Laurel Today - (Page 4) “Laurel is between Washington, DC, and Baltimore, yet it still has the feeling of a small town,” says Laurel Mayor Craig A. Moe. “And with the additional 22,000 people who are moving here as a result of Base Realignment and Closure [BRAC], Laurel is going to need many business services. Our motto is: ‘Laurel! Smart Move.’” Some of the main economic drivers for Laurel include Fort Meade, the National Security Agency, NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center, the University of Maryland College Park, the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Lab, the U.S. Dept. of Agriculture, the Patuxent Wildlife Research Center, and the Beltsville Agriculture Research Center. “Along with the BRAC personnel, there are the consultants and the service providers, so the increase in population is much greater than 22,000,” notes Moe. “To prepare for this increase, we are building over 3,000 new housing units in the revitalization overlay areas. And in Hawthorne Place alone, we have 1,009 units in six mid-rise and high-rise units which we anticipate will begin in fall 2009.” In addition, Laurel is planning on requiring that green construction methods be implemented; that zip cars—little rental cars for local shopping—be available; that there is a bus running from Hawthorne Place to the MARC commuter train station; that there is universal WiFi; and that there is a town park with a gazebo for Saturday night movies. Karl Brendle, Director of Community Planning and Business Services/Economic continued on page 6 DYNAMIC • AFFORDABLE • SMART LAUREL today: A Supplement to Maryland Life LAUREL Laurel is strategically and conveniently located between Baltimore and Washington, D.C. 4
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