"DIRECT CONNECTION" IS MADE BY MPT TO SERVE ALL OF OUR DIVERSE COMMUNITIES AND IS MADE POSSIBLE BY THE GENEROUS SUPPORT OF OUR MEMBERS.

THANK YOU.

LIVE FROM MARYLAND PUBLIC TELEVISION, THIS IS "DIRECT CONNECTION" WITH JEFF SALKIN.

*] >> Jeff: GOOD EVENING EVERY WIN.

WELCOME TO "DIRECT CONNECTION".

COMING UP TONIGHT, A BRAND NEW PLAN FOR REMAKING THE BALTIMORE INNER HARBOR.

THAT'S COMING UP.

>>> WE BEGIN TONIGHT WITH A 200TH BIRTHDAY FOR THE NATION'S FIRST TEACHING HOSPITAL.

NOW JOINING US TO TALK ABOUT YOUR HEALTH IS Dr BERT O'MALLEY THE PRESIDENT AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER OF THE UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND MEDICAL CENTER.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

ARE YOU CELEBRATING A BY BICENTENNIAL THERE.

TELL US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE HISTORY OF YOUR INSTITUTION?

>> THANKS, JEFF AND IT'S GREAT TO BE HERE.

200 YEARS HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO US.

AND I THINK THE SIGNIFICANCE ONE IS THE UNIQUENESS OF MARYLAND, THE MEDICAL CENTER.

AND WHAT ITS MISSION IS AND THAT IT'S BEEN DOING IT FOR SO LONG.

I WILL SUMMARIZE ON THAT.

THE UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND MEDICAL CENTER IS AN ACADEMIC MEDICAL CENTER.

AND WHAT TOES THAT MEAN?

IN MEDICINE, THE ACADEMIC MEDICAL CENTERS ARE THOSE THAT PROVIDE EXCELLENT AND COMPLEX CARE THEY ARE REFERRAL CENTERS FOR OTHER HOSPITALS AROUND THE STATE OR REGION.

THEY PROVIDE TRAINING FOR RESIDENTS AND MEDICAL STUDENTS.

TRAINING THE FUTURE OF MEDICINE ACROSS AN ENTIRE STATE OR MANY STUDENTS THEY DID ACROSS THE NATION.

AND THEY HAVE A RESEARCHER DISCOVERY MISSION THEY ARE DOING SCIENCE AND EXPERIMENTS TO TRY TO BUILD AND DEVELOP AND DISCOVER THE CURES OF THE FUTURE AND NEW TREATMENTS AND NEW DRUGS AND PROCEDURES AND THERAPIES.

AND THAT IS ACADEMIC MEDICINE.

NOW, MARYLAND, UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND MEDICAL CENTER IS UNIQUE AMONG ACADEMIC MEDICAL CENTERS IN MY OPINION.

OF THAT A TRIPARTIED TECHNICIAN.

IT WAS ESTABLISHED 200 YEARS AGO BY FACULTY PHYSICIANS OF THE SCHOOL OF MEDICINE FOR TRAINING AND EDUCATION.

IT WAS THE FIRST TEACHING HOSPITAL IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.

AND IT WAS BUILT IN THE COMMUNITY THE CITY AND THE WEST BALTIMORE COMMUNITY.

NON-THAT TEACHING, PART OF IT WAS PROVIDING ACCESS TO AN UNDERSERVED COMMUNITY AND REACHING OUT AND CONNECTING WITH THE COMMUNITY.

SO THE MEDICAL CENTER'S COMMUNITY MISSION IS INCREDIBLY STRONG.

IT'S GROWN OVER 200 YEARS FOR THIS QUADRAPART TECHNICIAN.

THAT IS WHAT WE'RE CELEBRATING WHAT WE DO.

>> Jeff: WHAT ARE SOME OF THE MILESTONES OR ACCOMPLISHMENTS OVER THE CENTURIES THAT STAND OUT FOR YOU?

>> SO THERE ARE QUITE A FEW I WILL NAME A COUPLE THAT WE FEEL ARE VERY SIGNIFICANT.

ONE IN 1968, WE ESTABLISHED THE FIRST TRAUMA HOSPITAL AND TRAUMA PROGRAM IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.

SHOCK TRAUMA.

