Leasing plan approved for The Brokerage

The Baltimore Development Corp. has been given authority to handle leasing for The Brokerage, the office and retail center at 34 Market Place that Baltimore City owns and wants to turn into a $30-million National Children's Center and Children's Museum.

Baltimore's Board of Estimates yesterday approved a request from BDC to let an affiliate called BDC Brokerage Management Corp. negotiate leases with "child-focused" agencies and other organizations that want to occupy space in the 240,000-square-foot facility.

The affiliate will be allowed to proceed without prior written approval of the Board of Estimates.

Previously, each lease had to be approved separately by the board.