Podcasts about Port Covington

On this week’s show, the Squeegee Collaborative has BEGUN (to garner shitty comments on Facebook) while the 15 year old involved in the fatal shooting of a man in a squeegee incident takes a plea. Port Covington gets a new stupid brand name, and Bryan the Levy has issues with the new Spielberg film. Then […]

Today, it's Midday on Development.  Every so often, we talk to the folks who are involved in some of Baltimore's commercial and residential projects that in many cases are game-changers for the neighborhoods in which they are being built, and for the city at large. Certainly, there are few game-changing projects in Baltimore that rival the enormity and significance of Port Covington, the 200-acre waterfront development in South Baltimore that will eventually provide a new headquarters for the Under Armour company, and 14 million square feet of retail, residential and office space, along with parks and open areas. To view videos of the new neighborhood, including a CG fly-through, click here. Tom's first guest is MaryAnne Gilmartin, the founder and CEO of MAG Partners. Her development firm is working on finding tenants for all of the first tranche of new buildings in the Port Covington neighborhood that are just a few months away from completion. MaryAnne Gilmartin joins us on Zoom from New York… Later in the program, Tom talks with Melody Simmons, a business development and real estate reporter for the Baltimore Business Journal. The veteran journalist updates us on some of the other big projects underway here in Baltimore. Melody Simmons joins Tom in Studio A.  __________________________________ Reminder: Election Day is next Tuesday! Early voting continues through Thursday at 8:00 PM. If you want to request a mail-in ballot by mail, the deadline to postmark your request is today (Tuesday). You have until Friday to ask for a mail-in ballot via e-mail.If you are not yet registered to vote, you can register when you vote early, or on election day. Bring a form of identification that proves you live in your jurisdiction.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode of From the Ground Up with Marc Weller, Matt Rienzo sits down with Steve Siegel and Marc Weller to discuss the exciting developments within the company, their proudest moments from Port Covington, and upcoming projects on the horizon. They explain the company’s recent expansion of its development team, their plans to finalize the Port Covington project in the next year, and the process of transitioning the project into the hands of new developers. Marc Weller describes his excitement to progress the company forward into its next phase and thanks his team and its partners, who played an essential role in the development of Port Covington. Listen to learn more about new projects, including one in Grand Bahama, and Marc’s goals to invest in the community, create experiences, nurture partnerships, and continue to deliver on promises made for many years to come.

About the guestHeidi Klotzman is the award-winning Founder and CEO of Baltimore-based HeidnSeek Entertainment, LLC (HNS), a company recognized for its excellence in marketing businesses and special events and booking live music and DJ talent. Her creative direction of HNS has become synonymous with Baltimore's events and promotion culture. She has cultivated tens of thousands of professional subscribers into her entertainment guide and advises them on what to do.Klotzman has been acknowledged as one of the Most Influential Professionals in the Baltimore event field by Baltimore Magazine's Power Issue, The Queen of Clubs by The Baltimore Sun, a Top Professional Under 35 by b newspaper and Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, a Rising Star by Baltimore Business Journal and Living Classrooms Foundation, an Emerging Leader by The United Way of Central Maryland, a Very Important Professional Under 40 and Leading Woman by The Daily Record, a Woman of Power by E Media, a Woman of The Year nominee by The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, a Spirited Woman Giving Back winner, a Philanthropik Philanthropy award winner, a Community Game-changer by Cre-a-TV, and nominated as one of the Largest Contributors to the Local Music Scene by the Maryland Music Awards. She's also been interviewed by Medium, Baltimore Style Magazine, and Jmore Magazine.Klotzman has appeared on the ABC2 Midday Maryland show as an ongoing Events Contributor, WCBM Radio for Women Talk Live, Baltimore CityBizList as a featured CEO, KHZTV Radio with Gina Geppi Social Scene, Port Covington for The Future of Charm City and Deep Dive panels, her alma mater Roland Park Country School on the young women's entrepreneurial and diversity panels, her alma mater Goucher College on the Subject of Leadership talk, the Media and Marketing panel at Baltimore Next Media Web Festival, Motor House for the Women In the Industry panel, the Baltimore Music Conference for the Women in Entertainment Panel, the Successful Revolution Conference panel, and Maryland's New Directions to share her experience as an inspirational entrepreneur. She has also contributed as a writer to Wedding411 Magazine and Mobtown Music Guide and published a book of poetry entitled Circadian RhythmThe Truth In This ArtThe Truth In This Art is a podcast interview series supporting vibrancy and development of Baltimore & beyond's arts and culture.To find more amazing stories from the artist and entrepreneurial scenes in & around Baltimore, check out my episode directory.Stay in TouchNewsletter sign-upSupport my podcastShareable link to episode★ Support this podcast ★

Now, we turn to Mark Reutter, a senior editor and investigative reporter with the Baltimore Brew.  One of the stories he has been covering, for years, is the development at Port Covington, announced with great fanfare in 2016. But the scope and parameters of the project have changed since then, and Mark joins us on Zoom with an update on the most recent turns in the huge development project. Check out Mark Reutter's coverage of Port Covington on the Baltimore Brew Website. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

EP 174: Aaron sat down with Heidi Klotzman the CEO of Baltimore-based HeidnSeek Entertainment. We discussed how she became an entrepeneur and who inspired her to get into the entertainment industry. She has been one of the few people that had been in the game for entertainment for over 15 year.  She is also a published author. I am excited for you to hear her-story. Heidi Klotzman is the award-winning Founder and CEO of Baltimore-based HeidnSeek Entertainment, LLC (HNS), a company recognized for its excellence in marketing businesses and special events and booking live music and DJ talent. Her creative direction of HNS has become synonymous with Baltimore's events and promotion culture. She has cultivated tens of thousands of professional subscribers into her entertainment guide and advises them on what to do. Klotzman has been acknowledged as one of the Most Influential Professionals in the Baltimore event field by Baltimore Magazine's Power Issue, The Queen of Clubs by The Baltimore Sun, a Top Professional Under 35 by b newspaper and Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, a Rising Star by Baltimore Business Journal and Living Classrooms Foundation, an Emerging Leader by The United Way of Central Maryland, a Very Important Professional Under 40 and Leading Woman by The Daily Record, a Woman of Power by E Media, a Woman of The Year nominee by The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, a Spirited Woman Giving Back winner, a Philanthropik Philanthropy award winner, a Community Game-changer by Cre-a-TV, and nominated as one of the Largest Contributors to the Local Music Scene by the Maryland Music Awards. She's also been interviewed by Medium, Baltimore Style Magazine, and Jmore Magazine. Klotzman has appeared on the ABC2 Midday Maryland show as an ongoing Events Contributor, WCBM Radio for Women Talk Live, Baltimore CityBizList as a featured CEO, KHZTV Radio with Gina Geppi Social Scene, Port Covington for The Future of Charm City and Deep Dive panels, her alma mater Roland Park Country School on the young women's entrepreneurial and diversity panels, her alma mater Goucher College on the Subject of Leadership talk, the Media and Marketing panel at Baltimore Next Media Web Festival, Motor House for the Women In the Industry panel, the Baltimore Music Conference for the Women in Entertainment Panel, the Successful Revolution Conference panel, and Maryland's New Directions to share her experience as an inspirational entrepreneur. She has also contributed as a writer to Wedding411 Magazine and Mobtown Music Guide and published a book of poetry entitled Circadian Rhythm.    

