“We’re just a bunch of baseball-loving guys in the neighborhood interested in making a positive difference in the community,” explained Andy Weltlinger, Founder and Director of BUBA

The Baltimore Urban Baseball Association (BUBA), described by its Founder and Director as “just a bunch of baseball-loving guys in the neighborhood interested in positively impacting the lives of youth in Baltimore City,” have big plans to make a long-term difference but needed a place to call home. The non-profit organization, which was started in 2016 by Andy Weltlinger and currently works with more than 350 Baltimore City youth, signed a lease with Greenspring Realty Partners, Inc. (GRP) for 20,000 square feet of space within 1205 S. Carey Street in the Pigtown section of the city. The group plans to use a portion of the two-building complex as the headquarters for BUBA with a second section targeted for a collaborative serving the needs of other youth-based non-profits in the city.

This represents the second project owned by Greenspring Realty Partners that will be transformed into a space to house non-profit organizations that serve the communities of Baltimore City. One mission of the real estate company is to provide high quality, functional properties at below-market rents to area non-profits.

“We are extremely passionate about the sport of baseball and believe it the perfect vehicle to help disadvantaged youth in Baltimore City in numerous ways both on and off the field,” stated Weltlinger who, by day, works as an Investment Portfolio for Merrill Lynch. “Baseball has a tremendous history in the city including the Baltimore Elite Giants that played in the Negro League. The programs we offer to area youth would cost between $3000 and $5000 annually if we charged for them, but they are completely free. We believe sports is a great equalizer and cuts through all aspects of society including race, class and social standing.”

BUBA has leased warehouse and office space that bridges two separate buildings within 1205 S. Carey Street, which was acquired by Greenspring Realty Partners in 2018. The non-profit intends to utilize one section of the building to house its baseball academy, complete with batting cages, fitness equipment, classrooms and administrative space. The group has the long-term vision to transform the second space into a non-profit collaborative that offers vocational support, career training and other programs targeting needy youth in Baltimore City. BUBA envisions “five to six different groups” operating within this space and is seeking a major corporate sponsor to fund this initiative.

“We see tremendous similarities with Baltimore Collaborative Warehouse which was contained within 1790 Union Avenue, a building we owned for several years and currently contains the Maryland Book Bank, ShareBaby and Bedtime in a Box,” stated Dan Flamholz, Principal and Co-Founder of Greenspring Realty Partners. “We believe connecting this extremely important and needed mission to sports will resonate among the youth they are targeting as well as the businesses looking to support this effort and further this idea. The more companies that get behind them, the easier it will be to launch and sustain these programs.”

“There is currently no junior varsity baseball teams in Baltimore City,” Weltlinger said. “While we applaud their efforts, many of the coaches on the varsity level have backgrounds in other sports and are filling a need where they may not be the best candidate. Our more than 30 volunteer coaches are young and extremely passionate about baseball. We have been able to connect with local kids on their level and show the opportunities they have before them.

“We combine expert instruction with state-of-the art technology including a Hit Trax system that records, ranks and evaluates batting swings. In fact, with every swing taken, a player can immediately see where they stand as compared to every other individual in the United States. It is part video game and part golf simulator,” Weltlinger adds.

BUBA expects to take occupancy of the space this May. “Playing sports has become extremely expensive, especially among club teams, and many have lost track about why we involve our kids in sports to begin with. We believe it is to develop their minds and bodies, learn teamwork, deal with failure and find a passion that they can focus on in a positive way. BUBA is comprised of 100% volunteers. We are not out to make any money on this venture. We have purely altruistic ambitions at a time when Baltimore City needs programs like this most.”

Greenspring Realty Partners, founded in 2015, is a full-service commercial real estate and investment company specializing in the acquisition of opportunistic real estate investments. GRP has established itself as an aggressive investment firm with the ability to execute on property-specific goals in a timely fashion. The company also selectively advises and provides sophisticated and comprehensive brokerage services including investment sales, landlord and tenant representation and development consulting services. For additional information please visit www.greenspringrealty.com