AND SHOCK TRAUMA REMAINS A UNIQUE TRAUMA CENTER NOT ONLY IN THE STATE IN THE NATION, IF NOT UNIQUE IN THE WORLD, THAT IT'S FULLY DEDICATED EMERGENCY ROOMS AND RECEIVING UNITS OPERATING ROOMS, RECOVERY ROOMS, I.C.U.

'S AND FLOORS AND ALL THE WRAP AROUND SERVICES NEEDED TO CARE FOR PATIENTS OF TRAUMA, ALL WITHIN AND DEDICATED TO TRAUMA.

THERE'S NOTHING LIKE THAT.

THAT WAS '68.

'77 THE MEDICAL CENTER OPENED THE FIRST NEONATAL INTENSIVE CARE UNIT FOR PREMATURE BABIES.

A DECADE AGO THE BABIES BORN TODAY DID NOT SURVIVE.

WE ARE ABLE TO KEEP THE 21-WEEK PLUS BABIES ALIVE IN A VERY INTENSE CARE CALLED THE NEONATAL INTENSIVE CARE IT WAS THE FIRST AND THE LARGEST NICU IN THE STATE OF MARYLAND.

WE DEVELOPED NEW TREATMENTS FOR BREAST CANCER.

Dr. BRODIE, CALLED AROMA TASTE INHIBITORS AND THEY HELP PREVENT BREAST CANCER.

AND PERFORMED THE FIRST HEART-LIVER TRANSPLANT IN THE STATE IN 2007 AND LATER IN 2012 THE FIRST COMPREHENSIVE BROAD FACE TRANSPLANT IN THE WORLD.

AND SOMETHING THAT HIT THE NEWS RECENTLY LAST YEAR IN 2022 AND THEN RECENTLY AS OF FIVE WEEKS AGO, THE FIRST ANIMAL, A PIG, HEART TRANSPLANTED INTO A LIVE HUMAN.

WE'RE STEEP IN DISCOVERY AND INNOVATION I ONLY OUTLINED A FEW.

>> Jeff: OVER THE COUPLE HUNDRED YEARS THERE HAVE BEEN A VARIETY OF PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCIES.

YOU WOULD HAVE BEEN IN BUSINESS FOR THE SPANISH FLU AND THE PANDEMIC THAT WE JUST HAD.

WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT YOUR FOCUS ON COMMUNITY, THOSE ARE REALLY CHALLENGING TIMES.

BUT ALSO AN OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE A HUGE DIFFERENCE IN THE COMMUNITY?

>> SO COVID WAS CRAZY.

UNPRECEDENTED.

I WASN'T AROUND FOR THE SPANISH FLU BUT I READ ABOUT IT AND WAS IN THE MIDST OF COVID AND IT WAS REALLY CHALLENGING.

ONE THING WE DID DEMONSTRATE WAS OUR COMMITMENT TO THE COMMUNITY.

AND WE SETUP TESTING CENTERS, VACCINATION CENTERS INCLUDING WORKING WITH THE SYSTEM FOR OPENING UP A STADIUM.

WE HAD MOBILE VACCINATION TRUCKS AND BUILDINGS THAT WE BUILT SO THAT WE COULD PROVIDE THE TESTING AND VACCINATION FOR OUR COMMUNITY WITH THE FOCUS FOR THE MEDICAL CENTER ON WEST BALTIMORE.

>> Jeff: IN ADDITION TO UNKING THE MEDICAL CENTER, YOU ALSO FIND TIME TO PERFORM SURGERY.

TELL US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT YOUR PROFESSIONAL BACKGROUND AND YOUR SPECIALTY IN HEAD AND NECK SURGERY?

>> SURE.

SO OFFICIALLY, THE RESIDENCY IS OWE TOW RHINO HEAD AND NECK SURGERY, ENT WITHIN THAT SPECIALTY IS A FURTHER SUBSPECIALTY OF HEAD AND NECK AND SKULL BASED TUMOR SURGERY AND THAT IS MY SUBSPECIALTY.

I DO LESS SCIENCE NOW GIVEN THE C.E.O.

ROLE BUT I'M ABLE TO KEEP UP MY SURGICAL FOCUS ON HEAD AND NECK CANCER AND IN PARTICULAR, ROBOTIC SURGERY.

>> Jeff: HOW MUCH OF THE ROBOTS CHANGED THAT SPECIFIC TYPE OF OPERATION?

