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DEVELOPMENT PRINCE GEORGE’S COUNTY

A local business perspective

MAY 2010

A SUPPLEMENT TO

Introduction

PRINCE GEORGE’S COUNTY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION

TABLE OF CONTENTSMAJOR DEVELOPMENTSWhat’s new and upcoming in Prince George’s County.

PAGE 2

PERMIT PROCESSA flow chart from the Department of Environmental Resources.

PAGE 8

ON THE MOVETransit-oriented development poised to get under way.

PAGE 10

GOING GREENA look at green technology projects and training resources.

PAGE 14

Kwasi Holman ........................................................................................................................................................President and CEO

Charlotte Ducksworth ....................................................................................................................Director, Small Business Initiative

Patricia Thornton................................................................................................................................................Director of Marketing

Monica Biscoe ................................................................................................................................................Public Affairs Specialist

The Prince George’s County EconomicDevelopment Corporation (EDC) isresponsible for the retention, expansionand attraction of businesses to the coun-ty and has been adminis-tering this mission forapproximately 26 years.The primary objectives ofEDC are to promote eco-nomic development,expand business opportu-nities and ensure that localfirms are provided oppor-tunities for growth in abusiness-friendly environ-ment. Satisfaction of theseobjectives has allowed us to consistentlyattract new and retain established busi-nesses in the county.

The reduction of revenue generatedfrom the housing market has madedevelopment a critical component to oureconomy. In fact, the related industriesassociated with development havebecome of paramount importance. Over

the last three years, the construction,hospitality and tourism sectors haveexpanded in Prince George’s County.During the next four to seven years,

more than $8 billion indevelopment projects willbe completed. The countyhas placed a strongemphasis on developinglocal and minority con-struction firms to partici-pate in this economicgrowth. To that end, EDChas partnered with TheDaily Record to publishthis guide to offer vital

information that enables local compa-nies to be informed of upcoming oppor-tunities and guidelines for new pro-grams.

This publication highlights major devel-opment projects slated over the nextseven years and provides the current sta-tus of those projects. Each listingincludes size, scope and expected deliv-

ery dates, which will enable local busi-nesses to obtain an understanding ofupcoming opportunities. TheDepartment of EnvironmentalResources’ (DER) new step-by-step flow chart of the county's permitting,licensing and development process isprovided. Other features include new“green” initiatives, financing, bonding,zoning modifications and regulationsassociated with transit-oriented develop-ment (TOD).

We invite you to use this guide as aresource to understand the primaryfacets of development: what develop-ers would like to know, how local andsmall businesses can participate ingrowth, and what the necessary stepsare to enter the Prince George’s Countymarket.

Kwasi HolmanPresident & CEO

Prince George’s County Economic Development Corporation

PRINCE GEORGE’S COUNTY DEVELOPMENT 1

COVER ART OF KONTERRA TOWN CENTER EAST COURTESY OF FOREST CITY WASHINGTON

2 PRINCE GEORGE’S COUNTY DEVELOPMENT

PRINCE GEORGE’S COUNTY DEVELOPMENTSPROJECT LOCATIONS MAJOR ROADS/PUBLIC

TRANSPORTATION SPACE ANCHOR DELIVERY ZONING

Amber Ridge

Northwest Crain Highway

Bowie, Md.

Rte 301/Crain Highway, between

Mitchellville Road and Pointer Ridge Drive

Rte 1

Up to 200,000 sf Grocery store Estimated 2012

Commercial Shopping

Center

Grocery store-anchored shopping center. A project of Rappaport Companies.

Arts District Hyattsville

Route 1 (Rhode Island Avenue)

I-95/495Largo Metro/Blue Line

Residential and commercial,

including 36,000 sf retail

town center

Yes! Organic Market

Multi-phase project, of which part is currently open. Retail

town center is scheduled for completion in

2010

Mixed Use

Developers: EYA and Streetsense. Residential consists of townhouses, multi-family and live-work homes and amenities like com-munity center. Designated as a Maryland “Smart Site” for green technology investment and revitalization.

Boulevard At The Capital

Centre

Arena Drive and I-95S/495

Largo, Md.

482,236 sf retail, office

M&T Bank, Men’s Wearhouse, Pier 1

ImportsOpened 2003 Commercial

Lifestyle center with national retailers, restaurants and theater. Includes Community Resource Center. Adjacent to commuter train station and new residential development. A project of Inland US Management.

