LEXINGTON PARK, Md. — During a joint meeting of the Commissioners of St. Mary’s County and the commanding officer of Naval Air Station Patuxent River, a representative of Atlantic Realty announced for the first time that the old AMC in Millison Plaza is set to be replaced by a daycare center as part of their larger redevelopment plans for the plaza.
The redesign of the AMC building will involve the addition of large glass windows and the creation of about nine classroom spaces from the existing interior. The daycare will ultimately occupy around 15,000 square feet.
The new daycare is one of several redevelopment projects underway as part of a larger renovation of Millison Plaza, now renamed the Pax River Village Center. The plans include a new Aldi, a Starbucks, a pavilion building surrounded by open green space, a medical facility, and a space set aside for physical art projects that will also host public art programs. New sidewalks will also be added. The new Starbucks will focus on hiring the spouses or significant others of base personnel, reflecting the developer’s belief that the upgraded area will attract customers from the base.
Despite some concern expressed by commissioners during the meeting about the potential harm to small business owners located within the current plaza, the representative of Atlantic Realty assured that those small businesses would continue operating in the Village Center.
After its initial development in the late 1960s and early 1970s, the plaza did not see significant growth or reconstruction. Over time, many of its buildings fell into disrepair, leading the area to gradually lose its customer base and become increasingly associated with crimes such as brawls, carjackings, and robberies.
In an interview with The BayNet, one St. Mary’s County mother who worked in the area for many years said Millison Plaza and the adjacent Nicolet Park were not places she felt comfortable bringing her daughter unless she was with a large group. She added that the AMC theater began feeling unsafe after it started selling alcohol in an effort to attract more customers several years ago.
The decline of Millison Plaza is particularly notable given its proximity to the Pax River base and the widespread demand for recreational establishments like movie theaters. Whether the Village Center will overcome Millison Plaza’s current reputation remains to be seen. However, a concern voiced by many local residents in response to the announcement is that none of the planned developments address the lack of recreational, family-friendly establishments in the area. Currently, no such venues are included in the design plans.
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Why don’t they build housing on top of these places? Condos/apartments should have been built above Target and Walmart- density and smart growth people.
That’s a great idea! My daughter and I were saying the very same thing not long ago!
I’ll miss the sticky floors and urine smell… and waiting to get shanked walking back to my car.
I see no reason why the plan could not have included the incorporation of the AMC theater! That is many resident’s theater of choice! It gave residents a choice! AMC surely was our family’s! It provided a nice alternative as movie goers!!! Who wants to drive ALL the way to Waldorf to the movies?! I think it’s a shame that provisions were NOT MADE TO WELCOME THE FORMER SMALL BUSINESS to be included and accommodated in the redevelopment!
The scourge of Lexington Park will not change unless life is returned. The lifelessness is due to the mentality of the people. I AM TRULY SORRY TO SEE AMC GONE. it had been a mainstay for a long time.
Gonna miss that AMC I went every week to see the new movies never felt unsafe me and my friends are gonna miss it horribly the RC sucks