>> WELL, ROBOT SURGERY IN MANY WAYS AND COMPONENTS IS FONS TRANSFORMING HEALTHCARE ON THE SURGICAL SIDE ACROSS SPECIALTIES.

I AM BIASED I HAVE TO ADMIT BECAUSE IN 2004, MYSELF AND A COLLEAGUE Dr. WEINSTEIN CONCEIVED, INVENTED AND DEVELOPED TRANS ROBOTIC SURGERY AND IT BECAME F.D.A.

APPROVE APPROVED IN TWOIRN WITH APPROVES FOR THE USE.

WHAT THAT DID FOR US FROM MY EXPERTISE IN HEAD AND NECK CANCER AND I WON'T GO INTO TOO MUCH DETAIL, BUT CLASSICALLY FOR TUMORS IN THE BACK OF THROAT TO GET THERE, JEFF, FOR ANYBODY YOU HAVE TO OPEN UP THE FACE AND JAW AND DO VERY DESTRUCTIVE THINGS TO THE HUMAN BODY REQUIRING TUBES IN YOUR NECK TO BREATHE.

TO GET TO THE TUMOR YOU HAVE TO OPEN UP THE BODY.

IT WAS LONG OPERATIONS HIGH COMPLICATIONS HIGH-RISK.

AND ALL KIND OF THINGS THAT GO ALONG WITH IT.

SO THE BENEFIT OF THE ROBOT USING THE INSTRUMENTS IT CAN CLIMB INTO THE MOUTH WITH TINY HANDS MUCH SMALLER THAN OUR HUMAN HANDS AND DO SURGERY FROM INSIDE OUT.

SO YOU TAKE A 10-HOUR SURGERY AND IT BECOMES AN HOUR-AND-A-HALF WITHOUT THOSE DESTRUCTIVE SIDE EFFECTS.

THAT IS IN MY WORLD HOW IT TRABS FORMED SURGICAL APPROACHES TO CANCER.

>> Jeff: AND WHEN I TALK ABOUT ROBOTIC SURGERY IT MAY SOUND LIKE THE ROBOT IS DOING THE WORK.

THE SURGEON IS STILL DOING THE PROCEDURE BUT WITH THE MINIATURIZATION, THE STABILIZATION THAT THE EQUIPMENT OFFERS.

TELL US WHERE IS THAT FIELD HEADING?

I READ A FASCINATING THING RECENTLY ABOUT HOW THE ROBOTS WITH THE HIGH DEFINITION CAMERAS WILL ULTIMATELY BE ABLE TO SEE THINGS THAT YOU COULD NOT SEE WITH YOUR EYES.

THEY WILL BE ABLE TO TELL YOU OFFICIAL THERE'S SOME STRAY SURPRISE BLOOD VESSELS BEHIND WHERE YOU ARE ABOUT TO GO THAT SORT OF THING?

>> SO A LOT INTO THAT QUESTION HERE.

SO I WILL CLARIFY AS OF THIS PRESENT TIME WHEN WE DO ROBOT SURGERY YOU HAVE A PATIENT WITH THE ROBOT INSTRUMENTATION IN WHATEVER PART OF THE BODY WE ARE OPERATING ON.

ME THROUGH THE MOUTH AND BACK OF THE THROAT.

IN AN OPERATING ROOM.

AT THE SAME TIME THE SURGEON IS SITTING 10 FEET AWAY ON A CONSOLE LOOKING THROUGH GOOGLES ON A MACHINE IN 3D LIKE A VIDEO GAME MOVING CONTROLS THAT TRANSLATE TO MOVING THE INSTRUMENTS ON THE ROBOT.

THE SURGEONS ARE DOING THE PROCEDURE.

A COUPLE THINGS H WHAT IS INTO THE FUTURE?

WE'LL START WITH THE VISUALIZATION OR OPTICS.

THINK OF A MICROSCOPE.

WE CAN LOOK AT A SLIDE OR TISSUE.

A MICROSCOPE CAN LOOK AT CELL LEVEL SOMETHING OUR EYES CANNOT SEE.

THE POWER OF MAGNIFICATION AND OPTICS TELESCOPES LOOKING INTO THE UNIVERSE, IS WHAT WE COULD BRING IN.

YES WE COULD SEE BLOOD VESSELS OR NERVES A MILLIMETER AWAY THAT WE WANT TO SPARE AND SAVE.

