by GARY COLLINS & KEITH DANIELS | FOX45 News (WBFF) — Hunt Valley Towne Centre has seen a double-digit increase in property crime this year Crime statistics obtained by FOX45 News through a public information request reveal an approximately 18.3% increase in reported property incidents when comparing January 1 to September 30 for the years 2023 and 2024 There was a small bump in reported robbery burglary and theft in the 100 block of Shawan Road in Cockeysville the location of the Hunt Valley Towne Centre The outdoor mall's highest reported crime increased from 130 incidents in 2023 to 154 in 2024 during the same period credit card and ATM fraud at the shopping center surged by 700% president of the Maryland Retailers Alliance told FOX45 News that the trends in Hunt Valley illustrate a significant issue facing the future of retail Baltimore County police spokesperson Joy Lepola-Stewart wrote in an email to FOX45 News that the department is collaborating closely with the shopping center’s retail partners to foster a welcoming atmosphere the calls for service to the Department are often retail-related,” Lepola-Stewart said the shoplifters will target the anchor stores.” Locklair said her organization’s experience is that retail theft drives additional criminal activity to neighborhood commerce centers FOX45 News spent several hours on Wednesday surveying the tenants at the Hunt Valley Towne Centre Nine retail workers stepped outside their stores to speak with FOX45 News They did so without the authority to comment on behalf of their national box store brands Eight of the nine workers surveyed said they noticed an increase in unattended juveniles "window shopping" in the town center this year Five of the workers interviewed by FOX45 News said they worry that bad actors can easily access the outdoor mall via the light rail station which ends its northern route next to the property All of the surveyed retail workers said there has been an increased police and private security presence at the Wegmans grocery store on the west side of the mall None of the corporate employers of the surveyed workers responded immediately on Wednesday to requests for comments about the increase in crime at the shopping center Workers at Wegmans referred FOX45 News to their corporate office which also did not immediately return comment requests Lepola-Stewart said that the Baltimore County police are working with retailers to enhance security measures The Maryland Retailers Alliance reports that professional criminal rings are exploiting state laws that prevent the consolidation of aggregate theft crimes across jurisdictions The association’s president said she is worried not much will change without the Maryland General Assembly fixing known criminal law loopholes “Professional thieves know that the felony theft threshold in Maryland sits at $1,500 higher than almost all surrounding states,” Locklair said “Thieves merely have to cross a county line to commit additional theft over $1,500 and will not be charged with a felony.” “Professional thief needs to be taken seriously and stricter laws must be enacted,” Locklair added FOX45 News could not immediately reach the Baltimore-based commercial owner of the Hunt Valley Towne Centre on Wednesday Follow Gary Collins on X. Do you have news tips on this story or others? Send news tips to gmcollins@sbgtv.com — A new senior-living community is set to be built on 31 acres about one mile north of the Hunt Valley Towne Centre "The Heights at Hunt Valley" will feature 52 "villa-style" homes and a 158,000-square-foot "assisted living component" at 180 Sparks Valley Road The site was just purchased by Bushrod Investments and Birchwood Capital Partners who are close to finalizing a deal with a national homebuilder to build the community RELATED | 290 townhomes proposed for Delta Hotel site in Hunt Valley The Heights will offer four different villa designs Sales are expected to start in spring of 2026 Planned amenities include a community fire pit and "extensive walking trail system" through the community - as well as wide-plank floors and granite or quartz countertops in each home A chain-link fence and barren asphalt lots surround what used to be the Hunt Valley Inn. The northern Baltimore County hotel, which for decades hosted proms, weddings and conventions, has stood vacant since closing in October 2023 a prominent local developer could submit a plan to raze the structure on Shawan Road and replace it with nearly 300 high-end townhouses But a key question remains: Will most residents be able to afford them The Baltimore Banner thanks its sponsors. Become one. The proposal comes as the county faces an urgent need for affordable housing And proposals to develop more affordable homes are often met with resistance They worry luxury projects like this one raise concerns about meeting that obligation “When there is a development of this sort — high-end certainly not affordable housing — going up there are questions about whether this is evidence that furthers the argument of non-compliance,” said Roland Patterson first vice president of the NAACP’s Baltimore County branch which is a party to the 2016 agreement seeking to remedy the county’s legacy of discriminatory housing practices acknowledged concerns at a recent community meeting about the townhomes’ affordability but expressed optimism that they would be “obtainable for a lot of people.” Keelty is willing to reduce the home