Lanham development project gains momentum

Thursday, August 18, 2005

Despite opposition from some county residents, development for the Vista Gardens Marketplace in Lanham is well under way and scheduled to open in March 2006.

The shopping center, approved by the County Planning Board in May 2004, will be located at the corner of Martin Luther King, Jr. Highway, Annapolis Road and Lottsford Vista Road.

‘‘This is a good project and something a majority of the people are welcoming with open arms,” said Arthur Turner, Jr. chairman of the Prince George’s Chamber of Commerce economic development committee. ‘‘This project [is a big improvement] on retail in the county.”

Opposition for Vista Gardens has come from residents from the Lake View community in Bowie. The residents have vocally expressed their displeasure of a text amendment used to speed up the process of development.

This 53-acre site boasts more than 400,000 square feet of retail space. Some of the anchor stores that have already signed on include Shopper’s Food Warehouse, Home Depot, Office Depot, Blockbuster Video, Starbucks and Target.

Many of the people that live in the surrounding area are supportive of the project and looking forward to its opening.

‘‘This type of project is absolutely necessary,” said Vista Estates West Homeowner’s Association President Terry Speigner. ‘‘We need quality retail shopping in this area.”

Vista Estates West is located less than two miles from the site. Speigner sees the project as a way to keep and bring more revenue to the county.

For Clyde Springfield, president of the Glenwood Park Civic Association, the shopping center is a welcomed idea as long as it does not cause a traffic problem.

‘‘I am in favor of the project provided it doesn’t bring any additional traffic to the area,” Springfield said. ‘‘The convenience of [Vista Gardens Marketplace] is admirable but the possible congestion isn’t.” According to a study conducted in 2002 by the Maryland State Highway Administration, an estimated 34,050 cars travel along Martin Luther King, Jr. Highway every day and another 12,750 travel on Annapolis Road. To combat the possible increase in traffic, the developers will be creating a 4-way lighted intersection at the corner of these two streets.

Turner commends the Michael Companies, developers of the shopping center, for catering to the needs of the community.

‘‘The Michael Companies have worked hard to develop a plaza that we [the county] could all be pleased with,” Turner said. ‘‘I am most excited about having more [shopping] options.”

‘‘With the population growing as it is, consumers encounter long lines because we don’t have an ample number of stores to go to. With more stores, the long lines won’t be a factor.”

The Michael Companies representative Dennis Brownlee did not return calls before press time.

To provide input on the Vista Gardens Marketplace visit www.vote4restaurants.com.

E-mail Brooke N. Garner at bgarner@gazette.net.