Development : Innovation + Job News

Social media and application development company Mindgrub Technologies LLC could grow beyond Baltimore.

President Todd Marks says the company is considering an expansion to New York, Washington, D.C., Austin, Los Angeles or Las Vegas where it has clients.

The company recently tripled the size of its staff and moved into a new office in the historic First National Bank building in Catonsville.

“We were practically sitting on each other’s laps, so we had to make another move,” Todd Marks says. “Fortunately for us we lucked into one of the best buildings. The area we are in has some of the finest restaurants around, a skate park behind us and a very hip community."

Marks says he has dubbed his new basement “the Vault,” which will be its new wine cellar.

Mindgrub is still looking for help. The company is currently hiring a junior account manager, production manager, several mobile and software engineers and a quality assurance lead.

Mindgrub will be launching a new mobile app in Las Vegas this week.


Writer: Amy McNeal
Source: Todd Marks, Mindgrub

Moody's Analytics recently released their Job Growth forecast, and the results are stagnant for Maryland. Moody's used the Bureau of Labor Statistics' Current Employment Statistics (CES) survey to gather data. The data in the analysis is based on employment and industry trends from the CES survey's averages of  national, state and metro data through second-quarter 2011. The analysis continues to project jobs growth and industry forecasts through the second quarter of 2015.

The numbers for Maryland show growth in the area job market at projected to be at a near standstill through the second quarter of 2012. Moody's anticipates a change of 0.2% in the Baltimore area jobs market through that period. According to the report, jobs growth in the Baltimore Metro region is not expected to reach a full percentage point until 2013.

The report also breaks down jobs growth by industry. In Moody's one year jobs growth projections, the largest gains in the Baltimore metro region are seen in Natural Resources & Mining. This includes jobs related to agriculture, fishing, mining, and alternative energy. Moody's sees a potential 15.1% growth for the area in this sector. 

The second most promising sectors in the Baltimore jobs forecast are Professional and Business Services and Education and Health Services. Moody's predicts a 2.2% one year growth in both of these sectors. Professional and Business services includes science and technology jobs and professional management and administrative services. The Education and Health category includes hospitals, medical labs, and universities.

The biggest decreases are predicted for Construction at -3.2%, Transportation and Warehousing at -1.5% and Utilities at -2.0%. Other industries, including Retail and Hospitality, are predicted to stay stagnant through 2012, with less than 1% change in available jobs.


Writer: Amy McNeal
Source: Moody's Analytics

The head of Baltimore's Marion I. and Henry J. Knott Foundation says an expansion of Maryland's million-dollar Community Investment Tax Credit program to include corporate donors could help non-profit organizations expand their physical investments in the city, in addition to boosting programming.

"When I directed Light Street Housing, we used the CITC program to develop new relationships and garner tens of thousands of increased donations," says Knott Foundation executive director Greg Cantori.

Under the CITC, organizations that have received grants from foundations or other grantmakers can distribute tax credits to donors in order to spur more strategic giving. Donors, in turn, receive a tax credit that can be added to state and federal deductions the same year, or rolled over for as many as five years.

Donors can find non-profit organizations that match their giving goals and have available tax credits on the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development's GIVE Maryland site, here: http://www.mdhousing.org/givemaryland/


Writer: Sam Hopkins
Source: Greg Cantori, Knott Foundation

In June, the Living Classrooms Foundation broke ground on a new youth sports field in Patterson Park with the support of Under Armour and the Cal Ripken, Sr. Foundation. As that project moves forward, Living Classrooms is adapting a historic two-story firehouse on Caroline Street in the Perkins Homes community.

The first floor of the firehouse will include a multi-purpose space for after-school programming to add to the Carmelo Anthony Youth Development Center on East Fayette Street. The first floor will also include a community technology center. The second floor will hold offices for Living Classrooms staff and the Perkins Homes Tenant Council as well as conference rooms and space for community health fairs.