Bowie Market Place

Annapolis Road and

Superior LaneBowie, Md.

Md Rte 5020 acres

190,000 sf retailSafeway Projected

opening 2012 Mixed Use

Lifestyle retail center anchored by Safeway grocery store.

Brandywine Crossing

Chadds Ford Road and

Matapeake Drive

Brandywine, Md.

US Rte 301/Md Rte 5About 100 acres

730,000 sf

Costco, Target, Marshall’s, Jo-

Ann’s

Opened fall 2008 Commercial

All-retail development being built in 2 phases. Phase 1 consists of 55 acres and 475,000 sf. Phase 1 is completed and nearly all leased. Phase 2 will consist of 35 acres and 250,000 sf. Currently seeking Prince George’s County financial aid and preparing site plan. Construction expected to begin 1st quarter of 2011.

ILLUSTRATION OF BOWIE MARKET PLACE COURTESY OF JBG ROSENFELD RETAIL




Centre At Laurel

13600 Baltimore Avenue

Laurel, Md

Intersection of Baltimore Avenue and

Contee Road158,029 sf retail

Shoppers Food Warehouse,

PetSmartOpened 2005 Commercial

Mix of retail, restaurants and services, including Laurel Police Department site. Project of Inland U.S. Management.

Greenbelt Station

Greenbelt Metro Station and

Capital BeltwayGreenbelt and College Park,

Md.

I-495, Green Line and MARC Station 243 acres Hotel Mixed Use

The 243-acre site is partially in the City of Greenbelt and in the City of College Park. It has been approved by the Prince George’s County Planning Board for the conceptual site plan for Greenbelt Station. Prince George’s County Council has approved a $160 mil-lion tax increment-financing package for the Greenbelt Metro development. Greenbelt Station is a $1 billion, mixed use development that includes 2,250 residences, 1.2 million sf of retail and entertainment center, 1.2 million sf of general office space and a 300-room hotel (or different, qualified use). Greenbelt Station is currently in litigation.

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Hall Station

Central Avenue/Rte 214

Bowie, Md.

Central Avenue and Hall Road

40,000 sf library, 26,000 sf credit union, up to 15,000 sf

additional retail, 110 residential

units

Prince George’s County Library, Prince George’s County Federal Credit Union

Fall 2010Local

Activity Center

Mixed-use center. A Rappaport Companies project.

Karington

Rte 214 (Central Ave)Bowie, Md.

Rte 214/US Rte 301

382 acresApproximately

500,000 sf office and 500,000 sf

retail

Prince George’s Community College

Not yet under construction

Upscale Mixed Use

Neo-traditional upscale community being developed by NAI Michael Companies. One of region’s largest mixed-use developments. Concept plan shows 25-acre lake surrounded by single-family homes, condominiums and rental units. Amenities include two hotels and conference center. Karington will increase the assessable tax base in Prince George’s County by approximately $900 million.

Konterra Town Center East

I-95 and Van Dusen Road,

Intercounty Con-nector (Md Rte 200), Virginia

Manor Road and Kenilworth Av-enue Extended

Laurel, Md.

Md Rtes 198, 200, 212 and I-95

3.8 million sf office

1.5 million sf retail

4,500 housing units

600 hotel rooms

Restaurant and Entertainment

Projected opening 2014

Transporta-tion-oriented Mixed Use

Konterra Town Center is a $1.75 million, 2,200-acre development. The property fronts onto I-95, south of Md Rte 198 and north of the under-construction Intercounty Connector (ICC). Konterra Town Center East is a joint development of Forest City Washington and Gould Property Company, and is being built in stages. The project will have retail, research and technology campuses, an area for uses such as governmental, educational and corporate facilities, hotels and residential. The first stage consists of 488 acres, adjacent to and east of I-95 near the Intercounty Connector currently under construction. Part of the construction is an interchange at I-95 just south of Konterra Town Center East. Construction will begin as planned infrastructure is developed. In addition to other local improvements, the Intercounty Connector runs east to west from I-270 to US Rte 1 and passes the Konterra Town Center East site along the way.

Laurel Commons

14828 Baltimore Avenue

Laurel, Md.US Rte 1/I-495, MARC 664,589 sf Burlington Coat

Factory, Macy’s

Redevelopment pending; no opening date

as yet

Mixed UseRedevelop-

ment

Formerly known as Laurel Mall. Located midway between Washington, D.C., and Baltimore.

