Towson
Our Moment
Towson is Baltimore County’s civic core, cultural center and beating heart of commerce and education.
Anchored by Towson University, county government, GBMC and Sheppard Pratt, and surrounded by some of the region’s most established neighborhoods, Towson is positioned to be more than a shopping destination. It can become a true innovation district where startups, incubators and creative ventures thrive alongside housing, entertainment and public life.
But Towson’s growth has too often been defined by malls, towers and parking decks. Parking has become a major frustration, with costs and congestion souring the experience of coming downtown. Towson also struggles with identity: proud of its university anchor but wary of being dismissed as just a “college town.” Finally, safety is a concern. Despite a statistical decline in criminal activity, residents have been disturbed by recent violent crimes leading to a perception of danger that is destructive to the community.
What the community seeks is balance—a Towson that celebrates its assets while building a broader, safer future.
Our Mission
The transformation of Towson from a college town mall to an innovation district is through a small area plan that uplifts long-term residents and the next generation alike.
The driving force of change for Towson is to establish Solution Labs in partnership with Towson University so students can tackle real-world challenges and apply solutions locally. Modeling Towson after successful projects in Atlanta, we can tie these Solutions Labs to incubators, startups and industry-focused clusters creating an engine of opportunity and prosperity.
There is a powerful opportunity to reimagine the mall with integrated residences, creating a dynamic downtown community. The Mall could be reimagined with residents for young professionals and seniors alike, reflecting the dynamic community at the heart of Towson. The traffic and parking infrastructure must be redesigned for safety and accessibility. In addition to new residences, space for local retail and pop-up restaurants, we could make an event space that enriches the community and economy. With a program of free parking on Thursday and Weekends and a summer concert and event series that closes downtown near the courthouse, we can make Towson a destination like Canton in Baltimore City or Merryweather Post Pavilion in Howard County.
To support these opportunities a small area plan must reimagine the downtown area as a walkable, transit-friendly environment where parking supports rather than undermines the downtown experience. In the process, we have an opportunity to proactively create affordable and middle-income housing in mixed-use and aggregated parcels so that graduates, healthcare workers and young professionals can stay and build their lives in Towson.
Goucher College’s partnership with Edenwald Senior Living to create Maryland’s first university retirement community shows what’s possible when we think creatively about how to use our campuses. By combining housing, culture and education in one place, this model not only enriches the lives of seniors but also opens doors for students, faculty and local entrepreneurs—spurring innovation in healthcare, wellness and aging technology while strengthening community ties.
Not only can we revitalize this area, but we can make it safer, together. Investments in CCTV and car tag tracking technology, improved officer recruitment and investments in community schools and at-risk youth programs are a start. But the most important step we can take to make Towson safer is leading with community-engaged policing, which honors the community concerns and reflects their input. With this approach, we will strive to overcome stereotypes so that we can directly address the crimes that create fear and affect quality of life.
These efforts, with investments in public plazas and dynamic corridors spanning cultural anchors, will guide growth so that it respects established neighborhoods while leaning into innovation, culture and civic pride.
With bold planning, smart housing policy and targeted investment, it can become Baltimore County’s living downtown where people of all ages peacefully live, work and innovate together, and where the future of the County takes shape.