Otis Warren Jr. first Black person to construct an office building in Downtown Baltimore, dies

By Bianca Crawley, Special to the AFRO In 1993, Baltimore’s City Crescent Tower was built by Otis Warren Jr., making him the first Black man to develop a major office […] The post Otis Warren Jr. first Black person to construct an office building in Downtown Baltimore, dies appeared first on AFRO American Newspapers .

Otis Warren Jr. first Black person to construct an office building in Downtown Baltimore, dies

By Bianca Crawley,
Special to the AFRO

In 1993, Baltimore’s City Crescent Tower was built by Otis Warren Jr., making him the first Black man to develop a major office complex in the city of Baltimore.

On Jan. 10, Warren Jr died at the age of 80 at Sinai Hospital.  Though his death is truly a loss to the city of Baltimore, his lifetime of passion, hard work, and entrepreneurialism has left lasting and impressionable effects on the city as a whole.

Born on Aug. 25, 1942, Warren Jr. was the youngest of three children.  Born to Otis Warren Sr., a business owner, and Mrs. Rose Odessa Warren, a stay-at-home wife and mother.

Neither of his parents completed high school, however Warren Jr. took on the path of the business-driven, entrepreneurial mindset of his father.  Starting his career at the tender age of 12, Warren Jr. sold newspapers after school.

In 1961, Warren Jr. graduated from Fredrick Douglas High school, and later completed his education at the Community College of Baltimore City.  After which he soon got into the real estate business and became a broker and the president of Otis Warren & Co. Making a great living through buying and selling residential and commercial properties.

Finding his niche in real estate opened a surplus of opportunities for Warren Jr., including the construction of The City Crescent Tower. A $38 million dollar building, first opened as an office space and in very recent years converted into an apartment building. Though there were challenges, that didn’t stop him from planning and executing this large and complex project.

His death is a great loss to the Warren family as well as the city of Baltimore, however we are happy to experience his historic victories in real time.  Understanding that his life’s purpose and journey were full of success, joy, and happiness brings comfort knowing he can rest well.

His funeral service will be held on Feb. 4 at 10:30 a.m. at the March of Life Tribute Center located at 5616 Old Court Road, Windsor Mill, Md. 21244.

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The post Otis Warren Jr. first Black person to construct an office building in Downtown Baltimore, dies appeared first on AFRO American Newspapers .