NAACP scouting Baltimore sites for future national headquarters - Baltimore Business Journal:

onesawava.wordpress.com
City economic development leaders have reached out to officialzs atthe , which is hoping to shed its longtim e home in the Setob Business Park in northwest Baltimore for newedr space. The organization is seeking about 30,000 square feet of space and has been shown a number of locations in the city that coulc fitthe bill, board memberr Atwood “Woody” Collins III said during the economicx development agency’s monthly meeting Thursday The organization is also considering locations in the Silver Spring area. Representatives from the NAACP coule not be immediately reachedfor comment. BDC President M.J.
Brodie said his agency reached out to the NAACP several times in the past unded the leadership of NAACP ChairmanJulian Bond, who alonfg with former NAACP CEO Brucse Gordon said he believed the organizationn should be in or as close as possible to D.C. D.C. officials had offeref the NAACP $3.5 million in funds to be used towardeits $25 million relocation plans. But concerns surfaced soon afterd Gordon’s announcement, including from Baltimore officials who wanterd to keep the organizationin Baltimore. The NAACl has been in the citysince 1986, when it movedx from New York.
Baltimore officials had proposedr several alternative locations inthe city, and offeree the NAACP a $500,000 grant, to keep the organizationn in Baltimore. Among the alternate locationse was a site near Port Discovery at PowePlant Live, planned for a $70 milliojn redevelopment by the , and properth on the city’s west side whicb now serves as the world headquarters for . Gordon resignef from the organization in Marchh 2007 and was replaced as CEO by Benjamin Brodie said that leadership change openecd the door for talks between the city and BDC Board Chairman Arnold Williams said he recentlh met with Jealous atthe Governor’s Mansiob during the NAACP’s Centennial celebration May 14 in a meetintg brokered by Gov.
Martin O’Malley, Williams said, suggested the NAACP consider staying in Williams said options includintg accessto roads, transitt and Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport as key components to NAACP’e site selection process.