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The holidays at the Michael Group are always a busy, hectic, fun time of year! The year we kicked off the holiday season by sponsoring a tree trimming party at the South Baltimore Station. The South Baltimore Station is a rigorous self-help program, in a caring residential setting, supporting men, most of whom are veterans, who are transitioning from the cycle of poverty, substance abuse and homelessness to self-sufficiency. The Michael Group first worked with the South Baltimore Station in 2008 when we built their new building, allowing them to double the number of men they served. Since then we have continue to partner with the Station to help them achieve their goals. The Michael Group staff arrived with food to feed the 100 guys that stay at the station. Our staff prepared dinner and served the guys a hot, pre-holiday meal. 
 
We also brought and tree and holiday decorations for the guys to decorate. Everyone was getting in the holiday spirit and enjoying themselves. 
The staff looked like they were having fun too!  As the holidays approach, we are so proud to be partners with the Baltimore Station. They do amazing work helping to change men’s lives. We are looking forward to 2011 and working with them on the renovations of their new project, the Baker Street Station, in West Baltimore.
Last Tuesday, friends, families, children and teachers gathered outside of New Song Center to break ground on what will be known as “1385” or New Song Square. It was a beautiful Fall day to celebrate this great new project! 
The plans for the project include the renovation of the 1385 Gilmor Street –which was the original office and school for New Song Urban Ministries. Connected to 1385, will be a state of the art, LEED certified, school that will house classrooms, a new dance studio, art studio, rooftop gardens and outside play space. The Michael Group is so proud to have been chosen as the builder for this project. This is our second project with New Song Urban Ministries. Our first, Gerry’s Goods was completed in 2008. The Development Team includes Urban Services Network, SWB Architects, Lorax Partnerships and the Michael Group. Construction is due to begin before the end of 2010. 
On Saturday October 2, the Michael Group sponsored a Fall Cook Out for the residents of the St Stephen’s Court Apartments. The Michael Group began renovating the St Stephen’s Court Apartment in July 2010. With tenant in place rehab, the cooperation of the residents is critical. The residents at St Stephen’s have been so great to work with over these past few months. As a way to thank them, we decided to have a cook out! It was a beautiful day after torrential down pours a few days earlier. Michael Group employees served the residents hotdogs, hamburgers, crabs, salads and desserts.  
Kids and adults alike enjoyed dancing to Motown favorites! 
Our partner Dan McCarthy of Episcopal Housing was there-mingling with the residents and enjoying the day. 
Raffle prizes were given out and lucky residents won gift cards to target and a flat screen tv! Overall it was a great day! 
 The Michael Group has a strong tradition of volunteering it’s time, talent and treasure to local nonprofit and community groups. This summer and fall, the Michael Group will be helping GEDCO raise money for the 2010 GEDCO ThanksGiving Tribute. Michael Shacklette, President and Owner of the Michael Group is heading up the Leadership Committee tasked to raise funds and increase corporate sponsorship for this event.
GEDCO is a nonprofit organization located in North/Central Baltimore City whose mission is provides affordable housing with supportive services and assist in meeting emergency needs of community residents. GEDCO currently runs many important community programs including Ascension Homes, CARES, CARES Career Connection, Epiphany House, Gallagher Mansion, Harford House , Micah House, Shelter Plus Care and Stadium Place. They are also currently developing the new GREENHOUSE project at Stadium Place. This year, the 2010 GEDCO ThanksGiving Tribute will honor five amazing individuals who have worked for, volunteered for, inspired and dedicated themselves to GEDCO. The honorees include: Compassion: Becky Boynton Spirit: Esther Bonnet Leadership: George J. Collins Tenacity: Ralph E. Moore, Jr. Vision: Kurt L. Schmoke To become a sponsor, to buy tickets or to learn more, go to the 2010 GEDCO ThanksGiving Tribute site!
 It’s that time of year again. Last Friday night most of the Michael Group staff headed to the O’s game! This has become a great way to celebrate summer and get together outside of work for a night! It was loads of fun-despite the the fact that the O’s lost!
On June 29th, approximately 100 staff and volunteers from the Y of Central Maryland gathered together for a day of training, networking, planning and celebration. The day began with an amazing testimonial from James Torrence. It was a great reminder to everyone in attendance about how the Y personally touches peoples lives. Next on the agenda was a two hour training by famed sports agent and long time Y supporter Ron Shapiro. Drawing from his years of experience as a sports agent and motivational speaker, Shapiro used his book Dare to Prepare as a jumping off point to inspire and train the volunteers to be better volunteers and fundraisers for the Y. Right before lunch, the Volunteer team that worked on the Druid Hill YMCA Family Center presented their experience as a case study of how successful projects are accomplished by dedicated volunteers. Speakers included Perry Savoy of Peristyle Design, our own Michael Shacklette, Dwight Taylor and Greg Taylor of the Druid Hill YMCA Family Center. Guests were shown a great slide show of before and after photos of the work at the Druid Hill Y. It was a real community success story! 
