MEMORANDUM
TO: City Council
FROM: David J. Deutsch, City Manager
SUBJECT: Status Report/Council Poll
DATE: March 13, 2008
Status Report
1. Giant Food
Mayor Robinson and staff met with Barry Scher and Jim Sylvia (Stop & Shop,
Quincy, MA) regarding the vacant store at Bowie Plaza. They said the lease
with Regency runs until 2012, but the important thing is that Giant IS willing
to allow a grocery operator into the Bowie Plaza location, and if that occurred
they would be willing to relinquish their leasehold. Scher and Sylvia said
they are in frequent discussions with Regency, and he feels that to a large
degree their interests are mutual. They both reiterated the difficulty in
securing a grocer for the 24,000 square feet they vacated. City Economic
Development staff remains in contact with all relevant parties.
2. Town Hall Meeting
Staff compiled the various concerns mentioned by residents at the meeting
held this week in Old Bowie. The various items have been assigned to the
appropriate departments for follow-up. Council will be kept apprised of
our progress.
3.
Old Town Bowie Shopping and Dining Survey – Additional Information
Staff compiled the detailed responses to three of the survey questions and
has provided those detailed responses to the merchants in Old Town Bowie.
A copy of that additional information is in your package.
4. City Exhibit At ICSC Mid Atlantic A Success
On March 10 and 11, the City led an exhibit team with representatives from
the Prince George's County EDC and the City of Laurel at the annual International
Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC) Mid Atlantic Idea Exchange at the Washington
(DC) Convention Center. During the one-day exhibit portion of the event,
City representatives Councilmember Marcos, Planning Director Joe Meinert,
Economic Development Specialist Garry Clark, and Economic Development Director John Henry King met with retailers, restaurateurs, and
others active in retail development.
Our target again this year was grocery stores and other retail tenants to
support the efforts of Bowie Plaza and Hilltop Plaza. Additionally, we talked
with developers about redevelopment potential in Old Town Bowie. We received
many inquiries about additional retail sites along the US Highway 301 corridor.
All of Bowie's retail centers were actively marketing their properties at
this event.