WE MIGHT BE ABLE TO SEE TUMOR CELLS THAT WE CAN'T SEE TO SAY OH, WE NEED TO REMOVE A LITTLE BIT MORE TO GET THAT TUMOR OUT.

SO THAT BENEFIT IS WE'RE SCRATCHING THE SURFACE OF WHAT'S POSSIBLE.

AND THE SECOND THING IS I DON'T KNOW AT ONE POINT, BUT THE TECHNOLOGIES WORKING ON IT, CAN A SURGEON BEING THERE AND GOVERNING IT, OUTLINE A PROCEDURE JUST LIKE A MACHINE DOES PUTS TOGETHER A CAR OR LIKE THESE 3D PRINTERS CAN IT DO A COMPONENT THAT IS AUTOMATED?

AND WHO KNOWS WHERE THAT'S GOING TO GO.

>> Jeff: SO WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT ENTERING YOUR THIRD SCENERY AS AN INSTITUTION, I GUESS EVEN THE SIZE YOU HAVE AND THE HISTORY YOU HAVE, DO YOU HAVE TO FOCUS ON SOME KEY AREAS?

WE WANT TO BE THE LEADERS THE INNOVATORS IN THESE COUPLE OF FIELDS?

AND WHAT DO YOU WANT THAT TO BE?

WHAT DO YOU WANT THE UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND MEDICAL CENTER TO BE KNOWN FOR ACROSS ITS THIRD CENTURY?

>> SO THAT IS A GREAT POINT.

I WANT TO STATE FOR SURE WE ARE AND VALUE ALL ASPECTS OF MEDICINE WE PROVIDE COMPREHENSIVE MEDICINE AT EVERY LEVEL OF EDUCATION, CLINICAL CARE, RESEARCH.

BUT IN DIFFERENTIATING YOURSELF I'M TRYING TO BE THE WORLD LEADERS.

IT'S NOT POSSIBLE TO BE A WORLD LEADER IN EVERYTHING AT THE SAME TIME.

ALTHOUGH SOME OF THOSE COME AND GO WITH OUR PHYSICIANS MAKING A DISCOVERY IN SOME AREA.

WHEN I EXPLAIN THE FOCUS IT'S NOT THAT WE'RE DEEMPHASIZING ANYTHING ELSE IT'S WHERE WE HAVE CURRENT MOMENTUM IN DISCOVERY OR PRESENCE AND DELIVERY OF CARE ACROSS OUR STATE.

ONE IS CARDIOVASCULAR SURGERY.

AND WE HAVE A TREMENDOUS SURGICAL TEAM WE HAVE A TREMENDOUS RESEARCH TEAM AND THE HEART TRANSPLANT FIRST IN THE WORLD IS A CLASSIC EXAMPLE OF THAT.

AND WE ARE WORLD LEADERS AND THERE'S WORK THAT NEEDS TO GO ON TO CONTINUE TO ADVANCE THAT.

THAT IS A BIG LOOK OF OURS IS CARDIOVASCULAR AND NEUROSURGERY AND NEUROLOGY AND WE HAVE HIGH INTENSITY FOCUSED ULTRASOUND THAT ARE ONLY A FEW PLACES IN THE WORLD THAT ARE DOING THIS AND ACROSS THE NATION, WHERE WE TAKE RADIO WAVES AND CONCENTRATE THEM INTO A TINY LITTLE POINT TO TRY TO HIT A PART OF THE BRAIN THAT STOPS PEOPLE FROM HAVING TREMORS AND MOTION DISORDERS.

IT'S TRANSFORMATIVE.

THAT IS A STRONG EFFORT.

GIVEN THE FACT WE MENTIONED THE HEART TRANSPLANT, THE FIRST IN THE STATE COMBINED HEART-AND KIDNEY TRANSPLANT THAT I MENTIONED EARLIER, TRANSPLANTATION IN GENERAL IS A BIG TOW DISCUSS OF OURS -- FOCUS OF OURS AND EMPHASIS AS WE MOVE INTO THE FUTURE.

>> Jeff: DOCTOR YOU SOUND LIKE A GUY THAT CAN'T WAIT TO GET BACK TO WORK.

WE APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO TALK WITH YOU ABOUT THE HISTORY AND THE FUTURE OF UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND MEDICINE.

Dr. BERT O'MALLEY THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.

>> THANK YOU.

