| 1. What is the status of the project?
2. Will the project be green?
3. How much retail space will be provided?
4. How much and what kind of housing will the project provide?
5. Why is this level of density needed?
6. What else is planned?
7. What will the height of the buildings be?
8. How much open space will there be?
9. How many school children will live here?
10. How is the community addressing the transportation needs?
11. How will the project affect traffic in adjacent neighborhoods?
12. What are the economic benefits of the project?
1. What is the status of the project?
The development team is working to submit a zoning map amendment which will change the zoning of the 38-acre ± property from R-55 (single family, detached) to MXT to accommodate a transit-oriented, mixed-use community. The proposed development with this zone is consistent with approved County Master, Sector and Area Plans and with smart growth policies.
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2. Will the project be green?
The village will be one of the most environmentally friendly communities with over 30 percent open space, access to Metrorail, MARC, the future Purple Line, hiker/biker paths and state-of-the-art green building technologies. The mixed-use, transit-oriented development program is intrinsically sustainable and qualifies the project for LEED ND (Neighborhood Development) certification to which the team has committed. This standard, now available as a pilot, shows the project to be LEED certifiable at a high level.
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3. How much retail space will be provided?
Including 50,000 square feet for a specialty grocer (Whole Foods has expressed interest in bringing a store to this site), the village will have 170,000 additional complimentary retail space. The remainder will include neighborhood serving retail and restaurants to provide the level and sophistication of shopping and dining the community desires.
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4. How much and what kind of housing will the project provide?
The current plan includes a total of 983 residential units as follows:
224 seniors' housing units,
626 condominiums (maximum 2 bedrooms),
84 two over two condominiums,
19 townhouses, and
30 apartments for visiting scholars.
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5. Why is this level of density needed?
For an upscale grocer and fine restaurants to commit to this community, the village center must have this number of homes to provide enough residents to make the economics work. In addition, this mix of retail, housing and office is needed to create a true mixed-use, transit-oriented community.
The housing that is planned is intended to complement the existing housing in the surrounding neighborhoods, not simply add more of the same. The seniors housing will provide a choice for residents who wish to stay in the neighborhood. The family housing provides types and convenience not now available in the surrounding communities.
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6. What else is planned?
The centerpiece of the village will be a vibrant public square for community gatherings and events with a 5-acre park with recreational amenities. The centrally-located village square will be a community gathering place for concerts, festivals and other community events. Another important element is the commitment to provide 40,000 square feet for public/civic use. In addition, a 36,000 square foot office building and a 120 room boutique hotel is planned.
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7. What will the height of the buildings be?
The majority of the buildings on the property are proposed to be four to five stories in height. Where the property is lower toward the rear of the site, the two buildings facing the Village Green are proposed to be seven stories in height.
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8. How much open space will there be?
30% of the site (or more than 11 acres) will be left as open space including the 2.5-acre Grove along US Route 1 and the 5-acre Cattail Park located at the terminus of the village square.
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9. How many school children will live here?
According to County planning criteria, the project is estimated to bring 39 elementary students, 36 middle school students and 29 high school students for a total of 104 students. The seniors and scholars housing will not have any school-age children. It is projected that Riverdale Elementary will be the assigned elementary school. Mandatory school impact fees of approximately $6 million will be paid to the County at the time of building permit for the residential units.
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10. How is the community addressing the transportation needs?
The project will mitigate its transportation impact in its entirety by funding and constructing a variety of transportation improvements valued at $2 million. In addition, the mixed-use, transit-oriented community will be within walking distance of Metrorail, MARC and the future Purple Line.
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11. How will the project affect traffic in adjacent neighborhoods?
From the beginning, the project has shown no vehicle connections to the Calvert Hills neighborhood in College Park. The US Route 1 entrance to the site has been designed so as not to align with Van Buren Street in University Park. Several other measures which have been offered include a median to reduce turns from northbound Baltimore Avenue onto Van Buren Street, traffic calming within University Park and $2 million in improvements to Baltimore Avenue to reduce the need for shortcuts.
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12. What are the economic benefits of the project?
The team calculates that the project will generate 3,500 jobs during construction. After the community is completed the team estimates $35 million in wages will be created. This in turn will produce $15 million annually in tax revenue including $6 million in real estate tax revenue. Mandatory school fees will produce $6,000,000 for the County. Road improvements currently valued at $2,000,000 will be provided as well.
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