An apartment fire broke yesterday at the Spellman House on Berwyn House road. Occupants of two apartments were temporarily relocated. No injuries have been reported. The city’s code enforcement department is looking into why the apartment’s alarm system did not work. For more, please check this Fox news report.

Be SMART Home Energy Program

Are you looking to improve home energy efficiency through replacement and upgrading of appliances, heating, cooling and ventilation systems and whole house envelope improvements? Consider applying for a Be SMART Home Program loan.

The Be SMART Home Program offers innovative financing to improve home energy efficiency through replacement and upgrading of appliances, heating, cooling and ventilation systems and whole house envelope improvements across the state. These changes will save the homeowner money, increase the safety and comfort of the home, and add value to the home.

The Be SMART Home Program offers two types of loans: Be SMART Home ENERGY STAR and Be SMART Home Complete. Through both types of financing, home owners are able to choose their weatherization and energy efficiency professionals from a list of eligible providers whose qualifications have been reviewed by DHCD.

More information about these programs is here.

Cafritz development at Riverdale Park

The Planning Board yesterday approved the Cafritz development in a 4-0 votes.

The decision was handed after 15 hours of deliberations from residents and elected officials.

The approval came with a number of conditions, that included a January 25 consensus conditions, plus a few new ones added yesterday.

Earlier, the towns of Riverdale Park and University Park approved the project. The City of College Park did not.

The case now goes to District council, whee the county council members will decide the final fate of the project.

The Patch ran a minute by minute accounts of yesterday’s hearing, which can be found here.

Safe routes to school

Yesterday evening, I attended a a meeting with a group of Hollywood residents at Davis Hall. City received a federal grant that we’d like to spend on building sidewalks leading to Hollywood elementary school.

This is the third year we’ll be doing this project. In the past two years, we worked on a number of streets, all leading to Hollywood Elementary school.

The streets that we initially considered are the followings:

Laguna Road, between 48th Place and 49th Place.
49th Place, between Lackawanna Street and Muskogee Street.
Narragansett Parkway, between Lackawanna Street and 52nd Avenue.
51st Place, between Narragansett Parkway and Kennesaw Street.
Hollywood Road, between 51st Avenue and Narragansett Parkway.

Some residents preferred not to have side walks on Laguna Rd, another family also wanted to exclude 51st Place from the list, so those two streets were excluded. Instead the group proposed to extend 49th place upto Lackawanna Road and there were also a proposal to build sidewalks along the west side of Rhode Island Avenue’s west service road between Muskoge and The Nazarene Church.

The City engineer will review the proposed sidewalks and will contact the nearby residents to discuss the matter further.

Purple line through Campus Drive (ReThink College Park)

The Prince George’s County Planning Department of The Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission (M-NCPPC) is sponsoring a series of public meetings to consider the future of transit-oriented development (TOD) along the planned Purple Line light rail transit corridor.

The next one is scheduled today in Riverdale, where there will be a discussion on M-Square and UMD station. The meeting will take place at the Department of Parks and Recreation Administration Building, 6600 Kenilworth Avenue, Riverdale, MD 20737 (6:30pm – 8:30pm).

The Planning Department is working with community residents, property owners, and businesses to prepare TOD plans for five proposed Purple Line stations in Prince George’s County.

You will have an opportunity to define a vision and give input on each station’s identity, streetscape, architectural character, uses, and amenities. Your ideas and comments will inform the development of preliminary concept plans for each of the five station areas.

Two more sessions are coming in the next two weeks – one on Feb 9 at Hyatsville Hyattsville Library ( 6530 Adelphi Road) and another on Feb 15 in Riverdale (Beacon Heights Elementary School, 6929 Furman Parkway). Both meetings are scheduled at 6:30pm.

Four cities around College Park

College Park City Council will not be having its regular meeting or work session tonight, instead it will host a four cities meeting at the Council chamber.

College Park and three other neighboring cities Berwyn Heights, Greenbelt and New Carrollton have been have been this kind of meetings for the past several years.

University of Maryland president Dr. Loh and Mayor and Mayor and council members of all four cities are expected to be there.