>> Jeff: TO THE NEW PLANNED REMAKE BALTIMORE'S INNER HAR HARBOR WITH A REDEVELOPMENT OF HARBOR PLACE, HERE IS DAVID BRAMBLE.

THANK YOU FOR BEING WITH US.

LET'S BRING EVERYBODY UP TO SPEED HOW WE GOT TO THIS POINT.

HARBOR PLACE HAD GONE INTO BANKRUPTCY.

YOUR FIRM TOOK CONTROL OF IT.

YOU ARE A LIFELONG BALTIMORIAN.

TELL US WHAT THAT PLACE MEANS TO YOU IN TERMS OF THE BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY AND THE CIVIC OPPORTUNITY?

>> SURE, THANKS FOR HAVING ME.

I'LL TELL YOU THAT HARBOR PLACE HAS BEEN IN RECEIVERSHIP FOR QUITE SOMETIME.

AND MY PARTNER, PETER AND I WHO ARE BOTH BALTIMORE YABS VERY -- BALTIMORIANS EXCITED ABOUT THE OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE A CHANCE TO LEAD ON THIS TRANSFORMATIVE PROJECT.

IT'S REALLY A ONCE IN A GENERATION OPPORTUNITY TO BE PART OF OF CHANGE THAT WILL BE FELT THROUGHOUT THE CITY OF BALTIMORE AND IN FACT, THROUGH THE STATE OF MARYLAND.

>> Jeff: WELL, LET'S GET TO THE PRETTY PICTURES THE RENDERINGS.

THE FIRST IS A VIEW THAT IS OFF WHAT PEOPLE LOCALLY MAY STILL KNOW AS THE U.S. F AND G BUILDINGS LOOKING AT THE INNER HARBOR.

AND IN PLACE OF THE LIGHT STREET PAVILION THERE IS A HUGE BUILDING AND THE PRATT STREET PAVILION IT'S SOMETHING WITH WHAT LOOKS LIKE A SLOPING ROOF.

TELL US WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT THERE?

>> YOU ARE CORRECT.

YOU HAVE A BIRD'S EYE VIEW FROM THE CORNER OF PRATT AND LIGHT.

AND WHAT YOU SEE ON THE LIGHT STREET SIDE IS A LARGE MIXED-USE PROJECT WITH AN OPEN-AIR MARKET AND RETAIL AND COMMERCIAL SPACE BELOW.

AND NEW MULTIFAMILY RESIDENTIAL ABOVE.

THE FEATURE IN THE MIDDLE IS RECAPTURING MIKALEN PLAZA WHICH IS NOW AN ISLAND WITH TWO HIGHWAY ROADS BASICALLY CUTTING ACROSS IT AND TURN THAT INTO A BEAUTIFUL PARK WHICH WE'RE CALLING FREEDOM PARK.

AND THEN THE OTHER BUILDING IS A VERY INTERESTING BUILDING I HAVE TO MENTION IT WAS THE SUBJECT OF AN INTERNATIONAL DESIGN COMPETITION THAT WE HELD.

AND THE BUILDING IS DESIGNED TO BE BOTH A COMMERCIAL SPACE ON THE INTERIOR AND EXTERIOR PARK PROVIDING ADDITIONAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR PEOPLE TO ENGAGE WITH THE BUILDING.

>> Jeff: THE SECOND IMAGE WE HAVE SOLDIER SORT OF GROUND LEVEL VIEW -- SECOND GROUND LEVEL VIEW IS LIKE A TERRORIST ROOF AND THERE'S GRASS AND PLANTINGS ALL THE WAY UP?

>> THAT'S EXACTLY RIGHT.

SO THIS WOULD BE SORT OF AT THE CORNER WHERE THE AMPHITHEATER FORMERLY WAS.

THE AMPHITHEATER NOW IS MOVED INTO THE PARK THAT I DESCRIBED.

BUT WHAT WE'VE DONE YOU CAN SEE HOW THE GOAL IS TO REIMAGINE THE PALM IN ADDITION AND HAVE THE PARK AND THE PALM NAD BLOW INTO YOUR ABILITY TO USE THE ELEVATED PARK PART OF THAT BUILDING THAT FRONTS ON PRATT STREET.

SO THE IDEA IS MARRYING THIS IDEA PUBLIC SPACE AND SPACE THAT'S ELEVATED PUBLIC SPACE WITH A COMMERCIAL BUILDING.

