New Mexico Developer Inspires Baltimore Planners

Christopher B. Leinberger, "a real estate developer who is building to reclaim the past," was asked by Baltimore County Executive James T. Smith Jr. to speak to area developers and bankers, in order "to build support for his 'Renaissance' program, which aims to redevelop the county's older communities, including the county seat...When not spearheading an ambitious redevelopment of downtown Albuquerque," Leinberger speaks to groups across the country about his more compact vision for urban growth. "To break the cycle of status quo suburban development, Leinberger has crafted his own 12-step program, which involves a gradual reintroduction into rundown communities of entertainment facilities, then rental housing, shops, condos and offices, all within a few blocks of each other -- or sometimes in the same block."