Perkins Homes is part of the Living Classrooms Target Investment Zone in East Baltimore, and the firehouse will be renovated with the help of participants in Project SERVE, Living Classrooms' initiative to lower recidivism and raise the employment rate among those re-entering Baltimore communities following incarceration.


Writer: Sam Hopkins
Source: Talib Horne, Living Classrooms

Maryland is taking a proactive approach to encourage the use of electric vehicles around the state. With the advent of a new network of public charging stations, Marylanders who choose renewable energy electric vehicles now have more places to plug in and fuel up.

Using a $500,000 grant under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, the program includes the installation of charging stations at Baltimore area locations. Charging stations will be installed at 10 municipal parking garages throughout Baltimore City. A partnership formed by the Baltimore Electric Vehicle Initiative and two Maryland companies, SemaConnect of Annapolis and Autoflex of Baltimore, plans to install 55 charging stations in other locations around the state, including Johns Hopkins University, the University of Maryland College Park, Frederick Community College, the Chesapeake Bay Foundation, the Hilton hotel in Waldorf, the White Marsh park-and-ride, and several office buildings in Montgomery County.

Two chargers were recently installed at the Fitzgerald mixed-use development in downtown Baltimore. The chargers are accessible to residents of the LEED-designed Fitzgerald apartment complex, neighboring stores, the Lyric Opera House, and the University of Baltimore campus. Chargers are also being installed in Owings Mills at the College Square shopping center.

The rollout of so many public charging stations will make Maryland the number two state in the country for available EV chargers. Only California has more. The MEA considers the installation of public charging stations to be the cornerstone of their efforts to make Maryland an EV-ready state. The Maryland Energy Administration plans to have 65 charging stations available for public use by the end of June 2011. A full list of Maryland's public charging stations is available at the MEA website.


Writer: Amy McNeal
Source: Maryland Energy Administration

The first phase of a major redevelopment initiative in Baltimore's Barclay/Old Goucher neighborhood got underway last week. The innovative $85 million dollar redevelopment plan for the neighborhood was developed by community residents, neighborhood organizations, local developers, neighborhood social service providers, and city officials, in collaboration with urban/housing developer Telesis Corporation. The redevelopment plan will provide a range of housing opportunities including market rate and affordable housing, offered both for sale and for rent, in addition to new parks and community facilities and services including a Youth Safe Haven.

The first phase of the redevelopment will provide 72 units of affordable rental housing, 35 units of for-sale housing, and neighborhood jobs. Construction of the affordable rental housing, with a mix of new construction and rehabilitation, started in June 2010. In partnership with Healthy Neighborhoods, Telesis secured a $4.7M allocation of Neighborhood Stabilization Program 2 funds from the federal government, which will be used to rehabilitate homeownership properties. Construction of the homeownership units is scheduled to begin in late 2010. 

This redevelopment initiative is part of a larger, multi-party effort to redevelop the Barclay/Old Goucher neighborhood and bring new opportunities and a better quality of life to the community. Deteriorated housing and high vacancies have left their mark on this architecturally sound neighborhood with committed community leadership.

In June 2007, Baltimore Housing and key community partners created the Barclay/Old Goucher Redevelopment Plan, strategically identifying redevelopment locations in the neighborhood. Telesis Corporation was awarded 268 parcels from Baltimore Housing, to be redeveloped in four phases that will complement the community investment initiatives, both underway, and recently completed. While Telesis focuses on the awarded parcels for redevelopment, many nearby organizations are contributing to the neighborhood revitalization by improving community gardens, rehabilitating privately owned homes, and establishing after-school programs for at-risk children. The result of this major, ongoing redevelopment effort will be a safe, stable, mixed-income community with a range of housing opportunities and community services.

Source: Housing Authority of Baltimore City
Writer: Walaika Haskins

The Housing Authority of Baltimore City has released the city's Green Building standards. Developed in partnership with the Planning Department, the Baltimore City Green Building Standards are meant to be a quicker, less expensive alternative to the traditional LEED certification currently required under the Baltimore City Code, the agency says.

