Commercial Revitalization District Meeting Draws Support

Attendance at the Wednesday evening indicated that interest in Perry Hall's new extends well beyond the district’s boundaries.

Representatives from the Parkville and Overlea-Fullerton communities, both of which have revitalization districts of their own, were among the nearly 20 people who gathered inside the library to hear what Baltimore County Councilman David Marks and Planning Director Andrea Van Arsdale had to say about Perry Hall’s program.

The next step is to get shoppers curious, too, Marks said.

"Belair Road creates a challenge," he said. "It’s a major road running through Perry Hall, which means we can’t expect to create a town square atmosphere along here like you find in Towson and some other districts. But maybe we can make the commercial area more distinctive."

Perry Hall’s commercial revitalization program, which received , attempts to help businesses by giving them access to incentives such as low-interest loans, tax credits, expert advice and regulatory assistance. Business owners can even get assistance from an "Architect On Call" who would offer professional architectural design services.

Participation in the program is voluntary, and there are no new taxes, extra fees or zoning changes associated with it.

Marks said at a community meeting in April that the program's main purpose is to address the high number of vacancies at the nearly 50-year-old Perry Hall Square Shopping Center. "Whatever happens at the shopping center is going to have a profound effect on the rest of the district," the councilman said.

Marks explained that a company retreat prevented Kimco Realty Corporation, Perry Hall Square’s management company, from sending a representative to Wednesday's meeting. He has, however, had ongoing discussions with Geoff Glazer, Kimco’s vice president of acquisition and development.

At Perry Hall Square, Kimco is "looking at filling in vacancies and perhaps bringing in a restaurant or two, rather than making large-scale changes," Marks said. “My personal opinion is that there’s probably too much parking there at the shopping center. A restaurant or two in the parking area—maybe something like a Gino’s—would be a great help. Restaurants are critical; they bring foot traffic into an area."

Marks added that Kimco is "actively pursuing a grocer for the ."

Beyond Perry Hall Square, the commercial revitalization district continues along Belair Road, from Blakely Avenue north to Minte Drive, and also follows Joppa Road west to Seven Courts Drive and Ebenezer Road east to Yvonne Avenue.

Lynn Richardson, president of the Perry Hall/White Marsh Business Association, acknowledged that none of the group’s 72 members are located inside the revitalization district.

"But I’m thinking, because we’re already organized and we’re all certainly interested in what’s going on within the district, we could maybe spearhead efforts and help gather the troops for the good of members and non-members alike," Richardson said.

Van Arsdale said that the "building block" of Perry Hall’s revitalization program should be "a good, synergistic mix of viable businesses in the corridor" and that efforts should be "very targeted" to achieve the greatest success.

"We want to get more bang for the buck, making it so people driving up Belair Road will say, ‘Something’s different here, something has changed,’ and it will be worth their while to stop and take a look," Van Arsdale said.

Norma Secoura, past president of the Overlea Community Association and former candidate for the House of Delegates, said she wants to see Perry Hall’s commercial revitalization succeed.

“I shop here in Perry Hall, and I’m interested in the entire district,” Secoura said.

She said that Perry Hall Square and the surrounding commercial area would benefit from more “destination” businesses—“like a dentist, or if it’s retail, something like a golf shop”—rather than places that need road frontage to attract impulse shoppers. “Maybe something like the Avenue in White Marsh—something that would get people more willing to explore and go out of their way to shop."

Marks said another meeting to discuss the revitalization program is probable and will likely target Perry Hall Square Shopping Center businesses. “I will do everything I can as a councilman to support whatever it takes to help that shopping center succeed,” he said.

Interest in the program is just starting to take root, but Marks is confident that as soon as one business gets on board with commercial revitalization incentives, more will follow.

“As merchants start to take advantage of the program, word will travel,” he said.