About the guestAlicia Wilson, Esq. is Vice President of Economic Development for Johns Hopkins University and Johns Hopkins Health System and Associate Professor in the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, in Baltimore, Maryland. At Johns Hopkins, Alicia leads a core team focused on developing and implementing Hopkins' institution-wide strategies and initiatives as an anchor institution in and around its campuses both within the United States and abroad.  Alicia spearheads the elevation and expansion of Hopkins signature commitment to its communities through investments in real estate, economic and neighborhood development, healthcare, and education.  Prior to joining Hopkins, Alicia served as the Senior Vice President of Impact Investments and Senior Legal Counsel to the Port Covington Development Team.  Port Covington is a 235-acre redevelopment project located in Baltimore, Maryland and is one of the largest urban revitalization efforts in the United States.  As Senior Vice President of Impact Investments and Senior Legal Counsel, Alicia ensured that the $5.5 billion Port Covington Development Project generated a measurable beneficial social and environmental impact alongside a financial return for its equity investors in the project (i.e. Goldman Sachs, Kevin Plank, and other equity investors).  She led a team focused on measuring and reporting the social and environmental performance and progress of the Port Covington Project to maximize both performance and impact, while ensuring transparency and accountability to stakeholders.   Prior to being promoted to Senior Vice President of Impact Investments and Senior Legal Counsel, Alicia served as Vice President of Community Affairs and Legal Advisor to Sagamore Development Company, a Plank Industries Company.  During the 2016 Baltimore City Council legislative session, Alicia drafted key pieces of Tax Increment Financing (TIF) legislation and served as the principal negotiator of the TIF legislation and the two largest Community Benefit Agreements in the history of Baltimore associated with the passage of a $660 million TIF bill, the largest TIF awarded in the history of the United States at that time.  The negotiations of the community benefit agreements involved over 200 stakeholder groups representing tens of thousands of residents from across the City of Baltimore.  Prior to joining Sagamore Development Company, Alicia was partner at the downtown Baltimore law firm of Gordon Feinblatt — the sixth-largest, law firm in the state of Maryland.  When Alicia made partner on the eve of her seventh year of practice, she made history by becoming the first African-American to be named partner in the sixty-year history of the firm.  Alicia is a talented trial attorney and sought-after legal advisor to individuals and business owners on all aspects of real estate, financial services, and employment and labor law matters.  In her legal practice, Alicia established herself as a strategic communicator, shrewd negotiator and savvy architect of complex deals involving multiple of stakeholders and robust community engagement.    Alicia is actively involved in civic and charitable organizations.  She currently serves on the boards of the Center for Urban Families, the University of Maryland School of Law Board of Visitors, the Walters Art Museum, and the National Diverse Attorney Pipeline Program. Most notably, Alicia was recently elected as Chair of the CollegeBound Foundation and as such is the first CollegeBound Foundation alum, first woman, first African-American and youngest Board Chair in the thirty history of the organization.  Alicia also serves as Parliamentarian within the Harbor City Chapter of the Links, Incorporated and is a proud member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated.   Alicia is a graduate of the University of Maryland Baltimore County (UMBC) and the University of Maryland Francis King Carey School of Law.  At the University of Maryland Baltimore County, Wilson was a Blaustein and Sondheim Public Affairs Scholar and, in 2003, was named the Harry S. Truman Scholar for the state of Maryland. She is the first student in the history of UMBC to be awarded this honor. Alicia was named the 2004 Andrew Levy Leadership Scholar at the University of Maryland School of Law.  In late 2004, she was also named the 2004 George L. Russell Scholar at the School of Law.  While in law school, Alicia served as the co-captain of the Maryland Law National Trial Team and led her team to be ranked the number one trial team in the country. For her accomplishments and public service, Alicia has received numerous awards and honors.  Most recently, Alicia received the 2021 Humanity of Connection Award from AT&T for her commitment and leadership in advancing anchor strategies that elevate and expand communities through economic development, healthcare, and education. She was also recognized, in 2021, by Black Enterprise as one of the 40 leaders under 40 who are “changing the world at local, national, and global levels.” Her work within Baltimore was also recently honored by the Junior League of Baltimore naming Alicia their Inaugural Woman of Distinction.  In 2020, Alicia was named to the Maryland Daily Record's 2020 VIP List, the National Bar Association's 2019 40 Under 40 List of the Nation's Top Advocates, the 2019 Whitney M. Young Award Recipient by the Greater Baltimore Urban League, a 2019 Distinguished Women by the Girl Scouts of Central Maryland, and as one of Maryland's 2019 three most inspiring voices by Community Law In Action.  In 2018, Alicia was recognized as an Unstoppable Women by the UWAC Collective, as one of two Power Women of the Year by the Baltimore Leadership School for Young Women, and as Community Advocate of the Year by the Baltimore City Chamber of Commerce.Her professional and civic leadership have propelled her to the forefront of local and national media attention.  Most recently, Alicia was named by the Afro-American Newspaper as the Newsmaker of the Year for 2021.  In late 2021, Alicia was featured in Baltimore Style Magazine as one of Baltimore's Six Women of Strength for her leadership and civic involvement. In 2020, she was recognized as one of the Top 25 Emerging Leaders in Healthcare by Modern Healthcare, by Baltimore Magazine as one of the 30 Women Shaping the Future of Baltimore, and by the Maryland Daily Record as one of Maryland's Very Important Professionals in Business.  In 2019, Alicia was profiled in Forbes magazine as the “The Black Millennial Lawyer Making Michelle Obama More Accessible to Baltimore's Youth” and Savoy magazine named her one of the “Most Influential Women in Corporate America.” Also, in 2019, Alicia was featured in the Maryland Daily Record as one of the Top 50 Influential Marylanders.  In late 2018, the National Business Journal named Alicia as one of the nation's Top 50 Influencers under 40 and in that same year Black Enterprise produced a television feature on Alicia for her work in securing the $660 million tax increment financing for the Port Covington Project.  In early 2017, Wilson was featured and honored by WBFF Fox 45 as one of Baltimore's four Champions of Courage.  And, in 2016, the Baltimore Sun profiled Alicia as one of “Baltimore's 25 Women to Watch.”  The Truth In This ArtThe Truth In This Art is a podcast interview series supporting vibrancy and development of Baltimore & beyond's arts and culture.Mentioned in this episode:Hopkins Connects - Entrepreneurship MattersTo find more amazing stories from the artist and entrepreneurial scenes in & around Baltimore, check out my episode directory.Stay in TouchNewsletter sign-upSupport my podcastShareable link to episode★ Support this podcast ★

Matt Rienzo and guest-host Steve Siegel interview Marc Broady in the first episode of an educational series focusing on hot topics in the real estate industry. Today, they talk about affordable housing and why cities need to invest in them, how they get developed, and the impact affordable housing has on communities and families. Marc Broady, a West Baltimore native, talks about the challenges of rent for low-income single families and takes listeners through his time working as an attorney with Congressman Elijah Cummings on housing issues on national, state, and local levels that sparked his interest in starting a career in affordable housing development. Also in this episode, Steve Siegel gives insight into how he brought his experience in Washington D.C. development over to Baltimore and provides crucial knowledge about what affordable housing really is, how it began, how it works, and who benefits. Both Broady and Siegel tie their backgrounds and knowledge into how and why Port Covington is bringing affordable housing to Baltimore. Tune in to hear their perspective on how affordable housing aims to tackle issues of inequality and maintain the character of America’s great cities.

This week, Matt and Marc sit down with Tim Regan, the President and CEO of Whiting-Turner, one of the country's largest and most reputable construction companies. Tim and his team have worked with Weller Development on various successful projects, including Sagamore Pendry, and currently with Port Covington. Tim stays loyal to his values, which enabled him to carve out his path at Whiting-Turner. Raised in a blue-collar household in Northeast Baltimore, Tim learned the importance of humility and treating every day as a gift. His primary source of strength is his family, and he firmly believes the majority of his career's success stems from building it around his loved ones. His “rising tide” moment is to advise young professionals passionate about forming a successful career to show up, stay focused, make connections, and not be afraid to ask questions.

