Thanks for your kind note.Yes indeed I loved living in Baltimore. I remember moving from Youngstown working at DeBartolo to Rouse in Columbia, MD. For me that was a very big deal because it was like moving up to civilization so to speak. Not that I disliked small town America, but the design vocabulary and the beauty of the existing Rouse Company malls (compared to DeBartolo's Security Square) and then Baltimore itself spoke to my heart. Of course for me a promotion and money was better as well. The weather was better too. What's there not to like? I was working in Development & Operations on a Rouse corporate level and for Baltimore alone I did the openings for Harbor Place, White Marsh and one of the major Columbia Mall expansions. This is when the world was new!
As to Owing Mills which I thought was one of our better designed and prettier newer malls, (a more high-end retail statement) and with its opening in July 1986 the mall was 95% leased, a great start we all thought. But as you know problems abounded and far too many to recite them here and now. But you know the story. Yes you are absolutely right the Rouse Company malls had charisma as I would call it. Our Columbia teams called our malls having 'Gingerbread.' Warm colors, fully grown and mature ficus trees, skylights , fountains and festive lighting. Mall floors like pavers on the city streets never any cold looking poured terrazzo floors. No mall developer at the time even came close. Nor had the good taste! Or wanting to be making this type of quality design commitment (or expense) to themselves and to the public.
I spent 50-years working exclusively in the mall industry and my 'take-away' from you today is that I as well...feel that Rouse malls will always be my favorite. Very much like "Cowboys will always be my hero's."
ooooo pretty!