A Washington-based development company plans to turn a former trucking terminal in central Laurel into a $300 million mixed-use community.
Bill Shipp, an attorney for the Patriot Group, said the company is proposing to construct seven buildings ranging in height from five to 20 stories on the 10-acre site east of Route 1 at Marshall Avenue and Staggers Road in Prince George’s County.
The community would include 1,208 residential units and more than 140,000 square feet of office space.
“The location of Laurel being between Washington and Baltimore and also in close proximity of the Fort Meade military base makes it a very good location for potential development,” Shipp said.
According to Shipp, the firm submitted a conceptual development plan to the city last month. That, he said, was the first step in the approval process, which the developer expects will take two years. The Patriot Group hopes to begin construction in 2009 with a projected 2017 completion date.
“We have encouraged this type of redevelopment for some time,” said Karl Brendle, Laurel’s director of community planning and business services. “Mayor [Craig] Moe is a very strong advocate of smart growth, which means reusing what you have rather than sprawlingoutward.”
On Aug. 1, the developer is sponsoring a community forum to discuss the project with Laurel residents. The forum will take place at 7 p.m. in the Council Chambers at Laurel City Hall.
Brendle said Laurel planning staff is reviewing the proposal and the City Council and Planning Board will host public hearings on it in September.
