Retail Space

The master developer of Columbia's Town Center aims to begin construction by early next year on a $100 million apartment and retail complex, the area's first new housing in a decade. The Metropolitan Downtown Columbia will be a six-story, 380-unit development that the Howard Hughes Corp. plans to build in a joint venture with Kettler of McLean, Va., and Orchard Development of Ellicott City, on land next to The Mall in Columbia. Rents are expected to range from $1,600 a month for a one-bedroom apartment to $2,800 for a three-bedroom unit — making them among the highest in the region.

The master developer of Columbia's Town Center aims to begin construction by early next year on a $100 million apartment and retail complex, the area's first new housing in a decade. The Metropolitan Downtown Columbia will be a six-story, 380-unit development that the Howard Hughes Corp. plans to build in a joint venture with Kettler of McLean, Va., and Orchard Development of Ellicott City, on land next to The Mall in Columbia. Rents are expected to range from $1,600 a month for a one-bedroom apartment to $2,800 for a three-bedroom unit — making them among the highest in the region.

When Baltimore County officials gathered for a news conference in the fall to reveal plans to revitalize the half-empty Owings Mills Mall, a cheery slogan lit up a screen behind them: "Owings Mills — it's happening!" The mall event was one of three major economic development announcements within six months for an area that has long awaited a makeover. But behind the scenes, a battle is brewing between the prominent developers investing in the projects. Plans for Owings Mills include a $65 million revamping of the mall; a huge, mixed-use development called Metro Centre near the end of Baltimore's subway line; and Foundry Row, an upscale retail complex anchored by a Wegmans grocery store at the Solo Cup manufacturing site off Reisterstown Road.

The Anne Arundel County school board voted unanimously Wednesday to oppose the city of Annapolis' efforts to build a parking garage and mixed-use development on land adjacent to Annapolis Elementary School, echoing sentiments of some residents who have argued vehemently against the project. Superintendent Kevin Maxwell recommended the board vote against entering into a memorandum of understanding that would have allowed the city to move forward with the project, which calls for using a portion of the parking lot at Annapolis Elementary for a garage.

A developer has filed for a permit to demolish theMorris A. Mechanic Theatre, a decades-old venue that has sat unused for eight years in the heart of downtown Baltimore, and replace it with a $150 million-to-$200 million mixed-use development. OneWest LLC plans to build two 30-story towers containing 600 market-rate apartments, 150,000 square feet of retail space and an underground parking garage on the site at 1 NorthCharles St., the partnership said. "The market is ripe and the financing is available for apartments," said Howard S. Brown, a partner in OneWest and chairman and president of Owings Mills-based David S. Brown Enterprises Ltd., which is managing the development.

A plan for a restaurant and retail space in the center of Catonsville was the subject of concern from residents at a two-hour hearing yesterday, as they questioned the impact it could have on traffic, noise and lighting.A Baltimore County hearing examiner is expected to rule on the plan for a Friendly's Restaurant at Frederick Road and Egges Lane early next year, part of a push to rejuvenate the commercial district.Neighbors of the proposed complex -- which would include a 12,600-square-foot retail building -- turned out to express concern that the development might alter the community of Victorian homes with a small-town flavor.

T. Rowe Price Associates Inc. has leased another floor in its Pratt Street building to accommodate the mutual fund company's growth, the company said yesterday. The space was vacated by Fidelity & Guaranty Life Insurance, which is moving to Inner Harbor East. The additional 29,564 square feet on the second floor at 100 E. Pratt St. brings Price's total to more than 300,000 square feet, or almost half the 28-story building. The company also leases space on St. Paul Street and in Owings Mills.

Two decades ago, when plans were laid for filling half of Turf Valley's 809 lush acres with buildings, Howard County officials couldn't foresee any store larger than what is now considered a quaint 18,000 square feet. But modern, big-box stores are routinely five times that size. For commercial success, a much larger grocery store will be needed for the Columbia-style village center the Mangione family wants to build near a new Turf Valley entrance off Marriottsville Road, the developer told a citizens' committee studying the golf course development at a meeting yesterday.

Stymied by vocal opposition and a complex zoning process, developers who wanted to build a retail and residential village on Bestgate Road near Annapolis now say they are likely to build only single-family homes and townhouses. Michael DeStefano, president of Sturbridge Homes, said yesterday that his company and partner Erwin L. Greenberg & Associates of Baltimore are moving ahead with plans to build houses on the 54-acre property, which has been slated for various development scenarios during the past several years.

