Circle East construction
Politicians and developers will be in downtown Towson on Tuesday for the official groundbreaking for the Circle East project.
Construction of the project, though, is well underway. The mixed-use development will have 370 apartments and 35,000 square feet of restaurant space and 45,000 square feet of retail.
Rendering of Circle East on Joppa at York
The project includes the old Hutzler’s department store, which most recently was home to a Barnes & Noble. The bookstore moved out when the store and the developer, Retail Properties of America Inc., could not work out a lease agreement, said Nick Over, Director of Development for RPAI.
Circle East rendering showing old Barnes & Noble
The bookstore would have had to occupy a smaller space because of the site’s new configuration, Over said.
“We’d love to have them if we can get them back,” he said.
Because the project will take another two years, Over said, it’s too early to have deals lined up with retailers or restaurants.
RPAI also owns Towson Square, home to the Cinemark movie theater, Bonefish Grill, Bobby’s Burger Palace and other bars and restaurants.
Once the development is done, the area will have wider sidewalks, an additional crosswalk on Joppa and a “more pedestrian feel,” Over said.
Baltimore County Executive Kevin Kamenetz and Councilman David Marks will be at the groundbreaking, along with officials from RPAI and AvalonBay, which is partnering with RPAI to develop the apartments.