If Whole Foods were to open a store in Fort Washington/Oxon Hill/National harbor where would it be (Bowie: crime, homes)

[CBMD]

I think any talk of development, redevelopment or transit on the 210 corridor is premature. The three primary Zips 20735, 20744/5 have a combined population of about 100K. Add in all the remaining Zips in PGC south of Andrews and you are still at less than 200K, and that's spread over a very large area that would make transit a difficult and very costly task. You'll see transit to Bowie first.

[Baghead]

Originally Posted by CBMD

I think any talk of development, redevelopment or transit on the 210 corridor is premature.

"Insane quote of the year award."

210 for 4 hours of any weekday is a donkeycluster. Gimmeeabreak!

[adelphi_sky]

Originally Posted by CBMD

I think any talk of development, redevelopment or transit on the 210 corridor is premature. The three primary Zips 20735, 20744/5 have a combined population of about 100K. Add in all the remaining Zips in PGC south of Andrews and you are still at less than 200K, and that's spread over a very large area that would make transit a difficult and very costly task. You'll see transit to Bowie first.

This is true. Plan Prince George's 2035 only focuses on a few areas for targeted investment. All inside the Beltway (Largo is just outside though). If you want amenities, it looks like northern PGC is your best bet. National Harbor proper, Westphalia and Konterra (when they are complete) will be the only pockets of amenity-rich developments outside of the targeted development areas mentioned in this plan. Bowie is the other. But that's about it.





Plan Prince George's 2035 Approved General Plan

[FortWashingtoneer]

I don't think anyone wants Fort Washington to become Waldorf. We don't need 1 of everything. There's a long continuum between the mess that is Waldorf and improving the amenities of Fort Washington.

I'm thinking it could be more like Del Ray, just north of Old Town Alexandria. (And I'm not talking the mess that is Rt 1, Del Ray has its own vibe). A few years ago Del Ray was on the down and out, old houses, low property values, abandoned properties, stores and restaurants in disrepair or 30+ years old and no longer fitting the times.

They've done a great job revitalizing that area, adding amenities, improving housing values, getting people to move there.
Take a look here at the types of things they are doing - Del Ray Business Association - Home

Is it too much to ask if Fort Washington could maybe get a good butcher, a bakery, a cheeseshop, a coffee roaster, a green grocer, a couple nice sit-down restaurants like Silver Diner. Revitalizing the abandoned mall at the Giant could make a good location to start the process.

[Baghead]

Now you're talking!

[UrbanScholar]

Originally Posted by FortWashingtoneer

I don't think anyone wants Fort Washington to become Waldorf. We don't need 1 of everything. There's a long continuum between the mess that is Waldorf and improving the amenities of Fort Washington.

I'm thinking it could be more like Del Ray, just north of Old Town Alexandria. (And I'm not talking the mess that is Rt 1, Del Ray has its own vibe). A few years ago Del Ray was on the down and out, old houses, low property values, abandoned properties, stores and restaurants in disrepair or 30+ years old and no longer fitting the times.

They've done a great job revitalizing that area, adding amenities, improving housing values, getting people to move there.
Take a look here at the types of things they are doing - Del Ray Business Association - Home

Is it too much to ask if Fort Washington could maybe get a good butcher, a bakery, a cheeseshop, a coffee roaster, a green grocer, a couple nice sit-down restaurants like Silver Diner. Revitalizing the abandoned mall at the Giant could make a good location to start the process.

I agree. It doesn't need to be a mini version of Waldorf. It can be its own destination given its historical elements (Fort Washington Park, Silesia, etc). I know that the owner of Livingston Square will begin to redevelop that space over the next 12 to 18 months. There is also 50 acres across the street by the domino's and 25 acres where the casino was proposed that would be primed for developing a midtown area that could encompass all of the things that you mentioned. Although mass transit isn't in the immediate future I could see some creative forms of it coming with the opening of the casino. I can't see the county or the state not trying to figure out a way to get as many people to the casino as possible. It may not be a hard rail system but I could see them developing a BRT, a streetcar system, or both. Especially to bridge that part of the county with Alexandria and Nationals Park and the new DHS headquarters.

[UrbanScholar]

Originally Posted by adelphi_sky

This is true. Plan Prince George's 2035 only focuses on a few areas for targeted investment. All inside the Beltway (Largo is just outside though). If you want amenities, it looks like northern PGC is your best bet. National Harbor proper, Westphalia and Konterra (when they are complete) will be the only pockets of amenity-rich developments outside of the targeted development areas mentioned in this plan. Bowie is the other. But that's about it.





Plan Prince George's 2035 Approved General Plan

Although the current plan only focuses on key areas, it is just a plan and could change based on a variety of factors. If the National Harbor area continues to grow as a tourist destination or if Konterra and Westphalia become major employment centers, I would find it hard to believe that the current plan would not be revised to accommodate those environmental changes. Adding a mass transit hub at the National Harbor alone would go a long way to improving the QOL of that area. IMO, I don't think that most people in the Fort Washington area are not looking for widespread commercialization. Just in-fill improvements to the current commercial area that will allow them to eat, shop, and play closer to home.

[CBMD]

Originally Posted by UrbanScholar

Although the current plan only focuses on key areas, it is just a plan and could change based on a variety of factors. If the National Harbor area continues to grow as a tourist destination or if Konterra and Westphalia become major employment centers, I would find it hard to believe that the current plan would not be revised to accommodate those environmental changes. Adding a mass transit hub at the National Harbor alone would go a long way to improving the QOL of that area. IMO, I don't think that most people in the Fort Washington area are not looking for widespread commercialization. Just in-fill improvements to the current commercial area that will allow them to eat, shop, and play closer to home.

I take your point on the infill development aspect. The problem I see with it is, that type of development is not generally attractive to national or regional retailers without whose "expression of interest" developers find it harder to get financing.

I'm sure that an infill development would have no trouble attracting a bunch of low start up cost retailers like Subway, dry cleaners, hair & nail etc. Panera or Potbelly are a different proposition. They want to be close to other "draws" and Subway etc. doesn't cut it in that department.

While the "stalled" Konterra is expected to be a major employment area, in 20-30 years, I don't believe the same is true for Westphalia. I think that's more retail, one hotel, and a relatively small office component, might employ 1,000, plus 15,000 residential units. I wonder how many are employed a Bowie Town Center. My understanding is that Westphalia will be similar to Bowie but smaller.

I think BRT is the only hope for "transit" on the 210 route, but I wouldn't be optimistic about that either. Once you get south of Piscataway population density falls off fairly quickly, so your really only talking about two Zips 20744/5 and which have a combined population of about 70K. But 20744 follows the Brinkley road line almost up to Andrews, so would be of little benefit to that part of the Zip, reducing your numbers further. I could see the attraction to people from Waldorf if it took you all the way to DC......but to a wait at another transit option, not as much, but possible, and remember, it's not exactly cheap either.

The CCT under development in MoCo is running at about $60M a mile. Piscataway to the Capitol building is about 15 miles, to Branch Ave, 11 miles, and Eisenhower Ave 9 miles.
With those options, I don't see great choices for high ridership at a low cost.
MoCo recently cancelled their proposed Georgia Ave BRT plans because of financial and ridership issues.

[G1..]

Originally Posted by justtitans

That is what Waldorf actually is.

..........and a hoodlum haven.

[armory]

Originally Posted by justtitans

That is what Waldorf actually is.

And what FW would become if all of the same amenities were built up likewise.

I have to retract some of that. If FW were to build all of that up, the unwanted element which congregates in Waldorf would exist in FW. Why? It's a new destination for those who frequent public places.

It would be great reality TV.