Prince George's County Development News

[indiethinker]

Sounds like they might as well take the wrecking ball to the existing Laurel Mall and start brand new.

It seems now that the most successful malls include a movie multiplex.

[hpal3]

Originally Posted by indiethinker

Sounds like they might as well take the wrecking ball to the existing Laurel Mall and start brand new.

It seems now that the most successful malls include a movie multiplex.

After three months of waiting for their unveiling, the final plans for the first phase of Laurel Mall's redevelopment were approved unanimously at the Oct. 14 Planning Commission meeting.

The plan calls for the renovation of the mall structure, demolition of the former JC Penney's department store, and a new parking garage along Route 1.

The redevelopment of the mall also contains a second phase, which includes the building of a 440-unit, five-story apartment building next to the mall. The final plan for this phase has not been presented or approved. Mike Walls, planning commission chairman, said he was impressed with the final plan, considering the state of the economy.

"I have to compliment the guys on being realistic with the plans," he said. "The plans that were submitted roughly reflected the state of the economy."

The approved plans contained minor tweaks to the original first phase plan. Yet Stephen Kreigel, senior director of development for Chicago-based General Growth Properties, the mall's redevelopment manager, said "the integrity of the project is still intact."

The current roof of the mall concourse was supposed to be raised, but scrapping that saved $1 million, Kreigel said.

The parking garage was supposed to be made of real brick, but instead will be brick-like. The lights to be put along Fourth Street were supposed to match those on Main Street, but they will be made of cheaper materials.

Laurel Councilman Frederick Smalls (Ward 2) said he was worried the changes might eliminate the mall's "wow factor."

"The residents deserve a mall we're going to be proud of," he said.

But Kreigel said everything inside the mall is going to be new, from the floors to the sky lights to the lighting to the handrails.

"That wow factor is still going to be there," he said.

Karl Brendle, the city's Department of Community Planning and Business Services director, also asked for staff discretion on planning the traffic route for the new mall. Brendle expressed concern about severe traffic congestion on Fourth Street when a popular movie or two would be airing on two screens at the planned Regal 16 Cinema, particularly coming from the five-story parking garage next to the movie theater.

Brendle said he wanted to monitor the traffic flow before making a suggestion on curbing and directional lights.

"We need to see how it works before we assume people's behavior," he said.

Yet the mall's redevelopment hinges on approval from Prince George's County or the city as to whether the mall will receive a tax increment finance request.

Under a TIF, property tax revenues are projected to rise because of the increased value of the revitalized mall's impact on the nearby community. The TIF would help pay for public improvements, like the proposed Corridor Transportation Corporation bus hub near the mall.

To date, Somera Capital Management, the mall owner, has not received a final decision from the county or city.

Thomas Falatko, senior vice president of Somera, said that if the TIF is not approved, Somera will probably have to further adjust its plans.

"We'd have to go back to the drawing board to see how we can create some savings," he said.

Mall officials plan to begin demolition and construction on Jan. 2. Kreigel said the date was chosen because it comes after the holiday season.

E-mail Timmy Gelles at tgelles@gazette.net.

[hpal3]

Way more development in PG County than Balto County, yet Balto gets the sticky. Not hating, just an observation.

[jeremai]

It does seem a bit random, although Baltimore County is about to hit 100 replies.

[hpal3]

Public funding for Laurel mall overhaul slowly coming into place
Countil Briefs | Timmy Gelles

Legislation for the proposed $14 million tax increment financing district was introduced at the Nov. 24 City Council meeting, signifying a major step in the Laurel Mall's redevelopment.

TIF is based on the expectation that the city's outlay will be offset by increased property values. The Laurel Mall TIF would help pay for public improvements, like the proposed Corridor Transportation Corporation bus hub near the mall.

Mayor Craig Moe first announced his support for the legislation at the Nov. 10 City Council meeting.

City Solicitor Robert Manzi said the legislation is not the actual TIF but will set the boundaries for the TIF to occur.

"What this does is it sets up some funds and sets up the district which is being completely outlined as the property of the mall. And it also sets up a special tax increase should there not be enough in the tax increment to pay off the bond," he said.

Manzi said there's more the City Council has to go through before the TIF itself is even created.

