From The Baltimore Business Journal, Feb 8, 2022
The future of Downtown Columbia’s Lakefront District became more clear Tuesday with details of a $325 million investment to bring new office, retail and residential to the area around scenic Lake Kittamaqundi.
The district’s redevelopment has been in the works for years, but now developer the Howard Hughes Corp. has confirmed plans will include a new medical office building, 675 apartment units, a music venue, a restaurant, and a minority-owned business incubator. And that’s just to start.
The announcement represents a shift of focus for Howard Hughes, which is leading a sweeping $5 billion, 30-year redevelopment of all of Downtown Columbia. Since at least 2016, most of the developer’s physical work has focused on building out retail and residential near the Mall in Columbia and in the emerging Merriweather District around Merriweather Post Pavilion. In recent months, more attention has been paid to the Lakefront District and Corporate Row, a seven-building office complex off Little Patuxent Parkway.
To date, most work at Lakefront has comprised of the demolition of existing buildings and the opening of a small park.
This spring, Howard Hughes will begin construction of the $45.8 million, four-story South Lake medical office building. The 86,000 square-foot building will be located on the south shore of the lake, next to Whole Foods Market.
Already, Orthopaedic Associates of Central Maryland (OACM) has signed on to occupy 20% of the building. The group will relocate from its existing Columbia office to the new building upon completion in early 2024.
OACM will join other health-related businesses in the Lakefront District, which is being created with a specific focus on wellness and health care. The South Lake building was designed by Howard Hughes and Studio Red Architects with those values in mind and will feature a “boardwalk-style” public terrace with views of the lake and space for fitness activities.
“Howard Hughes’ vision for a progressive health and wellness district integrated into the core of a thriving city made it an easy choice to relocate to Downtown Columbia’s new Lakefront District and be part of a new medical office building like no other in the area,” said Steve Maddock, CEO of OACM.
Coming even sooner, a new dining and entertainment concept to be called The Collective will join the southern end of the lake later this year. A new restaurant called Offshore and a music venue called Encore will take over the former homes of Clyde’s of Columbia and The Soundry, respectively. Additionally, The 3rd, an incubator supporting women-of-color entrepreneurs will soon open in the former Lupa restaurant space.
On the lake’s north end, Howard Hughes is planning to build three new residential high-rise towers holding a combined 675 apartments, approximately 10% of which will be full-spectrum, inclusionary affordable units, Howard Hughes Columbia President Greg Fitchitt, confirmed in an email Tuesday.
“These affordable units will offer a home to families with a broad spectrum of income levels, to be integrated throughout these market-rate buildings,” he added.
Street-level retail improved pedestrian and cycling connections, green spaces and a public promenade will be added around the towers, which will be constructed atop an underground parking structure.
The BBJ reported in 2019 that Howard Hughes originally planned to begin construction at the Lakefront with a 200,000-square-foot office and retail building at 5565 Sterrett Place. But Fitchitt said Tuesday that the company instead decided to start with residential “due to market demand.” The new apartments will be built on the site of 5565 Sterrett Place, which was demolished, and its neighboring parking lot.
Later phases of residential development will also bring condominiums, Fitchitt confirmed Tuesday. He told the Baltimore Business Journal in 2018 that the desire for condos at the Lakefront is significant, and would be the first non-rental units across the entire Downtown Columbia redevelopment.
When completed, the Lakefront District will include up to two million square feet of new development. The density and design of the area are intended to spur social interactions and exercise as visitors, workers and residents go about their daily lives, Howard Hughes said in announcing the new investment.
“The Lakefront District will be a compelling example of what a healthy neighborhood can be, with its beautiful natural setting, promotion of healthy lifestyles through daily engagement, and access to many services and amenities befitting a revitalized urban core,” Fitchitt said in a statement. “Columbians have an emotional connection to the Lakefront, the historic town center for all of Columbia, and this upcoming phase of investment is the next step in restoring and enhancing the Lakefront’s iconic character and historic position in Howard County.”