New Primary Care Practice Coming To Columbia's Merriweather District

COLUMBIA, MD — A new primary care practice is coming to Columbia's Merriweather District, adding to a growing collection of medical offices in the mixed-use community.

CloseKnit has signed a lease for 4,484 square feet at 10285 Lakefront, where it will offer internal and family medicine services, according to developer Howard Hughes Communities.

The practice will join Orthopaedic Associates of Central Maryland, Johns Hopkins ENTAA, Advanced Radiology and Prime Facial Plastic Surgery at the property.

"The concentration of healthcare providers at 10285 Lakefront is part of Howard Hughes Communities’ broader effort to create a community-centered environment in Merriweather District, with services conveniently located where people live, work and spend time," Alex Hancock, senior vice president of national sales and leasing for Howard Hughes Communities, told Patch.

The community health hub approach reflects a broader shift in healthcare delivery, as medical office users increasingly seek locations closer to where their patients live, work and spend time, Hancock explained.

The building’s lakefront setting and proximity to amenities throughout the district, including Whole Foods and a variety of restaurants, further enhance the convenience and experience for patients and practitioners, Hancock said.

CloseKnit’s addition brings primary care directly into the mixed-use district while complementing the specialty healthcare providers already located at 10285 Lakefront.

The Columbia practice will become CloseKnit's 47th in-person location across Maryland, Washington, D.C., and northern Virginia. The organization emphasizes ongoing relationships between patients and their care teams, along with preventive care and early intervention.

"While the specific providers for the Merriweather District location are still being finalized, CloseKnit has a strong reputation for providing accessible, high-quality primary care centered on building trusted relationships between patients and their care teams. Additional details about the location’s care team will be shared closer to opening," Hancock told Patch.

Howard Hughes Communities continues to seek additional medical tenants for the building. The developer's goal is to bring together different medical specialties in one location.

"At Merriweather District, the focus is on creating an intentional, community-centered environment that brings together the services people need as part of a larger mixed-use community. This aligns with a broader national trend of healthcare delivery moving beyond traditional hospital campuses and into locations closer to where patients live, work and spend time," Hancock told Patch.

According to a report by CBRE, 80% of new medical outpatient buildings under construction are being developed away from hospital campuses. The growing healthcare presence at 10285 Lakefront is one component of that approach, Hancock noted.