"There's several reams of documents that we're going to have agreement on before we come back to you with an ordinance to create the TIF," he said.

Laurel resident Jim McCeney was the only resident to voice concern about the TIF at the meeting, asking the council what financial risks the city has for approving the TIF.

City officials responded that the city is forgoing collecting the taxes that will result from a rise in property value, and the city will not be forced to pay for the bonds.

The next and final public hearing will be on Dec. 8.

Affordable housing legislation passed

The Laurel City Council unanimously approved legislation for moderately priced dwelling units at the Nov. 24 City Council meeting.

The legislation allows the city to conduct a lottery four times a year for people who qualify for renting or purchasing the available MPDUs and work force dwelling units.

Whether the properties they are building are for sale or for rent, developers must spread MPDUs throughout any new development. The exteriors of these units are to appear the same as market-price homes.

The council voted on March 10 to require MPDUs of new large residential developments. The units would remain moderately priced for 30 years, after which they could be sold at market value. Developments must have 3 percent of their total units set aside for MPDUs. In 2007, the council approved developments Hawthorne Place and Laurel Commons on the condition they included workforce or affordable housing components.

[Infoman]

http://washington.bizjournals.com/wa...d=lfn&brthrs=1

Solar project land in PG.

http://www.gazette.net/stories/12042...58_32483.shtml

Bowie hopes for BRAC benefits.

[rockin'.baltimorean]

looks like p.g.'s getting another franchise from d.c........




PG officials, team officials guarantee DC United will move to Maryland
LIZ FARMER
February 16, 2009 3:24 PM
LARGO — Prince George’s County and D.C. United officials guaranteed Monday that not only would the Major League Soccer team move to Maryland, but a new stadium would not cost county residents more in taxes.

“I emphatically want to repeat this again,” said United Executive Chairman Victor B. MacFarlane, who alluded last week to the team’s commitment. “We want to be in Prince George’s County and we will be in Prince George’s County.”

About 100 people, including several United players, attended a news conference Monday at Prince George’s County Community College to hear officials detail how that was going to happen.

“We understand that we cannot ask for one dollar from this tax base,” said MacFarlane. “We cannot and we will not — I promise that.”

Del. Melanie Griffith, D-Prince George’s, said she wanted to dispel rumors that new taxes would pay for the stadium.

“That is not the case,” she said.

Instead, officials said the team, which now plays in Washington’s Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium, will pay for 25 percent of the estimated $180 million to $195 million in construction costs while the remainder will be funded by state bonds. Those bonds will be paid back from the tax revenue the 24,000-seat stadium is expected to generate.

MacFarlane said officials expect the stadium to be open for the 2012 season at the latest, and possibly as early as midway through the 2011 season.

Griffith and Sen. C. Anthony Muse, chairman of the Prince George’s County Senate delegation, are sponsoring bills in the Maryland General Assembly that would authorize the Maryland Stadium Authority to sell bonds to pay for the stadium.

When asked about a plan “B” if the stadium did not generate the revenue it was expected to, MacFarlane admitted the state would “be on the hook” for the cost of the bonds. But he stressed that the county was following conservative economic impact estimates based on a study commissioned by the stadium authority, and noted the stadium would also host at least 40 events per year in addition to the 20 MLS games.

According to the study, incremental annual tax revenues from stadium operations would range from $1.8 million to $2.2 million for the county and $3.2 million and $3.9 million for the state.

“The only way this stadium doesn’t generate revenue is if there are no events,” MacFarlane said.

According to team statistics, D.C. United averages about 20,000 fans per game. While Prince George’s County residents do not make up the highest percentage of attendees (that honor belongs to Virginia’s Loudon County), United President Kevin Payne said a “significant” part of the team’s fan base comes from here.

Team and county officials will be looking at sites during the next 30 days and said at Monday’s news conference they hope to have a decision on a stadium location soon after. While they would not talk about specific potential sites, they did say they were looking for a 12-acre space that would be conducive to creating an entertainment destination and residential community around the stadium.

County Executive Jack B. Johnson noted they hoped to break ground on the stadium this year, the team is also relocating its headquarters and practice facility to the county and, when open, the LEED-certified stadium could create an estimated 2,400 jobs.

“And boy do we need them,” he added.