Dr. Loh will discuss the collaboration with surrounding communities on the issues being addressed by the College Park City-University Partnership. They include transportation, housing and development, public safety, education and sustainability. He will also give an update on the East Campus development.

We will also discuss an update on the dog park at Lake Artemesia, Intermodal facility and strategies to make our Metro stations safer.

The City of Greenbelt will lead discussion on its 75th anniversary celebration, county fire commission, Greenbelt station south core update, 295 Parkway widening feasibility. There is a meeting scheduled on this matter on Thursday, Feb. 16, 6:30 pm at the Greenbelt Community Center.

The City of New Carrollton will lead a discussion on the SHA and sound barriers

If you want us to discuss any thing else, please let me know.

Harris Teeter store

A prospective developer is exploring an option to open up a Harris-Teeter store on the site at Baltimore Ave. and Hartwick Road. Currently the site is occupied by Applebee’s and Fed Ex/Kinko’s.

The developer has however said that they can only be able to come to College Park if they are allowed to sell beer and wine. This prompted District 3 council members Mr. Day and Ms. Stullich to bring a motion in last Tuesday’s council meeting. The motion asked to add College Park to be added a Bowie bill that would allow them to sell beer and wine to all local grocery stores. Council passed the motion with a vote of 5-2-1. District 2 council members Bob Catlin and Monroe Dennis had their dissenting votes. I abstained from voting, because I wanted to know the views of the members of north College Park Civic Association. Many members had major concerns when Shoppers in north College Park wanted to sell beer and wine several years ago.

Interestingly enough, some found the support for the Harris Teeter store by the council contradictory to its opposition to the Cafritz development that includes a Whole Foods market. For example, the Diamondback recently questioned City Council’s these two development votes.

Prince George's Property Owners' Association

Recently, the City of College Park started to enforce the rent control ordinances on the rental housing units in the City. This came after a long legal battle between the City and the PGPOA – the Prince George’s Property Owners’ Association. The City finally won the case.

Once the enforcement started, the PGPOA started to complain, alleging that the City failed to establish a process for challenging the rent stabilization violation notices. Here is a letter they sent to the City with those complaints.

In response to that letter, the City also sent  a letter, which the Council approved in last Tuesday’s Council meeting. Please see that letter here.

Shen Yang / SOS Rental at Hollywood commercial district

A commercial armed robbery occurred on January 26th, 2012, at approximately 1707 hours, at SOS Towing, Transport and Rental Car located at 9903 Rhode Island Ave, College Park, MD.

SOS Rental is located on top of Shen Yang Restaurant at the Hollywood shopping complex.

CID-Robbery is investigating the robbery.

The suspects are believed to have fled the scene in an older model black Chevy Malibu with unknown Maryland “1812” style tags.

The Police has the following descriptions of the Suspects:
SUSPECT#1: H/M/20-24yoa/5’4”/160 lbs/green military style jacket/blue pants / black baseball cap/ tan mask (NFD)
SUSPECT#2: B/M/20-24/6’0”/160 lbs/black Northface jacket/black pants/black baseball cap/black mask (NFD)

If contact is made with this vehicle or people matching this description please notify the Robbery Division (301-772-4905) or the on-duty investigator through PSC.

PLANS FILED (2) 

MARYLAND BOOK EXCHANGE (DSP-10028)  7501 BALTIMORE AVENUE
The property at 7501 Baltimore Avenue, the current site of the Maryland Book Exchange, was purchased in November 2010. The project is being developed by Ilya Zusin and Josef Mittlemann (R&J Company. LLC.), who have submitted a revised plan for a 6-story building that steps down to 4-stories along Yale Avenue. The revised plan includes 313 apartment units (946 beds), 14,300 square feet of ground floor retail and 297 parking spaces. The majority of the beds would be for undergraduate students with the remaining beds for graduate students and young professionals. The Maryland Book Exchange is expected to be relocated during construction and moved back to the site upon completion.

