College Park - News, Events, Updates, Questions and Developments Etc. (cost of, retiring)

[LilLisa83]

Originally Posted by terp80

New WaWa may be coming, near the College Park Ikea http://www.kabircares.org/a-new-wawa...ege-park-ikea/

Another one? There's one in Beltsville

[adelphi_sky]

Originally Posted by LilLisa83

Another one? There's one in Beltsville

You usually see that kind of setup near major interstates.

[Catcprtc]

In early 2020 the Enclave student apartments (8700 Baltimore Ave.) will see the opening of a second retail space. Cuppa Tea will open there in a 1,700 square foot retail space. This large chain of stores specializing in hand made milk teas is apparently based in Hong Kong.

Gilbane Development Corporation's proposed eight-story student housing project for the 8500 block (Burger King) of Baltimore Ave. is scheduled for DSP approval with conditions by the County Planning Board at its scheduled February 6th meeting.

[adelphi_sky]

Originally Posted by Catcprtc

In early 2020 the Enclave student apartments (8700 Baltimore Ave.) will see the opening of a second retail space. Cuppa Tea will open there in a 1,700 square foot retail space. This large chain of stores specializing in hand made milk teas is apparently based in Hong Kong.

Gilbane Development Corporation's proposed eight-story student housing project for the 8500 block (Burger King) of Baltimore Ave. is scheduled for DSP approval with conditions by the County Planning Board at its scheduled February 6th meeting.

Any idea on what happened to the College Park Economic Development Update? The last one was released in July. We're going into the 5th month. without an update. Unless someone forgot to post the link on the College Park website. The last Business Beat was in July as well.

[Catcprtc]

It is a bit overdue, but not to worry, as 2020 should bring news of some interesting projects.

[adelphi_sky]

Originally Posted by Catcprtc

It is a bit overdue, but not to worry, as 2020 should bring news of some interesting projects.

I received the July - September PDFs in the mail the other day. It is interesting that more student housing is being built on RT. 1. That's concerning because those are more beds that will be empty during the summer months. College Park needs more market-rate housing to help mitigate the population drain in the summer. Ideally, you'd want market rate housing on RT. 1 and student housing off of RT. 1. Businesses should not have to reduce their summer hours to survive. They should be able to keep the same hours in July as they do in April.

Here's what I think should happen:

1. Greystar Development
This should be market-rate. It gives the nearby businesses potential customers year round. I visit these business in the summer time and it is scary how empty they are.

2. Northgate Development
This also should be market-rate. It is right on RT. 1 and far enough away from campus where students wouldn't miss the walk. It would be unfortunate that another large footprint on RT. 1 would be empty for three months. Look how long it took retail to come to the Enclave. What business wants to be in a building that will be empty three months out of the year?

3. Western Gateway Development
This one should not be just for graduate students but for regular students as well. It is way off of RT. 1 and it is tucked away so that being empty during the summer is not a big deal.

4. Southern Gateway Development
Big win for RT. 1! East Campus' surviving twin sibling. Year-round, market-rate housing on RT. 1 which should help the retail in the heart of College Park and add some liveliness to downtown during the summer.

5. Standard (Hartwick RD).
Another big win. Student housing off of RT. 1. but close enough to campus. It would help the retail at Terrapin Row during the school year. Southern Gateway residents could support those businesses at Terrapin Row during the summer months.

6. More offices on RT 1 please. You could start with the Discovery District behind the the UMD hotel. They add more year-round foot traffic and would spur a lot of happy-hour business.


It is the city's aim to have College Park bustling not just during the school year but year round. Drive along RT. 1 during any given day in the summer and it is dead. Businesses close early, etc. Adding more student housing to RT.1 won't help that.

[mmoz80]

Originally Posted by adelphi_sky

I received the July - September PDFs in the mail the other day. It is interesting that more student housing is being built on RT. 1. That's concerning because those are more beds that will be empty during the summer months. College Park needs more market-rate housing to help mitigate the population drain in the summer. Ideally, you'd want market rate housing on RT. 1 and student housing off of RT. 1. Businesses should not have to reduce their summer hours to survive. They should be able to keep the same hours in July as they do in April.

Here's what I think should happen:

1. Greystar Development
This should be market-rate. It gives the nearby businesses potential customers year round. I visit these business in the summer time and it is scary how empty they are.

2. Northgate Development
This also should be market-rate. It is right on RT. 1 and far enough away from campus where students wouldn't miss the walk. It would be unfortunate that another large footprint on RT. 1 would be empty for three months. Look how long it took retail to come to the Enclave. What business wants to be in a building that will be empty three months out of the year?

3. Western Gateway Development
This one should not be just for graduate students but for regular students as well. It is way off of RT. 1 and it is tucked away so that being empty during the summer is not a big deal.

4. Southern Gateway Development
Big win for RT. 1! East Campus' surviving twin sibling. Year-round, market-rate housing on RT. 1 which should help the retail in the heart of College Park and add some liveliness to downtown during the summer.

5. Standard (Hartwick RD).
Another big win. Student housing off of RT. 1. but close enough to campus. It would help the retail at Terrapin Row during the school year. Southern Gateway residents could support those businesses at Terrapin Row during the summer months.

6. More offices on RT 1 please. You could start with the Discovery District behind the the UMD hotel. They add more year-round foot traffic and would spur a lot of happy-hour business.


It is the city's aim to have College Park bustling not just during the school year but year round. Drive along RT. 1 during any given day in the summer and it is dead. Businesses close early, etc. Adding more student housing to RT.1 won't help that.

Don't be too concerned about off-campus student housing. The University is tearing down multiple 50+ year-old buildings over the next 3-4 years, and can't build new on-campus housing fast enough to stem demand..so they're looking for a temporary fix to house those potentially displaced students within easy walking distance to campus. Graduate student housing is SORELY needed!
I do agree though that the Greystar project should be market rate..

[RickyRoma]

What are the western gateway and standard developments? Is there any dev info or site maps for these?

[adelphi_sky]

Originally Posted by RickyRoma

What are the western gateway and standard developments? Is there any dev info or site maps for these?

September 2019 Development Update

[adelphi_sky]

Originally Posted by mmoz80

Don't be too concerned about off-campus student housing. The University is tearing down multiple 50+ year-old buildings over the next 3-4 years, and can't build new on-campus housing fast enough to stem demand..so they're looking for a temporary fix to house those potentially displaced students within easy walking distance to campus. Graduate student housing is SORELY needed!
I do agree though that the Greystar project should be market rate..

Can the new student housing be converted to market-rate apartments? How much would that conversion cost the owners?