As the last item of business for the day, John Hoey, President and CEO of the Y of Central Maryland presented Michael Shacklette, President of the Michael Group with the 2101 Volunteer Leadership Award for his tireless work on behalf of the Druid Hill YMCA Family Center. The award, created especially for Michael by Y participant Antoine Tates (shown below), was a special acknowledgement to Michael for his hard work and dedication. Congratulations to Michael and to the Druid Hill YMCA Family Center Team! 
There is always a lot of mixed feelings when a project finally begins: excitement, relief, nervousness and more. This is one of those projects that have been in development for years. I’m sure at one point or another along the way, most of partners thought to themselves “is this project really going to happen?”. But sure enough, everything came together and the long awaited renovation of the St Stephen’s Court Apartments begins today! Check back here for regular updates, photos and more! 
Join GEDCO staff, former and current Baltimore Ravens and Maryland Terps as they guest bartend at Nc Devins bar at 801 Decker in Canton to raise funds for GEDCO. GEDCO provides affordable housing and support services to low income Baltimoreans many of whom have special needs. So come out and eat, drink and mingle on Friday, July 23 from 5pm on…for a great night in support of a great organization!
 As most of you know, lead paint is bad news. In 2008, the EPA issued a rule requiring the use of lead safe practices to reduce the incidents of lead poisoning. In April 2010, the rule went into effect and is know as the Lead Renovation, Repair and Painting Rule. What does this mean for contractors? Contractors who perform renovation, repairs, and painting jobs in pre-1978 housing and child-occupied facilities must, before beginning work, provide owners, tenants, and child-care facilities with a copy of EPA's lead hazard information pamphlet Renovate Right: Important Lead Hazard Information for Families, Child Care Providers, and Schools (PDF) Additionally, contractors must be certified and must use lead-safe work practices.
The Michael Group has become certified in compliance with the EPA ruling. For more information about the EPA rule, check out the EPA’s Website at http://www.epa.gov/lead/pubs/renovation.htm
The Michael Group and Episcopal Housing Corporation hosted a Kick-off Pizza Party last Thursday night at the St. Stephen’s Apartments. The party served as a way to get residents together and prepare them for the project. It was also a beautiful night (warm and sunny), to get everyone together to meet and mingle and get to know each other.  Dan McCarthy, Executive Director of Episcopal Housing Corporation and Michael Shacklette, President of The Michael Group talk together before the meeting starts. The partnership between EHC and TMG began on the Recovery Community Project and continues today.
 The Michael Group’s Project Manager Jeff Hill, introduced the TMG staff, explained the logistics of the occupied rehab and then took questions from the residents. While the residents had lots of questions, they were all very excited about the work that would be done on their units. 
After the meeting was over, the residents enjoyed pizza and dessert from Jays Deli and had a chance to talk to the project staff about the upcoming renovations. We’re all looking forward to getting started on this exciting community project. Check back in the next couple weeks to see photos from the beginning of construction!
Yesterday was an absolutely beautiful day for the ribbon cutting ceremony at MonteVerde. It wasn’t really a grand “re-opening” since the building was never closed (we worked with the tenants in place!). It was however a day to celebrate how far the project had come. When Greater Baltimore AHC purchased the building a few years ago, it was “a mess” (said one of the residents at yesterday’s opening). It was institutional feeling, with cinderblock walls and a lot of deferred maintenance. Despite the state of the building, the community of folks that lived there were a great, vibrant community. Many of these fabulous residents had lived at MonteVerde since it opened 30 years ago. It was time their homes got an update. Architect Hord Coplan Macht designed beautiful community spaces (hallways, lounges, clinic, living room, entryway) and redesigned the residents units so that they were more open, efficient and homey. The Michael Group spent 14 months in the building renovating everything from the units and common spaces to the elevators and hvac units. The end result was a transformed MonteVerde. One you would not recognize. One that has been compared to a boutique hotel. It has finally become the home that the residents deserved. Special thanks to everyone that helped make this project such a success including the Michael Group staff, all of our subcontractors, engineers and supplies, the development team and partners and Greater Baltimore AHC!  Enjoying the Day: David Hunter, Principal at Hord Coplan Macht, Sebastian Soriano, Superintendent for the Michael Group at Monte Verde and Michael Shacklette, President of the Michael Group.
