Downtown Largo south entrance by WMATA.

Prince George’s County residents excited, but cautious about new development after prior failures

Prince George’s County residents excited, but cautious about new development after prior failures Prince George’s County is envisioning expansive mixed-use developments along Metro’s Blue Line, introducing an amphitheater, a youth sports complex, cultural centers, and housing. Residents hope that the county will prioritize affordable housing, transit access to existing county amenities beyond Metrorail, and retention of amenities.  (Aja Drain / DCist)  

DC Downtown comeback plan seeks residents’ feedback and ideas

DC Mayor Muriel Bowser has announced the next phase of her Downtown Action Plan. The plan includes $600,000 in grants that are intended to bring cultural amenities like outdoor concerts and movies downtown, along with a formal environmental and economic development study led by former Office of Planning director Andrew Trueblood. A public meeting is June 15 and a “Vision Summit” is scheduled for July 16.  (Melissa Howell / WTOP, Tristan Navera / Business Journal)  

DC ranks number one in urban parks, while many say the honor is misleading

The Trust for Public Land has rated DC number one in the country for its urban park system. Many claim this is a misleading statistic as it doesn’t include equity and access measures, is distorted by the level of investment in the National Mall compared to DC-controlled parks, and obscures the impact of the National Park Service’s control over 90% of the parkland.  (Jacob Fenston / DCist)  

Washington region rental market concessions decrease

Only 48% of Washington area rentals had some sort of concession attached, such as rent discounts, free rent for a month, or free parking, versus 55% in December of 2022. This is indicative of increased demand for rentals across the region. Nationally, the rate of rental concessions is significantly lower, at about one-third of listings.  (UrbanTurf)  

McMillan redevelopment project changes name to Reservoir District

Jair Lynch Partners and EYA announced earlier this week the rebranding of the McMillan Reservoir redevelopment project as the Reservoir District. The rebranding aims “breathe new life into its historic legacy and create a sustainable community centered around health and wellness,” according to a Jair Lynch spokesperson. The development will boast many retail and residential projects. (This article is behind a paywall.)  (Michael Neibauer / Washington Business Journal)  

Instead of residential, focus of Ashburn park-and-ride redevelopment shifts to hotel

The redevelopment at the Loudoun County-owned Ashburn North park-and-ride located at 45151 Russell Branch Parkway is now proposed to be a mixed-use project anchored by a hotel, with a decrease in residential units from prior plans. In addition,  the development appears to be next to the park-and-ride lot and not on it, as Loudoun County has not transferred ownership of the parking lot to the developer. (This article is behind a paywall.)  (Dan Brendel / Washington Business Journal)  

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