Baltimore Peninsula Secures Two More Offices Leases Totaling 14K SF
By: Nick Trombola
The Baltimore Peninsula development team continues rounding out their office portfolio with a pair of new leases at its Rye Street Market project.
The group, led by MAG Partners and MacFarlane Partners, in partnership with Sagamore Ventures and Goldman Sachs Asset Management’s Urban Investment Group, inked leases with Longeviti Neuro Solutions and cryptocurrency mining company OBM for a total of 14,000 square feet.
The leases, at 301 Mission Boulevard, bring Baltimore Peninsula’s growing office cache to 40 percent leased. Longeviti was represented in the deal by law firm Kiernan Trebach. OBM was represented by Linn Worthington at Cushman & Wakefield, while C&W’s Courtenay Jenkins, Richard Thomas and Matt Melnick represented the landlords.
“We are continuously drawn to Baltimore Peninsula, the rich and dynamic environment cultivated here allows Longeviti to manufacture, distribute its neuro devices internationally, as well as conveniently host and train on new medical breakthroughs,” Jesse Christopher, Longeviti CEO and co-founder, said in a statement.
“Baltimore Peninsula has afforded us a new top-of-the-line office space where we can continue to expand upon our essential work,” added Daniel Lawrence, OBM CEO and founder.
Located in Baltimore’s Port Covington neighborhood, Baltimore Peninsula is a 235-acre project that, once completed, will house about 14 million square feet of mixed-use space along 2.5 miles of restored waterfront. Rye Street Market is within the greater Baltimore Peninsula project.
The new leases at the project continue a string of activity since the end of last year. Tex-Mex restaurant concept Urbano and karaoke vender Live-K signed on for a combined 12,300 square feet at Rye Street Market, just a block from the banks of the Patapsco River.
CFG Bank meanwhile moved its headquarters to 97,000 square feet at the development, joining the likes of the Baltimore Ravens, Volo Sports and Jersey Mike’s, which signed for space in December.
Pinky Cole urges young Baltimore entrepreneurs to learn ‘how to rise above the problems’
By: Lorraine Mirabella
In a South Baltimore conference room packed with young entrepreneurs, someone asked Aisha “Pinky” Cole how she recovered from setbacks on her way to founding her popular vegan burger chain — such as losing her first restaurant to a grease fire: Did she “fall down again?”
“I fell down this morning,” said Cole, the East Baltimore native and owner of Atlanta-based Slutty Vegan and Bar Vegan, during an event Wednesday aimed at fostering entrepreneurship among city teens and young adults. “I fall down every day. … In the art of entrepreneurship, it’s not that you have problems, it’s how you rise above the problems.”
Cole doled out advice and encouragement to start-up founders and youth program students and leaders along with MaryAnne Gilmartin, founder and CEO of New York-based MAG Partners, a lead developer of the Baltimore Peninsula mixed-use waterfront community in South Baltimore.
Wednesday’s event at Baltimore Peninsula kicked off a series of community discussions that Coppin State University plans to explore the findings of a newly released report by its Center for Strategic Entrepreneurship.
Coppin’s “Excellence in Entrepreneurial Learning” report follows up on 2017 research from the Annie E. Casey Foundation showing that teens and young adults in Baltimore, ages 16 to 29, “crave entrepreneurship and resources to build businesses that are free from discrimination and benefit their communities.”
Coppin’s study set out to determine how students are being prepared to become entrepreneurs, said Ronald C. Williams, an associate professor of management and founding director of the university’s entrepreneurship center. Over two years, a team of faculty and students has reviewed Baltimore training programs for youth and young adults between the ages of 16 and 29, focusing on areas such as structure, methodology, partnerships and effectiveness.
“Our focus is on learning and learning how to learn as opposed to preparing people directly for entrepreneurial success,” Williams said in an interview. “We believe that if you learn how to learn, that you’ll be ready for opportunity.”
The report found no standard structure for programs, with some running year-round and others only after-school or during summers, and that programs used multiple training methods.
It found gaps in wraparound services that various partners provided, in areas such as child care and transportation. And the effectiveness of programs was tied sometimes to the funders’ requirements rather than other metrics. In some cases, programs were not able to track their participants’ success
“This is an exploratory study because there has not been anything done like this before,” Williams said. “There is a lot of funding right now for youth entrepreneurship development, but we’re trying to get a handle on what’s actually being delivered so that we can have a better return on investment.”
