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11/06/03

After 300 years, Towson on 'cusp of a Renaissance'

By Annie Mondell Richard, Executive Director

This year, 2003, is historic - the 300th anniversary of the establishment of the first business in Towson. The first residents of this area were planters, and Thady Tracey, a cooper by trade, set up shop in 1703. While the exact location of his shop on his some 200-acre property is not known, it was likely located where Sushi Hana stands today on Pennsylvania Avenue, one block east of York Road.

We've come a long way since Thady Tracey set up shop in Towson; however, there's so much more to be done to make Towson the choice of a new generation of talented workers graduating from our area colleges and universities.

At the Greater Towson Committee, we like to think of Towson as being on the cusp of a kind of Renaissance - a period of revival ignited by our institutions of higher learning and advanced by the business community. Our hope is that this Renaissance will spread throughout Baltimore County as well.
Our mission as the Greater Towson Committee (formerly known as Towson Development Corporation) is to promote investment in greater Towson through redevelopment and revitalization of property and infrastructure for the common good. We have many successes at GTC that support our mission, and in conjunction with various business organizations, GTC plans to continue its efforts to champion Towson as a competitive and viable business location.

With that said, below are just a few accomplishments that GTC can be proud of:
> Advocated and supported the expansion of Towson area businesses, in particular, the mall at Towson Town Center and Black & Decker Corp.,

> Worked in conjunction with Baltimore County Revenue Authority to increase the number of parking spaces in Towson,

> Served as the catalyst for redevelopment of the vacant Hutzler's building into the Towson Circle project,

> Testified and worked with Towson residential communities to assist in the approval for the conversion of the abandoned Crown Oil Station to the soon-to-be-built Starbucks,

> Supported capital improvement program requests resulting in millions of dollars of public improvements and private investment in Towson,

> Worked with property owners to provide a unified business voice in the 2003 comprehensive zoning map process (in particular with regard to the several large 'downzonings' proposed in the greater Towson area).

For over 20 years, the Greater Towson Committee has worked on behalf of business, evaluating and promoting opportunities for joint public/private redevelopment in greater Towson. In 2004, we will celebrate our 25th Anniversary and plan to continue our work with the County Executive, Baltimore County Economic Development, the County Council, various business organizations and neighborhood associations to make Towson the best it can possibly be.The Greater Towson Committee is a volunteer organization to promote investment in Towson through development and revitalization of property and infrastructure for the benefit of the community.
Call 410-825-2549 for information.

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