On Friday July 23, 2010, the University of Maryland announced it had begun exclusive negotiations with The Cordish Company to develop the East Campus site.   The negotiations are expected to lead to a formal partnership with the Cordish Company becoming the project’s master developer.

Read more about this story at: http://www.newsdesk.umd.edu/uniini/release.cfm?ArticleID=2204.

For more information about the Baltimore- based Cordish Company, use the following link: http://www.cordish.com.

UMD issued a new phased East Campus Request for Proposal (RFP) Wednesday and will select a developer for Phase I of the project by the end of July. With $5 million in hand to begin relocating their facilities on East Campus to the former Washington Post plant, UMD appears to be forging ahead with a realistic phased implementation plan that takes into account difficult economic conditions. The proposed full build-out of the site plan remains substantially the same (aerial rendering) as the one developed over the course of the past couple years…. although it is subject to further changes to be worked out between the selected developer, UMD, the City and County.

—> See our “10 East Campus Talking Points” to read what RTCP thinks should be incorporated into the project.

GUEST POST by Rachel Hare UMD for Clean Energy

Since developer Foulger-Pratt pulled out of plans for the University of Maryland’s East Campus Development project last fall, the entire endeavor has been thrown into uncertainty.  The university has reconsidered the project’s design, the timeline, and even toyed with the idea of postponing or abandoning the plan.  But among the growing uncertainty, there is something else: an opportunity.

The East Campus project presents an opportunity for the University of Maryland to become the benchmark for sustainable development in Maryland.

On April 5, UMD for Clean Energy will host Green for College Park II: Making East Campus a Beast Campus, a panel discussion exploring green initiatives to make the East Campus project a pioneer in environmentally sound development.  The panel will consider innovative solutions including green building, storm water management, smart growth, and transit-oriented development.

The event will bring together sustainability specialists Tom Liebel, an architect and one of the first 25 U.S. professionals to receive LEED accreditation, an internationally recognized green building certification; Ralph Bennett, Director of Purple Line Now, an organization that advocates for the Purple Line on behalf of the community, businesses and the environment; and James Foster, president of the Anacostia Watershed Society, an environmental group that works to protect the Anacostia River.
The university has recently committed to ambitious environmental standards, including the Climate Action Plan for a 50 percent reduction in emissions by 2020 and complete carbon neutrality by 2050.   By adopting initiatives such as the Climate Action Plan, the university has placed itself at the forefront of energy conservation and green development.

The East Campus Redevelopment project presents another opportunity for the University of Maryland to take a stand on the climate issue and make a statement to institutions across the nation.  The university should set strict and firm goals for this new undertaking; goals that take into account sustainable building practices, the surrounding environment, and smart growth, and advance the university’s position on the front lines of climate action.
The East Campus Project could set a new standard for environmentally sound development and urban planning.
The red and white has a chance to make a big green statement.

Washington Post Plant

The University announced today that they plan to purchase the abandoned Washington Post site for $12 Million with the intention to use the site to house facilities currently on the East Campus site.  This is a clear victory for those who were opposed to using the Wooded Hillock site  for relocation as was previously recommended.

The Washington Post site is 18.5 acres with 315,000 square feet of space available. A good portion of the indoor space is 2 1/2 stories tall and could be converted to seperate floors if needed.

Is this a good plan? Brilliant move? Waste of money? What are your thoughts? The Campus press release is after the break.

Also see  Post to Abandon College Park Printing Plant

From UM NEWDESK

College Park, MD — The University of Maryland College Park recently reached agreement on terms expected to lead to a purchase of the Washington Post’s production plant, located in College Park, MD. The plant, with approximately 300,000 square feet on 18.5 acres, will provide the flexibility Maryland needs to create a multi-phased relocation of services currently housed on the East Campus site. The purchase, estimated at $12 million, must still be approved by the state’s Board of Public Works, which will consider the issue at its February 10, 2010 meeting.

The acquisition also helps the University address a significant recommendation from the students and the University Senate to explore off-campus relocation options to the proposed use of the on-campus Wooded Hillock area.

“We were very excited when the Washington Post made this critical space available,” said Ann G. Wylie, vice president for administrative affairs. “This facility provides the space we need to strategically and cost-effectively phase in our East Campus relocation projects, minimize environmental impacts to campus woodlands, and limit disruption to our critical campus services.”

Wylie notes that “flexibility” is the key word associated with purchasing the property. According to her, owning the Post’s College Park plant will allow the University to package relocation projects in cycles by renovating selected production plant spaces, then moving University services, allowing development of specific sites within East Campus to proceed. Such a plan permits the University to secure developer interest and identify partners for smaller parcels within the larger East Campus site while continuing to move the entire project forward.

Despite a tough economy, the opportunity to purchase the plant and begin to clear the East Campus of existing service operations is key to implementing the initiative for a new urban center. “Purchasing the facility is a long-term investment in one of our top goals of the Strategic Plan,” said Wylie. “We know that offering a world-class educational experience is not enough to attract the best students and faculty. To be truly competitive with the best universities around the nation, we have to also provide world-class facilities and resources. It’s critical that we continue to offer top students in the state and across the nation the best residential, retail and entertainment resources if we are to be a world-class university. Partnering with the community, the county and the private sector will help make that happen.”

“The East Campus Redevelopment initiative remains at the forefront of our efforts to build a world-class research institution for the residents of Maryland,” said Wylie. “We are confident that a multi-phased development approach that recognizes and responds to current fiscal conditions will lead to a timely and successful development of this vitally important project. When complete, the development will bring a new urban character to College Park by creating a vibrant district of retail, residential, office, hotel and entertainment uses that also will serve to stimulate downtown revitalization.”

The Diamondback published a editorial yesterday urging the University to show leadership in the now flailing East Campus project.

Although East Campus may take much longer than expected to complete, the administration must put forth a realistic and straightforward plan now to ensure the project remains feasible.

If East Campus is going to come to fruition any time soon, university officials need to get out ahead of these problems. The vagueness of their statements and what appears to be a lack of direction will not convince many lawmakers.

I could not agree more. What started out as a very promising project has been on a disturbing downward spiral. Mrs. Wylie and other campus officials should take a hard look at this project and decide if East Campus is a priority for the campus and City or not. What is needed is a clear plan for moving forward. Right now what we have is a 38 acre question mark.