What needs to be considered is the impact that expanding Melford will have on the local economy in Bowie. Creating a new residential and retail venue in Bowie is exciting, of course. However, historically, new venues like this pull business from other more established venues. Consider the impact that the newly emerging Waugh Chapel Town Center is already having on Bowie Town Center. Retailers are pulling out of BTC to open up shop in the new WCTC. This does not bode well for BTC. Malls around the country have opened and closed as a result of this need for the newer without reinvesting in the established. I'm not anti-progress, but I have seen the impact all over the country of new venues pushing out established venues, only to then be pushed out themselves in 10-15 years by the next new venue. Unless we are fine with the ultimate demise of BTC, resulting in it becoming a ghost town of empty retail space and falling into disrepair and our proerty values going down, we need to consider a plan that would allow Melford to offer something UNIQUE in the area. Empty malls invite crime. That's an unmitigated fact. Mall landlords get desperate when their spaces sit empty and eventually lower their rents to attract new tenants. These untested and unproven businesses tend to fold prematurely (for a varitey of reasons) thus lowering the value of the property itself and forcing owners to reduce security. Do we really want to see that happen to Bowie Town Center?

Opening a new retail complex in an ajoining town does not guarantee the older establishment will become a ghost town. The bottom line is the Bowie Town Center has been riddled with stores with poor customer service and security issues long before the new Waugh Chapel stores opened. It's just a matter of time before this complex is ruined when theres nothing left in Bowie. What about the huge retail park where the Cap Center used to be? What ruined that deal?

Too bad the City Council didn't think of this earlier. We could have had Wegmans et al in Bowie at Melford.

Is anyone thinking outside the box??? the proposed plan sounds like more of the tried and - nowadays - not so true i.e. something that sounds good but - truly - look around to see what is working and what is not. The place to shop is at Waugh Chapel now. Let that place be the destination and avoid trying to compete when Bowie Towne Center has the lessons on that. How about a community center area for every age and stage with regular bus service from local spots to make it totally accessible? The area might include a swimming pool or two or three with specific age groups designated (think teens, families, Seniors), walking trails, bike trails, a nature center with regular classes for Bowie school students and all residents, (is anyone following how truly scary the state of our environment is? and, how all of us need to become committed to doing something!) - how about a place to hang out for young people where they can dance, play games, learn some different ways to spend their leisure time (aka keep them out of trouble!), where they might learn skills not currently taught in the schools - good ole home economics, shop......have Seniors teach the young! Please take a look at alternatives before signing on to more of the same.

I wrote the article and approve it:)