On Episode 19 of This Week in South Baltimore Nate and Kevin take look back at 2021 in South Baltimore. One of the biggest stories was South Baltimore getting back to business with many new business openings, including five new restaurants on Cross Street, changes at Cross Street Market, and a new lineup at McHenry Row. In addition to running down every new retail business in the area, Nate and Kevin discuss the emergence of Port Covington with several stakeholders involved, the entertainment development planned around the casino, and additional real estate projects that have moved forward over the past year.

Dan Mullen is a Detroit-based commercial real estate mogul whose innovative mind and creative expertise influenced Marc Weller and other real estate developers during a “meeting of the minds” that helped inspire Weller Development to bring Baltimore’s new Port Covington to fruition. Now the founder and CEO of Future & Main, a venture development group, Dan is adapting his company to the COVID-era workplace, expanding to new markets, and continuing his efforts to combine art, culture, and technology into public experiences. In this episode, Dan takes us through his extraordinary career journey, self growth, the impact he’s made in Detroit, and what drives his passion for creative development. His mission is to create experiences in cities that connect people to new opportunities, and describes his #RisingTide moment as always taking the initiative to help others and change lives through his work by creating access to jobs and seeing his employees thrive.

Steve “Monty” Montgomery is a renowned Mid-Atlantic restaurateur, a leader, and visionary on Delaware’s culinary coast. Whether he's in one of his bars or out in the community, Monty is an instantly recognizable and celebrated face. His restaurants and bars have become town staples, the most notable being the famed Starboard in Dewey Beach. As the owner of Nicks Fish House in Port Covington, Monty has become a close colleague of Marc Weller & Matt Rienzo. On this episode of From the Ground Up with Marc Weller, Monty joins to discuss core values, commitment to community, and what it takes to be successful in the restaurant industry. Take a trip to the seaside as Monty shares a few of his own “Rising Tide” moments.

Colleen is the founder and president of Intreegue Design, Inc., she is a licensed Landscape Architect in the state of MD, DE, VA, PA, as well as an ISA certified arborist and forest conservation planner and a LEED AP BD+C. With over 19+ years of experience, Colleen has worked for a variety of well established firms along with her tenure at Intreegue. Currently, her firm is working a projects that include: Port Covington, the Amazon HQ in Virginia, Cylburn Arboretum Nature Education Center, and Community Master Planning with Lennar Corporation. Her experience ranges from master planning, estate planning, high-end residential, institutional, forest conservation, botanical garden, children's garden, healing garden, pollinator garden, workshop facilitation, horticultural, and installation. Colleen started in the field early on playing in sawdust piles at her father's saw mill. Later in highschool she worked as a foreman at his contracting company. Colleen holds a double degree in Landscape Architecture and Horticulture from the University of Maryland (UMD). Her passion for the field of Landscape Architecture has taken her near and far. She has lived and researched in other countries to garner new cultural connectivity and hone her design skills. Presently, Colleen is active in continuing her education and providing education to others. She began teaching at the Catholic University of America for the Graduate Architecture Department in 2010. Since then she has come home to her alma mater to join the faculty as an Adjunct Assistant Professor at the Landscape Architecture Department. She teaches 3 different courses and mentors students along the way. When time allows, Colleen teaches students the art of Landscape Sketching and Graphics for the Study Abroad Program in Italy. Recently, Colleen served as President for the Maryland Chapter of the American Society of Landscape Architects and has worked with legislators on Capitol Hill regarding green bill efforts. She is also an alumni of the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses program, which helped her have the acumen to buy her first bosses company in 2019 and bring it under the Intreegue umbrella. She is a recent recipient of the ‘Bridging the Gap' award, The Daily Record's Top 100 Women Honoree, and a Baltimore Business Journal 40 Under 40 Honoree. Mentoring is a major part of Colleen's life. She serves as a mentor for Heartsmiles, the AWE Project, and CREW on the national level. More than anything, Colleen cares about her children and the world they will grow up in. She “walks the talk” in her role as an environmental steward, both as a designer and citizen. On her property she raises chickens and bees, and grows veggies. https://www.intreeguedesigns.com/our-team/

On Episode 16 of This Week in South Baltimore, Kevin interviews Weller Development Partner Steve Siegel to get in-depth information on the Port Covington Development. This project, which is described as the largest urban redevelopment project in the country, currently has five new buildings under construction. Listen to hear all about this project that is reimagining a South Baltimore neighborhood.

Episode 2 from The Ground Up with Marc Weller features our show's first guest, Marc Broady, Vice President of Community Affairs with Weller Development Company. Broady, a Baltimore native, has impressive experience in Community Affairs, having worked with the late Congressman Elijah Cummings and for Baltimore City Public Schools. Broady joined the Weller Development Company team in September 2019 and has been leading Port Covington's integration into the SB7, the coalition of South Baltimore neighborhoods working together on community initiatives. Broady catches us up on community efforts, and shares how his experience working with Elijah Cummings prepared him for this position. You also don't want to miss his own #RisingTideMoment.

We kick off From the Ground Up with Marc Weller with a deep dive on the man himself and how Weller Development Company was established. Matt Rienzo and Marc Weller dig into Marc's past of how the Buffalo native moved to the Baltimore area, his belief in the City, and the world-renowned projects he's worked on along the way. The team also discusses the narratives around Port Covington and the positive transformations the project is making in Baltimore City. Be sure to listen for our #RisingTideMoment to hear about the recent community-building successes.

Introducing a new podcast from Weller Development Company. With over 40 years of joint experience developing and building residential, commercial, and mixed-use real estate projects, real estate pros Marc Weller and Matt Rienzo offer a unique and powerful range of expertise for all phases of development. Put on your hard hats as Marc and Matt lead lively discussions on development trends and projects with guests from across the industry. Plus, listen in for a special segment called the #RisingTide Moment to hear real-world real estate examples that are truly lifting the industry and communities. Headquartered in Baltimore, Maryland, Weller Development is currently the lead developer of Port Covington, a 235-acre mixed-use redevelopment project in Baltimore City that is one of the largest urban renewal efforts in the United States.

TWISB Podcast Episode 14: Discussing Real Estate Development and New Restaurants in South Baltimore    On Episode 14 of This Week in South Baltimore, Kevin and Nate discuss all the development projects around South Baltimore including One Westport, Port Covington, Baltimore Arena, and Banner Row Townhomes. They also cover restaurant news including the new Hammerjacks concept, No Way Rose from Ashish Alfred, new businesses at Cross Street Market, vegan restaurants for the Inner Harbor, and changes at Sagamore Spirit.

