In the dynamic tapestry of Baltimore’s urban renewal, few figures have woven as impactful a thread as Mark Tettey Ayumu. A seasoned commercial real estate professional with a distinguished career at CBRE Excellerate, Ayumu has emerged as a cornerstone in the city’s efforts to combat its longstanding vacant property epidemic and foster a skilled workforce ready for the AI-driven future.
As a real estate subject matter expert, Ayumu worked with his team from The Johns Hopkins University Carey Business School on a groundbreaking initiative in partnership with the Baltimore City Council; Ayumu’s insights helped shape financial strategies that have yielded real results in 2025. Simultaneously, his role as researcher with Riggle Capital for the Artificial Intelligence and Materials Manufacturing Workforce Development Academy (AIMM-WDA) has bridged academia, industry, and community to create economic opportunities. From Ghanaian roots to Baltimore’s frontlines, Ayumu’s journey exemplifies how targeted expertise can spark systemic change.
From Concept to Concrete Progress
The Net Impact Deck, aptly subtitled “Reimagining Baltimore: Financial Strategies Addressing the City’s Vacant Properties,” began as a visionary blueprint to tackle one of the city’s most pressing challenges: over 15,000 abandoned buildings draining an estimated $210 million annually from municipal coffers through lost taxes, maintenance burdens, and depressed property values. Ayumu, drawing on his CBRE-honed acumen in property valuation and redevelopment, served as a pivotal advisor, infusing the project with practical, scalable solutions.
The deck outlined a multi-phased approach, including punitive property penalty taxes to incentivize owners, streamlined in rem foreclosures for swift city acquisitions, a one-cent sales surtax projected to generate $100 million yearly, land banks for managing rehabs, and innovative community-led Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) to empower local stakeholders.
These strategies weren’t mere theory; they catalyzed action. By mid-2025, elements of the deck influenced the launch and closure of Baltimore’s pioneering Affordable Housing Tax Increment Financing (TIF) program, a national first that supports developments across multiple neighborhoods rather than isolated zones. Oversubscribed by a factor of 13, the TIF has unlocked funding for rehabilitating vacant rowhouses, echoing Ayumu’s emphasis on closing the “appraisal gap” where rehab costs exceed market values. “Real estate isn’t just about buildings; it’s about breathing life back into communities,” Ayumu shared in a recent reflection. This progress aligns with broader Johns Hopkins efforts, such as the Homewood Community Partners Initiative (HCPI), which has renovated hundreds of vacant units and leveraged $10 million in commitments to attract over $1 billion in capital since 2012.
A Mastermind of Research and Execution
Ayumu’s influence extends beyond housing into the realm of workforce empowerment through his research role at Riggle Capital for AIMM-WDA. This ambitious project transforms a sprawling 23,000-square-foot warehouse at 1103 N. Washington Street into a state-of-the-art makerspace and academy, equipping residents with skills in AI, robotics, and advanced manufacturing. As researcher, Ayumu conducted rigorous analyses of market needs, funding landscapes, and integration strategies, helping secure funding from sources like TEDCO’s Equitech Growth Fund and the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development. His data-driven approach ensured the initiative addressed Baltimore’s urgent talent gap amid rapid technological shifts, projecting thousands of jobs and economic ripple effects.
Harnessing the Strength of Alliances
At the core of Ayumu’s success lies a knack for forging cross-sector partnerships. In the Net Impact Deck, his team collaborate with Johns Hopkins luminaries like Professor Lindsay J. Thompson and Mac McComas, whose co-authored report on vacant housing costs provided foundational data. For AIMM-WDA, alliances with Morgan State University for engineering curricula, Johns Hopkins for cutting-edge research, Riggle Capital for financial structuring, and City Life Community Builders for grassroots outreach have created a synergistic ecosystem.
These ties mirror larger JHU investments, including $4.4 billion in capital spending earmarked for 2025-2028, which support neighbourhood revitalisations in areas like East Baltimore where over 240 homes have been rehabbed and 2,100 more are on the horizon. “Collaboration isn’t optional; it’s the engine of inclusive progress,” Ayumu emphasizes, highlighting how these networks amplify impact.
The Urgency of the Moment
Baltimore’s vacant properties aren’t just eyesores; they’re economic anchors, contributing to population decline and stifling growth in a city that ranked last in housing appreciation among peers in recent years. Ayumu’s work arrives at a critical juncture, as initiatives like HCPI have already reduced residential vacancies by 57% in targeted areas through grants and loans. Coupled with AIMM-WDA’s focus on workforce training, his contributions address intersecting crises: housing instability and skill shortages in emerging industries. As Maryland pivots toward innovation corridors, Ayumu’s strategies ensure underrepresented communities aren’t left behind, fostering jobs that could generate billions in economic benefits.
Foundations of a Visionary Leader
Ayumu’s path to Baltimore was paved by a decade-plus in finance and commercial real estate at CBRE, where he navigated complex deals and market analyses. He is a Chartered Accountant with the Institute of Chartered Accountants, Ghana, an MBA graduate from The Johns Hopkins University’s Carey Business School, a Master of Science in Development Finance and a Bachelor of Laws (LLB) Degree. Relocating to lend his talents to affordable housing and workforce development, he brought a purpose-driven ethos, informed by global perspectives and a commitment to equity. His expertise in valuation, acquisition, and rehabilitation made him an ideal fit for these initiatives, where he not only advised but also bridged gaps between policy and practice.
Pioneering a Resilient Tomorrow
As Baltimore continues its renaissance bolstered by programs like the state’s SEED grants and JHU’s Data Science and AI Institute, Ayumu remains a quiet force multiplier. His efforts in 2025 have set the stage for sustained growth, from eradicating blight to building a tech-savvy workforce. Looking forward, Ayumu envisions scaling these models statewide, then nationwide: “We’re not just fixing properties; we’re investing in people and possibilities.” In a city poised for transformation, Mark Tettey Ayumu’s legacy is one of strategic foresight, turning challenges into catalysts for a more vibrant, equitable Baltimore.
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DISCLAIMER: The Views, Comments, Opinions, Contributions and Statements made by Readers and Contributors on this platform do not necessarily represent the views or policy of Multimedia Group Limited.
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