The mixture of uses, shared parking ratios, and unique zoning envelope were all negotiated upfront with community and public officials. Public interest prompted the developer to hold periodic meetings to inform the community of the project's progress and to invite comments. The Baltimore-based firm of RTKL Associates was brought in early to prepare the master plans and to create a set of urban development guidelines. Preliminary plans were submitted to the county in early 1984 and received approval later that year. As part of the approval, the county required the developer to improve surrounding streets and sidewalks, place telephone and electrical lines underground, improve below-grade utilities, and landscape the site.
Final approval is obtained from the county for each phase of development.
The first phase of the project was financed with a conventional construction loan that was replaced with a permanent mortgage after the project was approximately 60 percent leased. RTKL planned a renovation process by which the existing storefronts could be refurbished. The original limestone and granite facades were repaired or replaced wherever possible. Storefronts were opened up and modernized for operational and marketing considerations, and roofs and mechanical systems were replaced. New storefronts were added where necessary to create a continuous street facade.