Largo Town Center

8900 Lottsford Road

Upper Marlboro, Md.

Metro: Largo Town Cen-ter, Blue Line

175 acres1.3 million sf of-fice with remain-der restaurant and

retail

Shoppers Food Warehouse,

Restaurant & Retail

Open summer 2012 Mixed Use

Mixed-use development that anchors restaurants and retail stores. ILLUSTRATION OF BOWIE MARKET PLACE COURTESY OF JBG ROSENFELD RETAIL




M Square: University Maryland

Research Park

5825 University Research Court

College Park, Md.

Metro: College Park/U of M Station

128 acres1 million sf

National Oceanic and Atmosphere Admin-istration Center for

Weather and Climate Production (taking 300,000 sf), Food

and Drug Administra-tion Center for Food

Safety, American Center for Physics (a nonprofit) and Uni-versity of Maryland Center for Advanced Study of Language

Completion date 2020 Office Space

Expected to be the largest research park in the state of Maryland and one of the largest in the country. $500 million projected cost to build. The 128-acre site is located within a 293-acre Transit District of the University of Maryland College Park Metro Station. Over 1 million sf has either been already developed or is under construction. The research park is expected to produce as many as 6,500 new jobs.

Maryland Science & Tech Center

Intersection US Rte 50 and Md

Rte 3/301Bowie, Md.

I-495/I-95

400 acres totalPhase 1, 200

acres, for:700,000 sf gen-

eral office300,000 sf multi-

plex office45,000 sf retail

Bowie Town Center Scheduled opening 2012 Mixed Use

Being built in phases. Phase 1 scheduled to open 2012. Phase 2, the remaining 200 acres, scheduled to start construction in 2011.

Metropolitan Office Center

3575 East-West Highway

Hyattsville, Md.

Md Rte 410 and Prince George’s Plaza Metro

Station

22.2 acres350,000 sf resi-

dential165,000 sf retail

Bally Total Fitness, Staples 2008 and 2009 Mixed Use

Currently in third phase of a three-phase development. The 22.2 acres encompasses all three phases, including the Metro Station itself. Phase 1 and 2 were the retail and residential, respectively. The retail, called Metropolitan Shops at Prince George’s Plaza, opened in 2008. The residential, called Mosaic at Metro, opened in 2009 and is owned by Equity Residential. Phase 3 is now in the process of converting approvals for an office building to student housing. Equity Residential owns the student housing, which would consist of one, 900-bed building. Construction on the student housing is expected to begin in 2011 and to be completed in 2013.

National Harbor

National Harbor Boulevard

National Harbor, Md.

I-495/I-295

450 acres1.4 million sf of-fice/retail in 5 to

10 buildings

Gaylord NationalResort & Convention Center, Restaurant &

Retail

2008 Mixed Use

$2.1 billion waterfront community built along the Potomac River. Retail, condominiums, hotel, restaurant, and Gaylord National Resort and Convention Center.





One Town Center at Camp Spring

Capital Gateway Drive and Auth

WaySuitland, Md.

Branch Avenue Metro Station, Green Line, I-495/I-295, Suitland

Parkway

106.4 acres1.2 million sf

officeRestaurant & Retail 2011 Mixed Use

Office space will consist of three office buildings to be built to LEED Silver or Gold standard. One Town Center is located within one of metropolitan Washington, D.C.’s major intermodal transportation centers and within walking distance of new retail and park amenities.

Osborne Shopping Center

Rte 301 at Osborne Road

Upper Marlboro, Md.

Rte 301 126,873 sf Safeway grocery store Estimated 2012Commercial

Shopping Center

A Rappaport Companies project.

The Brick Yard & Brick Yard Station

The Brick Yard13000 block Mid-Atlantic

BoulevardLaurel, Md.

Brick Yard StationMuirkirk Road and Cedarhurst

DriveBeltsville, Md.