prices to move it forward Berman said he and Keelty are pursuing the redevelopment because they live near the vacant hotel which is close to two light rail stops and a large shopping center And we wanted to make sure something nice got built there.” Some community leaders have voiced support for the proposal president of the Greater Timonium Community Council said that while the housing market should offer a range of options developments aimed at homeowners provide certain benefits “There’s a lot of positives in terms of the occupants of the townhouses really being concerned about their community and not having just a passing interest that some apartment dwellers might have,” Rockel said He added that the county has “other opportunities for affordable housing.” After announcing a plan in December to replace a Towson motel with over 100 reduced-price apartments the county is on track to meet about 90% of its obligation to provide “geographically dispersed” affordable housing under the voluntary consent agreement But there are limits on how much time and land are left to achieve full compliance. The agreement upheld the county’s urban-rural demarcation line which protects agricultural land and steers the required 1,000 affordable units toward existing population areas The county isn’t required to build the additional housing itself, but it is supporting private developers in such efforts. Some County Council members, however, have since slowed progress toward adding affordable housing in their districts — including at Lutherville Station shopping center The council has been much more enthusiastic about the Hunt Valley project. Last year, councilmen passed a bill by Wade Kach that amended zoning regulations to permit residential development there Then-County Executive Johnny Olszewski Jr. issued a rare veto of the legislation which the county attorney claimed granted a special exemption for the hotel’s redevelopment unlawfully County Executive Kathy Klausmeier affirmed the county’s commitment to addressing its housing needs “Baltimore County is one of many jurisdictions across the state and country experiencing a shortage of housing and we’re committed to an open and holistic development process that will continue to improve our neighborhoods and make Baltimore County a more welcoming place for all,” the statement said residents have raised concerns that the Hunt Valley project pedestrian safety issues and more crowded schools Berman cited a study showing that traffic would not reach the point where intersections were “failing.” a project manager with the civil engineering firm Kimley-Horn outlined plans for fencing and sidewalk renovations to improve pedestrian safety along Shawan Road The affordability question did prompt Keelty to have Berman and Bishop present an alternate mixed-use plan for the hotel site to a sparse crowd of community members last week The second proposal calls for 360 condominium units which Berman estimated would sell in the $500,000 range along with 19,000 square feet of retail space Keelty did not attend the community meeting because neither he nor his family are enthusiastic about the condominium proposal and they don’t want to represent to you that they are going to do it,” Berman told the few in attendance Keelty is treating the condo plan as a backup and moving forward with the townhome proposal After he submits a detailed development plan to the county agency heads would provide public comments within three weeks Interior demolition activities at the site would commence within 30 to 60 days Sapna Bansil sapna.bansil@thebaltimorebanner.com Sapna Bansil is a regional reporter and Roy W She graduated in May 2024 with her master's from the University of Maryland and held internships at The Philadelphia Inquirer and The Washington Post Welcome to The Banner's subscriber-only commenting community. Please review our community guidelines Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Service and Privacy Policies The Baltimore Banner is a trademark registered in the U.S for The Venetoulis Institute for Local Journalism Statement from Executive Vice President and General Manager Eric DeCosta pic.twitter.com/TNQrqw3me2 Welcome to The Banner's subscriber-only commenting community. Please review our community guidelines Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Service and Privacy Policies Click here to view our Terms of Sale.\n \n Click here to learn more about supporting local journalism.\n Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes. If the problem persists, please contact customer service at 443-843-0043 or customercare@thebaltimorebanner.com Health Care Heroes ECD Lacrosse buys flex property in Hunt Valley for $13.1M ECD Lacrosse will house 30 employees at the 80,150-square-foot property at 10830 Gilroy Road and currently has partnerships with major lacrosse retailers The Federal Reserve will likely keep its key short-term interest rate unchanged President Donald Trump's tariffs are based not on specific goods like cars or steel Six Flags America and Hurricane Harbor in the Maryland suburbs of Washington American employers added 177,000 jobs in April as the job market showed resilience in the face of President Do[...] TD Bank’s $200K grant to Maryland Volunteer Lawyers Services will help preserve legacy Black homeownership t[...] A free networking breakfast and forum will explore how artificial intelligence is reshaping the skills Sign up for