Long-Awaited Redevelopment at Towson Commons

When it opened in 1992, Towson Commons was seen as a catalyst for growth in Downtown Towson.  The complex at York and Pennsylvania Avenues included a 100,000-square-foot shopping area, a 10-story office building, and an 882-space parking garage, and it immediately brought new customers into Downtown Towson.   I can remember coming home from college just to catch a movie or browse the Borders bookstore.

 

By the late 1990s, however, Towson Commons seemed to be fading.   My personal opinion is that the opening of The Avenue at White Marsh, with its free parking and more advanced movie theatre, was a key turning point.   For the next decade, while the offices at Towson Commons remained strong, the retail component struggled.  The movie theatres closed in May of 2011.

Towson Commons.

Since I took office, I have been frustrated by Towson Commons.  Important redevelopment projects have advanced to the north, east, and south, but not at Towson Commons.   That is why I am thrilled by signing of a lease for a 50,000-square foot fitness center at Towson Commons, replacing the old movie theatre complex.   When I toured the renovation in December, it was amazing to see where the theatres had been gouged out for a future swimming pool.

I introduced legislation that will modify the parking requirements in Downtown Towson to help with this project.   No one expects, for example, a health club to need more parking than a movie theatre complex.

I believe this facility will succeed because we are bringing more workers into Downtown Towson, at places like the the newly-opened Towson City Center.  We also have a successful residential neighborhood, Towson Green, taking root only a few blocks away.

This is a very good announcement that bodes well for Towson's future.

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.