Is College Park On Track To Becoming A Top 20 College Town? (Hyattsville: power lines, school)

[NJ2MDdude]

College Park doesn't have what I consider a downtown area. It lacks historic charm, density and village-like atmosphere. All the shops, restaurants and entertainment are geared towards students. So the developers have ignored the non-student residents and population at large.

[lookingbutnotlost]

Originally Posted by NJ2MDdude

College Park doesn't have what I consider a downtown area. It lacks historic charm, density and village-like atmosphere. All the shops, restaurants and entertainment are geared towards students. So the developers have ignored the non-student residents and population at large.

IA w/this. College Park is NOT charming. You can infuse charm though but that doesn't seem to be a priority.

[adelphi_sky]

Originally Posted by lookingbutnotlost

IA w/this. College Park is NOT charming. You can infuse charm though but that doesn't seem to be a priority.

BUt it charm a pre-requisite? Is the definition of a college town just amenities or looks? Is Ann Arbor the template? If all college towns are supposed to look like Ann Arbor, then in that sense, anything else that looks different will not be considered a college town. Or I should say, Ann Arbor.

I think what College Park is going for here is top 20 as far as amenities. With College Park's main street bifurcated by what used to be a major north/south route on the east coast (perhaps the reason for all the motels) and now a thoroughfare for DC commuters, it will be hard to get that Ann Arbor look (charm.) In addition, UMD does not own it surroundings. Fifteen years ago or earlier, the city and university were separate entities until they formed a partnership if I'm not mistaken. Ann Arbor is the University of Michigan and the University of Michigan is Ann Abor.

College Park is chopped up into three sections. The Discovery District (M Square) is separated by a railway. THe main core is separated from the University by RT. 1. COllege Park was designed for people to speed through (pedestrian deaths), not stop and hang out. That has to change. Oh, and the Golf course s separated by a 35mph Greenbelt Road.

Charm? Not there. Amenities? Sure. East Campus was supposed to at least provide fake charm. But now that is scrapped, I'm not sure there enough space to provide that feel. Maybe Southern Gateway? BUt that is another fake main street.

Now that I think about it, University BLVD COULD be transformed into a main street with redeveloped plots where all the strip centers are now. Reduce the lanes and provide street parking with the Purple Line down the middle and there you have a ready-made main street with charm. That would be 30 years away. lol

[DoughLow805]

Originally Posted by adelphi_sky

BUt it charm a pre-requisite? Is the definition of a college town just amenities or looks? Is Ann Arbor the template? If all college towns are supposed to look like Ann Arbor, then in that sense, anything else that looks different will not be considered a college town. Or I should say, Ann Arbor.

I think what College Park is going for here is top 20 as far as amenities. With College Park's main street bifurcated by what used to be a major north/south route on the east coast (perhaps the reason for all the motels) and now a thoroughfare for DC commuters, it will be hard to get that Ann Arbor look (charm.) In addition, UMD does not own it surroundings. Fifteen years ago or earlier, the city and university were separate entities until they formed a partnership if I'm not mistaken. Ann Arbor is the University of Michigan and the University of Michigan is Ann Abor.

College Park is chopped up into three sections. The Discovery District (M Square) is separated by a railway. THe main core is separated from the University by RT. 1. COllege Park was designed for people to speed through (pedestrian deaths), not stop and hang out. That has to change. Oh, and the Golf course s separated by a 35mph Greenbelt Road.

Charm? Not there. Amenities? Sure. East Campus was supposed to at least provide fake charm. But now that is scrapped, I'm not sure there enough space to provide that feel. Maybe Southern Gateway? BUt that is another fake main street.

Now that I think about it, University BLVD COULD be transformed into a main street with redeveloped plots where all the strip centers are now. Reduce the lanes and provide street parking with the Purple Line down the middle and there you have a ready-made main street with charm. That would be 30 years away. lol

This is pretty much what I suggested earlier for Knox Road from Bmore Ave to the College Park Metro...create a charming, super pedestrian friendly street full of retail.

[adelphi_sky]

Originally Posted by DoughLow805

This is pretty much what I suggested earlier for Knox Road from Bmore Ave to the College Park Metro...create a charming, super pedestrian friendly street full of retail.

Are you saying eminent domain multiple neighborhood blocks all the way to the metro? THat would take decades.

[DoughLow805]

Originally Posted by adelphi_sky

Are you saying eminent domain multiple neighborhood blocks all the way to the metro? THat would take decades.

