The Baltimore Sun’s ongoing Reimagining Maryland seminar series made a recent stop in Owings Mills and a number of business leaders, including Scott Dorsey, Chairman and CEO of Merritt Companies and local politicians, highlighted by U.S. Congressman Dutch Ruppersberger, participated as panelists to discuss current issues, problems and hopes for the future. Transportation, as it relates to job attraction and retention, was at the forefront of the conversation.
“We continually ask the State of Maryland about the status
of the Dolfield Road exit off Interstate 795, but it appears to be stacked
behind other road construction projects and that is a shame for Baltimore
County and local businesses,” said Baltimore County Councilman Julian Jones, 4th
District. “The exit would make business communities positioned along Red Run
Boulevard more attractive and reduce travel time to and congestion around the
Owings Mills Town Center properties.”
“The Owings Mills Metro Stop is a tremendous amenity, but local companies need help in transporting workers from the transit area to their places of business,” stated Brian Dean, Vice President, Head of Corporate Real Estate and Workplace Service for T. Rowe Price. “It is great that young people can live downtown and still work in Owings Mills without having access to a car, but the addition of shuttles would greatly benefit their commute. In addition, businesses collectively need to think about and work together to help elevate the brand of Owings Mills.”
When asked about the boarded-up businesses dotting
Reisterstown Road and prospects for their revival, Councilman Jones hinted that
a Lidl grocery store, upscale car wash and new storage facility could in the
offering in the near future.