Day Care Center Could Spark New Development

For years, the sign at Berger Street and Annapolis Road has been promising a development dubbed "Meade Center."

That project could finally break ground after Fortis Development said it is negotiating a lease for a Kiddie Academy Day Care center on the site.

With the day care center in place as soon as next summer, the developer could move forward on developing an additional 22,000 square feet of retail space, Fortis principal Brett Griffith said. 

Plans for Meade Center received the endorsement of the Odenton Town Center Oversight Committee several years ago, back when plans called for more than 35,000 square feet of retail. But the economy stalled, and Fortis was unable to land financing for the project. 

Griffith said that with the day care lease in place, he will be able to secure funding to build the rest of the project.

The town center committee on Tuesday recommended approval of the ammended plans.

Griffith said he hoped to break ground on the day care center by November or December, so that the center could open by July. The school would accommodate 138 students and would be about 8,500 square feet in size with a 4,500 square-foot outdoor play area.

Griffith said he is also negotiating with potential retail tenants for the rest of the space, including a full-service restaurant.