US Rte 1 between Muirkirk and Contee

Roads; I-95 and Baltimore-Washington

Parkway; Muirkirk MARC Station,

MetroBus, CTC Bus

The Brick Yard60 acres

700,000 sf office in 11 buildings in

Business Park

Brick Yard Station63 acres

860 apartments, 354 townhouses, 51 single-family

homes20,000 sf retail

The Brick Yard: Floormax, Freestate Electric, American

Mechanical Services, Limbach & Party

Rental

The Brick Yard: 2009 and ongoing

Brick Yard Station:

Construction not yet started

The Brick Yard: I-1 zoning

Brick Yard Station: MARC Planned

Community

The Brick Yard/Brick Yard Station is a sustainable development consisting of a 63-acre residential and retail transit-oriented commu-nity and a 60-acre business park for light industrial, office, flex and warehouse space. The land is the former site of the Washington Brick Company manufacturing and mine complex. Significant dinosaur fossil discoveries have been made on a portion of the land, and that portion has been dedicated as the Jackson-Shaw Dinosaur Park and donated to the Maryland National Park and Planning Commission for management of research activity.

The Sanctuary At Kingdom Square

9171 Central Avenue

Capital Heights, Md.

Rte 214 (Central Avenue)

and I-95/495

25 acres700 multi-family apartments and condominiums,

200,000 sf retail, 35,000 sf office,

1,700-space parking

Staples, Bally Total Fitness

Breaking ground in 2011 Mixed Use

Baptist community under the leadership of Pastor Anthony G. Maclin. Site was formerly Hampton Mall complex. Glendale Baptist Church was renamed The Sanctuary at Kingdom Square. Among the first churches in the Washington, D.C., area to own a commer-cial complex as well as a worship center.





UM, East Campus

Baltimore Avenue and Paint Branch

ParkwayCollege Park, Md.

US Rte 1, I-95and I-495 38 acres Mixed Use Town Center

The University of Maryland is developing the 38-acre parcel in stages. Key aspects include relocation of the university’s existing administration facilities to the site, followed by construction of over 2 million sf of graduate housing, market-rate housing, office space and retail amenities.

UMUC Largo Academic Center

1616 McCormick Drive

Largo, Md.

Rte 202 and Capital Beltway; Largo METRO

Station

19 acres236,000 sf office 2009

Certified LEED Gold. Renovation of former Hechinger office building, for use as UMUC academic offices and additional classrooms.

University Town Center

East-West High-way and Belcrest

RoadHyattsville, Md.

East-West Highway, Prince George’s Plaza

Metro Station

56 acres1.4 million sf

office125,000 sf retail

Opened in phases: 2006, 2007, 2008

Transit-oriented

Mixed Use

University Town Center is a $135 million, mixed-use project that included renovating four existing office buildings, the construction of a plaza, and retail and residential. For the residential, a 910-bed student housing building opened in 2006, and 135 condominiums in two buildings opened in 2007. The retail portion also opened in 2007.

Vista Gardens Marketplace

Martin Luther King Jr. Boule-vard, Lottsford Vista Road and Annapolis Road

Bowie, Md.

Rte 450 400,000 sf office/retail

Target, Shoppers Warehouse, Home

Depot, Office Depot2010 Shopping

Center

Convenient access to the Capital Beltway via Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard.

Woodmore Towne Centre at

Glenarden

Rte 202 and St. Joseph Drive

Glenarden, Md.Rte 202/I-495

245 acres1 million sf office800,000 sf retail

Wegmans, Costco, Petco Fall 2010 Mixed Use

Fronting on the Capital Beltway, Woodmore Towne Centre will have retail, residential, office space and two hotels. The residential portion will consist of over 900 single-family homes, condominiums and townhouses. There will also be a conference center. Upon completion of build-out of all commercial, the project will comprise a $450 million investment. Woodmore Towne Centre features the first Wegmans grocery story in Prince George’s County.

Compiled by Barbara Pash, Special to The Daily RecordILLUSTRATION OF BOWIE MARKET PLACE COURTESY OF JBG ROSENFELD RETAIL


Department of Environmental ResourcesPermits and Review Group

APPLICATION AND PERMIT ISSUANCE PROCESS

APPLICANT COMPLETES

APPLICATION FORM

PRELIMINARY PLANSCREENING

PRE-REVIEW APPROVAL

ARE PLANSCOMPLETE FOR

REVIEW?

PLANS AREREJECTED

PLANS AREREVISED

COMPUTER RECORDPREPARED AND

VERIFICATION OFOWNERSHIP BY

TAX ACCOUNT NUMBER

PLANS AREREVISED

IS THIS AWALK-THRU

REVIEW?

APPLICANT CARRIESPLANS TO

REVIEWING AGENCIES

ARE ALLAPPROVALSOBTAINED?