A scaled-back revitalization plan for the "superblock," a crucial piece of Baltimore's west-side renewal effort, would include small- and medium-size stores, market-rate apartments in a 32-story tower and a 150-room boutique hotel. Revised plans by developer Lexington Square Partners, shown yesterday to the board of the Baltimore Development Corp., would reduce the overall retail space and the number of apartments. It also adds the hotel. Lexington Square, selected in competitive bidding by the city in early 2005, is now proposing 152,000 square feet of retail - half the original amount - 360 apartments and the hotel on land bounded by Fayette, Howard and Lexington streets and Park Avenue.

A developer has filed for a permit to demolish theMorris A. Mechanic Theatre, a decades-old venue that has sat unused for eight years in the heart of downtown Baltimore, and replace it with a $150 million-to-$200 million mixed-use development. OneWest LLC plans to build two 30-story towers containing 600 market-rate apartments, 150,000 square feet of retail space and an underground parking garage on the site at 1 NorthCharles St., the partnership said. "The market is ripe and the financing is available for apartments," said Howard S. Brown, a partner in OneWest and chairman and president of Owings Mills-based David S. Brown Enterprises Ltd., which is managing the development.

The addition of four national retailers - Anthropologie, J. Crew, MAC Cosmetics and Lululemon Athletica - at Harbor East could solidify the Baltimore waterfront neighborhood as one of the region's top shopping destinations, local retail consultants and business owners said Wednesday. "It makes downtown even more vibrant and attractive to high-quality, upscale retailers," said Mark Millman, chief executive officer of the retail executive hiring firm Millman Search Group in Owings Mills.

As a small business owner in the Garrison Forest Shopping Center and a police officer who has worked the Reisterstown Road corridor, I think your article about development in Owings Mills ignores the local and regional impact this type of project would have ("Jobs, taxes promised for old Solo Cup site," March 27). Although I like Wegmans and also agree that the jobs and increased economic activity it will bring are very good things, the proposed location just doesn't make sense.

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.

Target will be the first store to open in the $275 million Waugh Chapel Towne Center in Gambrills. Target will open Sunday, March 11, according to a release from the project's developer. Waugh Chapel Towne Centre is a 1.2 million square foot development that includes retailers, restaurants, offices and high-end townhomes and apartments. Other retailers opening at the Centre this spring include Dick's Sporting Goods, Panera, Petco and Old Navy. Wegmans is expected to open in October.

Johns Hopkins University President Ronald J. Daniels told the Baltimore Development Corp. board Thursday that the academic powerhouse has a moral obligation to "share our bounty" with the city. Daniels said that he sees Hopkins students, faculty and staff as privileged and that each has a responsibility to help revitalize Baltimore by addressing homelessness, preparing children for good jobs, ending violence and reversing significant health problems. "You can't sequester our institutions from the community," Daniels told the development board at its monthly meeting.

The Howard Hughes Corp. moved closer this month to firming up plans for an 817-unit residential development in Columbia's town center by naming two partners who well help carry out the project. Howard Hughes announced that it will be working with Kettler, of McLean, Va., a privately held company with a strong record of multi-family housing development.. Also involved with the partnership is Orchard Development of Ellicott City, founded in 1979 by Maryland home builder Earl Armiger.

The shuttered Boscov's Department Store at White Marsh Mall has been leased to national retailer Forever 21, according to the commercial real estate firm that brokered the deal. The chain of women's apparel stores will lease the entire 197,000-square-foot mall-anchor space that Boscov occupied until it filed for bankruptcy protection in August 2008, said Towson-based KLNB Retail. KLNB handled the transaction for Jones Lang LaSalle, the court-appointed receiver overseeing Boscov's real estate.

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.

When Baltimore County officials gathered for a news conference in the fall to reveal plans to revitalize the half-empty Owings Mills Mall, a cheery slogan lit up a screen behind them: "Owings Mills — it's happening!" The mall event was one of three major economic development announcements within six months for an area that has long awaited a makeover. But behind the scenes, a battle is brewing between the prominent developers investing in the projects. Plans for Owings Mills include a $65 million revamping of the mall; a huge, mixed-use development called Metro Centre near the end of Baltimore's subway line; and Foundry Row, an upscale retail complex anchored by a Wegmans grocery store at the Solo Cup manufacturing site off Reisterstown Road.