A new 109-acre mixed-use development, with hundreds of apartments, homes, retail spaces and numerous eateries is under construction off Route 543 at the intersection of Creswell Road in Bel Air.
Property broker Sean Langford said by next year the development, named Valley at James Run, will significantly boost the county’s economy while meeting the retail and housing needs of the community.
Here is a closer look at what is to come.
304 apartments
Six mid-rise apartment complexes are under construction. In total there will be 304 “luxury” apartments, featuring 9-foot ceilings, high-speed internet, quartz countertops, stainless steel appliances, full-size washers and dryers and other amenities such as walk-in closets.
Rates for the one-bedroom, two bathroom, 857 square-foot apartments – the smallest and least expensive option – are currently listed at $1,950 per month. The largest and most expensive options offer a 1,506 square-foot apartment with three bedrooms and three bathrooms for up to $2,950 per month.
Residents of the pet-friendly apartment complexes will have access to a saltwater pool, a playground, a community garden, a yoga studio, an outdoor kitchen, a fitness center and a clubhouse.
According to Langford, leasing will begin this summer.
Villas and carriage homes
Accompanying the apartments will be 191 attached single-family residences called villas and carriage homes. According to the homebuilder’s website – Ryan Homes – the carriage homes will have three bedrooms, three bathrooms, a half bath, two-car garages and finished basements.
The 2,200 square-foot homes will start at $439,990.
There are roughly 60 carriage and villa homes constructed on the property. The developer plans to build and sell the remaining 131 homes by the end of next year.
Townhomes
Plans also include 79, 20-foot-wide townhomes, with at least three bedrooms and three bathrooms.
Square footage of the townhomes ranges from 1,691 square feet to 2,285 square feet. Prices of the townhomes range from $379,990 to $439,000.
Dining
Chipotle, Starbucks and Tropical Smoothie Cafe will join the Royal Farms gas station along Route 543. The Starbucks is open and operating. Both the Tropical Smoothie Cafe and Chipotle are expected to open this summer.
On the other side of the development, closer to the Interstate 95 South merge ramp, a Longhorn Steakhouse and an Olive Garden are both planned. Both restaurants are in the process of obtaining permits from the county and are expected to open next spring.
Senior care facility
Between the planned villas and townhomes will be a 160-bed assisted living facility. The facility will be operated by Monarch Communities, a New York-based senior living group.
Langford, the property broker, confirmed that the site has been acquired by Monarch Communities Construction. The size of the facility is currently unknown because the property owners are waiting for interest rates and construction costs to fall before they break ground.
Kiddie Academy Daycare center
In front of the planned assisted living facility and behind the Longhorn Steakhouse will be a 10,000 square-foot Kiddie Academy Child Care center. The daycare is expected to break ground in late summer and to be in operation early next summer.
Retail space
A salon is planned in the space between the Starbucks and Tropical Smoothie Cafe and a concept for a Wine World is in the works for the lot directly behind the Royal Farms.
Langford anticipates the Wine World will break ground in nine months.
A 3.5-acre parcel next to the Olive Garden, closest to the I-95 entrance ramp, is available for development. Langford said the land can be used for a hotel, a conference center or medical offices.
In anticipation of additional traffic, developers installed a traffic signal at the intersection of Route 543 and Cresswell Road. Turn lanes from Route 543 were added along with merge lanes for vehicles exiting the development onto Route 543.
By the end of next year, Langford anticipates all homes, apartments, restaurants and retail facilities to be open and operating. The only facility he said he is unsure of is the assisted living facility.
“Everything is really going to come into play next year,” Langford said. “With the taxes and everything, the economic boost to the county is extremely significant and we look forward to it.”
