Middle River development called ‘game-changer’

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For the second time this week, Baltimore County officials have unveiled a massive new development project expected to break ground by mid-2014 — a $100 million community called Greenleigh at Crossroads in Middle River.

The all-inclusive development, designed like Maple Lawn in Howard County with a “new urbanism” concept, will have housing, retail, office and flex space available on what today is a 200-acre wooded property located off Route 43. Greenleigh will have 1,700 housing units and a 5-acre park that will surround the existing business and retail parks at the Baltimore Crossroads project, a development started in 2007 by St. John Properties.

An additional 500,000 square feet of office space and 100,000 square feet of retail space will also be built.

“We’re the biggest secret in Baltimore County,” Jerry Wit, senior vice president at St. John, said of the Crossroads, which has lagged in development starts because of the recession.

Within a year, Wit said, St. John will invest the first of about $10 million in infrastructure development at the site, starting with an extension of Earls Road, which will be a main street in Greenleigh.

Route 43 opened between White Marsh and Eastern Boulevard in 2006. The four-lane road paved the way for development of the close to 1,000 acres of wooded and marsh land on the county’s eastern rim about 10 miles from White Marsh Town Center.

So far, St. John has developed about 1.2 million square feet of space at the Crossroads, and last year’s opening of The Arbors, a luxury apartment complex that is 96 percent leased. Nearby, Windlass Overlook, a Ryan Homes single-family housing development, added the first housing starts in the area.

“We have thoughtfully designed this new section to serve as a dynamic employment generator, create a comprehensive live-work-play environment that satisfies many different needs and to elevate the product mix to the highest level ever achieved in the county,” said Edward St. John, chairman of St. John Properties.

County Councilwoman Cathy Bevins, whose 6th District includes Middle River, said the new development will be a “game changer” for the area.

Last summer, Bevins pushed for rezoning of a 65-acre former industrial site at the intersection of Route 43 and Eastern Boulevard, which will hold a Wal-Mart Supercenter and other retail space in the future.

“I remember in 2006 when I was standing on Route 43 with hundreds of other people and I remember the excitement of the day,” Bevins said. “The excitement was about opportunity.”

Baltimore County Executive Kevin Kamenetz said at a news conference announcing the development that it was a “legacy” project for St. John.

“We have to generate an expanded tax base, and Greenleigh will help to build up the property tax base by the number of residents living and working here,” Kamenetz said, adding that the county has not raised property taxes for 25 years and such new developments will help to keep the rate steady.

On Tuesday, Kamenetz and Towson-based developers DMS Development announced a $60 million project for downtown Towson. The 101 York development will include 200 apartments and 10,500 square feet of retail on York Road at the gateway to the county seat, geared toward students at nearby Towson University.