your daily digest of Maryland news Supporting small businesses is an investment in Maryland’s prosperity – one that drives growth a[...] Listen to this article As I write this shortly after Earth Day 2025 I have on my desk a 46-page pub[...] Listen to this article Based on recent data provided by the U.S there was [...] I took the oath prescribed in Maryland Business Occupations[...] Listen to this article Maryland has a lot to celebrate when it comes to climate action but also muc[...] Lawmakers in Annapolis have passed hastily considered extended [...] Listen to this article In the past decade employers who sponsor pension plans have been subject to [...] Submit an entry for the business calendar The Daily Record is a digital-first daily news media company focused on law Get our free e-alerts & breaking news notifications Subscribe for access to the latest digital and special editions Click here for information about plaques permissions and reprints of previous editions Javascript is disabled in your web browser You can't access site without javascript so please enable it for your seamless and unintruppted user experience of our website The Heights at Hunt Valley is the name of a 31-acre senior living community planned for construction just north of Hunt Valley Towne Centre in Baltimore County Bushrod Investments and Birchwood Capital Partners announced this week that they have acquired land at 180 Sparks Valley Road and obtained approval for an age-restricted community containing 52 villa-style homes that will be for sale and a 158,000-square-foot assisting living facility Preliminary sitework has begun for the 28-foot-wide villa homes and sales will start in the spring of 2026 Lennar Homes is the builder of the villa homes and they will range in size from 2,100 square feet to 3,200 square feet with options for one- or two-story residences Construction is expected to begin next year on the assisted living site Planned amenities include a community fire pit and outdoor grilling station and an extensive walking trail system that meanders throughout the community © Copyright 2012 - 2023 | citybiz | All Rights Reserved by CALE AHEARN & ALEXA DIKOS | FOX45 News (WBFF) — A 6-acre brush fire closed a portion of Maryland Route 45 in Hunt Valley on Wednesday afternoon the Maryland State Highway Administration (MDSHA) said a fire closed Maryland Route 45 in both directions at Thornton Mill Road in Hunt Valley Responding crews with the Baltimore County Fire Department (BCoFD) described the scene as a "6-acre brush fire" in the unit block of 13900 York Road BCoFD noted that the fire involved a small shed and a vacant home ALSO READ | Your Voice Your Future Town Hall | Maryland's Energy Crisis The fire was placed under control around 6:30 p.m. Authorities confirmed there were no injuries The cause of the fire is under investigation There was a red flag warning extended into the Baltimore area on Wednesday Hunt Valley is getting a brand new Ikea store It will be located off Shawan Road at the Hunt Valley Towne Centre in Cockeysville this isn't your typical humongous Ikea store that sells delicious meatballs The international discount furniture retailer calls it a Plan and Order Point. The company launched one last year in Annapolis these stores don't sell any take-home inventory on-site Instead they offer appointment-based consultations for those wishing to personally design and plan their own living space Once final arrangements are made with a store staff member customers can either pick-up their furniture at the store or have it delivered Certain online orders can also be picked up at the new location "I'm beyond excited to welcome customers at IKEA Hunt Valley this summer No more navigating the challenges of the Baltimore Beltway—now you can enjoy IKEA and our inspiring home design with less hassle," said John Caliguiri Hill Management Services; Paul Obrecht III Rosenberg Martin Greenberg; Denise Kramer-Buchman The persistent softness of the commercial office real estate environment combined with the continued demand for a variety of residential housing types is prompting developers and investors alike to rethink the best and highest use for land as well as office and industrial buildings in the greater Hunt Valley submarket Blue & Obrecht Realty at Hunt Valley Business Forum’s recent Annual Public Policy Symposium held at the Executive Plaza complex at 11350 McCormick Road in Hunt Valley though the COVID healthcare crisis reshaped how many companies interact with traditional work environments vacancy levels at many stabilized buildings and mixed-use communities remain strong but the ability to backfill certain spaces and drive new leasing activities remains challenging This is causing them to reconsider sites originally planned to support commercial office space Obrecht specifically pointed to 2311 York Road 78,000 square foot asset which recently lost its full-building tenant Obrecht Properties determined that it was unlikely to attract new office tenants in the near-term so they pivoted and are marketing it for retail uses Obrecht added that “leasing activity in this categor remains strong.” is pushing forward with Hunt Valley Exchange The company indicates that Phase I will include two flex/R&D buildings totaling 96,240 square feet of space as well as an 8,125 square foot inline retail building Delivery for Phase I is slated for Q3 2026 “Companies pivoted quickly once COVID hit and many have