The standards will apply to newly-constructed or extensively-modified nonresidential or multi-family residential buildings that have or will have at least 10,000 square feet of gross floor area.
 
The new standards are innovative and designed to achieve certification for green buildings with guidelines that work with Baltimore's unique building and land use issues. As awareness of environmental and energy issues has increased, demand for green buildings has also grown. The BCGBS incorporates elements of the U.S. Green Building Council's Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) rating system and will serve as an "incentive" for green development without additional cost to developers. They are also designed to best achieve the goals of the Baltimore Sustainability Plan.

"The development of the Green Building Standards is another opportunity to show the City's commitment to being environmentally responsible," says Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake.

"Baltimore City's Green Building Standards give developers an incentive to go green," says Housing Commissioner Paul T. Graziano. "We understand the challenges facing developers and have created a plan that addresses their needs and our commitment. The new standards are sensible, effective, enforceable, and will be seamless and transparent."

Compliance with these standards will, among other things: protect and restore the City's water supply, reduce Baltimore's urban heat island effect, encourage alternative transportation, and promote and improve access to more green spaces throughout the City.

"Certification for green building projects in Baltimore will take less time, because they will be reviewed as part of the City's existing development review processes," says Tom Stosur, Director of the Baltimore City Planning Department. "Baltimore City is committed to being eco friendly and this is just another step towards that end."

Source: Housing Authority of Baltimore City
Writer: Walaika Haskins

Work has already begun on the City Arts, artist residence located in Baltimore's Greenmount West neighborhood. The project is part of the Station North Arts and Entertainment District and will provide affordable housing targeted to artists, a gallery and performance space.

Homes for America, Jubilee Baltimore, and TRF Development Partners Baltimore are partnering to develop City Arts. The energy-efficient development is slated to bring 69 transit-oriented rental apartments and 8 for-sale townhomes to the neighborhood.

The rental portion of the project is being financed using $2.6 million from the Tax Credit Assistance Program, part of the federal stimulus funding, and the MD DHCD's Low Income Housing Tax Credit program. The tax credits generated an equity investment of $9.3 million from Bank of America syndicated by Enterprise Community Investment. Bank of America is also providing bridge financing and a permanent loan of $1.3 million. MD DHCD also provided the project $135,000 through its Multifamily Energy Efficiency and Housing Affordability Program.

The project is expected to create or retain 168 jobs. The building construction began in December 2009 and is expected to be available for occupancy by January 2011.



Source: Jubilee Baltimore
Writer: Walaika Haskins

Love it or hate it, but Walmart is very likely coming to Charles Village. The big box discount chain announced last week that with the approval from the city it will join the commercial complex currently planned for the former Anderson Automotive site at 115 W. 25^th Street near the intersection of Howard Street.

According to the company,  the store will bring approximately 200 new jobs to the area including positions in store management, pharmacy, human resources, customer service, cashiers and sales associates. Construction will begin this fall with a grand opening tentatively scheduled for the fall 2011.

"This store will deliver outstanding value to customers and create quality job opportunities for local residents," says Walmart Regional Senior Manager Rhoda Washington. "We look forward to building on the partnerships we have established in neighborhoods throughout Greater Baltimore and continuing our support of charitable services that are important to the city."

The 93,000-square-foot store will be located above the previously announced Lowe's Home Center and co-anchor the $65 million, mixed-use "25^th Street Station" development project. The developer, WV Urban Developments LLC, expects to sign additional specialty retailers to the 11-acre project, which also will include residential units along Maryland Avenue. In total, this project is expected to create 400 construction jobs and up to 750 permanent jobs.

The new store also will include energy-efficient technology and environmentally friendly features to reduce energy and water consumption and minimize waste with a vegetated green roof, high-efficiency lighting, low-flow toilets and faucets as well as recycled and sustainable building materials.

In recent months, Walmart has taken major steps to refresh its stores, merchandising and customer experience. The improvements have all come together in the company's newest locations with faster service, a friendlier shopping experience and cleaner stores.

