University of Maryland ready to choose developer for east campus

Washington Business Journal - February 16, 2007by Joe CoombsSenior Staff Reporter


University of Maryland officials will select a master developer by the end of February for the 38-acre east campus property, a site viewed as a potential anchor for redeveloping the Route 1 corridor.

And for those with a stake in Route 1's revitalization, the decision can't come soon enough. Students and faculty at the university are hungry -- they'd like to see a supermarket and restaurants that don't specialize in fast food at the site, located at the corner of Route 1 and Paint Branch Parkway, according to a study conducted for the university.

Is this the 'Rethink College Park' model with the town center opposite the main entrance at Paint Branch and Rt. 1?

Is this greenfields development.....?

Nate

Yes and no.

College Park could really use redevelopment. If it was cleaned up like SS was a few years ago it would be a lot nicer.

That area so deserves a makeover. I loved my time there but no grocery store, just four bars, no nice restaurants, serious crime problems and ridiculously heavy traffic really hold that area back. I mean, it's a huge school, our state's flagship university.

The big problem is that area is so congested and so run down that it would very difficult, costly and time consuming to revitilize that area. I'm not even sure it could be done. The funny thing is, the residents there (non students) are happy with the status quo. It's really hard to understand.

I know some of the developers that own land in College Park are waiting for the market to become more favorable. Perhaps if a HRT Purple Line were constructed that would be the case.

The area between the Metro and Route One is full of dilapidated old frat and sorority sattelite houses( I'll post some pictures of the area soon). That would be a prime area to build on except for all the drunken students that parade the area every night. Route 1 is also a traffic and urban nightmare, it's a lower class version of Rockville Pike.

They need to try and create ways to divert traffic off of Route 1, such as building a direct connector to the beltway from the University area. Also, try showing people that you can get to the UMCP area and beltway by other ways then going all the way down or up Route 1. Kenilworth will take you to the Beltway and I think there are a couple other back ways to get there as well.

Some areas like University Park are very nice but then appear bordered by slum areas down by the Knox boxes. They should knock all those down and even try to get rid of the Knox Towers and build more high rises or Commons like buildings over there and create a whole new off-campus area, complete with its own amenities. You could even build it in a way that a grocery store could be thrown in the mix.

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