Councilman Marks to sponsor bill strengthening land preservation

NOTTINGHAM, MD—In 1967, Baltimore County passed one of the most far-reaching land preservation acts in Maryland history, creating the Urban-Rural Demarcation Line. The URDL, as it is commonly known, separates the county into “urban” and “rural” areas. Sewer systems, public water, and infrastructure is generally focused within the urbanized part of the URDL, while farmland dominates the region outside this […]

Councilman Marks: 35 additional acres preserved along Bird River

MIDDLE RIVER, MD—On Monday, November 18, the Baltimore County Council approved securing 35 acres of land under the state’s Rural Legacy Program, permanently protecting undeveloped land at 736 Earls Beach Road in the Bird River Beach area. This creates a continuous area of 389 acres protected from development, helping to ensure less damage to the Bird River, which has historically […]

Baltimore among cities with highest mortgage delinquency rates, WalletHub study

BALTIMORE, MD—With the rate of mortgage delinquency ranging from around 3% to 23% depending on the city, the personal-finance website WalletHub has released its new report on the Cities With the Highest Mortgage Delinquency Rates, to highlight where people are at the biggest risk of credit score damage and foreclosure. Baltimore came in at No. 8 on the list.  WalletHub ranked […]

Governor Moore unveils plan to tackle Baltimore’s vacant property crisis

BALTIMORE, MD—Governor Wes Moore has announced an executive order to establish Reinvest Baltimore, an initiative to address the city’s vacant property crisis. The program will be a coordinated effort between the state, city, nonprofits, and for-profit partners, with the goal of revitalizing neighborhoods and maximizing economic potential and quality of life for residents. “Baltimore’s vacant property crisis is an issue […]

Middle River shopping center sells for $6.4 million

MIDDLE RIVER, MD—A shopping center in Middle River has been sold for the first time in its history. The 69,582-square-foot Hawthorne Plaza shopping center has sold for $6.4 million, with Family Dollar, ExoticHaus Furniture, and Geresbeck’s Food Market among the tenants. The shopping center was originally developed in 1960 and 98% of the tenants were leased when the sale was […]

Baltimore County officials announce plans to preserve 85 acres of former C.P. Crane site as park space

BOWLEYS QUARTERS, MD—Baltimore County Executive Johnny Olszewski on Monday joined federal, state, and local elected officials and community stakeholders to celebrate plans to protect, preserve, and transform an 85-acrage parcel of the former Charles P. Crane facility grounds as waterfront park space. The site is one of the Olszewski administration’s largest open space acquisitions to date and continues the administration’s […]

Attorney General, MDE file complaint against Joppa developer, homebuilder, contractor over water pollution violations

JOPPA, MD—The Maryland Department of the Environment, on behalf of the Attorney General, has filed a complaint against a developer, homebuilder, and contractor for multiple water pollution violations at the Ridgely’s Reserve development in Harford County. The complaint (PDF), filed Friday in Harford County Circuit Court, alleges that the Ridgely’s Reserve development and its associated sewer line project caused “numerous […]