ANNAPOLIS, MD (April 24, 2008) - - -  One hundred and ten relocation experts, commercial real estate professionals, and business executives toured Anne Arundel County’s growth areas during the 16th Annual VIP Real Estate Tour of Anne Arundel County.

 

The day-long tour aboard two buses highlighted major successes over the past year and opportunities for the future.  Tour highlights this year included existing and new development around Fort Meade, National Business Park, Parole Town Center, the Odenton area, Airport Square, Annapolis Junction Business Park, and ArundelPreserve. Guest narrators on two buses provided information on economic trends, transportation infrastructure, and targeted growth areas. 

 

“Maintaining the strongest possible business environment for Anne Arundel County is a priority for my administration,” said County Executive John R. Leopold.  “The VIP Tour allows participants to see first hand the strength of Anne Arundel County’s economy through current business growth and potential future growth.” 

 

The tour began with a breakfast prior to departure at The Corporate Park at Arundel Preserve, a Class A office park that is part of ArundelPreserve.  County Executive John R. Leopold welcomed tour participants and gave an overview of the Anne Arundel County business economy.  Dwight Taylor, Development and Construction President for Corporate Office Properties Trust (COPT), provided a briefing of The Corporate Park at Arundel Preserve, featuring 1.8 million square feet of office space. ArundelPreserve is a 270 acre mixed use development being constructed along the 295 corridor.  Breakfast took place in the park’s first 5-story, 153,000 square foot building built by COPT, to be finished summer of 2008. 

 

Also during breakfast, Dwight Taylor was acknowledged and congratulated by Robert Hannon, President and CEO of the Anne Arundel Economic Development Corporation (AAEDC) for receiving the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Maryland Chapter of the National Association of Industrial and Office Properties (NAIOP).  The award was given at the 2008 bi-annual NAIOP Awards of Excellence Dinner on April 17.

 

During lunch, Tate Armstrong, President of Konterra Realty, LLC, gave an overview of one of Anne Arundel County’s newest developments, the Annapolis Junction Business Park.   The first phase of this business park is a joint venture between Konterra Realty and Boston Properties and will feature three office buildings, fully secured, totaling 420,000 square feet.  The first building, where lunch took place, is a LEED Gold Certified green building which will be finished in May of 2008.

 

Robert Hannon, President and CEO of the AAEDC, said, “The annual VIP Tour is a compact look at business investment in Anne Arundel County.  It is also an opportunity to highlight the many services that AAEDC provides to help County businesses grow and prosper.  I thank the many individuals and our sponsors who have made this event possible.”

 

VIP Tour Corporate Sponsors for this year were Gardiner Realty and Development Company and Greenberg Gibbons Commercial Corporation.  Other tour sponsors included ArundelPreserve Town Center/ The ArundelPreserve Corporate Park, Konterra Realty, LLC, Boston Properties, Manekin Construction, LLC, and St. John Properties.

 

Since its inception in 1992, over 1,700 professionals have participated in the VIP Tour, organized on behalf of Anne Arundel County by the AAEDC.  The AAEDC mission is to serve business needs and increase the county’s economic base through job growth and investment.  For more information, visit our web site at www.aaedc.org.