March 7, 2024

After some delay, the Maryland Codes Administration (MCA) has issued a report on the technologies, timing, and policies necessary to electrify the building sector.

Contrary to the Maryland Department of the Environment’s Building Energy Performance Standard which would mandate an abrupt and arbitrary energy transition, the MCA’s report sets out a pragmatic, orderly switch to electricity, implemented through the international building and energy codes.

A joint effort by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the Maryland Department of Planning (MDP) and Baltimore County is offering free environmental site assessments (ESAs), technical advisory services and access to other grants and tax incentives to property owners looking to remediate and redevelop brownfields.

The effort to spur environmental cleanups and economic development on the county’s east side, however, must overcome an initial challenge: hesitancy among landowners and developers to get involved.

When UBER founder Travis Kalanick announced years ago that “with the growing popularity of ride sharing apps and self-driving cars, there won’t be the need for parking lots in the future,” the entire parking industry shuddered. Quite the opposite occurred, due to a confluence of factors led by the pandemic and the ensuant rise in car ownership.

“There are more cars on the road now than ever, which translates to the continual need for parking lots and garages,” said Robert Zuritsky, President and CEO of Parkway Corporation.

Kalanick’s comments resonated and, combined with shifting consumer habits, even banks started to raise some red flags about the long-term relevance of parking lots.

“My banker actually asked what I thought of his premise to convert all parking lots to parks and, at the time, I really didn’t have an answer,” Zuritsky said.

But he does now.

Spring Networking

March 20 from 4 PM-6 PM

Charles Village Pub & Patio

19 W Pennsylvania Ave, Towson, MD 21204