At the City Council worksession on January 3, 2011 the city’s planning staff believed the applicant’s revisions were not significant enough to warrant a change in the city’s position of disapproval. The City Council followed this recommendation and voted 8-0 in favor of denial on January 10. The Prince George’s County Planning Board continued its hearing on January 19th with the Planning Board voting 4-1 to approve the revised design with conditions. An appeal could be filed, which would result in the Prince George’s District Council hearing the case.

M SQUARE, UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND RESEARCH PARK (DSP-09028) 4400, 4500, 4600 RIVER ROAD
.This project is being developed by COPT and the University of Maryland. This latest addition to the research park will consist of three 5-story, 150,000 square-foot buildings for general office and research use, surface parking lots and a three-level parking garage. The project was pulled 2

from the City Council’s September 20, 2011 worksession, as the applicant is in the process of revising the plan. A new date to appear before City Council has not been set at this time. Visit their website at: http://www.msquare.umd.edu/

PLANS APPROVED (4)
The Detailed Site Plan for Domain was approved with conditions on February 24, 2011. The mixed-use residential development will have 258 multi-family units and 11,400 square feet of retail space. The Hanover Company is the developer and general contractor and UDR, a Denver based REIT, has replaced MetLife as their joint venture partner. Demolition of the existing building on the site is expected to take place in early February 2012, while grading and building permits should be issued by mid-March and mid-April 2012, respectively. The first units are expected to be ready for move-in by July 2013 with all units completed by July 2014.

DOMAIN AT COLLEGE PARK (DSP-09031), 7720 MOWATT LAN

MOSAIC AT TURTLE CREEK (DSP-080001), CORNER OF MOWATT LANE AND CAMPUS DRIVE

This project proposes multi-family residential housing that will include 300 units. The Detailed Site Plan was approved by the Planning Board on October 30, 2008, with conditions. The developers of this project, Owner Entity Fund II, LLC, subsequently applied for a departure to reduce the number of required parking spaces from 700 to 335, which was approved by the Planning Board on March 24, 2011. An expected start date has not been provided at this time.

TOWNEPLACE SUITES BY MARRIOTT (DSP-06018), 9620 AND 9624 BALTIMORE AVENUE

On October 26, 2010 the District Council adopted an order affirming (with conditions) the Planning Board’s decision to approve TownePlace Suites Detailed Site Plan. The project by Baywood Hotels will consist of a 75-room extended stay hotel operated by Marriott. On January 11, 2012, the applicant went before the Zoning Hearing Examiner (ZHE). Once the ZHE reaches a decision the applicant will be able to certify their DSP and apply for building permits.

UNIVERSITY VIEW VILLAGE (DSP-08080), 8320-8400 BALTIMORE AVE

Clark Construction proposes to develop a total of 272 units with 992 beds, 18,960 square feet of ground floor retail and 470 parking spaces. The Planning Board approved the Detailed Site Plan with conditions on May 21, 2009 for a project to be built in 2 phases. The first phase, for which permits have been applied for, will consist of a parking garage, a 104-unit building and 10,530 square feet of retail. An expected start date has not been given at this time.

UNDER CONSTRUCTION/ RECENTLY COMPLETED (4) NATIONAL OCEANIC AND ATMOSPHERIC ADMINISTRATION (DSP-06026)
Construction on the 268,000 square foot, Class A office building resumed in mid-2011 after progress stalled due to a dispute between GSA and the project’s original contractor, Opus East 3 LLC. Skanska USA was selected as the new contractor in April 2011 and expects the building to be completed by April 2012. A small number of NOAA employees have begun moving into the building with a total of 800 employees expected to relocate once the building is completed. The building is part of the M Square Research Park and is designed to achieve LEED-Silver certification.

