Disney backs out of National Harbor, in blow to Prince George’s (hotel, home)

[EdwardA]

Another blow to PG.

Walt Disney Co. announced Friday that it had canceled plans to build a 500-room resort hotel at National Harbor, dealing a blow to an ambitious project that is seen as an integral part of the economic future of Prince George’s County.

The Disney brand was expected to catapult National Harbor and Prince George’s to a higher class of national tourist destination. In the Washington region, the harbor is billed as one of the few places people can shop, see a show, host a large business conference and have plenty of affordable options to stay overnight within walking distance.

The loss hits home just as the development, majority-owned by the Peterson Cos., was recovering some positive buzz. It got off to a slow start in 2008, running immediately into a severe economic downturn.

In a blow to Prince George’s, Disney backs out of National Harbor - The Washington Post

[Phyxius]

Serves them right. The Harbor shouldn't of been built in the first place. If Prince Georges wanted to see some economic growth then they should have focus on redeveloping their existing towns rather than ignore them and create a new one. How does this benefit the people in Oxon Hill and Ft. Washington when it's so difficult to get there? The Harbor is fenced in from nearby residential neighborhoods and isolated, only accessible by vehicle and then they expect you to pay $20 to park.

[justtitans]

The part of the article that disturbed me the most was this:

It also broke ground this year on its $4.4 billion Shanghai Disney Resort — making a big bet on the Chinese market.“Given the full slate of expansion currently underway at Walt Disney Parks and Resorts, the timing isn’t right to proceed with another new project of this scale,” Disney spokeswoman Kristin Nolt Wingard said in a statement Friday.

You mean to tell me in these economic times, they are more invested in building a facility in another country as opposed to here? This is the reason why this country is in the state that it is in. Let's call it what it really is, they didn't think the National Harbor was a big enough draw for them to benefit from building a resort here.

[EdwardA]

Originally Posted by meatkins

The part of the article that disturbed me the most was this:



You mean to tell me in these economic times, they are more invested in building a facility in another country as opposed to here? This is the reason why this country is in the state that it is in. Let's call it what it really is, they didn't think the National Harbor was a big enough draw for them to benefit from building a resort here.

Disney's duties are to their shareholders. Americas middle class is waning, China's us increasing, fromthat perspective investing in China is a no-brainer.

[Carameldude]

I'm not surprised.

[adelphi_sky]

We can all speculate on why Disney pulled out of National Harbor. It was a long shot anyway. Though I do feel that it would've worked well with the new National Children's Museum that is currently being built. Gaylord has made a deal with Dreamworks. There seemed to be momentum to make National Harbor VERY family friendly. Hard Rainforest Cafe anyone?

[North Beach Person]

Ray Charles could have seen this coming. Especially after gambling at Rosecroft came back on the table.

[liliblu]

It was a loss for National Harbor but not one the development cannot survive. The Tanger Outlet is still being built. Improvements to Oxon Hill Road will soon be underway. The National Childrens museum is still a go and Seame Street is still a partner. One thing I've learned watching this project unfold is to not count Milt Peterson out.

[liliblu]

Just in case anyone is interested.

Oxon Hill Road Improvements Phase II

--Design 101 is the southern end of the project from Fort Foote ES to just north of Claudia Drive
--Design 102 is from just north of Claudia Drive to just north of Brockton Road
--Design 103 is from just north of Brockton Road to the Harborview Drive entrance to National Harbor

Prince George's County, MD - Department of Public Works and Transportation (DPW&T) : Road Improvements

Design 103 shows a four-lane road with turning lanes from the National Harbor entrance to just south of a new main entrance which is to be built into Oxon Hill Manor. This is where the original entrance was located; it is being recreated as part of this project.

Opposite that driveway will be an entrance into the proposed Tanger Outlets on the 44 acre Salubria site. This might be called the "residential" entrance. The main entrance to Tanger will be on the north at the confluence of I-495, I-295, the "S" curve ramp onto MD 210, Harborview Avenue and Oxon Hill Road.

South of the Oxon Hill Manor and Tanger entrances, Oxon Hill Road will narrow to two lanes into a roundabout as one transitions from the properties to the north to the residential community to the south. As you approach the roundabout, there will be monuments on both sides of the road informing you that you are in a residential area of Historic Oxon Hill.

[Samoi137]

Originally Posted by EdwardA

Disney's duties are to their shareholders. Americas middle class is waning, China's us increasing, fromthat perspective investing in China is a no-brainer.

Disney invested in Japan, France and other countries long ago. There's still a lot of foreign money invested in the U.S. They, like Disney, are looking for profits. One project in PG County biting the dust doesn't mean other areas won't expand in the future. I couldn't see National Harbor as a likely destination for out-of-town tourists, I wonder how many would think, from the name, that it'd be a logical base for seeing the tourist sites of Washington.