been slow to convert back to five-day-per-week schedules although we see shifting sentiments of late,” explained Knott Realty’s Hayes “There are no pure-office developments underway in the greater Hunt Valley submarket; instead we are seeing former commercial office buildings being converted into new uses.” “Allowing residential zoning in manufacturing and business zones in Baltimore County is the big story,” explained Obrecht  “Historically the county has strongly resisted allowing residential in manufacture zones as it is considered a threat to business but in response to housing shortages and office vacancies it was allowed in numerous instances during the Comprehensive Zoning Map Process He added “development headwinds include escalating construction costs which soared 20 percent in 2023 and another four percent last year interest rate increases and the long wait to receive Baltimore County permits which are taking close to two years for new construction This is a major problem and is contributing to rising rental rates for new buildings and contributing to locally unprecedented rental rates for new projects.” Rosenberg Martin Greenberg’s Busse provided an overview of the Mixed-Use Overlay District a bill passed by the Baltimore County Council last year It essentially allows developers and owners to repurpose outdated buildings for new uses and allow opportunities to create areas which support high-density and multi-use buildings Busse said that it “allows flexibility similar to what we are used to seeing with Planned Unit Developments.” She said that while recognizing the need for more housing the lack of available commercial office space puts Baltimore County and Maryland at a disadvantage because it stifles job creation and does not add to the tax base “Baltimore County appears motivated by the existing housing shortage and pursuing all opportunities to address this situation,” she added Asset conversions and new residential projects planned The Hunt Valley Business Forum serves as the collective voice for Hunt Valley-area businesses, with a mission to promote growth and development through networking, educational programs, and relevant communications. For more information about the group, as well as a list of upcoming events, please visit www.hvbf.org — A significant proposal is on the table to construct nearly 300 townhomes on the former Delta Hotel in Hunt Valley site As the community prepares for a crucial input meeting scheduled for tomorrow evening residents are sharing their thoughts on the development plan located at the southeast corner of Shawan Road and I-83 The proposed project includes the construction of 126 single-family townhomes part of a broader initiative to expand housing options in the area Developer Shawan and consultant Kimley Horn are at the helm of the project According to reports from the Baltimore Sun they have already secured a $28 million mortgage and financing deal to kickstart renovations on the site Local residents have expressed varying opinions about the proposal Many view the addition of townhomes as a positive step towards addressing the existing housing shortage “I don’t think it’s a bad idea because these days it seems like there’s a shortage of rental properties and all that.” Similarly Greg Chester noted that the area requires more housing options to align with current purchasing and rental costs The proposed development’s location adds to its appeal as it is only minutes from the Hunt Valley Towne Centre Residents believe this convenience could enhance business and lifestyle opportunities “People can walk to their shopping and restaurants and stuff.” Despite the optimism surrounding the project Comments on WMAR 2 News’ Facebook page reveal concerns about increased traffic and its potential impact on local schools more burden on schools,” while another expressed that “traffic is already insane.” Children residing in the new townhomes would attend Dulaney High School in Cockeysville which may also feel the effects of the development This project is currently in its early stages and the Baltimore County Government is hosting a community input meeting to discuss the development further The meeting is set for 7 PM tomorrow at Embassy Suites in Hunt Valley and community members are encouraged to voice their opinions and concerns HUNT VALLEY — The public gathered Wednesday evening at Embassy Suites in Hunt Valley to discuss the proposed development of 290 townhomes on the former Delta Hotel site igniting conversations about potential impacts on the local community residents had the opportunity to ask questions and express their concerns about the project which is planned for an 18-acre site where the hotel once stood The meeting detailed the project's blueprint A primary concern among residents was the anticipated increase in traffic that could arise from the new development a resident living near Falls and Shawan Road noted her daily struggles with heavy traffic 14 minutes of travel time you need to add.” a resident living directly across from the proposed site emphasizing that congestion is already an issue especially with traffic from the nearby mall and Interstate 83 especially with the holidays,” Dodson said “It’s just always a concern for the residents around here.” the engineering consultant involved with the project reassured the community that traffic levels would remain stable all the intersections in the area will still function at a