Today, Mayor Rawlings-Blake joined Governor Martin O'Malley, Congressman Elijah Cummings, and Mr. David Ehrenwerth, Regional Administrator of the U.S. General Services Administration, to celebrate the selection of a developer for a new $150 million Social Security Administration facility located in Northwest Baltimore adjacent to the Reisterstown Plaza Metro stop. The project represents the largest single office lease ever executed in the history of Baltimore City, according to commercial real estate experts.
Last Thursday in Philadelphia, the GSA awarded the 20-year lease to a development team led by JBG Companies to design and construct the new complex, which will house more than 1,500 federal workers. Construction of the 538,000 square-foot office building, which includes 1,076 parking spaces, is scheduled to start in 2011 and will be completed in 2014. "Since its inception, the Social Security Administration has had a home in Baltimore City, and we are grateful for the work done at the state and federal level to keep their offices here," said Mayor Rawlings-Blake. "This new, transit-oriented development will keep good paying jobs in the city, support hundreds of construction jobs, and serve as a major anchor for the revitalization efforts underway in Northwest Baltimore."
The new facility, located at 6100 Wabash Avenue, is a former Maryland Department of Transportation property. The state worked with the city's Department of Planning and the Baltimore Development Corporation to identify a location within the city that was appropriate. The Wabash Avenue location was chosen because of its proximity to the Baltimore Beltway and public transit, as well as its potential to have a significant economic impact for Baltimore.
"Transit-Oriented Development has been a priority of the O'Malley-Brown Administration for as long as there has been an O'Malley-Brown Administration. We have passed nation-leading legislation to promote this type of smarter growth, and last October I signed an Executive Order to advance it further," said Governor Martin O'Malley. "Today's announcement is an example of the federal, state, and local governments embracing this concept, ensuring that Maryland remains smart, green and growing. This project not only creates hundreds of jobs, but it will also help revitalize Northwest Baltimore and keep our economy growing."
"This is such an exciting project for so many reasons. The U.S. General Services Administration is providing efficient workspace vital to the mission of the Social Security Administration through partnership with the Maryland State and Baltimore City governments," said GSA Regional Administrator David H. Ehrenwerth. "This partnership is allowing local and federal government to reduce underutilized space and enhance the local community in an environmentally responsible way."
"We are thrilled to be chosen to develop this new state-of-the-art facility for the Social Security Administration, which will help to enhance an underutilized but important region within the Baltimore community" said Rod Lawrence, Partner with The JBG Companies. "The General Services Administration award reflects well on JBG's depth, flexibility, and financial strength, which are all-important in this real estate environment."
"The work done by General Services Administration to prepare this location, cooperating with state and local agencies, is an incredible example of how governments can work together efficiently and effectively, to find the best possible solution," said Cummings. "The construction of this facility will revitalize the area, providing much needed jobs in northwest Baltimore. It will also create economic development opportunities for small businesses in the area. Finally, the convenience of the new location will help hundreds of Social Security employees utilize their workplace surroundings, while providing better transportation options for their commute."
The development team led by JBG of Chevy Chase, MD includes architectural/engineering firm, AECOM, of Arlington, VA, and general contractor, Clark Construction, of Bethesda, MD. JBG in a partnership with Klein Enterprises, a local real estate firm, will develop and own and manage the building.
Contact:
Erin Henson
Maryland Department of Transportation
410-865-1028 |
