Events: Where and how should Prince George’s County grow?

EventsBy Karly Meyer (Former Engagement Fellow) July 17, 2023

New townhouses in Hyattsville. by Mr.T in DC licensed under Creative Commons.

The recent debate over the proposed townhouse moratorium has prompted a broader discussion about where and how Prince George’s County should grow. How can the county better achieve the goals of Plan Prince George’s 2035 General Plan? How can land use policies help meet the housing needs of families? How can land use decisions build a more sustainable and economically prosperous future? How can the Executive, Planning Board and County Council work together more effectively to address these goals?

Join RISE Prince George’s & Coalition for Smarter Growth for a virtual conversation with Planning Board chair Peter Shapiro on Tuesday, July 18 to discuss these key questions regarding where and how Prince George’s County should grow. Learn more about the event and how to attend here.

Monday, July 17:

Lend your voice in helping HOC develop its 5-year strategic plan: The Housing Opportunities Commission of Montgomery County (HOC) was established in 1974 to better respond to the County’s need for affordable housing. HOC is dedicated to providing affordable housing and supportive services that enhance the lives of low- and moderate-income families and individuals throughout Montgomery County through operating an affordable housing agency, a housing finance agency and a housing developer.

Currently, HOC has officially launched a new strategic planning process to better understand the needs of the MoCo community. HOC will host both an in-person and a virtual town hall on Monday, July 17 and Tuesday, July 18 to seek input from the Montgomery County community. Based on your important feedback, HOC will create a five-year strategic plan that will detail new initiatives and expand existing programs that will increase affordable housing opportunities and related services to low- and moderate-income households in Montgomery County. Learn more about the town halls and how to attend here.

Virtual Town Hall:

In-person Town Hall:

Tuesday, July 18:

Discuss the status of the Metropolitan Branch Trail Project: The Metropolitan Branch Trail (MBT) is an 8-mile multiuse trail that will run from Union Station in the District of Columbia to Silver Spring, MD. Following the Metropolitan Branch Line of the Baltimore and Ohio (B&O) Railroad, the trail passes through numerous vibrant and historic neighborhoods as well as connection to the National Mall. The MBT is an important transportation route providing connections to homes, work, and play as well as access to seven Metro stations.

Join the District Department of Transportation (DDOT) for a virtual project meeting on Tuesday, July 18, 2023, at 6:00 pm to discuss the status of the Metropolitan Branch Trail Project from Fort Totten to Takoma. DDOT will present an overview of the project and discuss project features and milestones. Learn more about the event and how to attend here.

Wednesday, July 19:

Learn more about equitably decarbonizing the real estate industry: Rising stakeholder pressure to decarbonize, alongside the scale of business opportunity, has ensured that the companies who lead that effort will see the highest value creation. However, will the buildings and energy systems decarbonizing the industry reinforce inequity, or disrupt it? Will low-income communities and communities of color be left behind with inefficient buildings, polluted air, and increasingly expensive gas appliances, or will they reap the benefits of the net zero transformation and its manifold new technologies and wealth-building opportunities?

Join the Urban Land Institute (ULI) and their expert panel in discussing their efforts to decarbonize equitably, drawing from ULI Greenprint’s recent report, Net Zero for All: A Just Transition for Real Estate. Learn more about the event and register to attend here.

How to show your support for new USDOT regulations to make vehicles safer for pedestrians: Right now, America’s top traffic safety authority has two proposals on the table: one to rate cars based on how safe they are for pedestrians, the other to require new cars to have life-saving technology that detects pedestrians and applies the brakes before hitting someone. Such regulations are likely to be hotly contested and become watered down, especially without strong public support for safety.

Join America Walks in their webinar on Wednesday, July 19 to learn more about the details of the proposed rules and how your comments can help achieve better regulations that save more lives. Learn more about the webinar and register to attend here.

Thursday, July 20:

Learn more about how mixed-income, publicly-owned housing can alleviate the housing crisis in DC: After leaving the city’s housing crisis solely to private developers for decades, working families have been pushed out of DC or faced higher housing costs so developers and private investors can make more profits. Popularized in Vienna, social housing allows cities like DC to build, manage, and grow a stock of mixed-income, publicly-owned housing.

Join the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) for their hybrid meeting on Thursday, July 20 to discuss the current housing crisis, why public housing is an essential policy to address it, and how to get further involved. Learn more about the event and register to attend here.

Saturday, July 22:

Explore and bike across the many bridges along the Anacostia River Trail: Join Hill Family Biking in their community bike ride across over 3 bridges along the west and east banks of the Anacostia River for their longest ride yet - a little over 5.5 miles. The ride will finish at Capital Candy Jar for some much deserved ice cream, which will also be a fundraiser for WABA. Learn more about the event and register to attend here.

View more upcoming events on our calendar!


Community members submit events for inclusion on our events posts and in our events calendar. Submit your event here. Submissions may be edited for context and clarity.