Signs of life for long-sputtering Bowie tech park

Posted: 11:09 am Fri, September 3, 2010
By Tania Anderson

The recent announcement that Shoppers Food & Pharmacy would take up 25,000 square feet in the Maryland Science and Technology Center in Bowie meant more than just another tenant win in a challenging real estate market.

To the owners of the site, it represents — hopefully — just the beginning of more tenants in an office and warehouse park that’s had a long history of ups and downs.

St. John Properties, the Baltimore-based owner of the site, says it’s in talks with several large tenants like Shoppers who are interested in taking up space in Medford Plaza II, the most recent building to be completed at the 466-acre office park and the future home of the Shoppers headquarters. So far the 150,000 square foot building is more than 25 percent leased.

“The name recognition that [Shoppers] brings absolutely helps to increase visibility of the project,” said Rick Williamson, senior vice president of leasing for St. John Properties.

The project is gaining traction after a long history of ownership problems before St. John stepped in nearly a decade ago. The concept of a science and technology park in Bowie was first conceived in the mid-1980s and was modeled after Research Triangle Park in North Carolina.

But Bowie city officials say the plan was a bit grandiose in terms of square footage for the market at the time. Then the original developer went bankrupt and some of the property got tied up in the savings and loan debacle of the 1980s.

“We went through several years where there were difficult ownership issues, which made marketing a major problem for the owners,” said David Deutsch, Bowie city manager. “Nobody could figure out what was going on and it was basically stalled.”

St. John Properties stepped in about nine years ago and has moved forward with much of the development. The buildings are mostly filled with government contractors and tech firms. But the company has plans for three hotels, some retail and business and consumer services.

Williamson credits the site’s close proximity to Routes 50 and 301, as well as some of its amenities, for its success in winning a large tenant like Shoppers. The company also credits the diverse product offering at the site, from traditional office space to R&D/flex space. More than 1 million square feet have been developed and 85 percent leased. But there’s potential for 3 million to 5 million square feet to be added to the site.

“It’s done very well despite the market,” Williamson said. “But we’d always like to lease more.”

St. John and Bowie officials are working out covenants that govern land uses for the site. While most of the conflicts have been worked out, Deutsch said, housing is still a lingering discussion. St. John has indicated an interest in adding some residential components to the site and Bowie City Council members say they’re open to the idea, especially if it’s senior housing.

“There’s a feeling that there’s a need for senior housing in this community,” Deutsch said. “Not only does it meet a need but it doesn’t generate the need for new schools.”

St. John declined to reveal too many details on its residential plans but officials did say that it would like the science and technology center to be a mixed-use project. As of now, it’s made up of office and flex space.