Multi-Million Construction Project Begins In Owings Mills
OWINGS MILLS, Md. (WJZ) -- Good things come to those who wait, but Baltimore County leaders say the wait is over on a multi-million dollar construction project in Owings Mills.
As Gigi Barnett explains, it's designed to bring businesses and buyers back to that area.
It's a case of "build it and they will come" in Owings Mills. That's why Baltimore County leaders are redoubling their efforts on a long-awaited construction project. This week, the groundbreaking finally came.
"I know that we are all OK with having grown old...very, very old...waiting for this building," said CCBC President Sandra Kurtinitis.
It's called the Owings Mills Metro Centre, a mix of homes and businesses that will boast 120,000 square feet and it's snugged between the Owings Mills Metro station and the mall. Also planned for the facility is the county's largest library branch. The price tag for it all: $30 million.
"This is a great addition to Owings Mills and not simply because of the resources it brings here but because of the energy it will give to this community," said County Executive Kevin Kamenetz.
Right now, economists say Owings Mills is in an economic slump. Its mall lost dozens of stores starting in the late 1990s and never quite recovered. Business owners say the train means easy access to the area and the attraction to the Metro center will spill over to the mall.
"That will bring traffic here during a period of the day that may not be using the parking lot and so that's an added benefit to the project," said George Harman, president of the Owings Mills-Glyndon Coordinating Council.
While this building is more than a decade in the making, neighbors will have to wait to check out some books a little longer. The building is set to open in the winter of 2013.
The county says the building will also be a green one and house classes for the county's community college.
