Regions Midatlantic
Redevelopment of Baltimore Suburb to Be a Model in Green
May 12, 2008
By: Barbra Murray, Contributing Correspondent

General Growth Properties' vision for Downtown Columbia, Md.'s renaissance will leave the master-planned community awash in green, the developer recently revealed to a crowd of area residents.

Established 40 years ago, Columbia sits about 20 minutes outside of Baltimore. Chicago-headquartered GGP's details on the extensive environmentally friendly elements that will be incorporated into the Town Center redevelopment endeavor were presented last week at GGP's headquarters, according to the Baltimore Sun. The sustainable aspects of the project will include green roofs, solar arrays and storm-water management concealed as civic art, as well as preserved wetland areas. Landscape architect Keith Bowers of Biohabitats is on board as one of the designers overseeing the goal of creating the green enclave. While the project is not currently deemed a transit-oriented-development, experts predict that new commercial and residential product will prompt the addition of new transit options to the area.

 

Public presentation of these newest details came just days after the company unveiled its overall plan for the project. The initial phase will encompass 300,000 square feet of retail offerings, 200,000 square feet of office space, a hotel and a skating rink with the capacity to be transformed into an open-air market. Specifics about residential components are presently being hashed out and will be publicized in June. GGP intends to present its master plan to Howard County officials this summer.

 

One of the largest REITs in the country, GGP owns, develops and manages shopping malls in 45 states, and master planned communities in Nevada, Texas and Maryland. As of January, the company's portfolio of owned and/or managed properties encompasses over 200 regional shopping malls accounting for an aggregate 200 million square feet of space. GGP stock opened today at $41.23.





 
Recent Midatlantic Headlines
Brandywine Realty Promotes DeVuono to EVP, Senior Managing Director, Pennsylvania Region
Brandywine Realty Trust promoted Jeff DeVuono to the position of executive vice president and senior managing director of Pennsylvania region.
Corus Bank Completes $60M Loan to Finance MF Construction in Washington, D.C.
Corus Bankshares Inc. said that its banking subsidiary, Corus Bank, closed a $60 million loan to a joint venture between The Cohen Cos. and O’Connor Capital Partners L.L.C. to finance the construction of Velocity, a 14-story condominium building located at 1025 First Street SE in Washington, D.C.
$850M Comcast Center Makes its Debut as Tallest Green Building in U.S.
The nearly 1.3 million-square-foot Comcast Center has just recently opened its doors with an estimated completion price tag of $850 million.
Washington, D.C. Experienced Positive Absorption, Cassidy & Pinkard Reports
Cassidy & Pinkard Colliers said today that Washington, D.C. metropolitan area office market experienced an overall positive net absorption of 217,900 square feet in the second quarter of 2008.
Binswanger Negotiates Lease for Material Concepts iin Philadelphia
Binswanger said today that Material Concepts Inc. has leased the 48,000-square-foot office and warehouse building at 11621 Caroline Road in Philadelphia, Pa.