"This store will features wide aisles, enhanced service and a layout designed to make the shopping experience more convenient for customers," adds Washington. "The layout will be easy to navigate, which will save our customers time as they shop for everyday necessities."

"We are extremely excited to have added Walmart to 25th Street Station," says Jon Laria, a  attorney for the project with  Ballard Spahr. "We were originally looking for a good grocery store and that was our plan when we held our first community meetings in December. We soon began to realize that we were not going to find an acceptable grocery store in the current market, and fortunately Walmart approached us after seeing early news coverage of the project."

With few, if any, other retailers out there that could provide both fresh, healthy, local produce and other foods, as well as the general merchandise shopping that many community members told Ballard Spahr they need and which barely exists in the city, Walmart was an excellent solution, says Laria. 

"Its flexibility to build a smaller store, combined with its extraordinary commitment to sustainability at the store and throughout the company, made it even better. We're also happy that Walmart will bring 200+ jobs at all skill levels, helping us meet our expected goal of over 700 jobs for the entire project," he adds.

The combination of Walmart and Lowe's will help ensure that the site is redeveloped and doesn't become a vacant parcel in the midst of several important City neighborhoods, according to Laria. "We also think the added activity and vitality will help existing businesses in the neighborhood and attract new ones. Business activity will attract more business activity."

Thus far, Laria says, they've been "really pleased" with the feedback from the community and the city that has included constructive suggestions about how to make the project better. "We're going to continue working on it with our community partners through the City's design review process, and know we'll have a project that works both for the retailers we expect to attract as well as our community neighbors."


Tell us what you think.



Sources: Rhoda Washington, Walmart; Jon Laria, Ballard Spahr.
Writer: Walaika Haskins

Merritt Properties, one of the Mid-Atlantic region's leading commercial real estate developers, announced the launch of its commercial real estate application for the iPhone Monday. The app is the first to be released by a commercial real estate developer and is available immediately as a free download from the iTunes App Store.

"We have been looking at ways that we could utilize new technologies to talk to our customers as well as brokers. And we'd already been utilizing Facebook and Twitter and LinkedIn. So this is sort of a natural evolution of that process. We saw the iPhone app as a way to make our information more readily accessible. It's the digital age and people want access to information on a more mobile platform for when they aren't sitting at their desk," says Melissa Teague, Merritt Properties spokesperson.

"Increasingly people are in their cars or in meetings and they need information. This is another way to provide that information. What's unique about it, especially for our brokers is that this provides real-time information that they couldn't get using Costar.

The commercial property search application can also be used on Apple's iPod touch, making Merritt's portfolio of 16 million square feet of commercial real estate easily accessible to brokers and prospective and current customers on a mobile platform. Download the app from the landing page on Merritt's website.

Merritt Properties iPhone App Features:

· Customized Commercial Property Search: Results can be sorted by property type (industrial/warehouse, flex/warehouse, office and retail), square footage (minimum and maximum), city (throughout Central Maryland and Northern Virginia), radius and space availability.

· Commercial Property Profiles: Search results include the property address, building type, a photo or rendering, overview of building specs, available space details, floorplans and Merritt contacts.

· Map & Driving Directions: Google Maps show location details and driving directions from any location.

· Forwarding: Listings can be forwarded to another phone or email address.

· Automatic Updates: Automatic updates reflect real-time data as properties are leased, completed or become available.

· News Updates: The latest news from Merritt Properties can be viewed and shared.

The company chose to initially develop the application for the iPhone because it has the largest share of the smart phone market, but build-outs are planned for both the Blackberry and Google Android operating systems. In the meantime, Blackberry and Android users can access the commercial property search function via Merritt's mobile website.

To make the company fully accessible to clients, however they choose to communicate, Merritt is also using a texting application that sends property-specific details to any mobile phone and has established a Twitter channel, Facebook fan page and LinkedIn group.

