M-Square development
The transit district contains approximately 293 acres of land, and is split nearly in half by municipalities, with its northern portion located in the City of College Park and its southern portion located within the Town of Riverdale Park.
The City Council will discuss the Transit district development plan at tonight’s worksession.
The transit district features a mix of commercial, research and development, federal facilities, light industrial, and recreation uses anchored by the College Park/UMD Metro station, College Park Airport and Museum, the Northeast Branch Stream Valley Park, the Tennis Center at College Park, Wells-Linson park complex, and the University of Maryland M Square Office and Research Park. Greenbelt National Park is immediately to the northeast and the East Campus portion of the University of Maryland, College Park campus is also nearby to the northwest.
Chad Williams, from M-NCPPC will be at the worksession this week to discuss the planning process for the TDDP and how residents and the City of College Park can get involved and have input.
Several key initiatives are expected to play a major role in the future growth of the project area, including the proposed Purple Line, the University of Maryland M Square Office and Research Park, and proposed development of the Cafritz Property, to name a few. Additionally, major federal and affiliated entities have located within the transit district since 1997, including the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Intelligence Advanced Research Projects Activity (IARPA), National Foreign Language Center, and NOAA Center for Weather and Climate Prediction.
The transit district is also adjoined to the west by two National Register Historic Districts: Calvert Hills and Old Town College Park, and to the south by a third, the Riverdale Park National Register Historic District. With so many amenities nearby, the transit district has the potential to become a major employment center for Prince George’s County.
A draft of the plan is tentatively slated to be released for public review in early spring 2014, and final approval is expected in fall 2014. More information is available at www.pgplanning.org/cprp-tddp.htm.
bekah
This is great news!! This area has a lot of potential (esp. considering its proximity to metro and biking trails) and could be developed into a second downtown college park.