level C or better… C is actually a very good rating asserting his commitment to not worsening traffic in the neighborhood “If I think the traffic is going to get worse why would I make the traffic worse in my neighborhood?” Keelty said The development will maintain the original entry and exit used by the Delta Hotel while adding an access point to Schilling Circle The proposed project also includes two-way streets within the development and on-street parking to alleviate congestion a new stormwater management system is planned to improve the current inadequate infrastructure aiming to collect and treat rainwater effectively Concerns about housing affordability were also raised as officials revealed that the homes would not be classified as affordable housing “That already creates an environment that’s exclusive and excluding.” citing its proximity to public transit and easy access to interstate highways as beneficial for potential residents “This is an excellent place for residential because of the easy access to the interstate highway and the light rail.” Officials informed attendees that no studies or reports have been released concerning this proposal as they are still finalizing the development plan and traffic study to submit to the county The review process may take up to 12 months before the developer and engineering team present their findings to the community Baltimore and the surrounding counties are full of unique neighborhoods The W Home Group will highlight their favorite neighborhoods to sell in and what makes each one so distinctive we're heading to Hunt Valley with agent Mike Myslinski Hunt Valley gives you all of the beauty of country living with the convenience of being close to great shopping If you recently bought a home or are just looking for a refresh, North Furnishings is the perfect place to start in Hunt Valley They sell vintage items as well as brands like Restoration Hardware Owner Patrick North loves Hunt Valley's great sense of community and support for local business owners Hunt Valley is conveniently located to I-83 and 695 and commuters can be in Baltimore City in about 30 minutes There is a competitive real estate market there especially for more affordable town homes and condos but having the right agent and team on your side can help make a difference The W Home Group is the number one team of agents in Maryland Learn more or contact Mike Myslinski here — She asked her co-worker to snap this photo because she didn't think anyone would believe her Rontavia Turner was doing something she does nearly every day - boarding the bus home from work when suddenly the ground opened up beneath her "It was kinda like the grass just crumbled," she recalled to WMAR-2 News' Elizabeth Worthington She was stuck all the way up to her mid-thigh I'm about to get swallowed by this - what I'm assuming now is some sort of sinkhole," she said My leg was underground but it's dangling so I don't know how far that hole actually goes." It happened at a bus stop by 11350 McCormick Road in Hunt Valley at the end of October We submitted a Public Information Act request to Baltimore County Department of Public Works inquiring about any road work that may have been done in that area The DPW sent us a work order from a water service restoration in May 2022 Photos show how crews had to rip up part of the road for the work but I'm the one who has to suffer financially," she told WMAR-2 News The incident aggravated a pre-existing knee injury Turner is left with a mountain of medical bills and has trouble getting around independently She's on unpaid leave from her job at a daycare "There is no income coming in currently,” Turned said She hired a lawyer and plans to take legal action against Baltimore County I won't be able to really have much of a Christmas and I won't be able to barely provide for myself let alone others so it's kind of sad time of year when December is supposed to be one of the happiest times of the year." After our story aired on WMAR-2 News, a neighbor started a GoFundMe for Turner MD) -- A new Ikea store is coming to Hunt Valley The retailer announced it will open its new location off of Shawan Road at the Hunt Valley Towne Centre Baltimore County development to feature 52 villa homes The Heights at Hunt Valley will feature 52-villa-style homes and a 158,000 square-foot assisted living complex just north of Hunt Valley Towne Center The Baltimore Ravens say they are releasing kicker Justin Tucker months after reports that he was accused of [...] Bankruptcy Judge Michelle Harner's order seeks to preserve victims’ rights under the Child Victims Act [...] The Walters Art Museum is not subject to the Maryland Public Information Act State Republicans laud a House vote to block California from banning the sale of new gas-powered cars by 2035,[...] The attorneys general of Maryland and other states filed a lawsuit against President Donald Trump's attempt to[...] Diamond Comic Distributors’ bankruptcy filing last week could mean layoffs and the closure of its Hunt Valley headquarters if it doesn’t find a buyer by April 1 close its main office and lay off as many as 168 employees the company said this week in a federally mandated notification to the Maryland Department of Labor Diamond was a de facto comic book distributing monopoly But after it briefly suspended operations during the 2020 pandemic The company has recently struggled with delays in getting titles to comic stores