At a press conference on July 6, elected officials and representatives of Stevenson University hailed the school’s recent acquisition of the state-owned Rosewood Center property in Owings Mills.
Among those delivering remarks at the gathering, in the Manning Academic Center at Stevenson’s Owings Mills North campus, were Gov. Larry Hogan, Sen. Robert A. “Bobby” Zirkin (D-11th) and Dr. Elliot Hirshman, Stevenson University’s new president.
The sale of 117 acres of the 178-acre Rosewood property was approved unanimously by Maryland’s Board of Public Works for $1 at its June 7 meeting in Annapolis.
“It’s been a long time coming,” Hogan said to a roomful of media outlets and Stevenson employees and students.
Founded in 1888 and originally known as the Maryland Asylum and Training School for the Feeble Minded, Rosewood was a longtime institution for as many as 2,000 developmentally disabled patients. Rosewood closed in June of 2009, and most of its buildings are in disrepair. The acreage purchased by Stevenson includes 17 dilapidated buildings expected to be razed.
A private, independent university with approximately 4,100 students, Stevenson — founded in 1947 and formerly known as Villa Julie College — has attempted to purchase the property for the past 17 years. Kevin Manning, former president of Stevenson who retired last fall, is largely credited with envisioning the university’s expansion.
Stevenson officials have said the school is committed to spending at least $20 million on capital improvements on the property. Hirshman said demolition and environmental remediation will take place on the Rosewood property over the next two years.
The sale agreement stipulates that the university will use state grants totaling $16 million to complete the environmental abatement and remediation of the Rosewood site before the state transfers the final deed of the property. The state’s Department of General Services has called the property “a blighted area and a nuisance.”
The property sits adjacent to Stevenson’s existing Owings Mills and Owings Mills North campuses, and it will nearly double the total acreage of the university.
Stevenson does not currently have final plans for the property, but the agreement requires the university to use the site for educational purposes. After completion of an environmental clean-up and remediation, tentative plans include developing new educational facilities and recreational resources on the site.
Zirkin said he and Hogan discussed the Stevenson/Rosewood matter during their first official meeting. Hogan, he said, “committed to me that he would get this ball across the goal line. And we’re across the goal line.”
Top photo of Gov. Larry Hogan by Harry Bosk
Opposition leader Yair Lapid spoke at Thursday's Jerusalem rally, which drew 10,000 participants and 2,000 police officers.
Stewart, a business attorney, believes trust and affordability are the county's biggest obstacles.
The County Councilman from the 2nd District feels that transit-oriented developments can help meet pressing priorities.
The former Colt, who passed away on May 25 at age 93, achieved immortality during a cold December day in 1958, writes Michael Olesker.