Several Projects Are Planned For Frederick City

One resulted in a long time business being closed to make way for residential development.Tony Checchia (Tony C., owner, broker, VCRE CO.)Frederick, Md (KM) A long time business considered a local institution in Frederick will be demolished to make way for housing units. Local commercial real estate broker Tony Checchia, who owns VCRE CO, says the former Terrace Lanes on West College Terrace is expected to succumb to the wrecking ball. It closed for good in the spring.”The bowling alley  that’s been there for decades, and an older shopping center behind it, all of that property is being re-developed into a 300 plus or minus unit infill project with a new streetscape along Patrick {Street} and Terrace Lanes,” he says.The only businesses that will be left are Gladhill Brothers Restaurant, and a car dealership at West Patrick Street and West College Terrace. The residential area  will be within walking distance of Frederick H High and West Frederick Middle Schools.But there is some good news for bowling fans. “I’ve heard that the Terrace Lanes equipment has been sold to a gentleman who’s working with the owner of the Frederick Town Mall to develop a bowling alley in the location where the old Bon Ton used to be at the old Frederick Town Hall,” Checchia says. “I hope that comes to pass.”The old Frederick Town Mall has been renamed District 40, and is being developed as an amusement center, but Boscov’s and Home Depot will remain. It already has a restaurant and the Warehouse Cinemas.Checchia was a guest recently on “Four State Focus” on WFMD, where he talked about a number of projects underway in Frederick. “There’s behind the Fair Grounds, 550 Highland {Street}. That complex is being demolished to make way for new modern warehouses,” he says. “There’s a project pending at Evergreen Point where Goodwill and Tool In The Hand that is going to make way–hold your breath, wait for it–another Royal Farms.”There are also construction projects along Gas House Pike in the eastern part of Frederick. “There’s a massive complex–two of them–being built on Gas House just east of the Riverside Corporate Park right now where there’s close to two-million square feet coming on line of industrial warehouse complexes,” says Checchia.He also says the Westridge Square Shopping Center on West Patrick Street could be seeing some changes as well. “So a project’s that’s in the works right now–it’s being reviewed by the city. I haven’t seen the detailed plans, but from what’s I’ve learned there’s a proposals to rezone that property to mixed use, and that will cause some of the existing businesses to be relocated,” he said.Checchia says a number of those businesses have been told their leases may not be renewed due to the redevelopment. One of them could be Il Forno Pizzeria. “J.P. and his family might either have to be reincorporated back into the project, or be forced to move elsewhere,” says Checchia.By Kevin McManus