Monday’s announcement puts the team one step closer to finding a new home, a rocky process that has taken more than three years. Team officials originally selected Poplar Point, 110 acres of parkland across the Anacostia River from the Washington Nationals’ new ballpark, but in summer 2007 local officials backed out of a plan to include a stadium at the site.

United then said it would move from Washington, followed by District Mayor Adrian M. Fenty saying last February he would support a stadium if the team helped the city pay for it. Then talks fizzled as the credit crisis provided another hurdle for the city.

MacFarlane said Monday the team had “no ill will” toward Washington.

“We tried a business deal, it didn’t work,” he said. “We’re very happy it’s working here and we’re excited about being here.”

[hpal3]

That would be great for the Landover area of PG Co. Too bad for DC.

[Exrexnotex]

Waterfront stadium at National Harbor ! I'm anxious to see renders.

[hpal3]

Originally Posted by Exrexnotex

Waterfront stadium at National Harbor ! I'm anxious to see renders.

The waterfront location was the original proposed site which fell through. The stadium, rest assured, will go up in the Largo-Landover area.

[Exrexnotex]

Then, build an arena ( Washington Wizards - no more ! ha ! ) and a horse racetrack in Landover and PG will have their own version of the Meadowland Sports Complex . Ok, seriously, I'm guessing they'll break ground pretty soon if they plan to deliver it in 2012.

[hpal3]

Originally Posted by Exrexnotex

Then, build an arena ( Washington Wizards - no more ! ha ! ) and a horse racetrack in Landover and PG will have their own version of the Meadowland Sports Complex . Ok, seriously, I'm guessing they'll break ground pretty soon if they plan to deliver it in 2012.

I would think construction will start very soon after it is made official. The time it will take to build will be half that of M&T Stadium or FedEx Field.

[rockin'.baltimorean]

why not just change the name? "maryland united" or "maryland FC"

[hpal3]

Originally Posted by rockin'.baltimorean

why not just change the name? "maryland united" or "maryland FC"

FC???

[Exrexnotex]

Football Club.

[jeremai]

Sounds logical to me!

[Infoman]

"While Prince George’s County residents do not make up the highest percentage of attendees (that honor belongs to Virginia’s Loudon County)"

I'm all for MD getting new stadiums and arenas but that's kind of messed up that V.A. didn't get the team, because it say's that Loundon County has the highest percentage of attendees for the team,
so why didn't they move there?

http://www.mlsnet.com/gen/photogalle.../cf102333.html

Look at this link, I'm so confused!!!(I know it's old but still they had the stadium planned for D.C.)

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn...021702025.html
The rendering's will be out by Spring!!!

Eventually D.C. will only have a baseball team, if Maryland State Authority keep's throwing better packages than D.C.

You know how D.C. is (very greedy for new venues constantly)!!! I'm guessing by 2017 the Verizon Center will be old and the wizards will want to move to Maryland!!! (The old Washington Convention Center was only 20 yrs old, and they demolished it and built a new one)!!! P.G. County is trying it's best to rival D.C. in everything from stadium's to convention centers!!!

[hpal3]

Originally Posted by Infoman

"While Prince George’s County residents do not make up the highest percentage of attendees (that honor belongs to Virginia’s Loudon County)"

I'm all for MD getting new stadiums and arenas but that's kind of messed up that V.A. didn't get the team, because it say's that Loundon County has the highest percentage of attendees for the team,
so why didn't they move there?

http://www.mlsnet.com/gen/photogalle.../cf102333.html

Look at this link, I'm so confused!!!(I know it's old but still they had the stadium planned for D.C.)

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn...021702025.html
The rendering's will be out by Spring!!!

Eventually D.C. will only have a baseball team, if Maryland State Authority keep's throwing better packages than D.C.

You know how D.C. is (very greedy for new venues constantly)!!! I'm guessing by 2017 the Verizon Center will be old and the wizards will want to move to Maryland!!! (The old Washington Convention Center was only 20 yrs old, and they demolished it and built a new one)!!! P.G. County is trying it's best to rival D.C. in everything from stadium's to convention centers!!!

Tax incentives maybe???

[Infoman]

Well D.C. better step it's game up!!!

[Exrexnotex]

Originally Posted by hpal3

Tax incentives maybe???

Most likely