DHCD Coming to Prince George’s County

Because the government open broadcast streaming was so spotty, I missed a lot but I did hear that the “I’s have it,”  for a motion to move the Department of Housing and Community Development from Crownsville in Anne Arundel County to a new transit oriented development in New Carrollton.  County Executive Baker’s team that presented was commended by Treasurer Nancy K. Kopp and Comptroller Peter Franchot for their “tremendous presentation.”  From what I could tell, Baker’s team and representatives from developers Forest City Washington likened the potential of this development to the boom being experienced by the U Street Corridor.  Officials from Baker’s team touted enhanced telework, and available satellite offices in Baltimore City and Cambridge as options for workers not wanting to be displaced.  One employee of the Employees from the Department of Housing and Community Development testified.  Mrs. Baker, an asset manager originally from Prince George’s County said that there are better ways to spend $3.8 million yearly other than moving this agency.  Not a convincing enough testimony.  I was surprised that only one person was there. 

The new development will include 40,000 square feet of retail space and up to 500 residential apartment units. Half of the 500 apartments and 40,000 rentable square feet of retail adjacent to the office building must be completed within four months of the first-quarter 2014 ground breaking date; and an additional 250 apartment units and an additional 80,000 rentable square feet of retail space within five years of the effective date.  

In 2012, the Board of Directors of the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) approved the Joint Development Agreement critical to advancing the development process for creating a major, mixed-use, transit-oriented development (TOD) in the area surrounding the New Carrollton Metrorail station in Prince George’s County, Md.  Looks like there’s a groundbreaking ceremony to plan.