By Danielle Nadoryk-David, Mariama Fofana and John Davis
Baltimore Watchdog Staff Writers
Driving up York Road in Towson towards the Towson circle where Joppa Road and Dulaney Valley Road meet, pedestrians can see two cranes towering over the city skyline. A few months ago, there were six cranes.
The skyline is changing, and soon, the people in the 55,000 cars that drive on York Road daily will have new stores to visit, and even new places to live. Currently, there are three major projects underway, including Aspen Heights, Towson Row, and Circle East, and they are all within the span of a few blocks.
Nancy Hafford, executive director of the Towson Chamber of Commerce, loves the changes.
“We really support all of the development,” Hafford said. “We used to be a nine to five town, but we’re not anymore, and we need more people living here to support all of the businesses.”
The rapidly changing town, which used to be considered suburban, is now anything but and locals have begun to develop their own opinions as the building projects near completion. Uptown Towson’s newest addition is a 390-unit apartment building, which is being built at 2 East Joppa Road, right next to the city’s mall. The AvalonBay structure has been in the works for Circle East, Towson’s main development project, since late 2017.
“I feel like a disservice was done to the area,” said Megan Morfe, a long-time Towson resident. “In a community sense, Towson isn’t exactly what it used to be. We lost Barnes and Noble and Trader Joes…they’re building it up with different things, which is great, but it doesn’t feel like the Towson I knew.”
Over the last 10 years, tens of millions of dollars have gone into the miniature city’s new developments, including an $85 million Cinemark that now anchors the Towson Square development, which opened in 2014. What used to be the Barnes and Noble and Trader Joe’s locations are now the exact spot for the new apartment building.
Other businesses around the area also have paid a price with some establishments struggling to keep up with Towson’s new developments. For example, Cunningham’s is a local cafe and bakery that is expected to close only to reopen under a new name and different concept. The renovations include doubling the size of the restaurant and opening a new level, officials said.
Towson Town Center itself has been renovating to keep up with the ever-changing community. The mall recently opened Round 1, a Japanese-based amusement store chain, and a bar called The Brass Tap. The mall also has plans to open two new additions: Mogee Tee, a bubble-tea-based beverage shop, and All-Star Sports.
“I think Round 1 was a good choice for the mall because it’s something different for the neighborhood,” said Towson resident Chanise Kholi. “I haven’t really seen the apartments yet, but it should be good. I think all the new developments are attractive, but we might need more security.”
While residents were quick to share their opinions, store employees and security personnel declined to answer questions about the developments. Some of the local business owners were skeptical.
“I’m hoping they don’t stick a bunch of chains over there,” said Steve Rowell, owner of the popular barbershop Hairway to Steven. “That’s my concern. I don’t think most people realize the impact it’s going to have on the people that have been here a while.”
Aspen Heights is the only development that’s strictly going to be for Towson University students. Located at 101 York Road just steps away from Towson University, it will offer students a variety of rooming options ranging from single studio apartments to four bedroom and four-bathroom apartments.
With the students come more cars to an already severely congested section of York Road.
“My main concern is the traffic and parking,” said Lydia Brown, a Towson resident who was vocal in the Baltimore County Council meetings when plans for the three developments were proposed.
One block up from Aspen Heights on the corner of York Road and Towsontown Boulevard is where the $350 million Towson Row project is underway, which is a mix of student living, residential, and retail.
The Towson Chamber of Commerce building is so close to Towson Row that Hafford said she can feel it coming, literally.
“One to three times a day my building shakes from the stuff they are doing over there, but I love all of it,” Hafford said.
The mixed-use development will include more than 700 student beds and more than 200 apartments as well as a 220-room hotel. There also will be several retail locations on the ground level, including the biggest attraction coming to Towson, a Whole Foods.
Towson Row didn’t break ground without controversy, though. Baltimore County okayed a $43 million assistance package for the developers back when the project was stalled in 2018, and some members of the community didn’t agree with the county stepping in to help fund a private developer.
“As a taxpayer and property owner I’m not too thrilled that my tax dollars went to private business,” Rowell said. “Now businesses are going to come in and possibly be my competition.”
Even so, the project continued and will near completion in late 2020.
The third project, Circle East, will be both retail and residential as well, with the Avalon apartment building on Joppa Road coming to completion within the coming months. The retail space on the street level will change the way the community interacts with the traffic circle, Hafford said.
Officials said Circle East is expected to become the focal point in Towson, though some speculate that the vision may result in closing other businesses, raising rent and spiking living costs overall. The cost of living in Towson already is 37 percent higher than the national average, according to PayScale.
The Towson Chamber of Commerce plans to create a survey to learn from the community and Towson students the types of businesses they would like to come to town.
“I know this is going to be a great year for Towson and TU, and for all of our friends moving in,” Hafford said. “And we’re all going to work together.”