VERIFYCONTRACTOR’S

LICENSE

FILING FEE PAIDBY APPLICANT

APPLICATION ANDPLANS DISTRIBUTED

TO REVIEWINGAGENCIES

IS THEREWATER AND

SEWER?

PLAN REVIEW AND

COMPUTER RECORDPREPARED

DEPARTMENT OFENVIRONMENTAL

RESOURCES (DER)ENGINEERING

DEPART OFPUBLIC WORKS

AND TRANSPORTATION(DPW&T)

MARYLAND NATIONALCAPITAL PARK AND

PLANNING COMMISSION(M-NCP&PC)

HEALTH DEPARTMENTPLANS PROVIDED

BY APPLICANT

APPROVED PINK SLIPFROM WSSC

PROVIDED BYAPPLICANT

YES

YES

NO

YES

NO

NO

YES

NO


ND APPROVAL PROCESS

PLANS AREREVISED

RESIDENTIAL PROCESS:• ARCHITECTURAL• STRUCTURAL

COMMERCIAL PROCESS:• STRUCTURAL/BUILDING• MECHANICAL• ELECTRICAL• FIRE/LIFE SAFETY

PLANS REVIEW

PROCESS

APPLICATIONPLACED ON HOLD

PLANS REVIEWEDAND FEES

DETERMINED

DETERMINE IF T.P.IP.

IS REQUIRED

THIRD PARTYINSPECTION PROGRAM

(T.P.I.P.) PACKAGESENT TO APPLICANT

APPROVAL SENTTO PERMITS OFFICE

ARE PLANSAPPROVED?

THIRD PARTYINSPECTION PROGRAM

(T.P.I.P.)APPROVAL PROCESS

APPLICANT SUBMITSTHIRD PARTY

INSPECTION PROGRAM(T.P.I.P.) PACKAGE

HEALTH DEPARTMENTAND/OR WSSC

M-NCP&PC ANDDPW&T

STRUCTURALBUILDING, FIREELECTRICAL &

MECHANICAL BY DER

TO INSPECTION

APPROVALS SENTTO PERMITS OFFICE

FEES ARE PAID

PERMIT ISISSUED

APPLICANT APPLIESFOR TRADE PERMITS

TRADE PERMITAPPROVAL PROCESS

TRADE PERMITSARE ISSUED

INSPECTIONS

YES

NO

NO

YES

Charles W. Wilson, Director | Sarah Bouldin-Carr, Deputy Director | George Nicol, Acting Associate Director


Prince George’s County is home to 15

Metrorail stations and a planned

extension of the Purple Line that will

likely bring even more transportation centers.

Each one of those stops represents an oppor-

tunity, observers say, to create walkable, user-

friendly communities that combine retail stores,

office space and houses and apartments while

reducing reliance on cars.

The aim is to create thriving communities around

Prince George’s Metrorail stations.

BY KAREN NITKIN

Special to The Daily Record

TRANSIT-ORIENTED DEVELOPMENT

PHOTOS.COM

Over the last few years, county offi-cials have worked to make that vision areality by emphasizing transit-orienteddevelopment. The idea is to provide moreflexible regulations around transit sta-tions in order to lure developers.

One such project is the WoodmoreTowne Centre, on 245 formerly woodedacres with 1,000 feet of Beltway frontagein Landover. The development, at theinterchange of Interstate 495 and Route202, will bring the first Wegmans super-market to Prince George’s County, andwill also be anchored by a Best Buy,Petco and Costco.

The project, believed to be the largestmixed-use project under development inthe Washington, D.C., area, will contain900 residential units, as well as one mil-lion square feet of Class A office spaceand two hotels.

“We feel as though the PrinceGeorge’s community is underserved intheir retail options,” said Rachel L. Ross,a leasing and marketing associate forPetrie Ross Ventures, the retail developeron the project. “We found that a lot of theresidents will leave the county to shopelsewhere. Looking at the demographics,we feel that a higher-end shopping areawill be supported.”

Also developing the site are

Greenberg Gibbons Commercial andHovnanian Land Investment Group.

Transit-oriented development is a keycomponent of a countywide master planfor transportation approved in late 2009.Many of the concepts build on a 2003 doc-ument called the Strategic Framework for

Transit-Oriented Development in PrinceGeorge’s County, says Harold Foster, atransportation planning coordinator forthe county.

“We’ve got to start thinking abouthow we review projects in and around


Developers bidding for proposalsto build at sites slated for transit-ori-ented development must meet finan-cial requirements established byPrince George’s County.

