St. John Properties, Inc., a long-time client of the firm, has been trying since 2000 to obtain Bowie City Council approval to allow an amendment to the restrictive land use covenants at its Melford site (formerly the Maryland Science and Technology Center). St. John Properties has been seeking the liberalization of the covenants at Melford (which allowed only office related uses) to allow residential uses at the 400 + acre, and at the March 4, 2013 City Council meeting, while being represented by Robert J. Antonetti, Jr., St. John finally obtained the Council approval to allow residential uses within the development. Now that the covenants have been appropriately amended, St. John Properties, Inc. can move forward with the proposed development of the mixed-use “Melford Village” which will contain approximately 2,500 residential units (including a senior-living section, towns, apartments), as well as retail and office space. This exciting outcome not only brings a new future to Melford at Bowie, but it also represents another satisfied client of Shipley & Horne, P.A.