Kamenetz Q&A: 'Owings Mills is Happening...Now'

Amid a flurry of announcements in the last week about development and redevelopment in Owings Mills, one official repeatedly surfaced at the center of the action: Baltimore County Executive Kevin Kamenetz.

Kamenetz, who previously represented the Owings Mills and Reisterstown area as a Baltimore County councilman, has had his hand in each recent development announcement around town.

The county executive talked about his involvement and his vision for Owings Mills, with Patch this week.

Patch: How much did your work as a Baltimore County councilman in this area lead to your actions as a county executive?

Kamenetz: When I was elected as county executive, I brought with me 16 years experience as a county councilman. Obviously, I have a terrific base of knowledge about the area I represented as a councilman. It allowed me to very focused and determined about what needed to be done.

Did you go into office knowing this was the plan, to redevelop Owings Mills?

Coming from the legislative branch, I’m very aware of the distinction of authority between the executive and legislative branch. It allowed me...the authority to move projects forward. For many years, people have asked me, "When is something going to , When is "

The timing of these announcements -- all bunched together -- makes it appear your hand was in all of these projects. Explain your involvement in each.

I’ve met with all the parties multiple times. I traveled 2,500 miles to meet with [mall owners] General Growth Properties. I let them know how we were moving ahead with construction of the Metro Centre, and we wanted them to get moving, as well.

Fortunately, both Vanguard Equities and Greenberg Gibbons [overseeing ] are Baltimore County based developers, and I had existing relationships with them in my role as a councilman.

And what about the Metro Centre project, which finally got started in July after many years of delay?

It was actually 15 years. I have been intricately aware of every detail of that since it was proposed. I have been through the trials and tribulations of that project as a councilman.

That also was an important priority for me, to resolve a dispite between the county and the developer, allocate funding and start the consutrction right away.

I knew once the we resolved the roadblocks…the rest of that development would fall right into place. I knew the Metro Centre project would spur activity at the mall. They’re all inter-related. And, fortunately, there is ongoing dialogue with all three project developers to coordinate a marketing scheme that will be complimentary and not competitive.

Was it always your plan for these projects to be announced simultaneously?

Our goal was to let people understand that, after great effort, the wait is over. Owings Mills is happening, and it's happening now.

Through the synergy of the announcements of the different projects…it creates that sense of perception. For too long, the area has been viewed as not meeting the needs of the quality surrounding communities.

I knew that we needed a bold vision in place to change that poor perception, and that’s part of our goal as well. This really is tremendous news, because we have hundreds of millions of dollars being invested in a five-mile square area, and during a down economy.

And the fact that the largest mall owner in the country and the largest shopping center owner in the country have for the first time created a joint venture to redevelop the mall, that sends a signal not only to the commercial marketplace, but also the Wall Street marketplace.

And the fact that two of the most prominent regional developers in the state, Greenberg Gibbons and David S. Brown [Metro Centre], are purusing their project in the same five-mile square aerea, reaffirms that local players know the value of Owings Mills. Obviously, I’m very excited for the future.

What about the traffic tied to this additional development? Some are already worried about what will happen with traffic.

As part of that strategy, we also to the state department of transportation to prioritize [improvements at] Reisterstown Road and Painters Mill Road. And I gave a presentation to the state secretary of transportation to emphasize our goal to make those traffic improvements.

We are also moving forward with completion of the Owings Mills Boulevard terminus to Liberty Road. Phase 1 is well under construction, between Lyons Mill and Winands Road. We're doing engineering for Winands to Liberty.

I guess the only negative thing you’ve been up here for this year is the water tower issue. Were you surprised by the turn that took?

Communities tend to react to things that are new in their neighborhood. Putting a water tower in that neighborhood .

There still is a need for the tower. We’re having a cooling down period here, and we'll go back to the drawing board, and maybe we can provide a solution.

In government, you have to make tough decisions.