Business

Most of a city block on Baltimore’s west side is headed to auction as the ongoing reset of the once-popular area continues. The multi-building portfolio is in foreclosure and will be sold on Aug. 29 on the courthouse steps downtown. The auction will consist of five mixed-use buildings and a 410-space, multi-level parking garage, including the 392-unit Centerpoint Apartments and 33,000 square feet of street-level retail space.

In a city with spectacular waterfront views, sometimes it’s easy to forget that there are equally stunning vistas from the water looking in. I was reminded of this truth last week as I took in a different view of Canton, from the seat of a rental boat belonging to the Oasis Boat Club at Lighthouse Point Marina. I hitched a ride to talk to Lars Kristiansen, the vice president of food and beverage for Oasis Marinas, who was there to tell me all about the hospitality group’s plans for a new restaurant at the site of the old Bo Brooks Crab House.

In recognition of its support of local food insecurity relief efforts, Annapolis-based Crosby Marketing Communications Wednesday was named the 2023 Community Partner of the Year by the Anne Arundel County Food Bank (AACFB). Crosby President and CEO Raymond Crosby accepted the award at the food bank’s recent Feeding Hope event.

Underscoring the anemic demand for new commercial space across the D.C. region, the Montgomery County Planning Board has unanimously approved a developer’s proposal to build multifamily residences instead of previously envisioned offices near I-270 in Germantown. Century Development Services LLC owns nearly 16 vacant acres just southwest of the interchange with Ridge Road, where it’s planning to build a piece of a larger mixed-use development dubbed Century in Germantown.

Under Armour launched a U.S. customer loyalty program Tuesday, a first-of-its kind for the brand and a key initiative of new CEO Stephanie Linnartz. Through UA Rewards, consumers can earn points through online and in-store purchases, product reviews and UA MapMyRun challenges that can be redeemed for $5 off their next purchase.

Howard County Executive Calvin Ball is seeking applicants to serve on the Equal Business Opportunity Commission, specifically applicants who are either minority business owners, women business owners or business owners with a disability. The deadline to apply is Aug. 18. Comprised of 10 members, the commission assists the efforts of the county in procuring goods and services from minority business enterprises, women-owned business enterprises and disabled-owned business enterprises pursuant to the County’s Equal Business Opportunity Program.

Marriott International Inc. (NASDAQ: MAR) reported strong earnings growth in the second quarter and has raised its revenue outlook for the full year as strong travel demand in China and other international markets has more than made up for less-robust growth in the U.S. The Bethesda hospitality giant posted revenue per room of $132.17 for the second quarter, up 10.7% from the same period last year and 6.45% from second quarter of 2019.

Gaithersburg’s Emergent BioSolutions Inc. (NYSE: EBS) has landed a long-term contract with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Resources to scale up manufacturing of a drug designed to treat Ebola. The drug, a monoclonal antibody known as Ebanga, was developed by Miami’s Ridgeback Biotherapeutics and approved by the Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of Ebola in December 2020.