Located on what is referred to as the Diener Tract or the historic duckpin bowling alley site, 500 Maple is within close proximity to both I-495 and Route 66. The project proposal went through a few drafts before the current plan was settled upon recently.

"Our collaborative effort with the community provided important feedback that helped us to improve upon our plans," Atlantic Realty partner David A. Ross notes. If all goes as planned, 500 Maple will yield two buildings; one containing the 230-unit condominium segment with part of the proposed 22,000 sf of street-level retail, and another structure featuring 75,000 sf of office space above the remaining street-level retail space. An underground parking facility is also on the drawing board, yet the most unique aspect of the property will be the additional 3,000 sf of arts flex space.

Atlantic Realty's concept was not the first put fourth for the site. Earlier proposals included a plan by the KSI Group that called for rental apartments, a suggestion from Young Group and the IDI Group for a condominium and retail property, and the Haskell Co.'s short-lived concept for a new middle school. And at one time late last year, there were also rumors that Atlantic Realty would build an office building on the site to facilitate a proposed long-term lease with the US Department of Homeland Security. Now that Atlantic Realty's mixed-use proposal has been settled upon and given the council's thumbs up, construction is expected to get under way sometime next year.