on time Diamond filed for Chapter 11 reorganization bankruptcy Jan stating at the time that it would potentially sell pieces of its business — including Alliance Game Distributors a lucrative board and card game distributor — to Universal Distributors “Diamond Comic Distributors is actively attempting to secure a buyer for its business operations other than its Alliance division,” Diamond told Hunt Valley employees in the federally mandated notice “Although we are hopeful to locate a buyer Diamond will unfortunately have to cease operations the Diamond business will continue as usual.” Diamond grew into a powerhouse from humble beginnings after Steve Geppi Diamond was the industry’s essential conduit; almost every comic book on store shelves had been delivered via Diamond Over the past five years, Diamond’s control has declined, but some store owners still say it provides an essential service. Although comic book publishers like DC Comics and Marvel moved onto other distributors in recent years, one smaller publisher said this week it is not sure if it can survive without Diamond Hayes Gardner hayes.gardner@thebaltimorebanner.com Hayes Gardner is a business reporter for The Baltimore Banner the Louisville Courier-Journal and the Ames (Iowa) Tribune 2025 at 3:59 pm ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}Med Spa LongJuve has announced the site of its first Maryland location — the Executive Plaza complex in Hunt Valley — and plans to open a second facility next summer in Rockville MD — Med Spa LongJuve has announced the site of its first Maryland location — the Executive Plaza complex in Hunt Valley — and plans to open a second facility next summer in Rockville The health and wellness company signed a lease for 4,183 square feet at Executive Plaza III a part of the 550,000-square-foot complex at 11350 McCormick Road The site is located adjacent to Interstate 83 and is less than 10 miles from Towson and about 15 miles from downtown Baltimore City The ground-floor space will be the site of the Hunt Valley location which is expected to beginoperations in early February LongJuve hours are: LongJuve offers services including hormone replacement therapy and medically-supervised weight loss programs The practice group will also provide facials The Hunt Valley practice will be under the direction of Dr Fermin Barrueto and will include six medical practitioners LongJuve practice manager Kimberly Lang said men and women are increasingly investing in their personal appearance as a way to boost confidence The ownership group said it is investing in best-in-class equipment and personnel and is targeting a “higher-end clientele” with the promise to deliver “an unparalleled and results-oriented experience." Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts. This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks The action you just performed triggered the security solution There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page a trio of interns shared a cubicle in Hunt Valley at a strategy gaming company called MicroProse Now those interns are leading their own ventures: Greg Foertsch founded Bit Reactor Tim Kipp co-founded Oxide Games and David Inscore co-founded Big Huge Games They and other local developers have created or worked on notable games such as “Rise of Nations,” “FrontierVille” and the sci-fi favorite “XCOM” series “The three of us are still active in the Baltimore scene which is kind of weird for that little intern group,” Foertsch said Silicon Valley may be the country’s tech hub and Montgomery County has Maryland’s best-known gaming companies Bethesda Game Studios and Bethesda Softworks But Baltimore County is a sleeper success story Kipp and Inscore — working under Sid Meier at MicroProse was a spark Meier is the developer behind the popular “Civilization” series which is set to release its seventh edition in February Meier co-founded MicroProse in the 1980s and later Firaxis Games He’s a self-proclaimed “godfather of computer gaming” and “benevolent industry patriarch,” according to his 2020 memoir But even with the ability to build on a legacy newer founders have more levels to clear and achievements to unlock before they get anywhere close to the success of their predecessors Games aren’t treated “quite as seriously in the area,” Kipp said Local gaming company leaders say they’d love to see more business incubators similar to what the broader technology industry offers and investment from the state through tax incentives and other programs “My hope is that not only are we successful but we can build a successful community around entertainment and games,” Kipp said When Meier founded MicroProse with Bill Stealey and Andy Hollis quarters jangling in their hands and pockets while they waited for a turn to play “Donkey Kong” or “Pac-Man.” MicroProse created games that spoke to that era releasing the flight simulator “Hellcat Ace” in 1982 It was developed and copied onto floppy disks using $1,500 in savings striking gold in the mid-1980s with “F-15 Strike Eagle,” which sold more than 1 million copies by the end of the decade MicroProse was “one of the big granddaddy companies in the industry back before everyone learned that California was the cool place to be,” said Tim Train co-founder of Big Huge Games and a former employee of Meier’s companies “These independent centers sprung up in the early to mid-’80s and one just happened to be in Hunt Valley.” “Sid