ELLICOTT CITY, MD – Howard County Executive Calvin Ball has announced applications are now being accepted for the County’s latest round of its Route 1 Tax Credit Program. Administered by the County’s Department of Planning and Zoning, this program offers up to $100,000 in funding per site to commercial and industrial property owners along the Route 1 corridor to assist them with renovating and improving the appearance of their properties. The program has already supported 16 renovation projects.
This initiative has created a cluster of change along the corridor, with five improvement projects having been completed this past fiscal year alone along a prominent 1,000-foot stretch of our Route 1 corridor. Thanks to this program, Route 1 has undergone a considerable visual change and I am confident will continue to improve as more property owners learn about and take an interest in this program.
To be eligible for the tax credit, the property must have frontage onto Route 1 and/or be adjacent to a property with Route 1 frontage, or be within the perimeter of Map 20.129D (Elkridge), be under 15 acres, be up-to-date on property tax payments and have no existing code violations. Commercial and property owners interested in renovating the appearance of their property, are encouraged to visit the Route 1 Tax Credit Program website to learn more about this program and how to apply.
This newest application period follows a successful Fiscal Year 2022 period, when the program’s maximum allowance of $250,000 was awarded to properties along the corridor, including Aireco Supply, Andrews Equipment, The Hair Station, North Laurel Super 8 and Patapsco Bike Shop.
I’m very impressed with the program. It enabled us to put in new windows, get refacing and landscaping done, and make the place look a bit more modern.
Located at 5746 Main Street in Elkridge, the Patapsco Bike Shop property was a former abandoned flower shop. Through this program, the business was able to replace windows, repair the roof, install new shingles and add a ramp with stairs. The bike shop also leveraged private funding to overhaul the building’s interior and exterior. With its proximity to the Patapsco State Park and BWI trail, the business is well-situated to serve Elkridge’s vibrant cyclist community when it opens this fall.
“This property has a lot of character and, because of its strategic location, has the potential to really serve both residents and travelers to the area,” said Patapsco Bike Shop co-owner and county resident John Piorkowski. “We’re a group of avid cyclists who have a passion for the sport. We had a vision for this property, and the tax credit program has enabled us to turn an abandoned site into a community amenity.”
The Route 1 Tax Credit Program was established in 2014 with the enactment of Council Bill 9-2014, following a market study that identified Route 1 as an important corridor for Howard County, but acknowledged that long stretches were in need of revitalization. In October 2020, Council Bill 52-2020 reauthorized the program to run through 2026 and included measures to enhance the program and boost participation.
For more information or to apply, contact the Department of Planning & Zoning at 410-313-2350 or visit the Route 1 Tax Credit Program website.