5840 RESEARCH COURT, RIVERDALE PARK

THE ENCLAVE/ STARVIEW PLAZA (DSP-04078), 8700 BALTIMORE AVENUE

The Enclave is a mixed-use commercial and residential building that opened in August 2011. The DSP for this development by Star Global Ventures was approved for 177 units (662 beds) of student housing, 9,487 square feet of ground floor retail, and a 355 space parking garage. Only the first phase of the project has been constructed, consisting of all the required parking and a building with 94 units (369 beds). No retail tenants have been signed at this point. Visit their website at: http://www.8700enclave.com/

THE VARSITY (DSP-07062), 8150 BALTIMORE AVENUE

The Varsity, a mixed-use development, opened in August 2011 with 258 units (901 beds) of student housing and 20,019 square feet of ground floor retail. As of December 28, 2011, the property has a new majority owner in American Campus Communities, Inc., which acquired 79.5% interest in the development. More details are available in the News and Information section below. Potomac Holdings has leased the retail space to a variety of businesses including Austin Grill Express, Bobby’s Burger Palace, Looney’s Pub, and Royal Farms, which all recently celebrated their grand openings. Additional tenants include YoLove, ChiDoGo’s, Frame Menders, and Roti, which are all in the midst of build-out and expect to open soon. You can visit The Varsity’s website at: http://www.varsitycollegepark.com/

COLLEGE PARK MOTEL/ GARDEN SUITES (DSP-05005), 8419 BALTIMORE AVENUE

The College Park Motel/ Garden Suites development has officially branded itself as a Best Western. This project by Vasu, LLC will result in a 50-room hotel with extended-stay suite facilities. The Detailed Site Plan for this development was approved with conditions on July 9, 2007. The motel structures were demolished on October 17, 2011, with construction currently in progress. The estimated completion date for this project is September 2012.

PLANNED PROJECTS (6)
BAYWOOD HOTELS (DSP- 10005), 9137 BALTIMORE AVENUE

On January 28, 2010 Baywood Hotels sent a pre-application notice about plans to replace the existing Howard Johnsons and Days Inn hotels. The proposal would replace the two hotels with two new hotels. The proposal also includes the construction of 8,835 square feet of commercial retail and office space. The application has not been filed yet. 4

CAFRITZ PROPERTY at RIVERDALE PARK (WHOLE FOODS), Along the East side of US Route 1 near the intersection with MD 410
On June 6, 2011 an informational notice was mailed for the site for a mixed-use community that will be built in phases. The first phase proposes a Whole Foods Grocery store, over 100,000 square feet of retail and restaurants, and 22,000 square feet of office space. The second phase proposes 995 residential units and a 120-room hotel. The Conceptual Site Plan and rezoning are the first steps of a multi-step process that will include filing for a Preliminary Plan of Subdivision and Detailed Site Plan. A second informational notice was mailed on August 17, 2011 indicating the intent of the applicant to apply for the MUTC zone to become part of the Riverdale Park Town Center.

The applicant initially appeared before the Prince George’s County Planning Board on December 15, 2011 for their rezoning request, but the hearing was continued until January 12, 2012 in order to address the concerns of the municipalities involved. The City Council discussed the rezoning request on January 3, 2012 at a worksession and followed the next week with a vote to oppose the request by a 6-2 vote. The Planning Board’s hearing on January 12, 2012 lasted for over seven hours, but was continued until 10 a.m. on February 2, 2012.

Visit the Cafritz property’s website at: http://www.cafritzpop.com/

EMBRY A.M.E CHURCH SPECIAL EXCEPTION (SE-4702) 5105 LAKELAND ROAD
On May 9, 2011 the Embry A.M.E Church filed a pre-application notice. The proposal is for the construction of a one-story addition to the existing building that will provide expanded office, kitchen and bathroom facilities.

UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND EAST CAMPUS, SE corner of US1/Baltimore Ave and Paint Branch Parkway

The University of Maryland has plans to redevelop 38 acres of land along US1/Baltimore Ave. The University and Master Developer, the Cordish Companies, plan to partner with Clark Construction and Design Collective to design and build the project. Phase 1 of the project will occupy 22 acres of the redevelopment site and is slated to include a conference hotel, graduate student housing, several restaurants and a 500-seat music hall run by the Birchmere. There are also plans for a light rail station as part of the proposed Purple Line development. A public information meeting with the developer and the University of Maryland was held on November 30, 2010 and the City Council recently received a briefing on the project by the University of Maryland. Financing for the project is under review and no application or construction dates were announced. Visit their website at: http://www.eastcampus.umd.edu/

