Developer seeks $41 million in tax breaks for new Exelon building

“Exelon will move. They need more space. The question is where? Steering them to a location that benefits the city and local businesses is strategic and practical.”
– Curtis

“Did Exelon say that their decision to build a new HQ is contingent upon a tax break for a developer? No. They will expand here regardless. Our city needs that tax revenue desperately. One of the reasons those of us who live in the city pay such ridiculous property taxes is because big developers don’t contribute their fair share. Working class and middle class homeowners have to make up the difference. So, in my opinion, all of this stinks.”
– Richard

“What are the jobs that Exelon will create in Baltimore – more traders sitting on their butts and wheeling and dealing in moving money from here to there. These finance jobs are not real jobs – like shadow boxing and unethical to boot in my opinion. And what does the city plan to do? It plans to genuflect to the overlords of Maryland energy, at the behest of the BDC.”
– Unellu

“So wrong, Curtis. What are you? Staff at BDC? An ‘Economic Development Professional,’ maybe? So, a $41 million dollar tax break really isn’t a $41 million dollar tax break? The situation here is pretty simple – a tax burden is being shifted from the entity that would normally pay it (the developer) to the City (the taxpayer). $41 million that could be used by the City (the taxpayer) is being -essentially – gifted to the developer.”
– Richard

“I pay too much in taxes just like you, Richard. I put my hat in this argument when I realized a company based in Chicago could just as easily have their trading floor there, as opposed to here. I’m well within the 99%, but I don’t have a chip on my shoulder and I recognize that my house value is depressed not because of the BDC, but because of a fundamental supply and demand problem. Yes, commercial taxes can offset residential taxes (I totally agree with you, NoVa counties case in point), but it can’t be offset if nothing ever gets built in the first place and the workerbees in society (love them or be jealous of them) live and work elsewhere.”
– Curtis

“Corporations just need more tax breaks. Meanwhile, what about my tax break as a loyal Baltimore City resident? So sick of SRB giving away the farm.”
– Jill Yesko via Twitter

“My conclusion: Exelon’s best move is out of downtown to WESTPORT…. Read more on my blog.”
– Gerald Neily
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New round of bids for city rec centers gets few takers

“Are we to believe that any of these rec centers will be open and operational after the first year? . . . It’s a shell game to shift the final act of closing rec. center doors from our Mayor to some struggling non-profit, great cover for SRB!”
– Ktrueheart

“If the bid process has essentially failed twice, someone should be reviewing the specifications of the solicitation to determine what is wrong with the specifications (e.g., are they unduly restrictive and thereby limiting competition?). If it’s true that Baltimore City wanted another governmental entity to step in and run the centers, I would question whether the City’s procurement rules allow for no bid procurements between government agencies (the State has such rules). If those rules exist, then why hasn’t the City chosen that path, unless the intended result is failed bidding?”
– Maryland Esquire

“Taking a service that was previously freely available to urban youth and now charging them for it effectively a regressive tax policy on the youth of certain neighborhoods. Some rec centers are remaining freely accessible. How can we justify the disparity?”
– Flint Arthur

“Sad but not surprising.”
– Kathleen Ramirez via Twitter
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City cuts price of land near Greektown to appease developer

“Just another reason why the city should stay out of the property development game. A credit for prior work done 7 years ago – give me a break!”
– Eric Hontz from Twitter

“Do you think Ms. Pratt’s office is aware the Real Estate market has changed ever so slightly between 2003 and 2012? And how many tax breaks will BDC be offering this developer?. . . Unfortunate that the City will rely on stale information to rush this off the books rather than competitively market a highly visible property.”
– Tim

“Let nature enjoy the site
slated for a gas station– if it is sold–
it will be nothing but concrete and black top–
it will be the pungent smell of fuel—
trucks belching exhaust–
gluttons rushing in and out
of an idiot store or food stop–
why do we take every inch of land
and make out of it asphalt?

I want it just the way it is–
invaded by wild grass–
entangled twigs and thorny brush-
hostile to developers–“
– excerpt of poem by Unellu
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Will water contract 1167R pass the 100 EWO mark?

 “Star Wars has EWOKs, Baltimore has EWOs . . . way too many.”
– MairZdoatz via Twitter

“DPW Director Foxx needs to demonstrate his commitment to acquisition/contracting reform within his agency.  For him to routinely vote YES on contract actions executed by his agency which have formally been criticized by the City Auditor is completely disingenuous. His NO vote would be refreshing, but yet his rejection and corrective reform of his agency’s BAD business practices would be in the best interest of taxpayers.”
– Ktrueheart

“Baltimore’s finances have another leaking problem.”
– Dennisthecynic via Twitter