Meier’s Civilization” has been called one of the most influential computer games in history, setting the stage for the empire-building genre. A computer programmer by training, Meier has said it wasn’t his idea to slap his name on the cover of MicroProse’s most popular titles Online gaming publication IGN ranked the “XCOM” series that MicroProse co-developed the top PC game of all time in 2000 and 2007 But even with critical acclaim the company struggled financially and then merged with another unsteady company “Some people got restless with the new ownership in California and a couple of people started to break off,” Greg Foertsch said Meier launched another video game development company video game designers Jeff Briggs and Brian Reynolds told the Baltimore Business Journal at the time that his former employees left on good terms But Stealey also expressed skepticism about their venture “He just wants to design games without the pressure of somebody looking over his shoulder,” Stealey said Firaxis quickly scored a partnership deal with Electronic Arts, one of the largest video game developers and publishers based in California’s Silicon Valley, providing the financing for its first two games The partnership that started Firaxis lasted around four years but the company moved forward with Meier at the helm creatively and not just in PC gaming and strategy gaming but in the industry,” said Dan Baker a former employee of Firaxis who went on to co-create Oxide Games more than any other game Firaxis has ever made.” Firaxis gave rise to other gaming companies Reynolds and designer Tim Train started Big Huge Games in 2000 was part of that power cubicle of interns in the MicroProse days Big Huge Games differentiated itself from Firaxis by making multiplayer games “Even though I was pretty happy at Firaxis I was delighted to take that opportunity and go build new kinds of games with Brian,” Train said To that point video games had had a slow buildup Games and gaming consoles introduced new genres better graphics and a lot more competition Big Huge Games released “Rise of Nations,” made for Xbox and Apple’s Mac computers, in 2003. It sold over 2 million copies from launch until 2017 After two acquisitions failed to improve the financial outlook of the Baltimore County company Reynolds and Train left in June 2009 for Zynga Zynga opened an office in Baltimore County’s Timonium and called it Zynga East That kept Reynolds and Train in the area to make “FrontierVille,” also known as The Pioneer Trail Layoffs and staff changes at Firaxis led to the creation of another Baltimore County gaming company Dan Baker partnered with MicroProse intern cubicle alumni Tim Kipp and other Firaxis veterans to start Oxide Games in 2013 — sticking to Baltimore County was a big opportunity — and the inspiration for starting something new “Maybe I could step up and build something where people come to work with us.” Oxide Games released “Ara: History Untold,” a historical turn-based strategy game MicroProse intern cubicle veteran Greg Foertsch felt the entrepreneurial itch after 24 years at Firaxis and in 2021 founded Bit Reactor One of Hunt Valley’s newest gaming companies Bit Reactor is set to work with one of the world’s most valuable intellectual properties — Star Wars — to build a strategy game around the growing Disney franchise Foertsch said he never considered looking to another area for Bit Reactor’s home base and build a culture that I wanted to work in.” The director of Baltimore County’s Department of Economic and Workforce Development said in a statement that the county is “proud to be home to thriving businesses in the video game development industry.” But some think the region could be doing more to support the industry to keeping the industry moving is to continue to draw young developers and talent into the area with the promise of ‘I really want to invest in you,’” Foertsch said some want the gaming companies to connect more with Baltimore gamers Michael Peace, a longtime gamer who owns M.A.P Technologies, an electronic repair shop and gaming lounge in downtown Baltimore said he has asked Firaxis and Bethesda Games to host events but they haven’t taken him up on it One challenge for gaming companies in the area is finding investors a lot of people look at Maryland as either biotech or defense,” said Kipp looked at as a serious industry in Maryland in the same way,” he said Even so, Midsummer Studios, Hunt Valley’s newest player, secured $6 million in investments to create a narrative-driven simulation game that Bloomberg News and other publications claim will “take on The Sims.” The company launched in May with former Firaxis developers Jake Solomon and Will Miller a former director from Electronic Arts who worked on “The Sims,” from California to Baltimore and the funding environment was super tight,” Miller said But why stay in Baltimore when Silicon Valley lures so many with its temperate weather beautiful coasts and access to billions in venture capital The developers’ consensus: because the Baltimore area has perks hard to find in other places It offers affordable living and access to D.C. local developers have a little slice of the West Coast at the California Pizza Kitchen at the Hunt Valley Town Center — a favorite hangout The county’s newer studios are still finding their footing But what they’ve absorbed from the legacy of MicroProse and Sid Meier is to create compelling games Bria Overs