Kimco’s long-term plan for Kentlands Market Square envisions a true mixed use development with residential added. Phase 1 commercial is well underway with completion of new facades by the end of this current quarter and anticipated opening of the paseo and luxury movie theater Cinépolis in fourth quarter 2019.

Caren Garfield, Kimco director of development, spoke about Phase 2—a luxury apartment building and garage in the Buca di Beppo parking lot—at the Quince Orchard Park Board meeting on Jan. 8 and the Kentlands Downtown Working Group meeting on Jan. 15.

Noting that the Kentlands Commercial District Master Plan calls for “a rich mix of uses, accessible and connected spaces, and a street grid with activated sidewalks,” Garfield said that Kimco is getting ready to begin Phase 2 residential/commercial development, a process that will likely take at least several years.

“It’s important to have residential to drive retail,” Garfield said.

The sketch plan for Block F, or the parking lot near Buca di Beppo, was approved by the city on July 16, 2018. A schematic development plan, which drills down into the details of the proposed structure and streets, has not yet been filed with the city.

Garfield gave community members a sneak peek at what will be proposed.

Acknowledging that existing tenants Buca di Beppo, the U.S. Post Office, My Gym and Orangetheory Fitness will be relocated within the center, Garfield unveiled a six-story structure that includes one floor of underground parking, two floors of above-ground parking and four floors of luxury apartments, in addition to 13,000 square feet of ground floor retail. The structure will offer approximately 250 rental units—10 percent junior one-bedroom, 40 percent one bedroom, 40 percent two bedroom and 10 percent three bedroom—with an interior courtyard complete with pool. Building design is four-sided, all bearing an attractive façade.

Underground parking is envisioned as retail/movie theater parking. Above-ground parking will be card access only and mostly for apartment dwellers, Garfield noted. Commercial parking will feature an exit leading out directly to the paseo. Garfield said that the new building would likely be three stories higher than the adjacent two-by-two townhomes when grading is taken into account, and a traffic study is underway now.

“Our goal is to submit to the city in the next month or so,” Garfield said, and bring the schematic development plan to the Mayor and City Council and Planning Commission before this summer.