Each proposal must be accompa-nied by proposal security in theamount of $100,000 in the form of acashier’s check, certified check ormoney order, a proposal bond orbank letter of credit.

This money will be returned to allbidders except the one chosen. Theproposal security of the selecteddeveloper will be held until a groundlease or land disposition agreement isexecuted.

The proposal security is in addi-

tion to the nonrefundable option feeof $100,000 for the right to negotiatean exclusive rights agreement and aground lease or land dispositionagreement with the RedevelopmentAuthority of Prince George’s County.That must be paid when the winningbidder is named.

The developer must alsodescribe the intended method of con-struction financing and indicate if aconstruction loan is intended. Ifmoney is to be borrowed, a lettermust be submitted from the con-struction lender stating that the pro-posed construction lender hasreviewed the developer’s conceptand solicitation documents.

See transit 12

Bonding Requirements

An artist’s rendering of Woodmore Towne Centre in Landover, which is currently under construction.COURTESY OF PETRIE ROSS VENTURES


these Metrorail stations,” he says. Insteadof using a one-size-fits-all review of infra-structure, including roads, schools andparking, “we need to be a little morenuanced than that,” he says.

The 2009 plan notes that the D.C.metro area is among the most congestedregions in the nation, and that improvingmobility is a top priority. The plan wouldallow developers in transit areas tofocus less on roads and parking, andmore on issues such as making surethere are sidewalks, bus routes and bikepaths.

The plan recommends allowing“exceptions to countywide transportationadequacy tests in certain clearly defined,high-priority sets of transportation andland-use planning conditions.” Theseareas, known as transportation prioritygrowth districts, “should be evaluatedand implemented as a transportation andland-use integration tool, particularly forattracting and targeting” transit-orienteddevelopment.

Deana Rhodeside, director ofRhodeside & Harwell, is a consultant tothe county who is working on develop-ment concepts around transit-orientedprojects. She says Prince George’s Countyofficials have “been very forward-think-ing.”

“This defines areas where developers

Developing transit-oriented sitesin Prince George’s County requiresparticipation from local minoritybusiness enterprises, as well as fromlocal community organizations andother community stakeholders.

Bidders who vow to award atleast 35 percent of contracts to minor-ity-owned or local organizations willhave a better chance at approval, andhigher percentages are encouraged.

The Maryland Department ofBusiness and EconomicDevelopment’s website offers severalresources for finding out more aboutsuitable minority-owned businesses.

These include: • The Governor’s Office of MinorityAffairs, which coordinates and pro-motes government programs aimedat strengthening and preserving thestate’s 200,000 minority- and women-owned businesses.• The Minority Business EnterpriseProgram, which encourages andhelps minority-owned firms partici-pate in the state procurementprocess. • The Prince George’s County SmallBusiness Initiative Program, whichhelps small and minority businessesidentify and bid on contracts.

Continued from 11

“The whole object is to get people to use public transit.

William Washburncounty planner

Contract Resources

An aerial view of National Harbor, a $2.1 billion community on the Potomac River.COURTESY OF NATIONAL HARBOR


Access to funding is a major issuefor any developer, especially in aneconomy still in the grip of a recession.The Maryland Department of Businessand Economic Development lists manyuseful resources. These include: • Maryland Economic DevelopmentAssistance Authority and Fund(MEDAAF), which provides targetedfinancial assistance to select projectslocated within priority funding areasand in the defined eligible industrysectors.• Maryland Small BusinessDevelopment Financing Authority(MSBDFA), which provides financingfor small businesses that are not ableto qualify for financing from privatelending institutions or that are ownedby socially and economically disad-vantaged persons.

• Maryland Industrial DevelopmentFinancing Authority (MIDFA), whichfacilitates capital access by issuingprivate activity revenue bonds andcan provide credit insurance in theform of a deficiency guaranty toreduce a lender’s risk.• U.S. Small Business AdministrationCDC/504 Program (Maryland) is along-term financing tool for economicdevelopment within a community. The504 Program provides growing busi-nesses with long-term, fixed-ratefinancing for major fixed assets, suchas land and buildings. In PrinceGeorge’s County, it is administered byFinancial Services Corp., also knownas FSC First. • Other funding sources includeHUD, Department of Treasury andDepartment of Transportation (DOT).

could, in most cases, develop with moredensity,” she adds of the plans, whichsketch out a mix of uses but allow “someflexibility in the land use.”

