Rethink College Park

This project has been flying in under the radar for sometime. It involves a land deal between UMD and a private developer to create “intergeneration” non-student housing. It is planned for a wooded lot just behind UMD’s business school on Mowatt Lane. As far as we know the original plans for the interior still stand (click the project category to learn more).

A June 4th comment:

“The City’s parking garage will have its groundbreaking on June 19th. The Mosaic at Turtle Creek condos should be filing its detailed site plan this summer. The Garden Suites Hotel has filed for its building permits. JPI East apartments, townhouses and retail, has applied for its building permits, Mazza GrandMarc Graduate Apartments hopes to begin construction late this year, Northgate condos (owned by Monument Realty) has had some success in appealing an FAA decision that limited its height from the approved 18 stories to only 12 stories. The FAA now says that 15 stories can be built at the site. It may become student housing. Starview student housing is proceeding with a LEED Silver student housing project. Mark Vogel has been able to put Merchant’s Tire under contract to go with other adjoining properties he purchased earlier, to build student housing. Finally, East Campus is working hard to file its preliminary detailed site plan in early July with Park and Planning. Work is proceeding with the County/City on a $180 million bond issue to be financed with a TIF. Other projects are in the early discussion stage, too.”

–> Check the city’s ever-more organized, extensive and detailed Economic Development Update (May) for more.

The Mosaic at Turtle Creek project is a 300-unit luxury condominium project proposed for an undeveloped lot located roughly behind the Hillel building on Mowatt Lane, near the Business School. The city voted last week to approve the re-zoning required for the lot, and if the Prince George’s County Planning Board (PGCPB) approves the re-zoning the developer will return to both bodies for final project approval. Although relatively early in the approval process, a variety of documents are available about plans for this site.

We just uploaded two documents related to the project submitted to the PGCPB in PDF format. The first is a letter from University Vice President for Administrative Affairs John Porcari (PDF) officially endorsing the project as consistent with the university’s facilities master plan. The second is from the developer Thomas Farasy (PDF) explaining the concept for “intergenerational housing” at the site. He notes the building will provide an opportunity to own a residence near the university for “alumni of all ages,” and “For faculty, current and retired, it provides a price alternative to live near the University in new housing for under $1,000,000.” He adds that “this is not an age-restricted community.” He describes the amenities offered as including a “sauna, a resistance pool, wine cellar, and virtual concierge services.”

Two additional items are linked from the PGCPB agenda, the staff reccomendation for the re-zoning and a PDF of the submitted images. Click any of the illustrations here for a larger view. What do you think of the project?

The Diamondback reported today about a proposal to construct a 300-unit condominium building adjacent to campus near Hillel and the Business school. The project, which the developer calls “Mosaic at Turtle Creek,” will be marketed towards University faculty and staff and contain no units reserved for graduate students or other workforce housing. Technically, the developer has requested the site be re-zoned to allow for the 6-story development, and the City Council will vote on the issue next Wednesday before it moves to the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission and the Prince George’s County Council for final approval.

The project design includes residential space “wrapped” around a parking garage. While we support wrapped parking if it is absolutely required, we urge the city to re-consider parking requirements for new buildings. By eliminating or reducing parking requirements the city can simultaneously alleviate traffic problems, boost ridership of public transportation, and help develop vibrant local streets. In Ann Arbor, Michigan the city has negotiated special deals in recent years where developers instead contribute towards spaces in municipal garages, which can be utilized more efficiently than private lots. In Ithica, New York, parking requirements were even eliminated for the Collegetown neighborhood for a period in the 1980s.

What does the University’s Master Plan say about the area? The “Southwest District” plan shows the site wedged between a planned campus road and other outlying properties.