Annapolis Towne Centre: Potential Fulfilled

In sports, to be labeled as an athlete “with potential,” can be a curse if you don’t live up to it. In real estate, properties “with potential” can be just as challenging.

Consider the “former humongous rubble of land, right square in the middle of downtown” Annapolis , as Crownsville resident and frequent Annapolis visitor, Diana Dahl, relates.

“It’s an upscale shopping area now,” Dahl says, specifically, the 33-acre, 2 million square foot Annapolis Towne Centre at Parole, the first phase of which was unveiled in October 2008.

The Centre was developed by Greenberg Gibbons (GG), the sixth developer to take on the long-vacant property. Challenges including complex zoning criteria for the area as well as the need for a major environmental cleanup.

Unlike their predecessors, GG was successful in its efforts, investing $6 million to remove existing ground contaminants and to restore nearby Church Creek which runs into the South River, after decades of damage.

The result is a $500 million, mixed-use development, one of the largest in Anne Arundel County’s history, that features national retail stores and restaurants, first-class office space, luxury condominiums and apartments. The project also includes a park, green space and a pedestrian walkways that run the perimeter of the site.

“The Annapolis Towne Centre has three components—retail, office, and residential,” says Brian Gibbons, president and CEO of Greenberg Gibbons. “What is wonderful about this project is, that it is a catalyst for local redevelopment and helps upgrade neighboring sites as they are forced to compete. Creating a mixed-use lifestyle center with residential units in the core leads to better things for the community.”

For Ms. Dahl, the wonderful thing about this project is Great Gatherings.

“It’s a high quality game room-bar-basement-outdoor living store. I had never heard of it. I was in a hurry one day and thought I was walking into the Arhaus furniture store which is located right next door. Instead, I walked into Great Gatherings. At the time, my husband and I were in the process of finishing off our basement so to find a store like this was exactly what the doctor ordered. I have been back three or four times for other I items…it’s an amazing store,” she said.

And one of many at the Annapolis Towne Centre, which also features such retailers as Anthropologie, Bed Bath & Beyond, Bin 201 Winesellers, Brooks Brothers, Coldwater Creek, Eastern Mountain Sports, Smyth Jewelers, Desi Living Innovations, Charm City Run, Restoration Hardware, and Poppy & Stella.

A 24 Hour Fitness, About Faces Day Spa & Salon, ATC Cleaners, AT&T, Bank of American, BankAnnapolis, GoWireless, Hair Cuttery, MyEyeDr., PNC Bank and SECU Credit Unit are among the on-site services.

Restaurants include the Cadillac Ranch American Bar & Grill, Gordon Biersch, Menchies Frozen Yogurt, the Metro Silver Diner, Real Seafood Company, Ziki Japanese Steakhouse, P.F. Chang’s and The Chop House.

Concurrent to the development, GG partnered with Mount Olive Church, donating $2 million and their expertise in creating a 10,000 square foot community center which opened in September 2008 to serve Parole area residents.

Later this summer and fall, new tenants to arrive at the Towne Centre will include Reveal MedSpa, Philly Flash and Paladar Latin Kitchen and Rum Bar.

“Another plus to the Towne Centre is that all the restaurants are kid-friendly. Even the more elegant Chop House has a very accommodating staff for little ones,” Dahl, a mother of two boys, ages 4 and 6, says. “They actually smile and not frown when they see my two little ones walk in the door.”

For more information on the Annapolis Towne Centre, visit www.visitatc.com.