On episode 13 of The Conference Call, Damian continues his conversation with Marc Weller and  Marc Broady of Weller Development, and Cherry Hill's own Mike Middleton to get at the root value of partnership, and what that means for community health, impact, and legacy. Join us for a conversation about Marc Weller's vision for creating lasting change in Baltimore and creating spaces that draw people to the city. Then we'll hear what  Mike Middleton sees as positive changes spreading outward from Port Covington. Tune in next week for part three of this illuminating discussion.Music by Dillion O'Brian

On episode 12 of The Conference Call, Damian joins Marc Weller and  Marc Broady of Weller development, and Cherry Hill's own Mike Middleton to get at the root value of partnership, and what that means for community health, impact, and legacy. Join us for a conversation about Weller's roots in Buffalo and D.C., and his vision for creating lasting change in Baltimore. Then we'll hear what Broady took from his time with the late Rep. Elijah Cummings, and what Mike Middleton sees in their partnership to steward Port Covington's renaissance.Tune in next week for part two of this illuminating discussion.Music by Dillion O'Brian

On Episode 12 of This Week in South Baltimore, Kevin interviews local commercial real estate professionals Jim Chivers and Mike Gioioso to get their take on recent big news stories in the South Baltimore real estate market. This includes Under Armour's decision to fully move to Port Covington by 2025, the future of Tide Point and Locust Point without Under Armour, the impact State offices could bring to Downtown, how to fix Harborplace, and local trends in the retail and industrial markets during the COVID-19 pandemic.

TWISB, Episode 11: Discussing Restaurants and Real Estate Development in South Baltimore    On Episode 11 of This Week in South Baltimore, Nate and Kevin discuss a ton of real estate development news, including the start of vertical construction in Port Covington, a big new tenant for Pigtown, and a large townhome development in Westport. They also discuss a lot of restaurant news, including closings and openings, dining options coming soon, and a new water cruise.

On Episode 9 of This Week in South Baltimore, Nate and Kevin discuss the reopening of restaurant dining in Baltimore and take a deep dive into all the new development news around the Middle Branch, including the restart of Port Covington, the new master plan for Westport, and the start of work at the Warner Street District which will bring a Topgolf to South Baltimore. They also discuss industrial investments in Curtis Bay and Carroll-Camden Industrial Area.

Jen Baker is just the fifth Director of Athletics and Recreation at Johns Hopkins since 1950 and succeeded Alanna W. Shanahan, who served in the position since July 2016. Baker has been an integral member of the department’s senior-leadership team since her arrival at Homewood.  She has overseen the day-to-day operation of the Department of Athletics with oversight in the planning, development and management of all fiscal and administrative operations.  As such, she has directed all revenue-generating initiatives and short and long-term budget planning for Johns Hopkins’ highly successful 24-sport varsity athletic program.In addition, Baker has served as the sport administrator for the Blue Jay women’s lacrosse, football, men’s and women’s basketball and women’s soccer programs while also providing administrative support for men’s lacrosse.  She led the search to fill Johns Hopkins’ head football coaching position in early 2019 and has been actively involved in the hiring of two other head coaches, several assistant coaches and a number of staff members in athletics and recreation.Among her many key initiatives at Johns Hopkins has been the launching of a unique leadership development program for Johns Hopkins student athletes (Blue Jays LEAD).  The Blue Jays LEAD program made its debut in 2017-18 with a mission of empowering student-athletes to actualize the leader within and inspire action in their communities at Johns Hopkins and beyond.  Baker inherits a program that recently completed perhaps the greatest athletic year in school history.  Johns Hopkins placed second in the 2018-19 Learfield IMG College Directors’ Cup Standings, claimed 11 conference championships, produced 10 CoSIDA/Google Cloud Academic All-Americans and had 45 student-athletes earn All-America honors.  The runner-up finish in the Directors’ Cup standings matched the best finish in school history and 20 of Johns Hopkins’ 24 teams competed in the NCAA Tournament or Championship.Baker came to Johns Hopkins from Under Armour, where she served as a Senior Manager of Corporate Real Estate, Facilities and Operations.  She was responsible for the daily operation of all UA facilities at its nearby Port Covington headquarters and provided support to all UA offices outside of Baltimore.  That support included new facility activation, vendor relationships and energy management.  One of Baker’s key initiatives at UA was the activation of the company’s newest offices in San Francisco and Portland.Prior to her time at Under Armour, Baker spent three years at Cornell University, where she ascended to the position of Associate Director of Athletics for Facilities and played an integral role in the oversight of all internal department operations as a member of the senior leadership team.  She was responsible for all athletic facilities, and integral in the budgeting, planning and programming of all related projects.During her time at Cornell, Baker also designed and developed the Big Red Leadership Institute (BRLI), a program for more than 500 student-athletes across all 37 varsity athletic teams at the school.  The BRLI delivered key leadership concepts set in the athletics context with a mission of building confident leaders and followers who provided immediate impact to their teams and communities.With the BRLI, Baker implemented five separate, but complementary, proprietary developmental curricula for five distinct student cohorts (freshmen, sophomores, juniors, non-captain seniors and captains).  Each group moved through a unique curriculum designed specifically for their class year and corresponding level of influence and responsibility.Baker is a co-founder of Athletics Leadership Consulting (ALC), whose mission is to make leadership development accessible to all athletes, coaches and organizational support staff.  ALC leverages athletics as a tool for leadership education as it designs and delivers original content that allows athletes to develop leadership and teamwork skills as an integrated component of their competitive experience.Baker graduated from the United States Naval Academy with a degree in aerospace engineering and was a member of the Academy’s women’s lacrosse club team.  After the Naval Academy, Baker spent seven years in the Navy, including three years as a pilot and four as a construction manager and facilities engineer.  She later earned an MBA and a master’s in mechanical engineering from Cornell.A Baltimore area native, Baker attended nearby Hereford High School, where she was a member of the girl’s lacrosse program.  She later helped lead the club lacrosse team to a national championship at the Naval Academy.  Baker’s father (David Dowell ’66), uncle (Brice Dowell ’70) and grandfather (Robert Dowell ’38) are all Johns Hopkins graduates.In this episode, we discuss Jen’s upbringing and what life was like for her as a kid (6:35), if lacrosse was popular for girls in Baltimore when she was growing up (8:49), if lacrosse came to her naturally (9:40), if she played other sports growing up (10:25), what it was like being in dance from a young age (12:40), her relationship with her brother and how they were similar and different (15:05), her relationship with her mother and what her parents’ divorce and relationship was like for her (15:45), if the values she learned from her mom were the same as the values she learned from her dad (19:37), which parent she’s more similar too (22:00), how she fell in love with lacrosse (23:25), how she decided she wanted to go to the naval academy (24:35), if she continues to feel motivated to prove people wrong (28:33), if she was fully committed to Navy when looking at schools, or if she also considered schools like West Point and Air Force (32:24), the role of women in the military (33:35), what was underneath her reasoning for wanting to become a fighter pilot (34:35), how she defines and thinks about competition (35:15), her lacrosse experience at the Naval Academy (38:25), she and her brother’s differences in competitive nature growing up (40:51), her first failure and her experience as a woman in flight school (42:10), if she had any thoughts at the time about what she would do after serving in the military (54:15), what it was like having the rug ripped out from under her when she discovered she had migraines and would no longer be able to fly (56:45), what she learned from that experience (58:38), what she did at Cornell and what the rest of her journey looked like (1:02:51), why she bypassed the “safe” choice of working at Deloitte and took the risk of going into sports (1:07:57), what she has found to be different about actually being an AD vs what she thought being an AD would be like (1:10:33), what she has learned about leadership along the way, as well as some things that are misunderstood about leadership (1:14:30),You can check out Hopkins Sports at hopkinssports.com and @hopkinssports on Instagram, and also make sure to give her a follow on Twitter @_JenBaker.I wrote a book called “Shift Your Mind” that was released in October of 2020, and you can order it on Amazon and Barnes and Noble. Additionally, I have launched a company called Strong Skills, and I encourage you to check out our new website https://www.strongskills.co/. If you liked this episode and/or any others, please follow me on Twitter: @brianlevenson or Instagram: @Intentional_Performers.Thanks for listening.-Brian