 Andrew Vincent, Executive Director of Greater Baltimore AHC and Tarek Saleh, Architect on Monte Verde for Hord Coplan Macht
 A great day for affordable housing: Housing Commissioner Graziano, City Council President Jack Young and Michael Shacklette, President of the Michael Group
Time to cut the ribbon 
Thanks everyone! What a great project!
 The day finally arrived. A beautiful, sunny, warm day in West Baltimore. Mayor Stephanie Rawlings Blake, Senator Verna Jones, Congressman Elijah Cummings and Orioles Outfielder Adam Jones all gathered in front of the Druid Hill Y Family Center-to witness and celebrate-it’s reopening. 
For the past 3 months, volunteers have worked around the clock renovating the Druid Hill Y. As one of the oldest YMCA’s in the country at 117 years old, the Druid Hill had several deferred maintenance projects that were impacting the work that the staff was trying to do. The Michael Group, along with Peristyle Design and team of dedicated volunteer subcontractors and suppliers were able to get the work done in just three short months. The work included installing a new gym floor, a new computer lab, a new teen area a new childcare area, and a new entryway. Corporate volunteers also spent several days cleaning up the community, planting flowers and plants and renovating an adjacent park area. 
Mayor Rawlings Blake tours the new computer lab with Greg Phillips, the Druid Hill Y Center Director and John Hoey, President of the Y of Central Maryland. As a token of appreciation, the folks at the Y presented the volunteer team with an engraved window on the front door of the Y commemorating the hard work they put into this project.  Dedication on the front door of the Druid Hill Y Family Center.
What a wonderful day for everyone involved!  Michael Shacklette, President of the Michael Group Inc, Perry Savoy, Owner of Peristyle Design and Gary Moore, Vice President of Allstate Floors pose for a picture during the celebration.
Special thanks to everyone that donated their time and talent including the staff of the Michael Group Inc, Perry Savoy, Wilhelm Contractors, Allstate Flooring, Business Flooring, Silverblatt Electrical, Colossal Contractors, Bay Door and Hardware and Mahogany Inc. To read more about the Druid Hill Y project check out the Baltimore Sun and the Afro!
Final coats of paint are being put on, floors are being waxed and people are getting ready…to reopen the Druid Hill Family Center YMCA this Friday after several months of pro bono renovation work. 
Each January for the past 35 years, the Y of Central Maryland hosts a breakfast to honor Dr. King. This year, the Y decided to forego the event and invest time and energy instead into the revitalization of the historic Druid Hill Family Center Y in Baltimore. The Michael Group, which has been a financial supporter of the Y for many years, is the lead volunteer contractor on this project. The Michael Group, together with Peristyle Design and a committee of dedicated volunteers enlisted subcontractors and suppliers to work pro bono at the facility to get the job done. John K. Hoey, President & CEO of the Y of Central Maryland added “The outpouring of support for this project inclusive of volunteer labor, is nothing short of amazing and truly inspirational. The Michael Group and Peristyle have all gone above and beyond. The community we serve in Druid Hill will benefit greatly from their contributions.” “The partnerships we have built on this project are inspiring. It just goes to show, that even in bad economic times, generous businesses and individuals are willing to help out for a good cause.” said Perry Savoy, Owner of Peristyle Design. The Druid Hill Family Center Y will officially reopen the gymnasium, lobby and computer lab on Friday, April 30. From 1 to 6 p.m. when the Y and its lead sponsors will host a free community block party in front of the center. All are welcome to enjoy food, live music, face painting, free books, community vendors and artists, the Y Fit-n-Fun Van, a farmer’s market, games, giveaways and other activities. Be sure to come check it out!
The Michael Group wants to congratulate the Maryland Affordable Housing Coalition on it’s great work this past legislative season. Two important housing initiatives were passed as the end of this year’s Legislative Session. First, the Maryland Affordable Housing Trust was fully funded at the $2,000,000 requested by the Maryland Affordable Housing Coalition and it’s supporters. MAHT funding will help generate more affordable housing opportunities state-wide, put Marylanders back to work and further propels the Coalition’s goal of creating and preserving more affordable housing in Maryland. The second was the passing of the Sustainable Communities Act of 2010. This Act will provide $10 million for the Sustainable Communities Tax Credit. It replaces the former Maryland Heritage Structure Rehabilitation Tax Credit. Its primary objective is to support existing communities as desirable places to live and do business and to reduce outward pressure for sprawl development. The Michael Group is proud to be a member of the Maryland Affordable Housing Coalition. If you are committed to Affordable Housing and are not yet a member of MAHC, please consider joining. Your participation will make a difference. For more information about joining MAHC, check out their website. 
