A Milestone for Towson Circle III

Towson Circle III is a development that would be built on four acres in eastern Towson, between Joppa Road and Delaware, Virginia, and Pennsylvania Avenues.   This project has gone through many changes over the past decade.  At one point, dormitories were proposed at the location, then dropped after a groundswell of community opposition.  Most recently, the project included office space.

Source: Towon Patch.

Plans now call for restaurants and a 14-screen multiplex cinema.   The latest proposal includes a 862-space parking garage, significantly larger than originally planned.

I have been briefed on the Towson Circle III project and met with the developers several times.   It is an important project as we work to revitalize Downtown Towson.  In fact, I consider it one of the four critical elements as we redevelop Towson.  The others are Towson City Center (slated to open in May or June); Towson Commons; and whatever may happen at the Towson Triangle between Burke Avenue, Towsontown Boulevard, and York Road.

On Tuesday, the Baltimore County Revenue Authority approved an amended lease agreement that will allow it to build a larger parking garage at Towson Circle III.   This was a significant milestone.  The agreement still needs to be approved by the County Council, but I will speak in favor.   With the agreement in place, a significant hurdle will be cleared.

Two ingredients are very important for revitalization of Downtown Towson.  First, we need to bring a mass of activity into the core.  Second, we need to recognize that Towson University and Goucher College can stabilize the downtown area; offices and classrooms, for example can anchor a growing collection of restaurants and businesses.  But Towson Circle III also provides the variety of entertainment options needed in a first-class community.