Development in College Park

This election is happening at a critical time in our City's history.  We can all see the cranes rising above the skyline; from the Riverdale Station/Whole Foods development adjoining our city to the south, to the new University of Maryland Hotel and Conference Center on Baltimore Avenue and Paint Branch Parkway, College Park is undergoing a transformation.  It will take passionate, dedicated leadership to make sure that the many projects underway deliver smart development with the amenities that we need, while still respecting the quality of life, character, and vitality of our neighborhoods.  This is clearly a difficult balancing act, yet achieving this balance is critical.

A Vision for Development

If I am elected, I will work together with our communities, colleagues on the Council, and with partners at the county and state levels to achieve a new development vision for College Park emphasizing the following:

• Smart growth, with redevelopment clustered around midtown and downtown College Park and around College Park’s two METRO stations, producing nodes of high-quality retail and housing for residents throughout the City.
  
  
• Access for citizens of all ages to a robust multi-modal transportation network that includes bus, bike, train, and car connections.
  
  
• Well designed road improvements and traffic engineering on Baltimore Avenue that improves vehicular access, reduces congestion, and makes this major arterial safer and more pleasant for for cars, buses, bikes, and pedestrians.  
  
  
• Emphasis on safe pedestrian access throughout the city, but especially Downtown.  This requires a balanced approach that includes both greater enforcement, and infrastructure improvements.
  
  
• Attracting more diverse retail and dining to the City, with an emphasis on independent stores and restaurants that cater to residents of all ages.
  
  
• Continued collaboration and co-development with the University of Maryland on high-profile projects such as the College Park Innovation District.
  
  
• Ensuring that a new City Hall contributes to the vibrancy of downtown.
  
  

Critically, for all development in the City but especially for development in and near our neighborhoods, members of the community must be at the table from the beginning.  If elected, I will insist on an open, transparent development process, and stay engaged with civic associations and other community leaders from the very earliest stages.