KOON’S FORD, 8315 BALTIMORE AVENUE

According to the site representative, Keane Enterprises, there are preliminary plans for a 150-room hotel and 25,000 square feet of retail space on the former automotive dealer’s site. The developers have not identified a hotel brand yet. The conceptual site plan is being prepared but so far nothing has been noticed or filed. 5

ATTICKS TOWER, 9014 RHODE ISLAND AVENUE

The College Park Housing Authority is exploring options to complete a $5 million rehabilitation of this low-income, senior housing development. A Request for Proposals received significant interest, with seven candidates selected to present their teams and plans over two days in mid-October 2011. A final round took place in December with three finalists and the winner is expected to be announced by the end of January 2012. The selected team will explore financing options in early 2012 and commence construction upon securing funding.

NEWS and INFORMATION (2), STUDENT HOUSING COMPANY ACQUIRES MAJORITY STAKE IN THE VARSITY

On December 28, 2011, American Campus Communities, Inc., the nation’s largest owner and manager of high-quality student housing properties acquired 79.5% interest in the entity that owns The Varsity. The deal was based upon a total value of $121.5 million, which gives the Austin, Texas-based company full operational control of the property. American Campus Communities, Inc., owns 117 properties containing 72,400 beds. More information regarding the company can be found on their website: www.americancampus.com.

COMMUNITY LEGACY PROGRAM

Community Legacy is a program of the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development that provides resources to assist local governments in realizing community revitalization initiatives. It is intended as a flexible resource to fill key funding gaps not being met by other State or local financing and to position communities for increased private investments.

For the 2012 Fiscal Year, the City of College Park submitted a Community Legacy application for the demolition and marketing of vacant sites on Route 1 on October 26, 2011. The City applied for $140,000 in funds to be issued as a grant/loan combination, which would cover the razing of three dilapidated properties and the marketing of five development opportunities. Municipalities expect to be notified of their status in early 2012 with funding available sometime in mid-2012.

Citizen Academy

This training opportunity allows Prince George’s Police community partners to become familiar with the County Police Department and provides exposure to officer related training such as investigations procedures, conflict management, crime scene investigations, less lethal weapons, judgment enhancement training, and much more.

In order to participate in the training program, participants must be nominated by a law enforcement officer and approved by the district/division commander or civilian manager. Nomination forms and instructions may be obtained at any of the six district stations.

This course requires the full 12 week commitment for successful completion. For more information, contact your local district station or Sgt. Nancy Jackson at 301-794-1106 or via e-mail: nqjackson@co.pg.md.us.

Dates: March 26 – June 12, 2012
Time: 6:00 – 9:00 PM (Monday Nights)
Location: Training & Education Division, 4380 Forbes Blvd., Lanham, MD 20706, (301) 794-1000

The Council also voted to send a letter to support the Same sex marriage bill, which was introduced yesterday. I’d like to talk a little more about my vote on this, because  I was the only one who cast the dissenting vote.

Personally I felt the bill was too controversial. Soon after residents came to know that the council will take a position on a same sex marriage bill, residents started discussing it and sending emails. And this happened even before they did not see the content of the bill. I’ve received some emails supporting the bill, but many more emails opposing it. Out of 8 items we voted, this was the only item that received dozens of emails.

I also felt that the Council acted too quickly to get the motion passed. On Friday evening, I found this letter of support that  we voted last night. When I first saw this letter, I asked myself  - how will I vote on a bill that does not exist? So next day, I asked our staff to send me a link or reference to the bill. On Monday, I was told that the City does not have a reference, but one will be given to me  as soon as it is available. The bill was introduced yesterday morning, thus Council members could only get the first look at the bill until before the council meeting started. At the time, I’d assume that most council members did not have the time to study the bill nor did they have any time to consult their constituents.

Because of this highly controversial and complex nature of the bill that deals with social issues such as marriage, relationship, faith and religion, and because I felt a large number of my constituents could not be consulted within very short time, I didn’t feel that a few of us on this Council should be imposing our  own opinions on thousands of City residents.