>> Jeff: OK. AND THE THIRD VIEW WE HAVE IS FROM THE SCIENCE CENTER LOOKING NORTH.

AND YOU GET A BETTER IDEA WHAT THE BIG STRUCTURE ON LIGHT STREET IS GOING TO BE IN THE FOREGROUND YOU CAN STILL SEE THE THING WITH THE SLOPING ROOF AS THE BALTIMORE VISITORS CENTER.

WHAT IS GOING TO GO IN THERE?

THIS IS APARTMENTS?

>> YES, CORRECT.

THE LARGE BUILDING ON LIGHT STREET WILL BE MIXED-USE WITH APARTMENTS ABOVE.

AND THEN PUBLICLY ACCESSIBLE RETAIL AND COMMERCIAL SPACE BELOW.

SO BASICALLY 40,000 FEET ON TWO LEVELS OF COMMERCIAL SPACE AND THEN ABOVE THAT, MULTIFAMILY RENTAL APARTMENTS.

>> Jeff: WE HAVE THE VIDEO THAT YOU PRODUCED AS WELL THAT HAS A BIT OF A FLY THREW OF WHAT THE STRUCTURES LOOK LIKE AND IT WILL GIVE PEOPLE A BETTER IDEA.

WHILE WE'RE LOOKING AT THAT TELL US ABOUT THE PROCESS YOU WENT THROUGH.

WHO DREAMED THIS UP?

>> I DID.

I DID IT ALL BY MYSELF.

KIDDING.

THIS IS ONE OF THE MOST COMPREHENSIVE PROCESSES THAT WE'VE EVER BEEN INVOLVED IN AS A FIRM.

WE OWN AND OPERATE REAL ESTATE THROUGHOUT THE UNITED STATES.

AND WE HAVE BEEN GIVEN THE PRIVILEGE AND TO BE LEADING THIS PROJECT.

A PART OF THE WHOLE IDEA HERE WAS TO START WITH A DEEP COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT PROCESS.

WE TALKED TO TENS OF THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE.

WE MET WITH 90 NEIGHBORHOODS.

I JOKED WE HAD SIGNS ON THE SIDES OF BUSES AND WE DID.

IMPLORING PEOPLE TO COME AND TALK TO US ABOUT THEIR IDEAS.

AND I GOT TO TELL YOU, THEY REALLY SHOWED UP.

THEY CAME OUT.

THEY GAVE US ALL KINDS OF IDEAS.

AND THEN WE WORKED WITH AN AMAZING TEAM LED BY GENSLER, THE INTERNATIONAL ARCHITECT FIRM AS WELL AS AMAZING LOCAL TEAM MEMBERS INCLUDING BCT AND OTHER FOLKS.

AND WE CAME UP WITH THIS PLAN THAT WE THINK REFLECTS WHAT WE HEARD IN THE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT PROCESS.

AND COMBINES THAT WITH WHAT WE THINK WE CAN EXECUTE.

THERE IS NO POINT IN PRETTY PICTURES IF IT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT YOU CAN BUILD.

EMERGENCE OF THESE PLANS AND WEE- ARE VERY EXCITED TO SHARE WITH BALTIMORE AND THE GREATER BALTIMORE REGION.

AND NOW THE NEXT PART, WHICH IS GETTING FEEDBACK ON THE PLANS AND GETTING THROUGH THE LEGISLATIVE PROCESS THAT WILL BE NECESSARY TO GIVE US THE ENTITLEMENTS TO BUILD.

>> Jeff: E-MAIL QUESTION FROM A VIEWER WHO WANTS TO KNOW IF THIS IS REVICE-PRESIDENT.

IS A MOVE AWAY FROM TOURISM?

>> WELL, WE DON'T SEE IT AS A MOVE AWAY FROM TOURISM.

BUT WE SEE IT AS FOCUSING ON THE LOCAL FIRST.

SO PART OF THE PROBLEM THAT HAPPENED WITH THE OLD HARBOR PLACE WHICH, I GOT TO TELL YOU, WAS ONE OF THE MOST MAGNIFICENT REDEVELOPMENTS IN TERMS OF IMPACT ON A CITY AND REGION, IS THAT IT ULTIMATELY BECAME BASICALLY, A TOURIST TRAP.

IT BECAME FILLED WITH THINGS YOU COULD FIND ANYWHERE INSTEAD OF THINGS THAT YOU COULD ONLY FIND THERE.