Maryland Style Rye Whiskey is the topic today.  We explore a handful of rye whiskies from Sagamore Spirit in Baltimore Maryland.  We're joined by Brian Treacy to talk about what makes Sagamore Spirit unique, their core lineup, and some exciting limited release rye whiskies.  Sagamore Spirit jump started their brand sourcing some of the wildly popular "MGP Rye" from Indiana's largest distillery, but they are excited to move to their own distillate in the very near future.  We enjoyed each of the whiskies that Sagamore sent to us for this episode and look forward to visiting their distillery in the future and tasting more of their whiskey.  Enjoy this week's episode and be sure to check out Sagamore Spirit. Show Links:  Sagamore Spirit and Brian Treacy's Story Sagamore Spirit on Instagram Brian on Instagram @Sagamorewhiskeybrian Independent Stave Company- "Wave Stave" Barrels Thrillist - This New Whiskey Was Aged With Sierra Nevada Beer  Sagamore Spirit has released a limited-edition whiskey called the Sagamore Spirit Barrel Select Bartender’s Barrel to benefit the local restaurant industry. NY Times - Maryland Rye Whiskey Has Finally Returned. But What Was It in the First Place? Under Armour's Kevin Plank Enters the Whiskey Wars -2016 Inc. article.  About Sagamore Spirit Sagamore Spirit is a Maryland Style rye.   Their five-acre waterfront distillery in Baltimore’s Port Covington neighborhood opened in April 2017.  The Distillery is equipped with a 40-foot mirrored finished copper column still, nine 6,500-gallon fermenting tanks, an 8,000-gallon beer well, and a 6,000-gallon mash cooker.   The American Whiskey story started over 158 years before the first bottle of Kentucky bourbon, when great veteran distillers of the mid-Atlantic distilled Rye Whiskey.  Maryland was home to 44 distilleries before Prohibition and by 1939, it held one-third of the nation’s Rye Whiskey supply.  Maryland Rye Whiskey was nationally renowned, and quickly became synonymous with quality and class.  At Sagamore Spirit, we’ve picked up the torch. Our mission is to inspire a global passion for Maryland Rye Whiskey and revive – and dominate – the Rye Whiskey category.  With over 75 awards for taste and packaging, we are committed to building awareness and excitement around Rye Whiskey’s historic birthplace – Maryland.   All Sagamore products are made from two mash-bills. The first is 52% rye, 43% corn and 5% malt barley.  The second is 95% rye and 5% malt.  The rye mash ferments for three days in 6,500-gallon open top fermenters. It’s then distilled in the world’s only 40-foot mirrored finished copper column still, then redistilled twice in a doubler. Three core offerings and limited releases: Signature  Double Oak Cask Strength Manhattan Finished Rye - Upcoming limited release https://thewhiskeywash.com/whiskey-styles/american-whiskey/latest-sagamore-rye-whiskey-finish-inspired-by-classic-manhattan-cocktail/  Other Limited Releases Port Finish Calvados Finish

On this episode of SoBo Spotlight, we speak with South Baltimore Gateway Partnership (SBGP) Executive Director Brad Rogers about the millions of dollars of Casino Local Impact Grants his organization manages. SBGP is behind projects such as a new master plan for the Middle Branch, a redeveloped park in Cherry Hill, a walking bridge in Port Covington, enhanced maintenance at Federal Hill Park, and more. It also helps boost local main streets and community organizations and awards grants to local nonprofits.

On Episode 6 of This Week in South Baltimore, Nate and Kevin discuss the loosening of COVID-19 restrictions; new businesses in South Baltimore including an ice cream shop and a crepe shop; businesses modifying concepts to keep up with the times; real estate developments in Pigtown, Port Covington, Sharp-Leadenhall, and Cherry Hill; the Ravens getting the season started as the Orioles are still competing for the playoffs; and our favorite plates around South Baltimore.

Weekly News and Updates in South Baltimore by SouthBMore.comIn Episode 1, Kevin and Nate discuss the Warner Street District development by CBAC, developments at Port Covington, reopenings around South Baltimore, and how restaurants are adapting during the COVID-19 pandemic.Enjoy!

Marc Weller, president of Weller Development Co., talks about the challenges and triumphs of leading the $5.5 billion Port Covington project and what Baltimoreans can expect from the first round of buildings slated for completion there in 2021. (Music: Inspirational Outlook by Eternity Bro/PremiumBeat)

In the race for Mayor of Baltimore, most of the major candidates have promised to spur economic development and expand the footprint of development to include historically neglected neighborhoods. Several high profile locations, like Harborplace downtown and Cross Keys in north Baltimore are in need of a facelift. A redeveloped State Center complex remains a dream for adjacent neighborhood associations who have been waiting for something to happen for more than a decade. In Poppleton, on the city’s west side, an $800 million dollar project near the University of MD Bio Park has been stalled for just as long. The fortunes of Under Armour have changed substantially since the Port Covington deal was signed nearly four years ago. Founder Kevin Plank’s role has been reduced, and the share price of Under Armour stock is down. Will this in any way affect the $5 and a half billion dollar Port Covington project? Towson, on the other hand, is awash in construction cranes. The new projects there have thrilled some business owners, and made others nervous about increased traffic and other problems that can attend residential and retail development. Today on Midday, an update on the status of a few of these projects, and the potential impact they’ll have on the local economy. Later in this hour, we'll check on the status of State Center, the aging 28-acre complex in Midtown Baltimore. Plans to revitalize State Center have been in the works since the Ehrlich Administration, many moons ago. We’ll get the latest on the State’s plan -- as well as a brief recap of city-focused elements in Governor Hogan's new budget -- when Luke Broadwater of the Baltimore Sun joins Tom from Annapolis. But we begin with Harborplace here in Baltimore. The shopping center has numerous vacancies, and it’s in receivership as its owners and the city wrestle with how to revive what was once the crown jewel of the City. Joining Tom in the studio are Anthony Hawkins, a former Vice President with the Rouse Company who was the first general manager of Harborplace; and Melody Simmons, who reports on economic development for the Baltimore Business Journal.

Opportunity Zones are the latest version of federal tax breaks for investors who put money into new businesses or housing in poor neighborhoods; the hope is the new projects will create jobs and revive stressed communities.When the investigative news operation Pro Publica looked at the low-income, high-poverty census tracts that had won the tax break, one in south Baltimore stood out--the one planned to be UnderArmor’s new campus.Pro Publica data reporter Jeff Ernsthausen shares the story. Ben Seigel of Baltimore’s development agency describes other budding projects, and Ashiah Parker of No Boundaries offers a view from Central West Baltimore.

