Howard County is paving the way for new developments along Route 1 with a call for proposals to redevelop the once-bustling but now vacant Hurst property. These plots are positioned in Laurel and encompass roughly 1.92 acres — specifically 9770 and 9790 Washington Boulevard. The announcement came directly from Howard County Executive Calvin Ball, with the Request for Proposals (RFP) now accessible on the Howard County News website.
The area witnessed the ceaseless hum of commercial activity in the past and presents a blank slate with ample opportunity today. Just two miles from the historic town of Savage, the Hurst property sits near the high-traffic Whiskey Bottom Road/US 1 intersection, waiting for over a decade. A significant revival seems not far on the horizon, as invested community members and the county draw from their Route 1 Corridor master planning initiative, which has been developing since 2018 with substantial input. In the words of Calvin Ball, "The sale of this long vacant property aligned with a vision of economic and community revitalization, will start a new, bright chapter for this historical and vital corridor to Howard County," a statement obtained by Howard County News.
Howard County aims to keep the Route 1 area vital for industry, jobs, and transportation, following its general plan, HoCo By Design. To support this, the Route 1 Tax Credit Program helps property owners fix up and improve their buildings. Additionally, the Maryland Smart Growth Subcabinet has renewed the Sustainable Community status for North Laurel-Savage until 2029, which means more funding and incentives will be available.
The Request for Proposals invites developers to submit ideas that benefit the community and support the county’s revitalization goals. The county is working with Chartwell Enterprises to review the proposals, which must align with the County’s General Plan. For questions about submitting proposals, contact Patricia Restrepo at Chartwell Enterprises via email at [email protected].
Developers interested in the Hurst property must submit their proposals by 4 p.m. on Monday, October 21st. Send your proposal to both the County and Patricia Restrepo, and make sure the subject line says “Hurst Property Proposal” with your company’s name.
