The “community-driven” Germantown Park development is one step closer to being a reality after Gluckstadt’s planning and zoning board approved the project on August 23.
Developer Anthony Morrison’s newest development will be directly across the street from Germantown High School on the corner of Church Road and Gluckstadt Way facing the football stadium. The location is for the convenience of those taking their children to school in the morning, students going to school, and those coming out of their neighborhoods to hit the Parkway in the morning.
“This development is going to really serve the community and is literally kind of within the community,” Morrison said. “It is right across from the school, and we look forward to bringing in businesses that will benefit from being next to all of the homes and the neighborhoods, but also the school. We will also bring in businesses that will benefit the kids at the school.”
The development will be 24,000 square feet and will be home to the new Ace, Bolt & Screw location, a coffee shop with a drive thru and other local stores.
“There will be a lot of added benefit to the people in that area, and all of the people that are leaving home will be able to drive straight down the street to the hardware store instead of having to go all the way around to Lowe’s or Home Depot,” Morrison said. “That is one of the things that most everybody requested. Ace Bolt & Screw has a great business.”
The coffee shop will not only be convenient for the morning drives, but also Friday night football.
“If there is a football game, the coffee kiosk will be open, and they’ll be able to drive through and get coffee for the home games,” Morrison said. “It is planned so the parents and people coming from in the Gluckstadt neighborhoods traveling to the parkway or to the school can get coffee and breakfast. They can service the kids and people that go to Germantown High School. It is a great value add for that community.”
This development will be significantly less expensive for businesses to lease from as the land cost is not nearly as high as that on the parkway where Morrison’s other developments are placed.
“My intention with this development is to create an opportunity for people who want to bring their business to Gluckstadt but can’t afford the rent on the parkway,” Morrison said. “It also brings opportunities for students to have things across the street from the school that they are going to each day that will benefit them. We are really trying to have it community driven, so you can shop local.”
The final step in the approval process for the development is the vote of approval from the Gluckstadt Mayor and Board of Aldermen. Their next meeting will be on September 8 at 6 p.m.
“Once we get it through that, we are good to go,” Morrison said.
