Retail Development

With residents being bombarded by fliers, robocalls, even a telephone opinion survey, the fight over the future of the former Solo Cup site in Baltimore County is taking on the trappings of a political campaign. As the debate continues about whether the county should allow a Wegmans supermarket and other development at the former manufacturing plant on Reisterstown Road, two other developers in the area are fighting the project — and each side is trying to rally community support.

With residents being bombarded by fliers, robocalls, even a telephone opinion survey, the fight over the future of the former Solo Cup site in Baltimore County is taking on the trappings of a political campaign. As the debate continues about whether the county should allow a Wegmans supermarket and other development at the former manufacturing plant on Reisterstown Road, two other developers in the area are fighting the project — and each side is trying to rally community support.

The shelves have been stocked and the cash registers tested for Wednesday's opening of Harris Teeter's upscale supermarket in Locust Point - part of a broader development push that is likely to bring Baltimore as much retail space as a regional shopping mall. Harris Teeter, offering hundreds of gourmet cheeses, curbside pickup of online orders and cafe seating on a balcony, will anchor the mixed-use McHenry Row development, one of several shopping centers being built or planned in the city.

The Owings Mills market can't handle major retail development at the former Solo Cup property and other sites along the Reisterstown Road corridor, according to studies commissioned by the developer planning to revamp the mall. The market analysis and traffic studies released Wednesday by Kimco Realty come as Baltimore County begins a broad zoning review. As competition builds between developers, Owings Mills revitalization is expected to be among the most controversial topics. Kimco is planning a $65 million redevelopment of Owings Mills Mall, now more than half-empty.

The Howard County Planning Board's approval yesterday of a 12-acre part of the Columbia Crossing retail development on Snowden River Parkway puts the project closer to its scheduled completion in 1998 -- even though it recently hasn't signed any more tenants for the 73-acre project.A Target discount department store -- the largest tenant at 125,000 square feet -- will open in October. Dick's Clothing and Sporting Goods, the complex's only other confirmed tenant, will begin construction on its 60,000-square-foot store this summer and will open next spring.

Today, open space; tomorrow, shopping mecca.That's what Westminster officials are hoping to see materialize on 61 acres of rolling green they recently annexed near Weis Market off Route 140.Development proposals for the site, rezoned commercial by county officials, are expected to soon flood the city's planning office and could include three big-box retailers and chain restaurants, said Thomas B. Beyard, the city's director of planning and public works."

In a push to attract more shops, restaurants and service-oriented businesses, and maybe even a department store, to the heart of Baltimore, the Downtown Partnership has hired a full-time staff member to spearhead its retail development effort. Nan Rohrer, 30, has been named director of retail development. She comes to the organization from the city's Department of Recreation and Parks, where she was director of the office of partnerships. Before that, she served as a neighborhood liaison in the mayor's office of neighborhoods.

The Owings Mills market can't handle major retail development at the former Solo Cup property and other sites along the Reisterstown Road corridor, according to studies commissioned by the developer planning to revamp the mall. The market analysis and traffic studies released Wednesday by Kimco Realty come as Baltimore County begins a broad zoning review. As competition builds between developers, Owings Mills revitalization is expected to be among the most controversial topics. Kimco is planning a $65 million redevelopment of Owings Mills Mall, now more than half-empty.

Maple Lawn, Fulton LOCATION Southeastern Howard County, on Johns Hopkins Road, about a mile from U.S. 29. DEVELOPER Greenebaum and Rouse Associates Inc. DESCRIPTION Luxury residential, commercial and retail development in the image of old-town America on more than 600 acres.

The leasing agent at the Boulevard at Box Hill retail center in Abingdon formally announced Thursday that JC Penney will become the second anchor at the shopping center, joining Wegmans which opened last fall. MacKenzie Retail LLC said Penney will occupy an 85,775-square-foot building that is expected to be ready for occupancy this fall. The building has been fast tracked through the Harford County permitting process. The Aegis reported in early January that it was highly likely Penney would be coming to Boulevard at Box Hill, which is off of Route 924. "We look forward to welcoming JC Penney to our growing community," MacKenzie Retail LLC Senior Vice President/Principal Thomas L. Fidler Jr. said in a news release.

