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E.magination selects Tide Point for HQ
Roger Hughlett Staff
The folks at e.magination Network LLC -- if all goes as planned
-- have found a new home and provided a local development
with another trophy technology tenant.
Executives at the Baltimore-based Web development and marketing
firm signed a letter of intent this week to lease 30,000 square
feet at the Tide Point complex, which is being developed by
Struever Bros. Eccles & Rouse Inc.
A lease is expected to be finalized in a few months. Financial
details of the agreement were not released.
The $53 million development has been considered by most observers
as the future center of Baltimore's growing technology community.
With e.magination (http://www.emagination.com)
moving in, the predictions appear to being coming true. Local
economic developers and technology leaders are applauding
the company's decision to move to the six-building complex
in Locust Point.
"We are very excited about this move," said Syd
Rubin, president of e.magination. "We think Tide Point
is really going to put Baltimore on the national map."
Carl W. "Bill" Struever, president of Struever
Bros. (http://www.sber.com),
said he shares in e.magination's excitement. "They are
a super group," Struever said. "We are looking forward
to having them here."
The tech company will join one of the city's fastest-growing
companies -- Advertising.com Inc. (formerly TeknoSurf .com)
at the 400,000-square-foot complex that once housed Procter
& Gamble's local manufacturing operations.
The presence of Advertising.com and e.magination -- combined
with developer Struever's reputation for creating office space
designed with technology firms in mind -- are just the foundation
needed for Tide Point to become what its backers plan.
Chris Parente, spokesman for Advertising.com, said the people
at the Internet advertising firm are pleased with e.magination's
decision.
"This proves that we are turning Locust Point into a
new `digital harbor,'" he said.
Officials with the Greater Baltimore Technology Council said
the e.magination's move is another sign that the technology
community is still growing.
Rubin said his company went through an extensive search process.
"I don't think there is a building in Baltimore I haven't
been in," Rubin said.
What sold e.magination on Tide Point was the developer's
vision. One of Rubin's goals was to have a basketball court
at the next place his company moved. Fortunately for him,
a basketball court is one of several amenities Struever has
planned for Tide Point.
Other plans for the project include a restaurant or bar,
a large waterfront patio complete with kayaks and rooftop
decks.
According to e.magination's proposed deal with Struever Bros.,
the company's 60 or so employees will not move into Tide Point
until October. In the interim, the company is expected to
be housed in the former Kirk-Stieff Co. silver plant, which
also is being redeveloped by Struever Bros.
Currently, e.magination leases approximately 7,000 square
feet in The Can Company -- also a Struever Bros. project.
© 2000 American City Business Journals
Inc.
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