The proposed $70 million development will include apartments and retail such as a Wal-Mart and a Lowe’s home improvement store. Construction is expected to begin in spring 2011 and the development should open by mid to late 2012.

Bierer & Margolis, P.A., a law firm, has signed a lease for 5,040 square feet in The Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond Building at 502 S. Sharp Street. The firm is moving its offices to the area from Mount Vernon. MacKenzie Commercial Real Estate Services, LLC represented the landlord in this deal.

Caves Valley Partners, a Baltimore-based development company, has purchased the former Main Steel Polishing Co. site at Key Highway and Lawrence Street for $2.6 million. The developers have long-term plans to replace the existing building with a new one that would include retail space on the ground floor and apartment or office space above.

Miller’s Court, a mixed-use space in Charles Village, has been awarded the 2010 Smart Growth Achievement Award by the Environmental Protection Agency. The award recognizes Baltimore City for smart growth and green building. Miller’s Court is a model of adaptive reuse of a landmark historic building that now includes residential and office space.
 

Member News

 

Arts and Humanities

Maryland Humanities Council and The Stoop Storytelling Series present "Moving Stories: Getting Around Baltimore" Do you have a tale about riding the bus in Baltimore City? Do you feel safe walking or biking around town? Are you a taxi driver, a senior citizen or a carpooling mom? Do you take the light rail or subway? Do you get stuck in traffic every morning on the JFX? Do you kayak to school or take three buses?


We are looking for storytellers to tell a five-minute true personal tale about their experiences of navigating Baltimore- the good, the bad, and the ugly- for "Moving Stories: Getting Around Baltimore" on February 10, 6-8:30 p.m. at The Walters Art Museum. For more information, email Beth Barbush at ebarbush@mdhc.org or call 410.685.0095.
 

Dining

Stop by the offices of the Historic Charles Street Association and pick up your VIP card that will give you discounts at restaurants and shops on Charles Street. Click here for a complete list.

 

Events

Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake is looking for ways to help improve the image of Baltimore City and we need your help. If you have any questions please contact Kimberly Manns. Please visit planitagency.com and sign up for focus groups the week of January 24 if any of the categories below apply to you or if you know anyone that fits into these categories:
Recent movers - Residents that have moved to Baltimore within the past five years
Recent rejecters - Potential residents that have recently opted not to move to Baltimore (i.e. decided to live somewhere else in the region or somewhere else entirely)
Real estate agents - Specifically, agents that work in Baltimore City
College students - Both Graduate students and undergrads
Family Homesteaders - Individuals who moved to Baltimore as singles and opted to stay after marrying/forming a family

The Maryland Small Business Development Center offers Central Region Workshops throughout January. Here is a list of those being offered at the University of Baltimore- William H. Thumel Sr. Business Center. Costs vary. Register at www.centralmdsbdc.org/trainings. For more information call 410.837.4928.


Managing Your Business and Personal Credit- January 19, 1- 2 p.m.
Discover the essential tools and resources for managing your personal and business credit. Learn about the 5 C's of credit and the types of financing options that are available for businesses.

Developing a Winning Business Plan - Baltimore City- January 19, 2-4 p.m.
A well-crafted plan will act as a blueprint to build, maintain or expand your business and also be used to present your company as a viable and sustainable business entity in the loan application process. Join SBDC counselor Craig Panos as he explains how a carefully written plan clearly presents each component of a business, demonstrates how various aspects of a business integrate and coordinate, and assists business owners find hidden business weaknesses and opportunities.

Developing a Strategic Marketing Plan – Baltimore City- January 26, 1-4 p.m.
This workshop highlights factors to consider when defining the market, customer and prospects of a business. It also reviews promotional approaches, steps of the sales process and pricing strategies, target market niche research, competitive influences and strategic positioning.

Minority & Disadvantaged Business Enterprise Certification – Baltimore City- January 27, 9:30 a.m.- 12:30 p.m.
Learn about the State's Minority Business Enterprise program and process to be certified from an MDOT specialist. Attendees will be introduced to the application process and obtain answers to questions about how to navigate through the certification process. Program requirements and qualification criteria will be explained.

QuickBooks Tax Tips for 2010 - January 27, 4- 6 p.m.
Join Certified QuickBooks Proadvisors Anne O’Hare, CPA and Joshua Marshall as they instruct students on how to review and prepare their QuickBooks files for tax time, including a detailed look at common user errors and their appropriate solutions.
*Class is recommended for experienced QuickBooks users only.
 

A Benefit for Baltimore's Children January 26, 7:30 p.m. at The Hippodrome Theatre. Presented by Living Classrooms Foundation and The Mario Do Right Foundation, A Benefit for Baltimore’s Children is a charity concert featuring top music artists along with other entertainers including Paula Campbell, Darrin Atwater with members of Soulful Symphony, and Grammy nominees Raheem Devaughn and Baltimore’s own Mario. Also, a greeting from Baltimore-native and Academy Award winning actress/comedian Mo’Nique. VIP tickets: $150 includes premiere seating, and VIP access to pre- and post-reception, including appearances by artists! VIP reception begins at 6 p.m. Purchase VIP tickets by calling Shannon at 410.685.0295 ext. 209. General admission tickets range from $35-$59 and can be purchased by calling 410.547.SEAT or visiting www.broadwayacrossamerica.com. 
 

The Pratt Contemporaries are hosting their annual Black and White Party January 29, 8 p.m., at the Central Branch of the Enoch Pratt Free Library. Tickets are $60. The Pratt Contemporaries are a diverse group of cosmopolitans who seek to raise awareness of the Enoch Pratt Free Library as a vital part of Baltimore’s identity. Through bold, innovative programs and outreach efforts, the group provides a venue for emerging creative thinkers who want to establish a lifeline between their library, their city, and their communities. The Pratt Contemporaries programming also extends outside of the Library to offer members the experience of Baltimore’s cultural life in the community at large.

For more information about events and membership levels, call 410.545.3115.

 

Hospitality

Make a reservation at the Holiday Inn Express by March 31 and receive a 15% discount. Email Wilka Nascimento, dos.baltimoredtwn@gmail.com. 

 

If you are a member of Downtown Partnership and would like information about your company and its events/promotions included in monthly emails, please contact Kate McGraw at kmcgraw@dpob.org.

 

 

 

For information about

Downtown Baltimore: www.GoDowntownBaltimore.com

 

 

For traffic information: www.GetAroundDowntown.com

 

 

 

For family fun: www.KidsLoveDowntownBaltimore.com

 

 

 

For dining: www.DineDowntownBaltimore.com

 

 

 

 

Plan your visit to Downtown Baltimore and find parking using our interactive  

map, www.downtownbaltmap.com.

 

 

 

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