College Park - News, Events, Updates, Questions and Developments Etc. (Baltimore: low cost, bus)

[adelphi_sky]

Originally Posted by hikerMD

Construction status of the Aster.
https://old.reddit.com/r/collegepark...ted_in_summer/

Getting close!

If they are going to have chains, it needs to be unique chains. I think College Park/Riverdale Park/Hyattsville has done a good job of getting a lot of firsts in the county to locate here.

I miss Kapnos Taverna. It wasn't a big space, but something like that. The spaces are too small for a good steakhouse.

[RickyRoma]

What would this property be used for?

https://dbknews.com/2022/02/22/colle...road-property/

[hikerMD]

Originally Posted by RickyRoma

What would this property be used for?

https://dbknews.com/2022/02/22/colle...road-property/

"Open space or residential", according to Councilman Kabir
https://old.reddit.com/r/collegepark...t_rd_13k_sqft/


Somebody in this thread once suggested that what the town needed to become a good college town was to buy the properties along one of the streets going to the metro (eg, Calvert, Knox), and make a charming commercial street out of it (unlike Route 1). This could be the first step towards that purpose! (not really, it would cost a fortune and it would generate resistance among many residents, but one can dream)

[RickyRoma]

Pretty ambitious plans for the Adelphi sector. Probably a ten year development and a lot of resistance with the guilford woods area

https://princegeorgescountymd.legist...D-AB1971D25D00

[adelphi_sky]

Originally Posted by RickyRoma

Pretty ambitious plans for the Adelphi sector. Probably a ten year development and a lot of resistance with the guilford woods area

https://princegeorgescountymd.legist...D-AB1971D25D00

Thanks for sharing! Those bike lanes are awesome. I could definitely see the southern corner of Adelphi RD and Campus Dr. being redeveloped sooner than later.

[hikerMD]

Originally Posted by RickyRoma

Pretty ambitious plans for the Adelphi sector. Probably a ten year development and a lot of resistance with the guilford woods area

https://princegeorgescountymd.legist...D-AB1971D25D00

Resistance is already mounting

https://streetcarsuburbs.news/opposi...r-plan-mounts/
https://dbknews.com/2022/01/05/city-...e-sector-plan/


The issue with Guilford Woods is well known, but what is not quite clear to me is how they could get remotely close to that plan with various churches owning a lot of the key land. Are they going to be forced/incentivized to sell?

[adelphi_sky]

Originally Posted by hikerMD

Resistance is already mounting

https://streetcarsuburbs.news/opposi...r-plan-mounts/
https://dbknews.com/2022/01/05/city-...e-sector-plan/


The issue with Guilford Woods is well known, but what is not quite clear to me is how they could get remotely close to that plan with various churches owning a lot of the key land. Are they going to be forced/incentivized to sell?

I was going to say something about the churches. But you never know. I've seen churches in DC give up land for row homes. The pandemic opened up a lot of remote worshiping. Not saying that reduced the amount of donors, but churches have been known to relocate.

I look at it this way. It is a sector plan for when the churches decide they want to sell. The plan is what will go in their place. Unless another church takes over? I don't see this plan as a case for imminent domain.

[RickyRoma]

Saw a twitter list ranking college towns for the power 5 conferences (69 schools). Can’t figure out how to paste the image ( link: https://twitter.com/biggameboomer/st...892346370?s=21) but CP was about where you’d expect - very low on the list at 58 with several city campuses among the 11 below us (Georgia Tech, UCLA, USC, Houston) and others that are traditionally considered bad towns like Rutgers and Baylor (hear Waco is horrible). Anyway, pretty depressing but that is the where we are. I think it will take another 5-10 years to start climbing lists like this as reality leads perception.

Development in CP has to be college town focused (more bars, coffeeshops, bookstores, school spirit, live music, less cars, more green space/plazas/trees), create a better sense of place and community, more traditions and events (like street fairs, festivals, etc) and be a year round town. Lots of work to do but I guess a positive spin is that there is really only one direction to go from here, and that is up! Hopefully this current wave of development, including the project replacing the 7-11 and the Aster will be a huge change in the feel of downtown. Gotta hope the CP shopping center owners have big plans to redevelop that site into a town center concept. That is the most important parcel in my opinion.

[DoughLow805]

Originally Posted by RickyRoma

Saw a twitter list ranking college towns for the power 5 conferences (69 schools). Can’t figure out how to paste the image ( link: https://twitter.com/biggameboomer/st...892346370?s=21) but CP was about where you’d expect - very low on the list at 58 with several city campuses among the 11 below us (Georgia Tech, UCLA, USC, Houston) and others that are traditionally considered bad towns like Rutgers and Baylor (hear Waco is horrible). Anyway, pretty depressing but that is the where we are. I think it will take another 5-10 years to start climbing lists like this as reality leads perception.

Development in CP has to be college town focused (more bars, coffeeshops, bookstores, school spirit, live music, less cars, more green space/plazas/trees), create a better sense of place and community, more traditions and events (like street fairs, festivals, etc) and be a year round town. Lots of work to do but I guess a positive spin is that there is really only one direction to go from here, and that is up! Hopefully this current wave of development, including the project replacing the 7-11 and the Aster will be a huge change in the feel of downtown. Gotta hope the CP shopping center owners have big plans to redevelop that site into a town center concept. That is the most important parcel in my opinion.

I see my alma mater holding down that #1 spot on the list....State Street in Madison is was the model I was using when I made the suggestion that UMD gradually buy up all the properties on Knox or Calvert for commercial development simply to try to replicate State Street between campus and the CP Metro (don't force people out of their homes)...it'd be perfect for all of those street fairs, festivals, gameday celebrating, parades, etc. That said, Sterling Place, if it was extended to Guilford Drive, could function similarly if the university/city coordinated it. Only downside is Guilford drive is kind of a lame endpoint in comparison to a metro stop at the end that draws from everywhere and connects the discovery district. You really want those 2 great anchors on opposite ends that encourage non stop foot traffic in both directions.

[RickyRoma]

Is the university actively pursuing this strategy- agree that would create a great college Main Street - move the focus off route 1 to a more pedestrian friendly street and I like the idea of having connectivity to the metro for max foot traffic. Those streets would be perfect for street festivals.