AND ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT THINGS WE HEARD IN OUR COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT PROCESS WAS THAT PEOPLE WERE LOOKING FOR SOMETHING LOCAL.

PEOPLE WERE LOOKING FOR UNIQUE BALTIMORE THINGS THAT WOULD MAKE THE PLACE MAKE YOU WANT TO COME BACK OVER AND OVER AGAIN.

AND OUR FEELING IS, IF WE LEAD WITH THAT KIND OF EXPERIENCE, THAT THE TOURISTS WILL FOLLOW.

THAT INSTEAD OF LEADING FOR TOURISTS WE LEAD FOR LOCAL, WE LEAD FOR THINGS THAT WILL MAKE PEOPLE WANT TO COME AGAIN AND AGAIN.

AND THEN AS IT BECOMES A PLACE OVER TIME, WHICH IS KNOWN FOR BEING UNIQUELY BALTIMORE, IT WILL BE THE PLACE THAT EVERY TOURIST WANTS TO COME WHEN THEY COME TO VISIT.

>> Jeff: E-MAIL QUESTION FROM ROGER THIS IS A ONE-WORD QUESTION.

AND IT'S PARKING?

>> GOOD QUESTION.

SO THE TRUTH IS THERE'S ALREADY WAY MORE PARKING IN AND AROUND THE INNER HARBOR THAN ANYONE REALIZES.

OUR STUDY INDICATES IT'S BETWEEN 6-7,000 PARKING SPACES THERE AND BETWEEN THAT AND ADDITIONAL PARKING WHICH WILL BE BUILT IN AND AROUND AS THE SOLE PROJECT IS DEVELOPED, WE THINK WE WILL ABSOLUTELY SATISFY ANY PARKING CONCERNS.

>> Jeff: TRYING TO THINK WHO WOULD BE OPPOSED TO THIS.

AND ONE SMALL GROUP OF PEOPLE I IMAGINE WOULD NOT BE HAPPY ARE THE WHOEVER OWNS THE HYATT HOTEL ON LIGHT STREET THAT IS CURRENTLY WATERFRONT IN-BETWEEN THE HYATT AND THE HARBOR THERE'S THE CURRENT HARBOR PLACE PAVILION WITH TWO STOREYS TALL AND YOU WILL PUT SOMETHING THAT IS 32 STOREYS TALL.

DO YOU NEED TO MAKE THEM WHOLE IN SOME WAY?

>> ABSOLUTELY NOT.

THE REALITY IS THAT I CAN TELL YOU WHAT THEY ARE NOT HAPPY WITH IS THE STATE OF THINGS TODAY.

AND EVERYTHING WE DO AT HARBOR PLACE WILL MAKE EVERYONE'S PROPERTY ULTIMATELY MORE VALUABLE.

BUT I WILL TELL YOU THIS, BECAUSE WE ARE BALTIMORIANS WE CARE ABOUT BALTIMORE.

EVERYTHING'S DESIGNED WITH GAPS.

THE GOAL HERE WAS TO TAKE AWAY BARRIERS, NOT TO INCREASE THEM.

SO, OF COURSE THERE'S HEIGHT AND HEIGHT'S NECESSARY WE THINK FOR THE LONG-TERM VIABILITY OF THE PROJECT.

BUT IT IS DESIGNED WITH GAPS SO THAT OTHER ASSETS AREN'T BLOCKED ON LIGHT STREET.

WE THINK HOPEFULLY THEY ARE ELATED SOMEONE IS GOING TO REMOVE THE BLIGHT THAT CURRENTLY SITS ACROSS THE STREET.

>> Jeff: HERE IS A GREAT VIEWER QUESTION.

BILL WANTS TO KNOW WHAT IF WE LEAVE THE INNER HARBOR ALONE AND PUT THAT MONEY INTO WEST BALTIMORE?

WE COULD DO WONDERS HE SAYS.

YOU ARE FROM WEST BALTIMORE, I BELIEVE?

>> I'M NOT ONLY FROM WEST BALTIMORE I LIVE IN WEST BALTIMORE TODAY SAME HOUSE I GREW UP IN MADISON PARK.

AND THE ANSWER IS YOU CAN'T JUST DO THAT.

