A group of downtown Baltimore property owners accusing the state of circumventing the state’s procurement laws to award contracts for the $1.5 billion State Center development project is broadening their complaint to question the award of $33 million in state bonds to build a parking garage on site. [...more]
Claiming that the state ignored procurement laws to award the contracts for the $1.5 billion State Center development project, a group of large property owners in Baltimore’s central business district sued the government and State Center developers on Friday, hoping to bring the project to a halt. The massive project occupying more than eight-square blocks has had the enthusiastic backing of Baltimore elected officials and persistent skeptical analyses from the legislature’s staff. [...more]
The $33 million state debt burden for the State Center parking garage, as well as the absence of a formal agreement on labor costs or local hiring, led Comptroller Peter Franchot to vote against approving the parking garage lease agreement at Wednesday’s Board of Public Works meeting. The lease agreement was ultimately approved, with the board’s other two members Gov. Martin O’Malley and Treasurer Nancy Kopp voting for it. [...more]
By Megan Poinski Megan@MarylandReporter.com The Board of Public Works on Wednesday unanimously green-lighted work to begin on the $215 million first phase of a massive public-private partnership designed to revitalize central Baltimore, improve government office space, and create jobs. The revitalization of State Center project will give a boost to the ailing construction industry at [...] [...more]
EHRLICH LEADS: Gov. O’Malley is trailing Ehrlich by 3 percentage points in an automated Magellan Strategies survey of more than 750 likely voters, reports David Sands of the Washington Times. And view the WBFF Fox TV news report here. KANE PROBLEMS: The federal lawsuit against her husband’s company could be a problem for Mary Kane, [...] [...more]
Today's roundup includes coverage of Baltimore Mayor Shelia Dixon's resignation and the kickoff for George Owings III as he campaigns for governor. [...more]
