Located just 15 miles north of downtown Baltimore and surrounded by four major colleges and universities, Towson is the economic and cultural driver of Baltimore County. A central part of Towson’s redevelopment is Circle East, where Baltimore County and RPAI are working together to restore the heart of downtown Towson with the addition of 45,000 sf of retail below 350 residential units

Starting with a new masterplan and redesign of the former 1950s-era Hutzler’s Building, Circle East transforms the old indoor-oriented mall into an outward-facing retail destination. This outdoor urban retail complements the adjacent Towson Town Center and transitions you to the “main street” food and beverage offerings. Across the street, the project replaces a struggling below-grade strip center, further densifying the project to create a pedestrian-friendly environment. A robust landscaping plan also increases the walkability of the development. Improvements such as wider paving paths, pocket parks, and built-in seating with raised landscaping serve to buffer pedestrians from the substantially trafficked main street were added.

The design also includes four levels of connected underground parking, which spans the entire site, to aid with traffic congestion and provide ample parking to support the incoming residences and retail. All the improvements at Circle East culminate into a balanced example of urban renewal and mixed-use development.