At the October 28, 2025 meeting, the City Council approved sending a letter to Governor Wes Moore requesting that the State evaluate the property at 9829 Rhode Island Avenue in North College Park as a potential site for affordable or senior housing. The letter does not authorize or initiate any construction—it simply asks the State to review the site’s suitability under the Governor’s “Housing Starts Here” Executive Order, which encourages developing affordable housing on underutilized State-owned land.
The property, currently used by the Maryland Department of Labor, has been partially occupied and understaffed at various times over the past few years, leaving much of the site underutilized. With the Governor’s Executive Order now in place, the City saw an opportunity to formally request a State-led evaluation to determine whether this site could help advance shared housing goals while supporting local revitalization efforts.
The location is ideally situated along the Rhode Island Avenue corridor, near the Metro Green Line, MARC station, Metrobus, and the Trolley Trail, offering strong connections to transit and walkable amenities. It also sits near several major public investments, including the North College Park Community Center, the Hollywood Streetscape Project, and the Duvall Field Redevelopment—each contributing to a more vibrant and sustainable community.
If the State agrees to evaluate the site and determines it suitable, it is expected to retain ownership and oversee any future redevelopment. At that stage, the City will ensure that extensive community input is gathered to guide next steps, address concerns, and shape outcomes consistent with neighborhood priorities.
This initiative represents a first step toward exploring affordable and senior housing opportunities in College Park while ensuring transparency, collaboration, and community engagement remain central to the process.
UPDATE: Thank you all for asking thoughtful questions about the recent City Council action to send a letter to Governor Wes Moore. I’ve put together a FAQ addressing these questions. Please let me know if yo have additional questions:
Q1: Why is the City asking the State to explore the redevelopment of the property at 9829 Rhode Island Avenue?
A: The property at 9829 Rhode Island Avenue has been underutilized and partially staffed over the past several years by the Maryland Department of Labor. Recently, Governor Wes Moore issued an Executive Order (Housing Starts Here), which lays out a framework for the State to evaluate and redevelop underused State-owned properties into affordable housing across Maryland. The College Park City Council has long prioritized expanding housing affordability and inclusivity. This Executive Order presents a unique opportunity for the City to request a State-led evaluation of this site to determine if it could be suitable for affordable or senior housing. Importantly, this is only a request for evaluation—not a development proposal or approval to build.
Q2: Is the City planning to purchase or redevelop the property itself?
A: No. The City is not purchasing or redeveloping the property. Under the Governor’s Executive Order, the State of Maryland will continue to own the land and, if deemed appropriate, would oversee any potential redevelopment. The City’s letter simply requests that the State conduct an evaluation of the site’s suitability. Should the State decide to move forward, the City will ensure extensive community input and transparency at every stage.
Q3: Why focus on affordable housing when the building was originally intended as a place of employment?
A: The Governor’s Executive Order specifically directs the State to explore affordable housing opportunities on underutilized State properties. While the City continues to support local employment and business growth through other initiatives, the most pressing regional need identified is affordable and workforce housing. This request aligns College Park with the State’s efforts to address Maryland’s housing shortage, while also supporting local goals for balanced, sustainable growth.
Q4: Why has the City made affordable housing a top priority?
A: Access to affordable housing is essential to keeping College Park a diverse, welcoming, and thriving community. The City’s Strategic Plan calls for increasing housing choices so that teachers, first responders, service workers, and young families can afford to live where they work. Affordable housing also helps seniors remain in the community as they age. As noted by Streetcar Suburbs News https://streetcarsuburbs.news/lack-of-affordable-housing-keeps-some-away-from-city/) , the lack of affordable housing has made it difficult for some residents and workers to stay in College Park, even when they want to build their lives here. By prioritizing housing affordability, the City aims to keep residents in College Park, strengthen neighborhood stability, and ensure that our community remains inclusive and accessible for people at every stage of life.
Q5: What is “affordable housing,” exactly?
A: The definition of “affordable” varies depending on the source, but the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) defines affordable housing as housing where tenants or homeowners spend no more than 30% of their gross income on housing costs, including rent or mortgage and utilities. In College Park, the median household income is approximately $74,867 (according to 2023 Census estimates). By HUD’s standard, housing would be considered affordable if it costs no more than about $1,870 per month for that household.
Affordable housing is not just about reducing costs—it’s about ensuring that people of all income levels can live in safe, well-maintained, and accessible homes close to jobs, schools, and transit. This includes teachers, first responders, young families, and seniors who want to remain in the community. Affordable housing can take many forms, from rental units to ownership opportunities, and supports College Park’s goal of being a diverse, inclusive, and sustainable city.
Q6: What is the City doing to make single-family homeownership more affordable?
A: The City has launched several initiatives to make homeownership more attainable for working families. Programs such as Live + Work College Park, the New Neighbor Grant, and the Community Preservation Trust (administered by CPCUP) help reduce upfront costs and keep homes affordable in the long term. These efforts have already helped many employees and first-time buyers purchase homes and stay rooted in College Park. The City is continuing to explore down payment assistance, home repair grants, and new partnerships to expand these opportunities.
Q7: Doesn’t affordable housing bring more crime?
A: No. Research from Harvard University, the Urban Institute, and the National Low Income Housing Coalition shows no correlation between affordable housing and higher crime rates. In fact, high-quality, well-managed affordable housing often reduces crime by promoting neighborhood stability and providing secure, well-maintained homes. The City and State would ensure that any future development meets strong standards for design, safety, and community character.
Q8: Does affordable housing mean tall, high-density apartment buildings?
A: Not necessarily. Affordable housing can take many forms—townhomes, duplexes, cottage courts, or small-scale apartment buildings—that fit within existing neighborhood character. There’s also a growing focus on “missing middle” housing—modest, well-designed homes that expand options for families, seniors, and first-time buyers without changing the look or feel of surrounding areas. Any proposal would be shaped through public input and local zoning requirements.
Q9: Could the City use the existing building for the North College Park Community Center instead?
A: No. The property at 9829 Rhode Island Avenue is owned by the State, and the Governor’s Executive Order is limited to exploring affordable housing uses, not community facilities. Meanwhile, the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission (M-NCPPC) is already advancing the final design and construction of the new North College Park Community Center at 9801 Rhode Island Avenue—just a short distance away. That project is fully funded and moving forward following years of community input.
Q10: Doesn’t affordable housing mean low-quality housing with fewer amenities?
A: No. Affordable housing does not mean lower quality or limited features. For example, The Flats at College Park is an affordable housing community that offers residents modern, high-quality amenities, including on-site management, community spaces, and access to public transit—all at reasonable prices. The purpose of affordable housing is to make good housing attainable, not to lower its standards. Quality, design, and livability remain key goals in any well-managed development.
Q11: Is there an opportunity to add other amenities if the State decides to redevelop the property into affordable housing?
A: It’s too early to know what the redevelopment might include or how it would be designed. However, the community has already shared many creative ideas—such as adding green space, small retail options, or gathering areas. If the State agrees to redevelop the site and moves forward, the City will advocate strongly for these ideas and ensure that community input helps shape the final plan.
Q12: What happens next?
A: The letter simply begins the evaluation process. If the State accepts the request, it will study whether the site meets the criteria in the Executive Order. No plans or designs have been proposed. If the State later considers development, there will be multiple stages of public review and engagement before any decisions are made. The City remains committed to transparency, collaboration, and protecting neighborhood interests at every step.