Under a six-lane span of freeway leading into downtown Baltimore sits what may be the most valuable parking spaces in America. Lying near a development project controlled by Under Armour’s billionaire CEO Kevin Plank, one of Maryland’s richest men, and Goldman Sachs, the little sliver of land will allow Plank and the other investors to claim what could amount to millions in tax breaks for the project, known as Port Covington. They have President Donald Trump’s 2017 tax overhaul law to thank. The new law has a provision meant to spur investment into underdeveloped areas, called “opportunity zones.” The idea is to grant lucrative tax breaks to encourage new investment in poor areas around the country, carefully selected by each state’s governor. But Port Covington, an ambitious development geared to millennials to feature offices, a hotel, apartments, and shopping, is not in a census tract that is poor. It’s not a new investment. And the census tract only became eligible to be an opportunity zone thanks to a mapping error. As the selection process was underway, a deputy chief of staff to Maryland's governor wrote in an email that “Port Covington does not qualify” as an opportunity zone. Maryland's governor chose the area for the program anyway — after his aides met with the lobbyists for Plank, who owns about 40% of the zone. “This is a classic example of a windfall benefit,” said Robert Stoker, a George Washington University professor who has studied economic development in Baltimore for decades. “A major investment was already planned and now is in a zone where they are going to qualify for all kinds of beneficial tax treatment.” In selecting Port Covington, the governor had to exclude another Maryland community from the opportunity zone program. In Baltimore, for example, the governor dropped part of a neighborhood that city officials recommended for the program — Brooklyn — with a median family income one-fifth that of Port Covington. Brooklyn sits just across the Patapsco river from Port Covington, in an area that suffers from one of the highest drug and alcohol death rates in Baltimore, which in turn has one of the highest drug fatality rates nationwide. In a statement, Marc Weller, a developer who is Plank’s partner in the project, defended the opportunity zone designation. “Port Covington being part of an Opportunity Zone will attract more investors, foster more economic growth in a neglected area of the City, and directly benefit all of the surrounding communities for decades to come,” Weller said. Supporters say the Port Covington development could help several nearby struggling south Baltimore neighborhoods. An official in the administration of Maryland’s Republican governor, Larry Hogan, said, “The success of that project is really going to go a long way to providing benefits for the whole city of Baltimore.” The official added: “The governor is a huge supporter of the development.” A spokesperson for the state’s Department of Housing and Community Development, which was involved in the selection process, said that “due to the time limits of the federal tax incentive, the state of Maryland did purposefully select census tracts where projects were beginning to increase the odds of attracting additional private sector investment to Maryland's opportunity zones in the near term.” The Birth of a New Tax Break In December 2017, Trump signed the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, his signature legislative achievement. Much criticized as a giveaway to the rich, the law includes one headline provision that backers promised would help the poor: opportunity zones. Supporters of the program argued it would unleash economic development in otherwise overlooked communities. “Our goal is to rebuild homes, schools, businesses and communities that need it the most,“ Trump declared at a recent event, adding, “To revitalize these areas, we’ve lowered the capital gains tax for long-term investment in opportunity zones all the way down to a very big, fat, beautiful number of zero.” The provision has bipartisan support. “These cities are gold mines,” New Jersey Sen. Cory Booker, a 2020 presidential hopeful and main Democratic architect of the program, told real estate investors in October. “They’re domestic emerging markets that are more exciting than anything you’ll see overseas.” Here’s how the program works. Say you’re a hedge fund manager, you purchased Google stock years ago, and are sitting on $1 billion in gains. If you sell, you’d send the IRS about $240 million, a lot less than ordinary income tax but still annoying. To avoid paying that much, you can sell the shares and put the $1 billion into an opportunity zone. That comes with three generous breaks. The first is that you defer that $240 million in capital gains tax, allowing you to invest more money up front. But if that’s not enough for you, you can hold the investment for several years and you’ll get a significant reduction in those taxes. What’s more, any additional gains from the new investment are tax-free after 10 years. It’s impossible to predict how much the tax break will be worth to individual investors because it depends on several variables, not least whether the underlying project gains in value. But one investment pitch projected 10-year returns would jump to 91% from 29% on a hypothetical $1 million investment. That includes $284,000 in tax breaks — money the federal government would have collected from taxpayers with capital gains but for the program. The tax code already favored real estate developers like Trump, and his overhaul made it even friendlier. Investors can put money into a range of projects in opportunity zones, but so far most of the publicly announced deals are in real estate. The tax break has led to a marketing boom, with Wall Street pitching investors to raise funds to invest in the zones. Critics argue that the program is flawed, pointing out that there’s no guarantee that the capital investment will help community residents, that the selection process was vulnerable to outside influence, and that it could be a giveaway for projects that were going to happen anyway. In a case in Chicago uncovered by the Real Deal, two tracts already slated for a major development project were selected by the governor as opportunity zones even though city officials hadn’t initially recommended them. Under the new law, areas of the country deemed to be “low-income communities” would be eligible to be named opportunity zones. The Treasury Department determined which census tracts qualified. Then governors of each state could select one quarter of those tracts to get the tax benefit. That governor prerogative turned out to be very useful to Kevin Plank.   Plank’s Dream In 2012, Plank-connected entities quietly began buying up waterfront property on a largely vacant and isolated peninsula south of downtown Baltimore. Often using shell companies to shield the identity of the true buyer, they ultimately spent more than $100 million acquiring much of the peninsula. Plank’s privately held Sagamore Development now controls roughly 40% of the area that would later be named an opportunity zone. In early 2015, more than two and a half years before Trump’s tax law passed, Plank revealed himself as the money behind the purchases. He planned a new development and headquarters for Under Armour, the sports apparel company he started after coming up with the idea as a University of Maryland football player. Today, Under Armour employs 15,000 people. Plank has a net worth of around $2 billion. Though the Port Covington area was cut off from downtown by I-95, Plank said he likes the location because of the visibility. “When people drive through Baltimore [on I-95] I literally want them to drive through and go, 'There's Baltimore on the right. There's Under Armour on the left,’” he told The Baltimore Sun. A year later, Plank’s firm took his vision to the general public, running TV and print ads touting the new project. One of the ads, reminiscent of the Democratic presidential primary spots airing at that time, was filled with a diverse cast sharing their dreams for a new city within a city. “We will build it. Together,” the ad begins, before running through a glittering digital rendering of contemporary urban design features. Office towers, shops, transit, parks, jobs — all of it to be anchored by a new world headquarters of the city’s most visible brand name, Under Armour. Sagamore would spearhead the project and sell land to others who would build businesses and housing. Even before qualifying for the opportunity zone break, taxpayers were going to subsidize the development. Days after the ads touting togetherness, Plank proposed that the city float $660 million in bonds to help build what the company has said would be a $5.5 billion development. Opponents contended Plank’s proposal amounted to corporate welfare that would exacerbate the city’s stark economic and racial divides. But the company agreed to provide millions of dollars to the city and a group of nearby low-income neighborhoods to gain support for the project, and the City Council passed the measure that fall. As Under Armour’s stock plummeted in 2017 amid slowing sales growth and progress on the Port Covington project lagged. That September, Goldman Sachs stepped in to commit $233 million from its Urban Investment Group. Hogan, himself a real estate developer, personally spoke with the then-CEO of Goldman, Lloyd