bria.overs@thebaltimorebanner.com Bria Overs is a business reporter at The Baltimore Banner She covers small business and consumer and economic trends with a special interest in minority- and women-owned businesses Word In Black and contributed to local publications in Los Angeles there are no recent results for popular articles there are no recent results for popular images there are no recent results for popular videos there are no recent results for popular commented articles Your browser is out of date and potentially vulnerable to security risks.We recommend switching to one of the following browsers: Email additions and updates to calendar@vnews.com Hanover’s Egg-Stravaganza Egg Hunt: Saturday jelly bean count and egg hunt for children ages 3 to 11 Hosted by Claremont’s BEST Summer Camp and After School Program Annual Easter Egg Hunt in Grantham: Saturday Pictures with the Easter Bunny in Claremont: Saturday pets and families welcome to get pictures taken with the Easter Bunny Digital images will be emailed to participants for $5 each Proceeds benefit Sullivan County Humane Society More information: Facebook: “Springfield NH Rec Committee.” Easter Eggstraviganza in New London: Saturday Co-hosted by the Center for the Arts and the New London Town Recreation Department Spring Egg Scramble in White River Junction: Saturday Hosted by Hartford Parks and Recreation Department CCBA’s annual Easter Egg Hunt in Lebanon: Saturday Bring baskets and cameras to take photographs with Easter Bunny Includes egg decorating and Easter Bunny visits Easter Eggstravaganza in Tunbridge: Saturday The Great Egg Hunt Craft and Vendor Fair in Charlestown: Saturday Includes raffle and candy number guessing game Easter Bake Sale in Bethel: Saturday, April 19, 1 p.m. The Octagon, 34 Factory Hill Road. Hosted by the Middle Branch Grange. Pre-orders for pies, rolls and donuts welcome, email middlebranchgrange463@gmail.com or message via facebook.com/middle.branch.grange before April 12 Bridgewater (Vt.) Grange #284 Easter Potluck: Saturday you agree with our use of cookies to personalize your experience measure ads and monitor how our site works to improve it for our users — The fast-casual restaurant honeygrow opened its latest location Friday salads and "honeybars" - desserts with fruit and other toppings - honeygrow can customize all its dishes The restaurant will also soon open at Columbia Crossing Shopping Center in Howard County and at Westminster Station in Carroll County In Westminster, it will be in a new building that's expected to soon be anchored by Sprouts Farmers Market Locations in Timonium and Annapolis are planned to open this fall. The company completed restaurants at Owings Mills' Mill Station, Bel Air and Arundel Mills recently Company founder and CEO Justin Rosenberg said: "We're thrilled to expand our presence in Maryland and bring the unique dining experience of honeygrow to these vibrant communities We're excited to continue our journey of growth and making new customers happy in each market that we plant roots in." Get important news about your town as it happens Get the top stories from across our network Are you sure you want to unsubscribe from daily updates A South American pepper known for fruity and tropical notes with moderate heat is one spice company's top flavor for 2025 McCormick named aji amarillo as its 2025 Flavor of the Year A pineapple daiquiri. McCormick named aji amarillo as its 2025 Flavor of the Year Queso fundido. McCormick named aji amarillo as its 2025 Flavor of the Year Green curry cashews. McCormick named aji amarillo as its 2025 Flavor of the Year McCormick named aji amarillo as its 2025 Flavor of the Year, the company said in a news release on Tuesday, Jan. 28. The announcement marks the 25th anniversary of the Hunt Valley, Maryland, company's annual Flavor Forecast a global culinary report that has shaped food trends for decades which translates to "yellow chile pepper," is popular in many dishes from Peru and grows primarily in South America The vibrant pepper matures into an orange hue and delivers a flavor profile reminiscent of passion fruit and mango with a heat level ranging from 30,000 to 50,000 Scoville heat units showing up as a key ingredient in appetizers and more," the spice's website listing said this flavor leans into what’s new and next." The seasoning will be available for a limited time starting Monday "The aji amarillo is the true embodiment of flavors that pack a punch," said Hadar Cohen Aviram "Its versatility amplifies sweet and tangy flavors and adds depth to smoked or charred dishes The new Aji Amarillo Seasoning is a sweet and spicy blend perfect for seafood McCormick's Flavor Forecast has been a key source of culinary inspiration since 2000 predicting a rise in popularity for flavors like chipotle The 2025 report highlighted island-inspired flavors along with cooking techniques that bring out smoky The forecast also identified some unexpected combinations like the chili cucumber salad trend seen on TikTok with nearly 23 million views McCormick has defined flavor and influenced trends in everyday food and beverages," said Tabata Gomez adventurous spirit of younger generations looking to expand their palates." McCormick will also celebrate aji amarillo with the company's first-ever Flavor Night Market in Miami and an immersive experience showcasing aji amarillo and other culinary trends You can click here to see McCormick's 2025 Flavor Forecast