Baltimore Sun photo by Barbara Haddock Taylor / April 12, 2010): Governor Martin O'Malley, left, watches from the House of Delegates gallery as one of his legislative initiatives, House Bill 472, is declared passed. Kimberly Fry, Executive Director of Maryland Affordable Housing Coalition, is in center. The bill deals with residential property foreclosure procedures. Kurt Sommer of the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development is on right.
 The Michael Group is proud to be a sponsor for the Baltimore Station’s upcoming annual fundraiser: The Homerun for Recovery. This is a party you don’t want to miss. The party takes place at Nick’s Seafood at Cross Street Market on April 22nd from 6:00pm-9:30pm. The Tickets are $60 in advance and $70 at the door. For the cost of your ticket you and eat and drink all you want while mingling with Baltimore movers and shakers! The live and silent auctions are not to be missed. Prizes include memorabilia, tickets to Orioles and Ravens events and other unique experiences, vacation trips and more.
 Who knew going out to party with your friends and colleagues could do so much good!
Your support helps hundreds of Baltimore's addicted men and returning veterans enter recovery and resume healthy, productive lives The funds raised support a cost-effective proven program addressing addiction and homelessness The Baltimore Station program reduces crime, the cost of unemployment and imprisonment Hope to see you there!
 The Michael Group made it out to Housing Day last week despite the snow. Maryland Housing Day in Annapolis is an annual event which allows affordable housing professionals and advocates to come together to hear about the current year’s legislative agenda. It’s also a chance to talk to your representatives about the importance of affordable housing in MD. This year, the Maryland Affordable Housing Coalition urged all of it’s members to make two requests to legislators:
1. Support the Governor’s request to maintain last year’s funding lever for the DHCD Rental Housing Programs and Partnership Rental Housing Funds. These funds total $21.5 million. 2. Authorize $2 million in general obligation bonds to be allocated to the Maryland Affordable Housing Trust fund. This fund is desperately needed just to bring the funding for MAHT up to the typical level. PLEASE call your legislators and tell them to support the above mentioned issues. If you don’t know who your legislators are you can go to http://mdelect.net/ and find out. Don’t forget: Housing MATTERS!
 The Michael Group is beginning work this week on Halpine Hamlet, a 67 unit garden style apartment located in Rockville, Maryland. Halpine Hamlet was purchased by Montgomery Housing Partnership back in September 2009. The fact that Halpine is located in close proximity to the Twinbrook Metro was a driving force behind MHP’s decision to purchase the property. Preserving affordable housing within walking distance of the Metro is a key victory for MHP. The Michael Group is proud to begin work on this important preservation project.
For this first phase of the project, we will be replacing 50% of the HVAC units with new, energy efficient units. We will also be replacing all of the roofs on all of the buildings. 
While our official work is beginning this week, we were able to meet the staff and residents at the property’s holiday party. The Michael Group donated $5,000 for children’s gifts as well as food and drinks for the party. The residents (seen below) had a great time and we were happy to get a chance to be involved. 
Last month, the Michael Group was the proud sponsor of the Urban Land Institute’s Holiday Party here in Baltimore! The party was held at the new Legg Mason Building at Inner Harbor East. What a view! 
The Urban Land Institute is a fabulous organization to be a part of. It is made up of developers, architects, builders, engineers and others that are focused on development, the responsible use of land and in creating and sustaining thriving communities worldwide. We were able to reconnect with some of our old friends and colleagues. 
Michael Shacklette, President of the Michael Group and David Hunter of Hord Coplan Macht 
Caroline Moore, ULI Baltimore Chair and Peter Fillat of Peter Fillat Architects 
Some of the Michael Group staff talking to Emmitt Smith of ESmith Legacy, Inc. We also met some great new partners that we look forward to working with in the future. 
Otis Rolley of the Central Maryland Transportation Alliance and Babila Lima from the office of the Council President. 
Michael Furbish of the Furbish Company and Randon Bosch of Fritch, Whitney Bailey Cox and Magnani. 
Michael Shacklette, President of the Michael Group, actor Sonja Sohn of ReWired for Change and Michael Blake of Marks Thomas Architects 
It was a great party and everyone went home with some Michael Group SWAG! Thanks to our great friends at SPIN for putting on such a great party! Thanks to Arianne Temple for the great photos!
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The MonteVerde Apartments, the Michael Group’s most recently completed project, was named a finalist for 
