Building Capacity, MEDCO Supports Anne Arundel County in Redevelopment RFP Process

Aerial image of the redevelopment property in Glen Burnie, Maryland. Photo Credit: Anne Arundel Economic Development Corporation

As communities expand and evolve, developable greenfield spaces become increasingly precious. Shifting the focus to redevelopment can pose a challenge for some counties if there is no designated agency specifically responsible for managing these initiatives. 

When the Anne Arundel Economic Development Corporation (AAEDC) was tasked with managing the redevelopment of a thirty-five-acre county-owned industrial site in Glen Burnie, Maryland, they reached out to a knowledgeable partner to co-lead the charge.  

Enter MEDCO. With over forty years of experience as an economic development engine, MEDCO’s team of community-minded experts supports the AAEDC by facilitating and managing the project’s detailed Request For Proposal (RFP) process. By providing sound counseling and facilitation aid, MEDCO is bolstering the AAEDC team’s capacity to drive future redevelopment initiatives.

“When the county came to us with this redevelopment opportunity, we were excited to take on this project that will add tremendous value and economic vitality to our county,” shares Amy Gowan, CEO of the AACED. “I reached out to MEDCO to see if they could help expand our strengths to potentially take on a larger redevelopment role for the county in the future.” 

Katie Parks, MEDCO’s Director of Community Development, elaborates, “The AAEDC team had a well-written and clear goal for this property that they’d used to create their scope. Using our experience with development organizations, MEDCO was able to take that vision and add insights and perspective that we knew would help find the right bidder for the project.” 

The redevelopment site at 7409 Baltimore-Annapolis Boulevard includes thirteen acres of developable land, which currently houses buildings occasionally used for various county needs, such as Police K-9 training and temporary office space. Located within a quarter mile of the Cromwell Light RailLink Station, the lot is a prime opportunity center for transit-oriented development that prioritizes creating walkable spaces, adding housing options, and potentially mixed-use spaces for Anne Arundel residents. 

An interactive version of the site plan is available online. Click here to view the site plan.

Gowan elaborates, “A big part of what we want to accomplish is creating more connectivity between the Glen Burnie Town Center and the Cromwell Station transportation area to enhance the pedestrian experience for residents and visitors and prioritize walkable, sustainable communities.”

She continues, “AAEDC, the county, MEDCO and our community are in alignment to transform this property into a dynamic site for business and residential opportunities. We’re open to all ideas and are interested in finding a project that benefits the community.”

Acknowledging its role in placemaking, MEDCO anticipates a rise in transit-oriented developments statewide. Parks underscores this strategy, “Transit-adjacent properties present tremendous value for both residents and tourists. By fostering viable housing and employment opportunities in these areas, counties can see a remarkable revitalization that positively impacts all areas of a community.” She adds, “It is a really exciting opportunity for MEDCO to leverage our knowledge and become an implementation resource for the broader planning, analysis and development of these types of initiatives.”

In its management capacity, MEDCO advises AAEDC throughout the entire RFP process. This includes refining the RFP scope, coordinating tours for potential bidders and liaising between interested bidders and the county to address questions.

“MEDCO and AAEDC have been going through this process together,” shares Parks. “It has given us a lot of opportunity to work through the realities of the process—from due diligence to redevelopment strategies and processes. Learning by doing helps build their capacity to take something like this on themselves. It’s helpful to have someone who has an additional set of resources at their disposal.”

At this stage of the process, MEDCO is collecting RFPs to present to AAEDC. The MEDCO team will help consult AAEDC on the evaluation process, which includes assessing candidates and coordinating financial feasibility studies with a third party, as needed. Bidder interviews will begin in late summer, and a selection is expected to be announced in the fall of 2024. MEDCO’s assistance could continue to evolve with an expanded scope to support the project further as the redevelopment progresses.