The Power of Place-Based Investment
About this Event
What does it actually take to build and keep a neighborhood anchor?
Community infrastructure is economic infrastructure. This symposium brings together the people who prove it every day: developers, anchor tenants, architects, and community partners. Together, they'll walk through the full lifecycle of a neighborhood anchor, from defining the problem and building the investment case to navigating the realities of design and construction and sustaining operations long after the ribbon is cut.
If you're an industry partner, civic leader, or funder, this is a rare chance to hear the real tradeoffs behind mission-aligned development, candidly and from the people who've lived them. You'll also be part of something new: the launch of a Baltimore placemaking working group to carry this conversation forward.
Stay for lunch! A networking lunch follows the program. Please RSVP for lunch during registration.
Opening Plenary: Why Invest in Place?
Jon Constable, Seawall Development
Bobbi Nicotera, Baltimore Community Foundation
Leon Pinkett, Baltimore Arts Realty Corporation
Mike Pokorny, Maryland Community Investment Corporation
Jake Stern, Somerset Development Company
Community Engagement & Planning
Graham Coreil-Allen, Graham Projects
Reverend Hathaway, Thurgood Marshall Amenity Center
Ashiah Parker, No Boundaries Coalition
Ren Southard, Baltimore City Department of Planning
Jess Wyatt, Community Engagement Practitioner
Design, Build, and Budget Realities
Joanna Jane Bartholomew, O'Hara CDC
Katelin Etoh, Ziger|Snead Architects
Cailin McGough, CapEx Advisory
Christopher Mfume, The Civic Group
Closing Plenary: Sustainability - Where do we go from here?
Dana Cole, Impact Hub Baltimore
Ash Esposito, Baltimore Unity Hall
Naadiya Hutchinson, #RestEasyBBY
Mark Kaufman, Neighborhood Impact Investment Fund
Kari Snyder, Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development
Thank You to Our Sponsors!
The 2026 Placemaking Symposium is possible thanks to partners who believe in the power of place-based investment in Baltimore. We are grateful to every sponsor who stepped up to support this work!
Our Host Sponsors set the foundation for this year's symposium. Thank you to Harkins, MCB Real Estate, and Somerset Development for leading the way with your generous support.
Thank you to our Partner Sponsor, Boston Financial, for investing in this gathering and in the neighborhoods it serves.
We also want to recognize our Supporting Sponsors, whose contributions help bring this community together: Ziger|Snead Architects, Ernst Valery of EV Investments (EVI), Cafe Fili, Mosely Designs, Southway Builders, Plan Build, LLC., and the Reinvestment Fund.
Interested in joining them? For more information about sponsorship opportunities, visit https://www.baltimoreunityhall.org/symposium2026
Agenda
🕑: 09:00 AM - 09:30 AM
Coffee and registration
Info: Networking and mingling
🕑: 09:30 AM - 10:00 AM
Opening plenary: Why invest in place?
🕑: 10:15 AM - 11:00 AM
Breakout sessions (choose one)
Info: Session A: Community engagement and planning
Session B: Design, build, and budget realities
🕑: 11:15 AM - 11:45 AM
Closing plenary: Sustainability
🕑: 12:00 PM
Networking lunch (optional RSVP)
Where is it happening?
Event Location & Nearby Stays:
USD 40.00
