What the future of Baltimore looks like; How companies are searching for office space today

Good morning Baltimore!

It'll be warmer today and sunny with temperatures nearing 70 degrees. Be sure to enjoy it, looks like we're due for a rainy weekend.

Now, onto the news of the day.

BBJ to host Future of Cities panel discussion at Harborplace

This morning the BBJ will host a sold-out discussion on the future of Baltimore — in particular the city's downtown — in the Light Street Pavilion at Harborplace. It seems a fitting setting to talk about Charm City's future given local developer P. David Bramble of MCB Real Estate is poised to overhaul the Inner Harbor landmark in the coming years. P. David Bramble will be one of our panelists along with Terri Harrington , managing principal of Harrington Commercial Real Estate Services, LLC , Dr. Bruce E. Jarrell, MD, FACS , president of University of Maryland, Baltimore (UMB) and Colin Tarbert, CEcD , President and CEO of Baltimore Development Corporation . Also, BBJ publisher Rhonda Pringle will sit down with Shelonda Stokes , president of the Downtown Partnership of Baltimore , for a fireside chat. Check back on our website later for coverage of the discussion.

Baltimore Museum of Art to open new branch at Lexington Market

The Baltimore Museum of Art will open a new and larger branch location within the new Lexington Market building this June. The BMA first opened a satellite branch there in 2019 as a way to connect more people with the museum. The new 350-square-foot space will provide free art experiences and opportunities for connection with presentations of artwork from the museum's collection, according to a release.

BCCC advances plans to demolish long-vacant Bard Building

Baltimore City Community College plans to demolish its long-vacant Bard Building by next summer, even as the college and state legislators disagree on future uses for the downtown space. The community college's president wants to convert the space into a home for Baltimore City Community College 's workforce development programs, science classes and additional GED classes, however, Senate President Bill Ferguson says that option isn't financially viable. The college has tried and failed twice before to redevelop the property, which sits at 600 E. Lombard St., right at the entrance of the Power Plant Live development.

Number of financially insecure Maryland households increases

Almost 900,000 Maryland households are financially insecure, according to a new report from United Way of Central Maryland and its research partner United for ALICE. The figure, which represents about 38% of Marylanders, includes 245,077 households in poverty and ALICE families, which stands for asset-limited, income-constrained and employed. ALICE families earn above the Federal Poverty Level but less than what's needed to survive in today's economy. The report marks an increase of roughly 70,000 families during the first two years of the Covid-19 pandemic. Nationally, Maryland ranks No. 15 in financial hardship among all 50 states. In Baltimore City, 53% of households were below the ALICE threshold in 2021. Here's an interactive overview of the data included in the report.

A resurgence of movie theaters in Baltimore

The BBJ reported this morning that an opening date has finally been set for Hampden's new movie theater, Warehouse Cinemas Rotunda. The theater takes the place of the former CineBistro and craft beer bar Growler USA in a new combined space that includes updated theaters with leather recliners and a taproom with drinks and food and more. Warehouse Cinemas , a local theater operator, offered a preview of the new space yesterday. Also yesterday, Harbor East Cinemas on President Street had its own media day preview, showing off changes to the theater that reopened in part last fall after new operator Flagship Premium Cinemas took over the old Landmark Theatres space and gave it an overhaul. Now, the theater is fully open, including its 140-person event space with a stage for live entertainment.

What companies are prioritizing in searching for office space

In our post-pandemic-era world, companies are looking for office space with a new focus on employee experience, according to 仲量联行 senior vice president of project and development services, Melissa Countryman . Whereas before they looked at how employees will work at desks and in meeting rooms, now "it's about how do they experience a day." Her takeaways come from a new report that outlines top design and development workplace trends. Among them are; hybrid workspaces, more subleasing and footprint consolidation, proximity to food and retail, climate-friendly buildings and a flight to higher-quality buildings.

Downtown Skybar to reopen

The LB Skybar, located on the roof of the Lord Baltimore Hotel , will reopen to the public tomorrow for the first time since the 2019 season, according to a release. The 19th-floor bar originally opened in 2015 and was popular for happy hours and late nights and offers sweeping views of the city. LB Skybar will be open Thursday through Saturday from 5 p.m. to midnight and will serve cocktails, local beers and light fare, including pizzas and grab-and-go options.

Former State Treasurer Nancy Kopp joins local board

The University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science has tapped former State Treasurer Nancy Kopp to its Board of Visitors. UMCES announced the addition in a release Wednesday, noting Kopp's leadership on climate change mitigation and adaptation during her time as Treasurer.

This newsletter was written by Carley Milligan, Digital Editor at the Baltimore Business Journal. I can be reached at [email protected].?