Downtown seeks ways to collaborate with mall, Towne Centre

Annapolis officials met last week with business leaders from two massive retail developments on the city's edge in hopes of linking the downtown business district with the shopping hubs as the economy worsens.

The purpose of the "Competitors or Collaborators: Downtown and Edge Retail Development" panel discussion held at the Loews Annapolis Hotel on Tuesday was to come up with ideas to unite the city, the new $400 million Annapolis Towne Centre at Parole complex and Westfield Annapolis mall.

Although the panel lasted about an hour, Mike Miron, director of the city Department of Economic Affairs, said he hopes the...