Source: Melissa Teague, Merritt Properties
Writer: Walaika Haskins

With April 1, 2010's Census Day fast approaching,  Census Bureau Regional Director Fernando Armstrong, Gov. Martin O'Malley and Sen. Barbara Mikulski and other leaders officially opened the doors of the Baltimore East local census office as operations and awareness about the 2010 count kick into high gear. The new office at 250 S. President Street will support field operations in the eastern portion of the City and employ as many as 1,400 local residents for the 2010 Census.

"The success of the 2010 census and Maryland's position in securing federal funding for programs such as education, health care, highways, workforce development, housing and energy, depend largely on the opening of Census offices that are essential in ensuring an accurate count of every Maryland resident," says Gov. O'Malley. "Today, we celebrate the opening of the 2010 Census Office in East Baltimore, and the creation of up to 1,400 jobs for our hardworking families. We encourage every Marylander to stand up and be counted."

As an extension of the census awareness campaign, the regional 2010 road tour vehicle, "The Constitution," made its first stop in Maryland at the grand opening celebration. The exhibits on the vehicle allow residents wherever the bus goes to learn more about the upcoming census in a creative and interactive way. The road tour will travel throughout the region to encourage participation in the upcoming census by reaching out to historically hard-to-count audiences.

"This is our last push to get folks on board and start talking about the 2010 census," says Fernando Armstrong, Philadelphia Regional Census Director. "Our partners in this community are great ambassadors and we appreciate their efforts to help us increase the mail-back response rate in Baltimore.

The 10-question census form will arrive in mailboxes beginning March 15. The 2010 form is one of the shortest forms in history and should take on average about 10 minutes to fill out. The form asks for name, gender, race, ethnicity, relationship and whether you own or rent your home.

"Everyone counts and everyone must be counted," says Sen. Mikulski, Chairwoman of the Commerce, Justice and Science (CJS) Appropriations Subcommittee that funds the Census. "I've stood sentry to make sure we're ready this year to meet our Constitutional obligation for a timely and accurate count. The Census will help determine where to build new schools, libraries, new roads and bridges and new police and fire stations. That's why it's so important we count everyone in Maryland from East Baltimore to the Eastern Shore."

The Census Bureau is hiring thousands of temporary workers as this is the largest domestic undertaking the nation undertakes. The Baltimore East local census office is recruiting and testing applicants now for census taker positions. Census takers are needed for the non-response follow up operation to visit households that did not return their questionnaire. Applicants can call 1-866-861-2010 for more information on how to apply or visit www.2010census.gov for more information.

The 2010 Census is a count of everyone living in the United States. By law, everyone in the United States, both citizens and noncitizens, must be counted every 10 years. Census data determines how more than $400 billion in federal funding is allocated each year to local, state and tribal governments. The 2010 Census form is one of the shortest census questionnaires in history and takes about 10 minutes to complete. By law, the Census Bureau cannot share respondents' answers with anyone, including other federal agencies and law enforcement entities.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau
Writer: Walaika Haskins

Gov. Martin O'Malley hopes to create a new tax credit he believes will boost smart and sustainable growth in Maryland's historic areas and existing communities well-served by transit and infrastructure. The Sustainable Communities Tax Credit program, $50 million, three-year program, will help create construction and rehabilitation jobs, revitalize neighborhoods, and spur economic development with each project.

The new program will replace and improve upon the 14-year-old Heritage Structure Rehabilitation Tax Credit program, which is set to expire in June.

"The program represents the best of public investment and private enterprise as we continue to seek ways to fuel economic growth and create jobs," says Gov. O'Malley. "The success of the program in recent years cannot be understated. These projects will help revitalize historic communities, strengthen a green economy throughout our State, and create new construction and rehabilitation jobs in every corner of Maryland."

The existing Heritage Tax Credit has invested more than $347 million in Maryland revitalization projects since 1996. Those projects have produced more than $1.5 billion in total direct rehabilitation expenditures by owners and developers. Coupled with wages, both construction and new jobs, and State and local revenues generated, this equates to more than $8.50 in economic output for every $1 invested by State government.

