Construction starts on Bowie retail center

Construction has begun on a regional retail complex that will anchor a mixeduse community in Bowie and include Giant Food as a key tenant, developers said Tuesday.

Developers of the $1.3 billion South Lake community, one of the largest such developments underway in the Baltimore-Washington corridor, said the new South Lake Marketplace will include 600,000-square-feet of shops, restaurants, sports entertainment and two hotels, including a Home2 Suites by Hilton. It will be anchored by Giant, the Baltimore area’s largest grocer.

The first phase of the retail center is expected to open early next year. South Lake’s developer, Lanhambased

NAI Michael Cos, plans to announce additional tenants in May. Landover-based Giant operates 165 supermarkets in Maryland, Virginia, Delaware and Washington.

The retail center, at U.S. 301/Crain Highway and Maryland Route 214/ Central Avenue, is expected to be a draw for athletes and families attending yearround events at the adjacent Liberty Sports Park, a complex that hosts lacrosse, soccer, football, field hockey and rugby tournaments.

As part of the mixed-use project, NAI Michael’s partner, Owings Mills-based Chesapeake Realty Partners, has been developing a 1,600-unit residential community with housing ranging from apartments to single family homes.