Posts by Bradley Heard — Contributor
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Prince George’s is way behind on smart growth. Courts are helping it catch up.
For decades, Prince George’s County has seen less commercial and high-density residential development than its peers in Montgomery, Arlington, and Fairfax, particularly around its 15 Metro stations. That could begin to change now that Maryland’s highest court has smoothed the path for new development there. In a game-changing decision last month, the Maryland… Keep reading…
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Smarter growth will expand Prince George’s tax base
Prince George’s County Executive Rushern L. Baker III wants to raise real property tax rates by 16% to increase funding to public schools. The real way to boost Prince George’s economy is to develop around its gateway Metro stations near the DC line. Keep reading…
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Prince George’s adopts “Sprawl Plan 2035” over community objections
It was supposed to be different this time. Prince George’s County’s new general plan was supposed to embrace a bold new vision for a more sustainable and transit-oriented growth strategy. Instead, the county chose to cling to its old, failed approach of mouthing platitudes of support for walkable urban development around transit while actively facilitating suburban… Keep reading…
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Prince George’s new general plan places too much emphasis on sprawl
Last year, Prince George’s County planners kicked off a bold effort to revise its general plan and direct most future growth to transit stations inside the Beltway. But a continuing focus on sprawling suburban development on the county’s fringes could thwart those worthy goals. The Planning Department has been working on “Plan Prince George’s 2035,”… Keep reading…
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TOD in Prince George’s can reduce pressure on Metro
Development around Metro is putting pressure on the transit system, especially on the region’s west side. Building around Prince George’s County’s 15 underused Metro stations could help bring Metro into balance, but only if county leaders are willing to do it. In a recent Washington Post article, Jonathan O’Connell details how a flurry of new office… Keep reading…
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Four lessons Prince George’s County can learn from Atlanta
Prince George’s County has stubbornly stuck with sprawl, preferring development outside the Beltway and away from transit. Could it learn a new way to grow from Atlanta, which is swiftly metamorphosing from “Sprawlanta” to new urban paradise? A recent study from George Washington University professor Christopher Leinberger finds that most of metropolitan… Keep reading…
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Could Atlanta teach Prince George’s about smart growth?
Once known for sprawl, Atlanta has become a bastion of smart growth and transit-oriented development. In our region, it could be a model for Prince George’s County, which struggles with the same issues. New research from George Washington University professor Christopher Leinberger reveals that most of the Atlanta region’s office, retail, and rental residential… Keep reading…
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Prince George’s doubles down on sprawl
Prince George’s County has a backlog of approved, but unbuilt sprawl developments that will soon expire. Planners recommended cutting that backlog, because homebuyers increasingly prefer more compact types of housing near transit. But a council committee recommended letting the sprawl get built anyway. 80% of the approved residential development in Prince George’s… Keep reading…
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Prince George’s can stop validating sprawl
Approvals for many long-ago approved but unbuilt subdivisions in Prince George’s County will expire at the end of the year. But for the fifth year in a row, the County Council may decide to extend those approvals for another year. It may be time to stop. Today, the council’s Planning, Zoning, and Economic Development (PZED) Committee will consider three bills, CB-70-2013,… Keep reading…
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Westphalia developers admit it’s a bad deal for Prince George’s
Even the developers of the proposed Westphalia town center project in Prince George’s County realize that it’s a fool’s errand to build a sprawling edge city on a rural greenfield that’s disconnected from transit. But will county leaders figure it out? William Doherty, CEO of Canadian firm Walton International Group, recently spoke to local business… Keep reading…