AND TAKE IT FROM SOMEONE WHO IS INVESTING OVER $150 MILLION IN WEST BALTIMORE AS WE SPEAK, A FAILURE TO INVEST IN THE HEART OF THE CITY PUTS ALL OF THOSE INVESTMENTS AT RISK WHETHER IN WEST BALTIMORE OR EAST BALTIMORE IT DOESN'T MATTER.

IF IT FAILS THE ENTIRE CITY FAILS.

SO I WILL TELL YOU I'M GLAD TO HEAR THAT GENTLEMAN TALK ABOUT WEST BALTIMORE IT'S MY HOME.

AND I'M GLAD TO TELL YOU WE'RE INVESTING NORTH OF $100 MILLION AS WE SPEAK AND WE'VE DONE THE SAME THING IN EAST BALTIMORE AND NORTHEAST BALTIMORE.

WE BELIEVE IN THE ENTIRE TOWN.

AND I CAN TELL YOU, NOTHING CAN SURVIVE IF THE HEART DOES NOT SURVIVE AND THAT IS WHAT THE CENTRAL BUSINESS DISTRICT IS FOR THE CITY.

>> Jeff: YOU CAN MAKE AN ARGUMENT THAT THE CITY DEFUNDED ITS CENTRAL BUSINESS DISTRICT WHEN THEY SUBSIDIZED BIG DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS IN HARBOR EAST AND PORT COMINGTON THE BALTIMORE PENINSULA.

TO AN EXTENT DOWNTOWN BALTIMORE NEEDS A RESCUE.

YOU HAVE A LOT OF OFFICE SPACE THAT IS EMPTY POST PANDEMIC THAT IS NOT UNCOMMON.

YOU HAVE A LOT OF APARTMENT CONVERSIONS GOING ON.

IS THERE THE DEMAND THERE FOR 900 APARTMENT UNITS AND AT WHAT PRICE POINT?

IS THIS ALL LUXURY OR MIXED?

>> SO GOOD QUESTIONS.

I WILL TELL YOU FIRST OF ALL, I THINK THAT ALL TOO OFTEN IN BALTIMORE IT HAS BEEN SUBSIDIZING ONE PART OF THE CITY TO MOVE PEOPLE FROM ONE 0 TO THE OTHER A MUSICAL CHAIR AS APPROACH.

WE DON'T SUBSCRIBE TO THAT.

WE SUBSCRIBE TO THE FACT THAT BORN HAS OPPORTUNITY FOR GROWTH.

MCB IS INVESTING IN ALL PARTS OF BALTIMORE, PARTS OF BALTIMORE PEOPLE SAID YOU COULD NEVER GET A PROJECT DONE.

WE'RE DOING THEM.

AND THE TRUTH IS THEY ARE FILLING UP.

AND PEOPLE WANT TO LIVE IN BALTIMORE.

WE HAVE TO GIVE THEM THE PRODUCTS THAT THEY DESERVE.

SO DOWNTOWN BALTIMORE'S ALREADY BALTIMORE'S FASTEST GROWING NEIGHBORHOOD IF YOU TALK TO DOWNTOWN PARTNERSHIP THEY WILL TELL YOU THAT.

WE SEE HUGE OPPORTUNITIES FOR CONTINUED GROWTH IN DOWNTOWN AND PARTS OF THE CITY.

YOU MENTIONED OFFICE SPACE, THE TRUTH IS THAT THE WAY WE INTERACT WITH CENTRAL BUSINESS DISTRICTS NOT JUST IN BALTIMORE BUT AROUND THE COUNTRY, IS CHANGING AROUND THE WORLD, THE IDEA THAT YOU WILL HAVE AN AREA THAT IS NOTHING BUT OFFICE BUILDINGS AND PEOPLE WILL GO HOME AND THEN COME BACK THE NEXT DAY, I THINK THAT'S DEAD.

IN BALTIMORE AND IN OTHER CITIES, WHAT PEOPLE ARE REALIZING A LOT OF OFFICE PRODUCT IS OBSOLETE.

>> Jeff: DAVID BRAMBLE WE HAVE TO LEAVE IT THERE.

I THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

AND I THANK OUR VIEWERS FOR JOINING US AS WELL.

BACK FRIDAY WITH "STATE CIRCLE".

CAN YOU FIND US ON SOCIAL MEDIA MEDIA@MPTNEWS.

THANK YOU FOR WATCHING "DIRECT CONNECTION" AND HAVE A GOOD NIGHT.