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Shabby shopping center morphing into high tech office center Mary Paramore
Harford County means business. With the groundbreaking of the Edgewood Tech Center at 1900 Pulaski Hwy. Oct. 19, the fourth project designed to ensure the community gets its share of the economic BRAC boom took root. The Edgewood Technical Center project calls for a new façade for and space reallocation of the Edgewood Commerce Center, behind Dunkin Donuts in a strip shopping center once anchored by Ames Department Store. Developed by the Morris Weinman Company, Architectural Design Works (ADW) prepared site plans for the project and RKS Commercial Realty will facilitate site leasing, once the project is completed. “What you see here is the epitome of smart growth,” said ADW’s Paul Thompson describing plans to take a Rt. 40 eyesore and convert it to affordable office space." We’ll reskin it, give it a high-tech look with a metallic finish and uplights.” During the ceremony, Harford County Economic Development Director Jim Richardson pointed to an upcoming groundbreaking for the Joint Program Executive Office for Chemical Biological Defense within one mile of Edgewood Technical Center. The entity is relocating from Falls Church, VA. He said, “ChemBio controls $933 billion dollars. Spin-off demand will begin quickly. We have a $20 billion engine in Harford County that is (Aberdeen Proving Ground) and we want to make sure we are ready for that.” Harford County Executive David Craig noted the project follows three other pivotal projects to ensure Edgewood is included in Harford County’s growth – the creation of the Chesapeake Science and Security Corridor, the demolition and rebuilding of Washington Court and firm plans for new campuses for Edgewood High School and Deer Creek Elementary. Craig said the building’s transformation from a mostly empty and somewhat unsightly strip mall to affordable small business office space is proof of the county’s efforts to invest in the Edgewood Area. Craig said Edgewood is home to more than 28,000 people. “If Edgewood succeeds, we all succeed,” he said. Col. Andrew Nelson, deputy garrison commander for transformation at APG, said Aberdeen Proving Ground is slated for $1 billion in facilities upgrades. He said, “At APG, we are pleased to stand shoulder to shoulder with Edgewood and Harford County.”
The groundbreaking also served as a celebration of existing businesses in the Edgewood Area. More than 15 businesses staffed informational booths, and five area restaurants provided refreshments for the event.
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