Blankfein, about the deal. Meeting With the Governor’s Office In the weeks after the 2017 federal tax overhaul passed, Plank’s team spotted an opportunity. Nick Manis, a veteran Annapolis lobbyist who has also represented the Baltimore Ravens, reached out to Hogan’s chief of staff about Port Covington, according to emails obtained by ProPublica through a public records request. The developers and their lobbyists had given at least $15,000 to Hogan’s campaigns in recent years. A meeting was set for early February. But the developers had a problem. The Friday before the meeting, a deputy chief of staff to the governor wrote in an email that “Port Covington does not qualify” for the coveted tax breaks. The Port Covington tract, which includes a gentrified corner of South Baltimore north of the largely empty peninsula, was too wealthy to be an opportunity zone. There is a second provision of the law for wealthier tracts: A tract can qualify if it is adjacent to a low-income area. But Port Covington failed that test, too. Its median family income — nearly 160% of Maryland’s — exceeded the income cap even for that provision. Port Covington was out — unless the tract could somehow be considered low-income in its own right. On Feb. 5, the Port Covington development team arrived at the second floor of the statehouse in the opulent governor’s reception room to meet with top Hogan aides. The agenda for the meeting included opportunity zones, as well as transit and infrastructure issues. The developer’s team requested that the Port Covington tract be made an opportunity zone. The state officials “acknowledged their interest in receiving that designation,” a Hogan administration official said. Bank Error in Your Favor Three days after that meeting, Plank and the Port Covington developers got bad news. The Treasury Department released a list of census tracts across the country that were sufficiently poor to be included in the program. Port Covington was not included in that list. Three weeks later, however, things turned around. The Treasury Department issued a revised list. The agency said it had left out some tracts in error. The revised list included 168 new areas across the country defined by the agency as “low-income communities.” This time, Port Covington made the cut. It couldn’t have qualified because its residents were poor. It couldn’t qualify because it was next to some place that was poor. But the tract could qualify under yet another provision of the law. Some tracts could make the cut if they had fewer than 2,000 people and if they were “within” what’s known as an empowerment zone. That was a Clinton-era redevelopment initiative also aimed at low-income areas. Port Covington wasn’t actually within an empowerment zone, but it is next to one. So how did it qualify? The area met the definition of “within” because the digital map files the Treasury Department used showed that Port Covington overlapped with a neighboring tract that was designated an empowerment zone, Treasury officials told ProPublica. That overlap: the sliver of parking lot beneath I-395. That piece of the lot is about one one-thousandth of a square mile. (ProPublica) (ProPublica) There are no regulations or guidance on how to interpret the tax law’s use of “within,” said a spokesman for the Treasury Department’s Community Development Financial Institutions Fund, which compiled the maps. The agency made what it called a “technical decision” that any partial overlap with an Empowerment Zone would count as being “within” that zone — no matter how small the area, or if anyone lived there. Or, if the overlap was even real. Turns out, no part of Port Covington actually overlapped with the empowerment zone. Treasury’s decision ignored a well-known problem in geographic analysis known as misalignment, mapping experts said. Misalignment happens when the lines on digital maps made by two sources differ slightly about where things like roads and buildings lie, according to Henry Luan, a professor of geography at the University of Oregon. For example, if a tract ends at a highway, one file might show the border on the near side of the highway while another — when zoomed all the way in — might show it a few feet away on the far side. When laid on top of each other, the two files end up with minuscule differences that don’t mean anything in the real world. Except in this case, it had big real world consequences for Port Covington. The mapping error allowed the entire tract to qualify as an opportunity zone. “That area of overlap is a complete artifact of” the map files Treasury used, said David Van Riper, director of spatial analysis at the Minnesota Population Center. “It’s not an actual overlap.” Sometime in the mid-2000s, the Census Bureau used GPS devices to make its map files more accurately represent the country’s roads. One of the maps used by Treasury appeared to be based on the older, less accurate Census maps, Van Riper said. Even accepting Treasury’s misaligned maps, the entire Port Covington tract receives tax benefits, even though less than 0.3% of it overlaps with the neighboring tract. “Only a minimal overlap, but you make the whole Census tract benefit from the policy?” Luan said. “That doesn’t make sense to me.” Port Covington is one of just a handful of tracts in the country that ProPublica identified that qualified through similar flaws in Treasury’s process. Taking the Break There is no evidence that Plank or the Port Covington developers influenced the Treasury Department’s revision. But the lobbying of the governor before the Treasury change appears to have paid off. As they were lobbying, Baltimore officials were working out which parts of the city would benefit most from being opportunity zones. They petitioned the governor to pick 41 low-income city neighborhoods to get the tax break, all of them well below the program’s maximum income requirements. The city’s list remained largely intact when the governor made his selections in April. Hogan made just four changes, three of which qualified under the main criteria without the benefit of the mapping error. But the fourth didn’t: Port Covington. Plank’s team cheered the revision. The very thing that made Port Covington a poor candidate to be an opportunity zone — that it wasn’t a low-income area — could make it exceptionally attractive to investors. In January, they convened an opportunity zone conference at their Port Covington incubator called City Garage featuring state officials and executives from Goldman, Deloitte and other firms. “Port Covington kind of fits all the needs,” said Marc Weller, Plank’s partner, at the conference. “It has all the entitlements, and it has a financial partner in place as well. It’s probably the most premier piece of land in the United States that’s in an opportunity zone.” The opportunity zone program has restrictions intended to prevent already-planned developments from benefitting. But the Port Covington developers told Bloomberg that the firm will be able to reap the benefits of the tax break because it has found new investors. Among the potential new investors who might take advantage of the tax break are Plank’s own family, one of the developers told the Baltimore Business Journal. A Port Covington spokesman denied that Plank’s family members are potential investors. To get the maximum benefit, investments need to be made in 2019, though investments made through 2026 can take advantage of growth tax-free. Only a portion of the Port Covington project is expected to be underway by then. A Goldman spokesman said it is “likely” that the firm will take advantage of the opportunity zone benefits in Port Covington, adding that it has “made no firm decisions about how each component will be financed.”             Margaret Anadu, the head of Goldman’s Urban Investment Group and the lead on the Port Covington investment, recently said of the opportunity zone program: “These are the same neighborhoods that have been suffering since redline started decades and decades ago, pretty much eliminating private investment. … And so we simply have to reverse that. And the only way to reverse that is to start to bring that private capital back into these neighborhoods.” The Port Covington tract is just 4% black. For it to be included in the program, another community somewhere in Maryland had to be excluded. The ones that the city suggested that were excluded by the governor, for example, are 68% black and have a poverty rate three times higher than Port Covington’s. There is some evidence suggesting being named an opportunity zone has already been a boon for property owners. An analysis by Zillow found that sale price gains in opportunity zones significantly outpaced gains in eligible tracts that weren’t selected. Real Capital Analytics found that sales of developable sites in the zones rose 24% in the year after the law passed. Under Armour has said it’s still committed to building its new headquarters on the peninsula, but it’s not clear when that will happen. Still, other aspects of the once-stalled project finally started moving forward in recent months. After presenting plans for the first section inside the opportunity zone this winter, the project finally got underway on a rainy day in early May of this year. "The project is real,” Weller said at the kickoff event, which included Anadu, the Goldman Sachs executive, and city and state officials. “The project is starting. We're open for business."

