Itineris, Inc. closed on the purchase of the Rockrose building from its landlord, Glenn Evans of Typo Building, LLC,. Real estate brokers Art Putzel and Stacey Berman of Trout Daniel & Associates represented Itineris in the sale transaction. Jon Manekin of Greenspring Realty Partners represented the seller.
Itineris declined to disclose the price of the 24,000 sq. ft. industrial building. Financing will come through New York based Disabilities Opportunity Fund, supplemented by a capital campaign the nonprofit plans to launch this fall.
“We are so fortunate for the support that Charlie Hammerman and the Disabilities Opportunity Fund have given us,” says Ami Taubenfeld, Itineris co-founder and executive director. “We are excited about supporting the growing population of adults on the spectrum in the greater Baltimore region, who are counting on our much-needed services. We look forward to partnering with local foundations, the families we support and other donors who have expressed interest in helping us grow.”
“We are proud to support this growing and amazing organization. They do such great work and we know this make a huge impact on the Baltimore’s autism community”, said Charlie Hammerman, President and CEO of Disabilities Opportunity Fund.
The Baltimore based nonprofit, which provides person-centered programs focused on helping individuals with Autism develop the skills needed to obtain meaningful jobs, has occupied part of the building at 2050 Rockrose Avenue in Woodberry for three years. When the organization completes its planned renovation in December, 2017, it will be able to expand its programming by 50% % to meet the needs of the growing adult autism population in Baltimore.
According to Taubenfeld, “We have been looking for a larger location in this area for a number of years. This allows us to stay in our current location and grow in a familiar and comfortable home”. This also gives us a chance to help the rising number of adults with ASD exiting the school system to become productive members of the local Baltimore workforce. Currently, 1 in 68 children are diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder.”
Advantages to acquiring this building include eliminating the stress of transition for the adults it currently supports; being in a safe and familiar area, easily accessible by mobility, car and light rail; close proximity to a variety of employers; an affordable and accepting neighborhood with community housing available to our adults within walking distance to Itineris’ home base.
“There have been numerous mills and buildings purchased recently in this area that are being converted to housing over the next few years,” Taubenfeld said. “This will help us develop our plans for community living options as we continue to grow and meet our individuals’ needs.”
By providing pre-vocational and vocational training, career counseling and job readiness training, Itineris prepares our adults for meaningful employment. Itineris currently partners with 46 local employers nearby and throughout the region. Its workplace partners currently include Sam’s Canterbury Café, WR Grace, Gallagher and Hansen, The Baltimore Community Toolbank, Whole Foods, Pathfinders for Autism, The Baltimore County Police Department, Eddie’s Supermarket, Outback Steakhouse and Carriage House Farms. Itineris workers receive support with workplace training, social skills and on site job coaching. Itineris also provides employer and company training.