William Washburn is a county plan-ner who is serving as project manager forthe New Carrollton Transit District,which is set for a Purple Line stop.

New Carrollton is one location that isbenefiting from a Transit District OverlayZoning Map Amendment.

Parking requirements would berelaxed, and increased height or densitywould be allowed. Other changes includea Tax Increment Finance District (TIFD)to support activities of a BusinessImprovement District (BID).

The goal: a thriving community of5,500 housing units, offices, retail space,parks and pedestrian walkways, arrangedas five distinct and welcoming neighbor-hoods.

“The whole object is to get people touse public transit,” Washburn says. Butit’s more than that. It’s a vision of PrinceGeorge’s County that is sustainable,diverse and economically vibrant.

Construction Finance

Konterra Town Center East is a $1.75 million, 2,200-acre development that is scheduled to open in 2014.COURTESY OF FOREST CITY WASHINGTON


In 2007, Prince George’s County

Executive Jack B. Johnson issued an

executive order that established the

county’s green technology goals. The executive

order set forth green building standards and

set out five steps toward energy efficiency:

Prince George’s County is set to build green and reduce

energy consumption.

BY BARBARA PASH

Special to The Daily Record

GO GREENAND GROW

A roof park six stories in the air in downtown Tokyo is an example of modern green construction technology.ISTOCKPHOTO.COM


1. All new county facilities and buildingsare to follow green building principles;2. Energy consumption will be reducedby 20 percent in county-maintained facil-ities by 2015 (using 2007 energy con-sumption as a baseline);3. Incentives will be created for existingand new, privately built commercialbuildings to achieve green standards;4. Educational and outreach programswill be created;5. The county’s development and permitreview staff will receive green accredita-tion so they could sign off on tax creditsand certification.

Since then, according to the Spring2009 report of the Prince George’sCounty Goes Green SteeringCommittee, five buildings in PrinceGeorge’s County have received LEEDcertification from the nonprofit U.S.Green Building Council, including threeLEED Silvers and one LEED Gold.Other projects, such as the South BowieLibrary and St. Joseph Fire Station, arein the multiyear design and certifi-cation process. Prince George’s Countypublic school green projects are han-dled separately.

Paivi Spoon, special assistant to the

county executive, says that all newPrince George’s County buildings willhave a minimum of LEED Silver certifica-tion and that the county was designingand budgeting for that level.

Spoon also says that although theexecutive order encouraged the creationof privately built green buildings withstate tax incentives channeled throughthe county, it has not been necessary toleverage.

“It turns out the private sector is wellaware that there is no market for build-ings that are not green,” she says.

As for the 20 percent reduction inenergy consumption, Spoon says PrinceGeorge’s County is well on its way toachieving that goal by retrofitting exist-ing buildings and instituting energy-sav-ing measures.

Brian Lowinger, a MontgomeryCounty attorney and a LEED-accreditedprofessional, echoes Spoon. “There is apremium to a LEED building. You cancharge higher rents because it is sought-after. Frankly, it’s not only a do-goodproposition [to build green] but a money-making proposition for businesses,” saysLowinger, chair of the U.S. GreenBuilding Council in Montgomery County.

On the University of Maryland,College Park campus, Carlo Colella,director of architecture, engineering andconstruction for on-campus construc-tion, says the university follows the 2008Maryland Performance Building Act,which, with a few exceptions, requiresthat all new and renovated state build-ings over a certain size meet LEED Silverstandards.

“That’s our goal regardless,” Colellasays. “The campus has its own sustain-ability goals and our building projects aredesigned to LEED Silver or better.”

Colella says the additional costs ofbuilding green have gotten smaller overtime. He figures they are now less than 5percent of the project total. The stateuses 2 percent as the extra cost for agreen building.

The Marriott Inn and ConferenceCenter, owned by the university, con-sists of two buildings: a 237-room hoteland 39,000 square feet of meeting spaceon the College Park campus. In 2004 oneof the two buildings was LEED-certified,giving the Inn the distinction of beingthe first hotel/conference center in

See green 16

The Marriott Inn and Conference Center, owned by the University of Maryland, is the first such facility in North America to be LEED certified.COURTESY OF THE PRINCE GEORGE’S COUNTY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION


North America with that designation.The second building has since beenupdated with green features but is notLEED-certified.

