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CENTRAL, THAT IS ABOUT TO CHANGE TOO. SINCE 1991, GRAND CENTRAL HAS ANCHORED THE CORNER OF CHARLES AND EAGER STREETS IN BALTIMORE AS ONE OF THE CITY’S LARGEST GAY CLUB BUT THAT WILL SOON CHANGE. THIS WEEKEND WILL MARK THE LAST TIME GRAND CENTRAL WILL BE IN BUSINESS DURING THE GAY COMMUNITY’S PRIDE CELEBRATIO THE CLUB WILL CLOSE SOMETIME IN THE NEXT FEW MONTHS TO MAKE WAY FOR REDEVELOPMENT. >> IT’S SAD TO SAY IT MAY BE ENDING AS AN ICONIC THING TO GO TO ALL THE TIME BUT IT IS STILL GOING TO BE AN ICON THAT LIVES ON FOREVER IN EVERYONE’S MEMORY. JAYNE: THE REDEVELOPMENT OF GRAN CENTRAL FOLLOWS THE CHANGE ACROSS THE STREET. WHAT USED TO BE THE GAY CLUB, THE HIPPO, IS NOW A DRUGSTORE. EACH AN EXAMPLE OF WHAT SOME CALL PROGRESS FOR LGBTQ PEOPLE. >> I THINK THAT’S ONE REASON THE BARS WENT AWAY BECAUSE YOU DON’T FEEL THREATENED NOW TO GO INTO ANY BAR AND IF YOU WANT TO WEAR A RAINBOW SHIRT OR SOMETHING NO ONE IS GOING TO ATTACK YOU. JAYNE: THIS IS WHAT GRAND CENTRAL WILL BECOME. AN EIGHT STORY PROPERTY FOR OFFICES AND A NEW RESTAURANT. THE SAME DEVELOPER TURNED AN OLD MANSION A FEW DOORS AWAY INTO AN OFFICES. HE TOLD US DEMAND FOR OFFICE SPACE IN MOUNT VERNON IS STRONG. THUS THE GRAND CENTRAL STO TELLS SOMETHING ELSE ABOUT BALTIMORE THAT CAN GET OVERSHADOWED BY ALL THE NEGATIVE. IT IS A COMMUNITY THAT IS DRAWING NEW INVESTMENT. MATT GALLAGHER IS PRESIDENT OF THE GOLDSEKER FOUNDATION. >> WHEN YOU GET THIS LEVEL OF PRIVATE INVESTMENT YOU HAVE INCREDIBLE TENANTS WHO WANT TO BE HERE, AND TO SET UP SHOP, THAT’S A GOOD THING. THAT’S PROGRESS FOR THE CITY. JAYNE: NO SPECIFIC DATE HAS BEEN SET FOR THE CLOSING OF GRAND CENTRAL. MEANTIME, THE CLUB HAS A FULL SCHEDULE PLANNED FOR THE

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There are more changes coming to the Baltimore City community long known as the heart of the LGBTQ+ community, and it is an example of broader changes underway citywide.Since 1991, the Grand Central Club has anchored the corner of Charles and Eager streets in Baltimore as one of the city's largest gay clubs, but that will soon change. This weekend will mark the last time Grand Central will be in business during the LGBTQ+ community's Pride celebration. The club will close sometime in the next few months to make way for redevelopment."It's sad to say it may be ending as an iconic thing to go to all the time, but it is still going to be an icon that lives on forever in everyone's memory," Michael Palmisano, of Grand Central, said. The redevelopment of Grand Central follows the change across the street. What used to be another gay club, The Hippo, is now a drugstore. Each is an example of what some call progress for LGBTQ+ people."I think that's one reason the bars went away, because you don't feel threatened now to go into any bar, and if you want to wear a rainbow shirt or something, no one is going to attack you," resident Brian Jensen said. Grand Central will become an eight-story property with offices and a new restaurant. The same developer turned an old mansion a few doors away into an office building. He told 11 News demand for office space in Mount Vernon is strong.Thus the Grand Central story says something about Baltimore that can get overshadowed by all the negative: It is a community that is drawing new investment.Matt Gallagher is president of the Goldseker Foundation."When you get this level of private investment, you have incredible tenants who want to be here and to set up shop. That's a good thing. That's progress for the city," Gallagher said.No specific closing date has been set for Grand Central. Meantime, it has a full weekend planned for the upcoming Pride celebration.