A report last year by the non-profit Abell Foundation concluded that commercial projects over the life of the program have employed roughly 15,120 people, earning $673.1 million in 2009 dollars. The state's tax credit investment in labor-intensive building renovation has generated 1,850 more jobs than would have been created had the same funds been used for new construction, the foundation reported.

The governor also revealed the latest recipients of some $5 million in Maryland Heritage Structure Rehabilitation Tax Credits for four projects in Central Maryland. Receiving awards. They include:

• Union Mill in Baltimore City: $2,920,000 tax credit for $20,000,000 project by Seawall Development Company to turn vacant manufacturing structure into residential and commercial space.

• Proctor House in Bel Air: $100,000 tax credit for $500,000 project by Kelly Financial Group, LLC to turn vacant/storage space into commercial offices.

• Two projects at the National Park Seminary development in Silver Spring: $800,000 tax credit for $4,000,000 project by the Alexander Company to turn vacant gymnasium into 12 residences. And $1,180,000 tax credit for $5,900,000 by the Alexander Company to turn vacant space and utility structures into 15 residential units.

"New legislation for 2010 seeks to strengthen the effectiveness of the tax credit program as an incentive for smart and sustainable growth," says Maryland Secretary of Planning Richard E. Hall, who chairs the Governor's Smart Growth Subcabinet. "By expanding program eligibility and coordinating it more closely with related state programs, the tax credit will benefit more communities across the state as a critical redevelopment and revitalization tool. One of Maryland's most effective Smart, Green & Growing tools should not be allowed to sunset this year."


Source: State of Maryland, Department of Planning
Writer: Walaika Haskins

County Executive John R. Leopold today announced that four projects have been granted tax-exempt Stimulus Recovery Zone Facility Bonds totaling more than $32 million that will generate more than 1,700 new jobs.

Northrop Grumman officially opened its new Northrop Grumman Innovation Institute in Linthicum last week. The center will serve as the focal point for the sector's advanced technology development activities.

The five-story, 156,000 square foot leased office building is located on West Nursery Road in the West*Quest Technology Park where Northrop Grumman already maintains the headquarters for its Electronic Systems sector. The new facility is home to more than 450 current engineers, scientists and support personnel who had previously been housed in several nearby leased and company-owned buildings.

"From the ground up, this new facility � with its modular office concepts, and innovative program strategy and planning areas � was designed to help foster a collaborative employee work environment conducive to the timely development of innovative global defense electronics technologies," says James F. Pitts, corporate vice president and president of Northrop Grumman's Electronic Systems sector, in a statement. "We're confident the end result of the corporation's investment in this new facility will be the generation of myriad exciting new technologies and solutions for our defense and commercial customers."

Designed to be energy-efficient and environmentally-friendly, the building has received the nationally-recognized Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED™) certification. The new facility, which is situated on a 9.5 acre parcel on West Nursery Road, is owned by Columbia, Md.-based Corporate Office Properties Trust. Construction was managed by Manekin Construction LLC also of Columbia.

Source: Northrop Grumman
Writer: Walaika Haskins

Craftsmen Developers, LLC, Daft McCune Walker, Inc. and The Casey Group, Ltd. recently announced the formation of Real Estate Resolutions, LLC (RER MD). RER MD was established to provide comprehensive problem solving services that result in unique opportunities for the distressed real estate industry.

RER MD is an experienced team that can evaluate, analyze, restructure and manage distressed real estate assets. Individually and especially as a group, the team brings incredible experience and knowledge to the real estate and banking industries. The goal of RER MD is to maximize capital recovery by providing a team approach to real estate analysis and problem solving.

According to Thomas H. Repsher, President/CEO of Daft McCune Walker, Inc. those most likely to benefit from RER MD's services are, "attorneys, lenders, asset managers, developers, builders, receivers and servicers, accountants, commercial brokers, portfolio managers, real estate fund managers and investors." Together, the RER MD team is able to attack issues and develop solutions for any real estate, debt or ineffective business strategy and to create Resolutions.