Another, more recent project by theUniversity of Maryland UniversityCollege is the conversion of an officebuilding into a university complex. Theformer Hechinger headquarters is nowthe UMUC Largo Academic Center, withoffices and classrooms. In 2010, UMUCLargo received LEED Gold certification.

Prince George’s County publicschools adhere to three green standards.The school system adopted the 2007Prince George’s County Executive Orderand the 2008 state Performance BuildingAct. In 2009, on its own initiative, theschool system set a goal of LEED Goldcertification for all new schools.

As a result, says Rupert McCave, anarchitect who works in the facilities divi-sion of Prince George’s County’s publicschools, the school system has budgeteda 2 percent additional cost for all newschools, which will be evenly splitbetween the state and Prince George’sCounty.

One new green elementary school,Vansville Elementary in Beltsville, hasopened, and another, the recently com-pleted Barack Obama Elementary Schoolin Upper Marlboro, is awaiting Gold cer-tification. Eight other public schools arein the design stage.

The school system also has adoptedsustainable initiatives, including the useof natural daylight, green housekeepingand renewable energy (wind and solar)where possible. In addition, it has adopt-ed a green building curriculum.

In Prince George’s County, greentechnology is not restricted to construc-tion. It also extends to career paths andjob creation. For the last year and a half,Prince George’s Community College, incollaboration with the U.S. GreenBuilding Council, the Joint School ofCarpentry and United CommunitiesAgainst Poverty (UCAP), has offered aGreen Industry Certification Program.

The six-week program culminates insix separate professional certifications.Each of the certifications, in fields suchas LEED certifying, weatherization andenvironmental health, is applicable to thejob market.

“Our graduates are fully preparedand qualified for positions” in thoseareas, says Sandra Gammons, presidentand CEO of UCAP.

The program is free to qualifiedPrince George’s County residents. So far,the program has graduated 45 people, ofwhom about 40 percent have found jobs.Forty more people are now enrolled inthe program.

“With all the new construction inPrince George’s County, the programclearly provides an opportunity for entre-preneurs,” Gammons says. (For informa-tion on the Green Industry CertificationProgram, go to www.ucappgc.org.)

Green job training is also to be foundat Prince George’s County’s One-StopCareer Center, at 1100 Mercantile Lane,Suite 100, Largo. (For information, callJeffrey Swilley at 301-618-8402.)

The career center, which is overseenby the Prince George’s CountyWorkforce Service program, providesskills training for new and existingemployees, with employers eligible to bereimbursed for up to 50 percent of thecost of training.

Prince George’s County Health

Department

Three licensing programs:

Food Protection Program

Food handled and sold, includingfood processing plants/warehouses, car-nivals, mobile food units, restaurants,carry-outs, grocery stores, caterers, the-ater and stadium concessions, privateschools, penal institutions, shelters andsenior feeding programs.

Frequency and type of inspectiondepends on qualifications. Call 301-883-7690.

Environmental Engineering Program

Inspects and monitors well andseptic system permits. Call 301-883-7681.

Plan Review Office

Part of permit process. For the construction or remodeling of a com-mercial kitchen. Any place that servesthe public falls into this category. Call301-883-7650.

Prince George’s County Department

of Public Works and Transportation

Issues permits to allow the perform-ance of any work within a PrinceGeorge’s County-maintained right ofway. Also issues permits for on-sitegrading and storm-water management.Call 301-883-5915.

Maryland-National Capital Park and

Planning Commission

Commission is set up by the state and isnot a Prince George’s County agency,

but it follows requirements that apply toPrince George’s County developments.Call 301-952-3530.

Design Process

Build Prince George’s County pre-determined by zones and overlay zones.Design process requires a licensed land-scape architect or licensed engineer foritems like architectural drawings for adetailed plan.

Zoning Change/Site Plan Review

Accepts applications for zoningchange, sometimes as part of a detailedsite plan.

Reviews detailed site plans for resi-dential, commercial, industrial andinstitutional projects.

Continued from 15

Prince George’s County licensingResidential and commercial development

BY BARBARA PASH | Special to The Daily Record

The Prince George’s County booth at the 2009 International Council of Shopping Centers retailconvention (top). Wegmans (left and above) will open a grocery store this year at WoodmoreTowne Centre at Glenarden in Landover.

COURTESY OF PRINCE GEORGE’S COUNTY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION

pg - the daily record

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