Government Center Bidder Vanguard Shares Project Plans

While many Dundalk residents are actively working to stop the sale of the North Point Government Center, one bidder on the project believes his team has a plan that will provide new retail opportunities to the community while also preserving part of the land as a "community hub."

Leonard "Len" Weinberg II, a co-founder of Vanguard Retail Development, said Tuesday his plans call for about half of the 28-acre parcel at the corner of Merritt Boulevard and Wise Avenue to be devoted to a recreation center, athletic fields and passive recreation areas, while the other half would be the site of new "small retail" opportunities.

Weinberg said he "absolutely" believes his company can attract a Panera Bread, Lone Star restaurant, Starbucks or similar retail partners to the site, dubbed Merritt Pavilion, once it's built.

With 25 years experience in commercial development and redevelopment, Vanguard has a considerable history in building new and rebuilding outdated retail spaces and attracting tenants to those spaces.

Vanguard owns just under 1 million square feet of commercial space in the mid-Atlantic region, with tenants ranging from Best Buy, La-Z-Boy, Rite Aid, CVS and HH Gregg to smaller retail outlets such as Dunkin Donuts, Arby's and Kentucky Fried Chicken.

"And if we have more than 10,000 square feet of vacancies, I would be shocked," Weinberg said Tuesday.

Locally, Vanguard owns the German Hill Shopping Center, which houses a Giant grocery store, SunTrust Bank and Big Lots.

Weinberg said the property is treated like any other owned by Vanguard, which means it is kept clean, neat and well-manicured.

"The grass is always kept cut and the flowers in the beds are changed out twice a year, in the fall and spring," he said. "We take pride in the appearances of our properties."

Other locally owned properties include the former Levinson and Klein furniture store property on Pulaski Highway, which now houses Best Buy and La-Z-Boy outlets.

Vanguard also bought the 55,000-square-foot former Circuit City property on Pulaski Highway, a little closer to Martin Boulevard. That property was expanded to 80,000 square feet of retail space and is fully leased.

"A Japanese steakhouse is coming, and that's the last tenant," Weinberg said.

Vanguard also leads the Foundry Row development in Owings Mills, which has attracted Wegmans as the anchor for that project.

The Vanguard group, which includes partner Brad Glaser, is excited about the potential of the North Point Government Center property, according to Weinberg.

"We think we have a great way to enhance a well known, visible corner of the community," Weinberg said. "If we're selected, we'd love it. If not, we'll go on to the next one — we've lost before.

If awarded the project, Vanguard's plan will preserve all of the outdoor athletic space, which includes four ball diamonds.

"As I understand it, there are four fields at the government center and two fields at the elementary school," Weinberg said. "We would keep all four fields and enhance them—perhaps put dugouts and lights on at least one of the fields, making that field the championship field."

A 22,100-square-foot recreation center that will include a gym and theater will be built close to the fields, and a bowl-style amphitheater and community pavilion on the grounds.

About 45,000 square feet of retail space will be built closer to the corner of Merritt Boulevard and Wise Avenue.

"We want to build and provide retail that plays off the rec center and park complex," Weinberg said. "We hope to attract stores and shops that will attract participants after their activities or allow parents to shop or rest after they drop their children off for a program or rehearsal."

Vanguard partners with Segall, a company that works with retail recruitment. The partners are confident that they will be able to attract "first-class, name-recognized national tenants" to the new retail space, according to Weinberg.

Weinberg is aware of the largely vacant shopping center across Merritt Boulevard from the government center.

"We will be competition for them, but that's part of this business," Weinberg said.

They are also aware of the controversy surrounding the potential sale of the property and know residents want the center to stay as it is.

The center currently houses the North Point Police Precinct 12, many indoor sports programs of the Dundalk-Eastfield Recreation Council, the Sky is the Limit Community Theatre, community organizations and the offices of many local elected officials.

The athletic fields are heavily used by many organizations and the surrounding Eastfield-Stanbrook community, according to Eastfield-Stanbrook Civic Association President Karen Cruz, and the combined Grange Elementary School/North Point center campus is the launch site of Dundalk's annual 4th of July fireworks display.

Thousands of people park and picnic at the site for the fireworks.

Residents say anything less than the entire parcel of land remaining as open space in the heart of their community is not acceptable.

If Vanguard wants to send a message to Dundalk, it's that the company wants to partner with and communicate with residents, according to Weinberg.

"We want to have an open dialogue with Dundalk and encourage good communication so we can deliver a quality project for the community," he said. "We are confident we can sit down and work with the community to preserve this hub while enhancing the area with new retail opportunities."

Vanguard is scheduled to present its proposal to the Baltimore County Council next week.