The leasing agent at the Boulevard at Box Hill retail center in Abingdon formally announced Thursday that JC Penney will become the second anchor at the shopping center, joining Wegmans which opened last fall. MacKenzie Retail LLC said Penney will occupy an 85,775-square-foot building that is expected to be ready for occupancy this fall. The building has been fast tracked through the Harford County permitting process. The Aegis reported in early January that it was highly likely Penney would be coming to Boulevard at Box Hill, which is off of Route 924. "We look forward to welcoming JC Penney to our growing community," MacKenzie Retail LLC Senior Vice President/Principal Thomas L. Fidler Jr. said in a news release.

The shelves have been stocked and the cash registers tested for Wednesday's opening of Harris Teeter's upscale supermarket in Locust Point - part of a broader development push that is likely to bring Baltimore as much retail space as a regional shopping mall. Harris Teeter, offering hundreds of gourmet cheeses, curbside pickup of online orders and cafe seating on a balcony, will anchor the mixed-use McHenry Row development, one of several shopping centers being built or planned in the city.

John E. DeWolf III has been the new corporate boss of Columbia for nine days, and he's itching to announce the first redevelopment project in the three-decade-long plan to transform the town's center into a real downtown. Given the project's six-year history of discussion, contention and legislation, but no construction, that would take the project to a new level. "We're going to be ready to go forward very soon," the 56-year-old New York lawyer and retail real estate development expert said.

A commercial fixture on downtown Baltimore's west side is getting a makeover in 2010. The Lexaco Building at 501 W. Lexington St., longtime home of an appliance and furniture store, is being acquired by America's Realty, a rapidly growing, Pikesville-based shopping center developer.

A commercial fixture on downtown Baltimore's west side is getting a makeover in 2010. The Lexaco Building at 501 W. Lexington St., longtime home of an appliance and furniture store, is being acquired by America's Realty, a rapidly growing, Pikesville-based shopping center developer. Carl Verstandig, president and chief executive officer of the company, said he has a contract to buy the three-story building for $650,000 and plans to spend $250,000 to $300,000 to restore its exterior and reconfigure its interior to create two retail spaces, including one for Lexaco.

A long-stalled commercial development adjacent to Ripken Stadium, once envisioned as a way for the city to avoid the losses it is now incurring on the stadium, will not begin until next spring, at the earliest, said a top official with the company that owns the land. J. Joseph Credit, the former CEO of Nottingham Properties Inc. who is managing the property, said he remains intent on developing the 50-acre parcel as originally envisioned. He also noted that after delays related to the city's water supply, the work on the project's 168-unit residential condominium complex resumed last month.

State and federal officials will hold a hearing Wednesday on a request for a permit that will allow preliminary development at the site of the Odenton Town Center.Approval of the nontidal wetlands permit would allow the county to construct roads to serve the town center and would allow retail development by Reliable Contracting Company Profit Sharing Trust.The hearing by the Maryland Department of the Environment and the Army Corps of Engineers will be at 7 p.m. in the Arundel Senior High School auditorium, 1001 Annapolis Road, Gambrills.

ANNE ARUNDEL County Executive John G. Gary is on the right track in proposing that the county use four lots it owns to bolster the revival of Glen Burnie's downtown. This would help the town center to gain the critical mass it needs to finally succeed.The saga of Glen Burnie's so-called "Superblock" has had so many turns and twists that it is easy to understand why many are skeptical. Naysayers wonder, for example, why the executive wants to spend more on development when vacancies exist in the area's current storefronts.

Over the objections of Canton community leaders, City Council President Sheila Dixon says the council will consider legislation for a waterfront high-rise. Next week, Dixon plans to introduce two bills that could pave the way for the Icon, an on-again, off-again condominium/retail project to be built on what's now a Lighthouse Point parking lot. Though the move dismays Canton residents who forcefully oppose the development, Dixon, who becomes mayor in January, said that just because she's sponsoring the bills doesn't mean she supports the project.

Susan Anderson picks up the pace and tugs at her bag. She can't believe how heavy textbooks are these days. Nutrition class starts in a couple of minutes, and she can't afford to miss the pop quiz she suspects is coming now after the low grade she got on her last exam. Some of her classmates stroll in late and miss it all. Anderson aces it. On top of that, the professor says he'll add six points to some of the exams because his answer key was wrong on two questions. Anderson thrusts her fist in the air in triumph, then settles back in her desk for class presentations and listens as a fellow student talks about how alcohol impacts heart disease in men. Definitely not the life of schmoozing and expense-account dinners to which Anderson had become accustomed.