E.magination Selects Tide Point for HQ

The folks at e.magination Network LLC — if all goes as planned — have found a new home and provided a local development with another trophy technology tenant.

Executives at the Baltimore-based Web development and marketing firm signed a letter of intent this week to lease 30,000 square feet at the Tide Point complex, which is being developed by Struever Bros. Eccles & Rouse Inc.

A lease is expected to be finalized in a few months. Financial details of the agreement were not released.

The $53 million development has been considered by most observers as the future center of Baltimore’s growing technology community. With e.magination (http://www.emagination.com) moving in, the predictions appear to being coming true. Local economic developers and technology leaders are applauding the company’s decision to move to the six-building complex in Locust Point.

“We are very excited about this move,” said Syd Rubin, president of e.magination. “We think Tide Point is really going to put Baltimore on the national map.”

Carl W. “Bill” Struever, president of Struever Bros. (http://www.sber.com), said he shares in e.magination’s excitement. “They are a super group,” Struever said. “We are looking forward to having them here.”

The tech company will join one of the city’s fastest-growing companies — Advertising.com Inc. (formerly TeknoSurf .com) at the 400,000-square-foot complex that once housed Procter & Gamble’s local manufacturing operations.

The presence of Advertising.com and e.magination — combined with developer Struever’s reputation for creating office space designed with technology firms in mind — are just the foundation needed for Tide Point to become what its backers plan.

Chris Parente, spokesman for Advertising.com, said the people at the Internet advertising firm are pleased with e.magination’s decision.

“This proves that we are turning Locust Point into a new `digital harbor,'” he said.

Officials with the Greater Baltimore Technology Council said the e.magination’s move is another sign that the technology community is still growing.

Rubin said his company went through an extensive search process. “I don’t think there is a building in Baltimore I haven’t been in,” Rubin said.

What sold e.magination on Tide Point was the developer’s vision. One of Rubin’s goals was to have a basketball court at the next place his company moved. Fortunately for him, a basketball court is one of several amenities Struever has planned for Tide Point.

Other plans for the project include a restaurant or bar, a large waterfront patio complete with kayaks and rooftop decks.

According to e.magination’s proposed deal with Struever Bros., the company’s 60 or so employees will not move into Tide Point until October. In the interim, the company is expected to be housed in the former Kirk-Stieff Co. silver plant, which also is being redeveloped by Struever Bros.

Currently, e.magination leases approximately 7,000 square feet in The Can Company — also a Struever Bros. project.