Project Ajacent M-Square Could Create Grad Housing
January 9th, 2007 | by Rob Goodspeed | Published in Golub Property, M Square Research Park
A 460-unit project (including 30 town homes) is currently proposed for Riverdale Park right adjacent to the City of College Park. The project would take the place of the former National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) building between Lafayette Avenue and Tuckerman Street known as the “Golub Property”. The Gazette reported on the project in November and few additional details have emerged since then. UMD originally sold the 13.5 acres to the developer – apparently with the stipulation that the university retain 50 of the units to recruit and house grad students.
Although roughly half a mile from the College Park Metro Station the project is tucked in a rather odd spot and as it’s currently being considered will contain 800 parking spaces. We urge local and county leaders to ease parking requirements for projects such as this in order to encourage residents to find alternatives to driving. Furthermore, we believe the project underscores the necessity of developing M-Square with a strong pedestrian character. As M-Square is currently planned we doubt many residents of the new project would enjoy walking along River Road to the Metro. Furthermore, it seems logical to connect the project to the nearby terminus of the College Park Trolley Trail at Albion Road so the residents can easily walk to campus and downtown College Park. This would probably entail an at-grade crossing of the MARC track.
>>Detailed “zoomable” map of the area.