I however suggested that if we really have to send a message to the State from our City – let’s put this issue to a referendum, let’s ask our city residents to decide what they think about it. Our City has  a history of putting controversial issues to ballot, like we did in 2007 when we asked what residents feel about having our own Police force.  Council members at that time did not feel comfortable to vote on the issue. But, in this case, we didn’t have to, because the State is not asking us to take a position on this.

I thank everyone who wrote to the Mayor and the Council either for – or against the bill  and testified at yesterday’s hearing before the vote.

Flood light outside of Greenbelt Metro's north college Park entrance

Those of you who take Metro at the Greenbelt station, you must have noticed a portable light trailer was set up near the pathway bridge, facing west towards the Lackwanna and 53rd Ave intersection.

For the past few days, the lights were on entire night and also late in the morning. The lights were extremely bright and was powered by gasoline generator. It looks like they are the kind of lights which are used in highway work.

We already have enough discussion and controversies on the Lackwanna lights several months ago. This new flood lights just added more questions from many residents.

The lights did not only shined the entire path towards Lackawanna Street, but also the south end of the park. The nearby homes were also flooded with brilliant light. The light went through the bedroom and kitchen of many residents. living in the nearby houses.

We asked Metro what is the reason for causing this unwanted light pollution. They are saying this is a portable unit that they bring around to the different crime hot spots in the Metro system, and there wasn’t anything that triggered it specifically. They said the next time they bring the lights in, they will not be directed at people’s homes. They also said that they’re looking at new lighting options along the path, including brighter LED lights to promote safety on the path without disturbing nearby homes.

The good news is that they lights are gone, at least for now.

Set to Change.. Definition of traditional marriage in MD

In tomorrow’s Council meeting, the College Park City Council will vote if it should send a letter of support to the General Assembly in support of a proposed controversial same-sex marriage bill.

The bill has not been introduced yet, and no bill number is available at the time of this writing, however there have been much talk around and a draft of the letter that the City plans to send in support of the bill is already in the works.

By any measure, the proposed bill is extremely controversial and has generated highly emotional and complex debate among residents living across the state.

The State does not require the City to take a position on a bill. The municipalities do not normally take positions on controversial social issues like this one.

Opponents argue that the bill would change the definition of traditional marriage as defined in Maryland’s State Law Article 2-201: ”Only a marriage between a man and a woman is valid in this State.”

Supporters think the proposed bill would ensure that rights and responsibilities extend to all qualified couples in the State of Maryland, regardless of their gender. Although opponents argue that business owners could be forced to supply materials for same-sex marriage union or risk accusations of discrimination. In a recent statement, a group of Catholic bishops said other business owners could be forced to supply materials for such a union or risk accusations of discrimination. Employers could also be forced to honor same-sex marriages through health care laws, they said.

If the Maryland proposal had passed this year, “Religious business owners like florists, bakers, musicians, or photographers would not have been able to decline to participate in a same-sex marriage ceremony,” the statement says.

Supporters however think that Maryland State law already prohibits discrimination based on sexual orientation, and this bill would have no impact on the requirement that businesses provide equal services to same-sex couples without discrimination.

Supporters also point to a religious exemption that would prevent religious officials and churches from having to recognize any relationship that does not conform with their religious beliefs. However, many opposed to the bill say that the acceptance of a “marriage” between a same-sex couple would be against the teachings of their faiths.

Please email me or drop me a line on how you see the bill and your thoughts on the City Council  sending a letter to MD State assembly in regards to this bill.

College Park City Hall

The City Council is set to make an important change to the meeting starting time.

For several decades, Council meetings have started at 8:00pm. After a review, the Mayor and Council have determined that a general start time of 7:30 p.m.

In last week’s council work session, the Council discussed the Council rules and procedures.

The Council is required to review these rules, by our charter, to review  every two years.  These are the rules that set forth the conduct of our meetings.

This change will allow more time to complete the Council’s agenda at times when the residents may attend and participate.

The Council will vote on this Tuesday to make this change.

Most of the neighboring cities start their council meetings and work sessions at 7:30pm