In this year-in-review episode of the Roughly Speaking podcast, our last of 2018, columnist Dan Rodricks speaks with Triffon G. ----Trif---- Alatzas, the publisher and editor-in-chief of the Baltimore Sun Media Group, about the mass shooting at the Capital Gazette in Annapolis and its aftermath. Alatzas talks about the day of the horror, the response of police, the community and other news organizations, and how the Capital recovered from the loss of four veteran journalists -- Wendi Winters, John McNamara, Gerald Fischman, Rob Hiaasen -- and advertising assistant Rebecca Smith. Alatzas also talks about the move of the Sun's operations out of its long-time Calvert Street headquarters to Sun Park in Port Covington.

Joanna Sullivan from the Baltimore Business Journal joins the program to discuss where we are with Port Covington and if it is still expected to fulfill expectations some have set for the location.

Sagamore Spirit president Brian Treacy and brand director Rachel Fontana talk about the Port Covington distillery turning one years old, rye whiskey history in Maryland, women in the whiskey industry, and what big plans they have for their anniversary party.

2:42: Sun reporter Natalie Sherman and architect Klaus Philipsen talk about Under Armour's big pitch for a new corporate campus in Baltimore -- the multi-billion-dollar Port Covington project -- and the developer's request for more than $600 million in infrastructure from the city. Philipsen is the president of ArchPlan Inc. of Baltimore and blogs daily as the Community Architect. Sherman covers real estate and economic development for The Sun.34:06: Philipsen discusses last weekend's devastating flood in Ellicott City and the challenges of rebuilding the historic mill town on the banks of the Patapsco River.Links:http://www.baltimoresun.com/bal-natalie-sherman-20141007-staff.htmlhttp://communityarchitectdaily.blogspot.comhttp://www.archplan.com

1:24: Baltimore City has been asked to finance more than half-a-billion dollars in infrastructure improvements for Under Armour CEO Kevin Plank’s Port Covington project, and that proposal has generated a lot of news this week. Luke Broadwater of the Baltimore Sun staff joins us for this update.15:39: Brendan Dorr, president of the Baltimore bartenders guild and bartender at the B----O American Brasserie, shares thoughts about new rye whiskies that are being distilled, including Baltimore’s Sagamore Rye. Brendan offers a cocktail recipe, too — for The Diamondback.33:11: John Shields of Gertrude’s restaurant in the Baltimore Museum of Art shares some recipes for finger food, the appetizers you can make and serve if you’re having a happy hour at home. John draws his ideas from the late James Beard and from a 2007 article about appetizers by Mark Bittman in The New York Times.48:42: Film critic Christopher Llewellyn Reed reviews “Sully," the new Clint Eastwood film starring Tom Hanks as Sully Sullenberger, the pilot who successfully executed an emergency water landing of US Airways Flight 1549 in the Hudson River off Manhattan in 2009.Links:http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/maryland/baltimore-city/politics/bs-md-ci-port-covington-deal-20160908-story.htmlhttp://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/19/dining/19mini.html?_r=0https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/US_Airways_Flight_1549

Gatewood Bell, President of Cromwell Bloodstock joins us for this week's episode of Fast Horses, Slow Whiskey to preview the upcoming 2YO Sales in Florida. Bell was recently featured by BloodHorse in an issue profiling the new generation of men and women poised to carry the industry forward. Read more here. Hosts Hunter Rankin and Brian Treacy also share some exciting updates on the move to the new Sagamore Spirit distillery in Port Covington, including an inside look at distillery tours. Grain deliveries are expected next week, so cooking and distilling will be underway soon! Also, you can enter the fifth annual Sagamore Racing naming contest here. This year, fans are encouraged to submit names with a whiskey theme.

After months of public hearings, private meetings, and political maneuvering, a deal to provide Tax Increment Financing to create the infrastructure for the massive Port Covington development appears to be headed for approval by the Baltimore City Council. A final vote is scheduled for Monday night. Tom speaks with Bishop Douglas Miles, a co-chair emeritus of Baltimoreans United in Leadership Development (BUILD), one of the groups of community activists who negotiated what many are calling an historic agreement. Then, Joshua Harris is the Green Party candidate for Mayor of Baltimore. He’ll join me to discuss his vision for the future of Charm City. And, Mother’s Lament is a new oratorio composed in response to the Baltimore Uprising by James Lee, III and librettist Vincent Stringer. They’re here with a preview of tomorrow’s premier at Morgan State.

Thursday on the C4 Show C4 spent the first 2 and a half hours of the show talking about the Commander & Chief Forum with Trump and Clinton on NBC Wednesday night. At 9:30am Congressman Andy Harris joined C4 for a segment to talk about what he thought of the forum and at 11am 2 members of the C4 Candidates Forum joined C4 to talk about Trump & Clinton. At 11:30 C4 talked about how Maryland has the largest case of people illegally passing school buses in the country. In the final hour of the show C4 talked to Councilman Carl Stokes about the Port Covington Agreement. And we ended the show talking about how Star Trek turns 50 today.

On Monday night, the City Council voted to send a minimum wage bill back to committee. Luke Broadwater from the Baltimore Sun and WYPR’s Metro Reporter Kenneth Burns were in the council chambers for the debate and vote, and they will walk-us through how and why the council took this step, and what it will mean for the city moving forward. Plus, Natalie Sherman of the Baltimore Sun and Melody Simmons of the Baltimore Business Journal have been covering the complexities of the proposed Port Covington development for many months. They’re give a status update on the enormous project. Then, the Nutrition Diva, Monica Reinagel on meat substitutes. Are they healthier? And are they worth the trade-off in taste?

C4 spent the first half hour of the show talking to Mayor Stephanie Rawlings Blake about crime in the city, Port Covington & the RNC. C4 spent the rest of the show talking about the RNC and Ted Cruz's speech where he did not endorse Donald Trump. In the 10am hour C4 talked to Jimmy Mathis & REASON's Matt Welch about the Cruz situation. In the 11am C4 talked to Trump supporter Scotty Donahue about the RNC.

Wednesday on the C4 SHow C4 spent the first hour of the show talking about who would be Donald Trumps VP pick. In the second hour C4 talked about how NC will stop citizens from viewing police body cam or dash cam footage and C4 also talked about Obama leading a town hall on police this week. In the third hour of the show C4 had Rev. Glenna Huber from BUILD in to talk about violence in the city and Port Covington. C4 then spent an hour talking about Doanld Trump's fight with Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsberg. C4 ended the show talking about the trial of Lt. Brian Rice with WBAL Radio's Robert Lang.

After a brief birthday tribute to James Brown (his birthday is tomorrow May 3rd), we discuss the origins of the urban Black community, starting with Black migration from the South to the North , where African Americans established proud communities, to the destruction of said communities through drugs, the war on drugs, and eventually mass incarceration, which has created a cycle of poverty and poor outcomes that we intend to diagnose and cure. It is important to know that Black communities weren't always as they are now, and they don't have to remain this way forever. After a brief discussion of the recent Baltimore Democratic primary, we break down what a TIF (Tax Increment Financing) entails, in light of the planned development of Port Covington by Sagamore, Under Armour's real estate development wing. TIFs are supposed to be a way to entice businesses to bring their commerce to blighted areas and create opportunities, however it seems that it is nothing more than a corporate handout, and in the case of Port Covington, one that will affect Baltimore City as a whole. Originally aired 05/02/2016 on WOLB 1010 AM Baltimore. Tune in every Monday from 2pm -3pm.

We discuss the importance of approaching topics from an analytical standpoint by conducting proper research, rather than basing opinions purely off of emotion and conjecture. This topic was partially inspired by a caller who challenged Tyrone regarding Malcolm X's legacy last week, and the caller's emotion driven statements were proven wrong in an entertaining and informative clip at the beginning of the show. From there we get into Hillary Clinton's visit to Baltimore (she visited Port Covington, while Bernie Sanders visited Sandtown), Bill Clinton's defense of her "super predators" comment in the 90s, how the Dollar House program can be a great way for the local government and the citizens to invest in the rebuilding of the community (as opposed to giving it up to corporate interests), and the importance of holding politicians accountable overall and how we should channel our collective power as leverage to make change. This is a hard hitting show packed with information, be sure to listen and share! Originally aired 04/11/2016 on WOLB 1010 AM Baltimore. Tune in every Monday from 2pm -3pm.

Betamore is a 2 and a half year old Technology Incubator, co-working space and education center located in Baltimore, Maryland. In it’s short life Betamore has become a cornerstone of technology innovation in the area and has  already seen one of it’s incubated companies Zerofox a social media security firm, leave the incubator and  thrive in the wild.   Jen has an extensive background in the technology startup world as well as being an expert in regional economic development. She took on the role of CEO at Betamore The BetaCity event which will feature demos from 20 startups and VC pitches from 8 companies is set for October 1, 2015.  For this event they have partnered with Plank Industries, the private investment firm controlled by UnderArmor CEO Kevin Plank.   BetaCity will take place at the brand new City Garage, a part of the ambitious Under Armor Headquarters campus that is now being developed in the Port Covington area of South Baltimore.     If you are interested in being in the pulse of the Baltimore Startup scene BetaCity is a Must attend event.