Rose Hill Plaza in Frederick, once a bustling hub of businesses and pedestrian traffic, now sits partially vacant and deteriorating with empty offices and a half-filled parking lot.
As rental leases expire, businesses have been packing up and moving out. As of Monday, five businesses were still open — Zi Pani Breads and Cafe, Longmeadow Optical, Rose Nails, Plastic Surgery One and the Parkview Medical Group — down from 19 in prior to 2008.
But its owner — Frederick Memorial Hospital — is looking to breathe new life into the plaza off Opossumtown Pike. The hospital already operates a satellite office at the plaza, FMH Rose Hill, which offers X-rays, laboratory tests, women’s mammograms, ultrasounds and bone density studies.
The hospital is considering opening more offices at the plaza, which was built in 1987, according to Don Schilling, vice president of ambulatory services for Frederick Memorial Healthcare Systems — the hospital’s parent company.
The hospital purchased the plaza in 1993 from Harold E. Schaden, according to state records.
“Our focus was to establish space on the south end of town with our Crestwood facility,” he said. “We moved in there, in 2010. We are now looking at the north end and what our long-term needs are. If we end up doing something, we will renovate.”
Schilling said the hospital, which currently occupies 55 percent of the 30,000-square-foot plaza, is not renewing the rental leases of its tenents as they come due. Thirty percent of the plaza is vacant, he said.
“We basically want to be able to have the option [to expand], so we’re not able to offer long-term leases,” he said. “Our goal is to replicate the Crestwood medical offices with medical offices and suites for physicians. We’re out to refresh our image in the north end of town.”
Frederick Memorial Hospital [FMH], off of 7th Street in Frederick, operates nine satellite facilties throughout the county.
FMH Crestwood, off Bank Court in Frederick, has provided X-rays, laboratory tests and women’s health care since it opened in 2010.
On March 5 Longmeadow Optical will be moving out. The practice, which is relocating to 7420 Hayward Road in Frederick, has been at the plaza for 22 years.
Dawn Gill, an optometrist who co-owns the business with fellow-optometrist Mark Farbman, said they are looking forward to the move.
“This [Opossumtown Pike] is a very congested area and we’re moving into a new facility with less traffic,” she said. “It’s gotten so bad here that it will be a positive move.”
But their neighbor, Zi Pani Breads and Cafe, is staying.
“I have over two years left on my lease,” said owner Brad Rushbrook. “That doesn’t mean I’m not worried. But they [FMH] told me not to worry. They told me they have every intention of honoring my lease.”
Rushbrook said he hopes to remain at the plaza. “I told them when my lease expires I would be interested in being a part of what ever they do. I’ve been talking to them. I told them I want to stay around here.”
Zi Pani has been at the plaza since May 2000. Rushbrook said he wants to stay, because of the location to nearby Frederick Community College and other businesses.
Rushbrook said the vacant offices, along with the sluggish economy, has impacted his business. “The parking doesn’t turn over as fast,” he said.
Schilling did not know when the leases of the plaza’s other remaining tenants — Rose Nails, Plastic Surgery One and the Parkview Medical Group will expire.
sgreenfield@gazette.net
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