Walmart Pulls Out of Frederick Towne Mall Redevelopment (Hagerstown, Severn: real estate, apartment complexes)

[Dequindre]

Wal-Mart has pulled the plug on plans to open a new store as part of a shopping center planned for the site of the former Frederick Towne Mall in west Frederick.

Property owner Rockwood Capital on Tuesday received a letter from Wal-Mart announcing its withdrawal from the project, according to Dave Severn, an attorney representing Rockwood Capital.

Wal-Mart pulls plans for west Frederick store | Real Estate And Development | fredericknewspost.com

[Dequindre]

I'm willing to bet that this sets the project back by another 5 years.

[MidValleyDad]

Three months ago I was at the barber shop next to that site. The word was that all work had stopped when they found more asbestos on the site than was expected and no one wanted to cover the increased remediation cost. When I was there last month the word was that WalMart was going to walk away unless the deal got much better to cover the increased costs. I guess it is time to get my hair cut again :-)

[Dequindre]

Originally Posted by MidValleyDad

Three months ago I was at the barber shop next to that site. The word was that all work had stopped when they found more asbestos on the site than was expected and no one wanted to cover the increased remediation cost. When I was there last month the word was that WalMart was going to walk away unless the deal got much better to cover the increased costs. I guess it is time to get my hair cut again :-)

Barbers and hairdressers ALWAYS have the best local gossip.

I wonder what's going to happen now (if the story is true)? Will the developer be willing to cover the increased costs on an anchorless retail project, or will they simply hand the site over to their lender and let them deal with the mess?

Frederick News-Post's Facebook page is full of gleeful responses that Walmart pulled out. I don't think those people comprehend how bad this could be for the area, especially if the site is left in unfinished condition.

[1Luckylady]

I know this part of town needs help but it isn't in the best of neighborhoods. Yes, I go through there 2Xs a day on the way to and from Detrick since Shookstown is closed off. I do get gas at 6am at the Exxon. I've never felt threatened or put in a bad situation but a coworker has been at the same station. I just don't know what the real solution here would be.

[Dequindre]

Originally Posted by 1Luckylady

I know this part of town needs help but it isn't in the best of neighborhoods. Yes, I go through there 2Xs a day on the way to and from Detrick since Shookstown is closed off. I do get gas at 6am at the Exxon. I've never felt threatened or put in a bad situation but a coworker has been at the same station. I just don't know what the real solution here would be.

I've always thought if it this way: If that's Frederick's "ghetto", the town is doing pretty darn well. Compare Frederick's "ghetto" to Hagerstown's "ghetto". The differences are quite stark.

[htownterp]

Originally Posted by Dequindre

I've always thought if it this way: If that's Frederick's "ghetto", the town is doing pretty darn well. Compare Frederick's "ghetto" to Hagerstown's "ghetto". The differences are quite stark.

And yet....no murders in Hagerstown this year yet Frederick has had several. Weird.

[Dequindre]

Originally Posted by htownterp

And yet....no murders in Hagerstown this year yet Frederick has had several. Weird.

Both have crime, there's no doubt about that, but at this point, Frederick is a wealthier area than Hagerstown. I really hope that changes in the future. Hagerstown has a lot to love.

[homeonthelittlemountain]

Originally Posted by Dequindre

I've always thought if it this way: If that's Frederick's "ghetto", the town is doing pretty darn well. Compare Frederick's "ghetto" to Hagerstown's "ghetto". The differences are quite stark.

My husband and I moved to Braddock Heights several months ago from Kensington, Md. where we lived for 28 years. We bought our retirement home.

We drive that section of 40 several times a week and are befuddled as to why it is referred to as the ghetto of Frederick. Parts of it might be a little seedy, but we don't really see it.

As newcomers we must be missing something. All we notice are the beautiful mountains in the background. I don't know the crime stats. Guess we have a lot to learn.

We're used to some of the rough, tired areas of Wheaton that backed up to Kensington. Those neighborhoods were awful.

It is too bad that Walmart pulled out. What retail would residents prefer? Realistically? I don't much about the history of the mall.

The ONLY store I miss from lower MoCo is Trader Joes. Does anyone know why Frederick doesn't have one? If the town can support a Wegmans, surely it can support a Trader Joes.

Moving to the Frederick area is the best move we've ever made. We love it up here.

[Dequindre]

Originally Posted by homeonthelittlemountain

My husband and I moved to Braddock Heights several months ago from Kensington, Md. where we lived for 28 years. We bought our retirement home.

We drive that section of 40 several times a week and are befuddled as to why it is referred to as the ghetto of Frederick. Parts of it might be a little seedy, but we don't really see it.

As newcomers we must be missing something. All we notice are the beautiful mountains in the background. I don't know the crime stats. Guess we have a lot to learn.

We're used to some of the rough, tired areas of Wheaton that backed up to Kensington. Those neighborhoods were awful.

It is too bad that Walmart pulled out. What retail would residents prefer? Realistically? I don't much about the history of the mall.

The ONLY store I miss from lower MoCo is Trader Joes. Does anyone know why Frederick doesn't have one? If the town can support a Wegmans, surely it can support a Trader Joes.

Moving to the Frederick area is the best move we've ever made. We love it up here.

I'm glad to hear that you're satisfied with your move!

Concerning the Golden Mile, I think it's the multiple apartment complexes in the area that have given the area a reputation. I've never lived in Frederick, so I wouldn't know, but the general consensus among Frederick residents is that the Golden Mile is a bad area.