Tuesday, April 23, 2024 | Baltimore, MD
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Developer has abandoned plans to demolish former Hampden bookbindery and bird roost

A commercial real estate developer that had plans to demolish a former bookbindery in Hampden, where chimney swifts have roosted for generations as part of their seasonal migration, has walked away from the property, Councilwoman Odette Ramos confirmed Tuesday. Ramos, whose district includes Hampden, said a representative for the owner of the property informed her Monday that the developer, Segall Group, is no longer interested in the building “at this time.” The representative told Ramos they had not been in communication with the developer for months. The property was built in 1930, according to the Baltimore Sun, and used to serve as a clothing factory. Free State Bookbinders began operating there in 1984 but has since closed.

Southwest Airlines BWI service will top pre-pandemic levels this summer

Southwest Airlines, by far the dominant airline at BWI Marshall Airport in Maryland, will top its pre-pandemic summer flight schedule this year, and it’s bringing back a transcontinental flight from the airport that it suspended in December 2020. According to the airline, for the 2023 peak summer travel season, Southwest will offer about 220 daily departures from BWI Marshall, topping its scheduled service in summer 2019. As part of its schedule extension, now set through October, Southwest will restore nonstop service from BWI to Oakland, California. The daily service to Oakland will return Sept. 5.

Read More: WTOP News
Edmondson Village shopping center to sell for $17M as new owner looks to crowdfund its future

Edmondson Village will be sold for $17 million — weeks after a mass shooting there left one teenage student dead and four others injured. But the deal, set to close in April to a Chicago-based investment group, comes with a unique caveat. For as little as $1,000, new owner Chicago TREND is selling stakes in the 76-year-old retail strip to encourage the community to buy into its vision to pump $40 million into the center and reset its image. An online crowdfunding drive recently opened at the real estate crowdfunding site SmallChange.co with a goal of raising up to $1 million for Edmondson Village’s fresh start. Investors will be able to share in equity and investment in the center. As of Tuesday, $18,500 had been raised toward the effort, the website showed.

The Playbook: These issues could cause headaches for employers in 2023

Given the tumultuous state of the economy, employers have plenty to be concerned about in early 2023. Recession fears are swirling. The job market remains extremely tight. Inflation is still a concern. But experts say businesses shouldn’t let those obvious challenges distract them from several under-the-radar obstacles that could trip them up in 2023. One of the big ones? The intersection of remote work and pay transparency. We’ve already touched on the increase in pay transparency laws, but attorneys say the combination of those laws and the ubiquity of remote work is causing headaches for employers.

How a Maryland woman designed Donna Kelce’s viral Super Bowl outfit

As Donna Kelce sported a black-and-red denim jacket and light-up high-top shoes during an interview before the Super Bowl on Sunday, Monica Blakely cried at her Maryland home. Fewer than two weeks ago, Blakely had messaged Kelce on social media, offering to create a jacket that would represent her fandom for her sons, playing on opposing teams in Sunday’s game. Jason is a center for the Philadelphia Eagles, and his younger brother, Travis, is a tight end for the Kansas City Chiefs.

Baltimore startup Marinalife raises $5M to add technology to the boating industry

A Baltimore company behind a service billed as the “Hotels.com for boaters” raised $5 million late last month to add new dimensions to its multipronged business. CEO Jennifer LeRoux said the company plans to use the funding to develop a new marina management software that will help business owners track reservations and other parts of their business. The new software would add to the two other products under the Marinalife umbrella: Snag-A-Slip, a Hotels.com-style site that lets boaters book time at docks, and the Marinalife magazine. LeRoux emphasized that much of the boating industry has failed to keep up with modern technology, giving the startup a strong niche in the market.

Novavax to sell 1.5M more doses of its Covid vaccine to the U.S. government

Gaithersburg biotech Novavax Inc. (NASDAQ: NVAX) has reached an agreement to sell 1.5 million more doses of its Covid-19 vaccine to the U.S. government. Terms of the deal were not disclosed, but the federal government will partially fund the company’s future work on Covid vaccines, including the development of smaller dose vials and strain selection in line with Food and Drug Administration recommendations, Novavax said in its announcement.

Marriott CEO Tony Capuano to take over president’s post from Stephanie Linnartz

Marriott International Inc. (NASDAQ: MAR) CEO Tony Capuano, 57, will absorb the duties of outgoing President Stephanie Linnartz, as she prepares to step down to take on a new role at Baltimore-based sports apparel firm Under Armour Inc. (NYSE: UA). The Bethesda hospitality giant said Friday its board voted to appoint Capuano to replace Linnartz as president, effective Feb. 24. Under Armour surprised Wall Street with its announcement in December that Linnartz would be taking over as president.

Electric morning
Maryland gas companies should plan for an electrified future, decrease spending, ratepayers’ advocate warns

Natural gas companies in Maryland should slow their spending on new infrastructure amid the state’s turn away from fossil fuels, the state’s advocate for ratepayers has warned in a filing. Maryland’s Office of People’s Counsel, which represents residential utility customers in the state, filed its petition Thursday with the Maryland Public Service Commission, which regulates utility operators. The People’s Counsel warned that ratepayers, particularly low-income residents, could be stuck with the price tag of excessive improvements in the state’s gas infrastructure, unless the commission steps in with regulations.

Read More: Baltimore Sun
Maryland tourism leaders want to nearly double state’s tourism budget

Maryland tourism leaders are looking to nearly double the state’s tourism budget as the industry continues to make a comeback following the pandemic. The Maryland Office of Tourism Development currently receives $15.3 million through the state’s budget, according to Maryland Tourism Coalition (MTC). But tourism leaders, including chair of the Maryland Tourism Development Board Judy Bixler, pointed out that figure is “way behind” compared to the surrounding states. West Virginia has a $25.4 million budget, Virginia has a $78 million budget and Pennsylvania’s tourism budget is $35.1 million, according to MTC. State officials, legislators and tourism leaders made a push for more funding during the annual Maryland Tourism Day on Friday. The main topic of discussion was why the state should invest more money into the industry.

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