They’re much desired and often discussed. They’re ballyhooed, too, as well as targets for criticism and victims of a slow economy.
What they are is mixed-use projects, and the time span from the early discussion stage to the unveiling can be years, and even decades. A number of these hoped-for mini-economic engines are in Howard and Anne Arundel counties; for updates on seven of these high-profile developments, read on.
The ‘Three Nine’s’ Project
If you ask Marsha McLaughlin, director of the Howard County Department of Planning & Zoning, the “Three Nine’s” project, which is located on the east side of Route 1 near Montevideo Road is, by-and-large, on track. Just know that its construction will parallel more improvement in the economy.
The old Three Nines building was demolished and the business relocated a bit to the north (and across the street) of where it stood. The new project, from The MDG Companies, will include an office project, Montevideo Crossing and some small retail. Also on the agenda is the relocation of Montevideo Road so it aligns with Port Capital Drive, and a new traffic light.
That three other projects along the section of the artery — Howard Square, Bluestream and the Lorien assisted living project — are underway is encouraging to McLaughlin. “This all goes to show that development is slowly picking up after the downturn,” she said. — Mark R. Smith
Odenton Town Center
Both of Jay Winer’s thumbs are usually up these days. That’s because more of the puzzle pieces in Odenton Town Center, such as the Village at Odenton Station, Odenton Gateway and Odenton Commons, are well under construction.
The progress at The Village at Odenton Station has Winer, president of A.J. Properties, the most enthused. “On one 11-acre site, you can see what Odenton Town Center is all about,” he said of the 235-apartment, retail enhanced, transit-oriented mixed-use project.
The Odenton Gateway project (near the traffic circle) will include 254 apartments and a 60,000-square-foot office building; and townhomes at Odenton Commons have been selling across from The Village.
There is even movement on the Nevamar project, with demolition underway and the start of construction coming in late December on 400 more apartments. The rest of the construction schedule will depend on the water and sewer of Anne Arundel County, the earliest part of which is set to be available by 2014. — Mark R. Smith
Normandy Shopping Center
“We will continue to process our plans,” said David Moxley of the Security Development Corp., owners of the Normandy Shopping Center, Howard County’s first suburban shopping center.
After receiving zoning approval last spring to redevelop the aging commercial strip, Security Development has been working with an architect to design various portions of its redevelopment plans. Phase 1, to begin in the spring of 2012, includes renovation and new façades for the two buildings facing Normandy Center Drive.
Plans for a 274-apartment residential development have been halted by a neighbor’s appeal of the zoning ruling. A hearing is scheduled for January.
“We are proceeding to go through the U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development processing for funding,” said Normandy’s manager, Ted Campbell.
A discount furniture store currently fills the shopping center’s anchor spot, once held by Safeway. “They are just month to month,” said Moxley, “to keep it heated and lit.” — Reed Hellman
Wilde Lake Village Center
In recent years, Columbia’s original village center has faced challenges with the departure of the Giant food store and the poor connection to both car and foot traffic. Currently the retail outlets include two two-story buildings with a courtyard, the vacant grocery store, three single-story buildings along Lynx Lane, and a gas station along Twin Rivers Road.
Kimco has owned the property for more than a decade and submitted an application to renovate the center. In November 2011, the Wilde Lake Village Board Community Association Architectural Committee approved the application, with some revisions.
Kimco’s plan includes tearing down the former Giant building, as well as an adjacent structure, in order to open one end of the center’s courtyard. The plan also includes two new residential buildings with as many as 250 apartments surrounding the courtyard.
After receiving community feedback, Kimco is in the process of finalizing a written submission with more detailed site and landscaping plans. Redevelopment could begin in August 2012. — Susan Kim
Savage Towne Centre
Phillip Ross, vice chairman of Petrie Ross Ventures in Annapolis, confirmed that his company is working with an equity capital investor to start the entitlement process for Savage Towne Centre, a Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) at the Savage MARC Station.
The 11-acre, mixed-use development will include approximately 53,000 square feet of retail space, 260 residential units, 200 hotel units and 145,000 square feet of office space.
“We’re also working through the process of adding another six acres to the development site,” Ross said.
The TOD is located three miles east of Fort Meade and the National Security Agency, both of which are poised for significant growth tied to the federal Base Realignment and Closure process and the newly-established Cyber Command.
A sour economy, however, has made it difficult to secure financing for the project, which has been in the works since 2009. “We’re hoping to get this finished by 2013,” Ross said. “That’s assuming the election in November goes the right way.” — George Berkheimer
Laurel Park Station
Earlier this year the Stronach Group of Aurora, Ontario, announced its intention to develop 1.5 million square feet of commercial space on approximately 350 acres of land adjoining Laurel Park in Howard and Anne Arundel counties.
Stronach Group Owner Frank Stronach acquired the land, formerly held by MI Developments, as part of a reorganization of MI Developments’ assets in June. Architect for the project is the Washington, D.C., architectural firm Walter E. Lynch & Co. Plans for the mixed-use development include a 350-room hotel, retail, office space and upwards of 1,000 residential apartment units.
Kim Flowers, spokesperson for the Howard County Department of Planning & Zoning, said the developer submitted a preliminary plan for the Howard County portion of the project on Nov. 8. The plan includes 127,000 square feet of retail, 650,000 square feet of office space and at least 252 apartments.
“At this time we have no information regarding when the developer hopes to begin construction or complete the project,” Flowers said.
Officials from both the Stronach Group and Lynch & Co. did not return calls seeking information in time to be included in this roundup. — George Berkheimer
Riverwalk
Construction is underway on Craftstar Homes’ new Riverwalk community on Gorman Road in Howard County. That development is taking shape on the site of the former Ev-Mar Mobile Home Park.
Site preparation and infrastructure work is nearing completion, and crews should be breaking ground and pouring foundations for the townhouse community before Christmas. Plans call for buildout of 58 neo-classical and traditional garage townhomes starting around $340,000. Six of the homes have been designated Moderate Income Housing Units.
“Sales started in mid-November and we expect to have the first three-unit building open in March with a model to show customers what we offer,” said Brandon Adams, a project manager with the Craftstar’s parent Craftmark Group in McLean, Va.
“Construction activity at the Emerson community just up the road is beginning to taper off,” he said, “but they’re still seeing a lot of interest as well, so that’s another good sign for us.” — George Berkheimer
