Indian Head, MD – The Town of Indian Head got exciting news Monday, April 3 at their monthly meeting.
William L. Price II, principal and senior project manager for Bryant Mitchell Architects of Washington, DC, disclosed to the mayor, the town council and citizens the news they’ve been waiting years to hear. Smith said his firm has attained the services of a developer in the hopes of renovating and revitalizing dilapidated structures lining Route 210 leading into the town. Price said plans are to bring a grocery store, office space, a daycare and expanded space for New Life Christian Ministries. “The main hurdle we envision will be when we get to Charles County,” he said. “That is when we will encounter the regulatory part of the process.”
“Let me stop you right there,” said Indian Head Town Manager Ryan Hicks. “Charles County is not involved in this town. We don’t have to go to the county.
“You had me at grocery store,” Hicks added.
Indian Head residents have long decried a grocery store as one of the town’s greatest needs. Calling the project Gateway Center at Indian Head, Price outlaid plans to do the work in three phases. He said a previous study of the town’s needs “dotted every I and crossed every T. The report tells us where Indian Head has been, where the town is now and what you need to move into the future.”
Phase I, he noted, would involve repurposing the old Ely’s shopping center fronting Route 210, a 20,000 square foot building. Phase II would include a daycare, something residents indicated was desperately needed, in a 25,000 square foot leasable retail commercial space. Phase III would be the renovation of an existing warehouse of 13,500 square feet to repurpose for New Life Christian Ministries for worship and the community. “We want to ask you what you would support,” he said, admitting that they are working in tandem with the developer for funding.
“We are now in the process of looking for the money to complete this,” Price added. “There are several different places where this money would come from. We will need patience and perseverance,” he warned. “This is going to take a public and private partnership.”
“It’s a great concept,” said Indian Head Town Council Member Curtis Smith. “I’m excited. These are exactly the things we need.”
Contact Joseph Norris at joe.norris@thebaynet.com