While there was plenty of talk yesterday about the future of Port Covington — it's now called
Baltimore Peninsula
and you can find more info on the change here — I want to point out updates on another major city project.
The redevelopment of Perkins Homes in East Baltimore continues to advance with recent changes to the overall site plan, designs for a new affordable housing building and construction now underway. The latest update, presented to a city design panel last week, included a change by developers to move two residential buildings (one affordable and one market-rate) to a different site in order to meet a deadline set as part of a $30 million federal grant that is supporting the project.
For those who don't know, the former public housing site redo is part of an ambitious, roughly $1.1 billion plan to convert 200 urban acres into a modern community with 1,360 units of mixed-income housing, retail, large parks, public amenities, a new school and more.
Here's the top news of the day:
- Are you a small business struggling to launch telework for your employees? A new program from the
Maryland Department of Commerce
wants to help. The $1 million Business Telework Assistance Grant Program will provide grants of up to $25,000 to help businesses expand telework capabilities to their employees and create and retain more jobs. Grant recipients will be able to use the funds to purchase equipment such as hardware, software and technical services, as well as implement telework policies. Applications will be accepted through Jan. 6. Find more information about eligibility and how to apply here.
- The race for Anne Arundel County Executive finally ended yesterday with Republican County Council member Jessica Haire conceding to incumbent Democrat Steuart Pittman. The race was close from the start, but yesterday Pittman took a 200-vote lead over Haire for the first time since Election Day. About 35,000 more mail-in and provisional ballots still need to be counted. Baltimore Sun
- Regular '8 things' readers might recall that last month I shared news of a new audit that found the
Maryland Department of Health
mismanaged a contract that caused the state to overpay providers by more than $220 million. But now health department leaders are denying mismanagement, and in a hearing Tuesday said the state will ultimately save money on the contract with behavioral health payment provider Optum. State lawmakers questioned the department's leaders about the contract, with one state Senator describing their response as "such a contortion of the truth that it really puts Cirque du Soleil to shame." WYPR
- Some students at Baltimore City's
Carver Vocational-Technical High School
will soon have a hands-on opportunity to renovate a vacant row house thanks to a recent donation. Security company
ADT
made a $130,000 contribution to local nonprofit Requity's Carver House project. Requity worked with the city to acquire the property, which is located across the street from the school and will be used by the stduents to learn carpentry, electrical and masonry skills. CBS Baltimore
- Maryland Attorney General Brian E. Frosh has joined a coalition working to combat alleged illegal debt collection practices in the student loan industry. Frosh was one of 23 attorneys general to support the lawsuit filed by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. The lawsuit alleges 15 trusts that purchased student loan debt then engaged in illegal practices to collect on that debt, including hiring collection agencies to submit false and misleading affidavits and testimony. Press Release
- The
Downtown Partnership of Baltimore
is again this year looking to extend the holiday cheer and activities from the Inner Harbor north to Center Plaza in the heart of downtown. The 2nd annual Candy Lane will return as a 12-day event with a candy stick forest, local food and drink and nightly entertainment. The event runs from Dec. 3-16, with different events on each night. Baltimore Fishbowl
- The
National Aquarium
reopened its Upland Tropical Rain Forest exhibit Tuesday after replacing all 684 panes of glass in the building's iconic pyramid. Renovation of the 42-year-old pyramid, which holds the rainforest exhibit, began on March 3. The project was funded by state and local grants, as well as funding from the
Abell Foundation Inc
. Baltimore Banner
- Two big events are headed to Baltimore next year. First up, outgoing "Daily Show" host Trevor Noah is bringing his comedy tour "Off The Record" to Baltimore in March. Noah will perform at the Hippodrome Theatre on March 9 and tickets go on sale Friday. Baltimore Fishbowl Later in the year, Grammy Award-winning singer Lizzo will be among the first to perform in the new
CFG Bank Arena
(formerly Royal Farms Arena). Lizzo will come to Baltimore on May 9 as part of her "The Special 2our." Baltimore Fishbowl