During Wednesday’s discussion, Cole and Gilmartin talked about overcoming challenges growing up and how unconventional paths led to starting businesses. They said they’ve led successful businesses by tapping into mentors, building and investing in talent, and believing in their missions.
Cole grew up on Cedonia Avenue while her father served time in prison and her mother worked three jobs.
“I had to become a hustler at an early age,” she said.
After college and moving to Los Angeles, where she became a TV producer, Cole eventually opened her first restaurant. She ran it for two years before she lost everything in a fire. She returned to TV and worked as a casting director before the restaurant bug bit again.
Six years ago she started her “Slutty Vegan” concept in a shared kitchen. It has grown to 14 locations, including one coming later this year to Baltimore Peninsula, where Cole is a development partner in Rye Street Market along with Gilmartin’s firm.
“Entrepreneurship is very, very hard, but it’s so worth it,” Cole said, “especially if you got the passion to do the things that you love to do.”
Gilmartin, who grew up in New York, landed a job in economic development through a fellowship after college. Her first assignment was to convince a possibly armed squatter living in a trailer to leave a city redevelopment site. She ignored warnings not to talk with him directly, approached him outside a chain link fence and ended up working out a relocation deal that upgraded his living conditions.
“People thought I’d pulled off a major miracle,” she said. “What did I do? I had a conversation. I had human connection. I said to myself, ‘If this is what real estate development is, I’d probably be pretty good at it.’”
That started Gilmartin’s interest in real estate, though it had not been part of her plan, she told the audience Wednesday.
“Have a plan,” she said. “But be prepared for that plan to be disrupted because that’s what happens in life. … Chance does favor the prepared mind, but you also need to be open to the possibility that you haven’t quite thought of something that might grab you.”
Luxe NYC Residences with Insta-Worthy Private Gardens
By: Luxury Real Estate
In the bustling heart of the city, leading developers are creating serene escapes by incorporating expansive private gardens into luxury residential buildings. These green spaces, featuring diverse plant species, winding paths, and various seating options, provide residents with a tranquil retreat just steps from their front door. Embracing biophilic design principles, these outdoor gardens help residents forget they are in the midst of an urban environment. Here are three prime examples of residential buildings in New York City that are elevating the standard of urban living with their lush private gardens.
VIA 57 WEST: A Green Gateway to Manhattan
Anchoring The Durst Organization’s 57 WEST residential superblock, VIA 57 WEST stands as a dramatic visual gateway to Manhattan’s skyline along the Hudson River. This architectural marvel offers 709 residences, many of which feature terraces and balconies, and boasts an unparalleled selection of resident amenities. Among these is a 22,000-square-foot private garden oasis designed by landscape architects Starr Whitehouse.
The garden at VIA 57 WEST features a meandering path that guides residents through various zones, offering both sun-drenched and shaded areas. The diverse ecosystem includes native plants that thrive in the urban environment, creating a tranquil escape within the city. This thoughtfully designed space allows residents to enjoy nature, meditate, and recharge right outside their apartment doors.
Ruby: Chelsea’s Natural Gem
Rooted in Manhattan’s iconic Chelsea neighborhood, Ruby offers 480 thoughtfully designed studio, one-, two-, and three-bedroom homes. This residential development is blooming with natural green spaces and wellness-focused amenities, including the light-soaked lobby garden created by COOKFOX Architects.
The garden at Ruby is designed to facilitate health and connection with nature at every level. This unique green space is a true anomaly on West 28th Street, providing residents with a rejuvenating oasis amidst the urban landscape. The garden’s design encourages residents to engage with nature, fostering a sense of well-being and tranquility.
In Greenpoint, Brooklyn, the 22-story rental tower at 35 Commercial Street sets a new standard for modern housing with its blend of architectural beauty and ecological mindfulness. Designed by Handel Architects, the building offers 374 permanently affordable apartments and features a dramatic brick arched entryway inspired by the neighborhood’s industrial heritage.
Greenpoint native Marni Majorelle of Alive Structures designed three captivating outdoor areas as part of the building’s 11,000 square feet of amenities. The sunny garden on the northeast side of the building is ecologically beneficial, featuring native plants such as magnolia trees and swales to capture water and prevent runoff. The pathways, made of brick and sandy granite, add texture and interest to the landscape. In the interior courtyard, where light is less prevalent, ferns, native grasses, and organic rock features create a serene, shaded retreat. A long arching bench borders this lush inner courtyard, offering a perfect spot for relaxation.