I don't like eminent domain, not like the purple line has used eminent domain to upend people without compensating them well enough to buy another place. And I agree it would take a while. Just go down the street asking property owners to name their price...I'd imagine most of the properties are going to be owned by investors, investors are always willing to sell for the right price. The frat houses are the ones that are going to be really hard to convince. Harwick might work just as good....they have to stop centering their bars, restaurants, and retail down Baltimore ave and can't shift to other busy roads like university ave or campus drive.

[the resident09]

Originally Posted by lookingbutnotlost

Being close to D.C. is an advantage for college kids and grad students

It is, but I agree with TurnerBro as the proximity, and being in such a populated metro area with so many more offerings that this would be enough to hinder it from becoming top 20 in the nation.

CP is muchimproved however and it still is an asset to the region, definitely moving up rapidly.

[lookingbutnotlost]

Originally Posted by adelphi_sky

BUt it charm a pre-requisite? Is the definition of a college town just amenities or looks? Is Ann Arbor the template? If all college towns are supposed to look like Ann Arbor, then in that sense, anything else that looks different will not be considered a college town. Or I should say, Ann Arbor.

I think what College Park is going for here is top 20 as far as amenities. With College Park's main street bifurcated by what used to be a major north/south route on the east coast (perhaps the reason for all the motels) and now a thoroughfare for DC commuters, it will be hard to get that Ann Arbor look (charm.) In addition, UMD does not own it surroundings. Fifteen years ago or earlier, the city and university were separate entities until they formed a partnership if I'm not mistaken. Ann Arbor is the University of Michigan and the University of Michigan is Ann Abor.

College Park is chopped up into three sections. The Discovery District (M Square) is separated by a railway. THe main core is separated from the University by RT. 1. COllege Park was designed for people to speed through (pedestrian deaths), not stop and hang out. That has to change. Oh, and the Golf course s separated by a 35mph Greenbelt Road.

Charm? Not there. Amenities? Sure. East Campus was supposed to at least provide fake charm. But now that is scrapped, I'm not sure there enough space to provide that feel. Maybe Southern Gateway? BUt that is another fake main street.

Now that I think about it, University BLVD COULD be transformed into a main street with redeveloped plots where all the strip centers are now. Reduce the lanes and provide street parking with the Purple Line down the middle and there you have a ready-made main street with charm. That would be 30 years away. lol

Yes, charm is important if you're trying to develop a college TOWN. There are lots of great colleges that are in ****ty cities but if you're trying to create a college town w/a unique identity charm is important bc charm frequently incorporates intangibles that make people want to live, work, and stay in the area.

[adelphi_sky]

Originally Posted by lookingbutnotlost

Yes, charm is important if you're trying to develop a college TOWN. There are lots of great colleges that are in ****ty cities but if you're trying to create a college town w/a unique identity charm is important bc charm frequently incorporates intangibles that make people want to live, work, and stay in the area.

Charm like Baltimore charm? lol But I think we can get into what charm means for different people. Which is why I brought up Ann Arbor. For some, Ann Arbor is the quintessential college town prototype. Yet, no college town will look like Ann Arbor because Ann Arbor is Ann Arbor. So, are we trying to look like Ann Arbor? That kind of charm? Is it Georgetown charm? Appalachian State charm? Harvard charm?

Having said that, you are left with choosing the right amenities. College Park can add the amenities that you find in those other college towns to create its own charm. What would those amenities be? Where would they be? WE already have a few amenities already. And one could say that COllege Park already has a certain charm. A pitiful one if you ask most people, but nevertheless, it has its own charm.

[lookingbutnotlost]

Originally Posted by adelphi_sky

Charm like Baltimore charm? lol But I think we can get into what charm means for different people. Which is why I brought up Ann Arbor. For some, Ann Arbor is the quintessential college town prototype. Yet, no college town will look like Ann Arbor because Ann Arbor is Ann Arbor. So, are we trying to look like Ann Arbor? That kind of charm? Is it Georgetown charm? Appalachian State charm? Harvard charm?

Having said that, you are left with choosing the right amenities. College Park can add the amenities that you find in those other college towns to create its own charm. What would those amenities be? Where would they be? WE already have a few amenities already. And one could say that COllege Park already has a certain charm. A pitiful one if you ask most people, but nevertheless, it has its own charm.

There other charming college towns that have one road but are still charming like UNC. CP has a lot of random mish mash ugly strip malls. I think they had a grant to improve store fronts.....it would be interesting to see how many business owners used it.