Community Corner

Residents Offer Input at East Campus Development Forum

Though planning remains at an early stage, developers are looking to the community for guidance.

While it's too soon to tell what East Campus will look like in the coming years, developers gave residents a peek at some of their preliminary plans at an open forum Tuesday night, and made note of what residents would like to see, too.

Representatives from Cordish Company, who entered into exclusive negotiations with the University of Maryland in July, emphasized that, at only 90 days into the job, Tuesday's presentation was far from a final product.

Nevertheless, some key themes emerged. The land, which is situated between Route 1 and Paint Branch Parkway, is slotted for mixed use development, meaning that housing (likely grad student and market rate), a hotel and a shopping center are certain to be included. Cordish reps emphasized the importance of small, walkable blocks, engaging ground level storefronts, and sightlines from Route 1 that would give the complex a more open, pedestrian friendly feel.

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The tentative plans also allow for some form of centralized urban space. Blake Cordish, the company's vice president of development, pointed at the gathering spots built into other universities, like Harvard Square at Harvard and Palmer Square at Princeton as precedents, but added that the goal is to provide a place where longtime College Park residents and students can feel equally at home.

"I think the fascinating thing about being in development is…you're a symphony conductor," Cordish said. "You have to have a lot of different constituents play together harmoniously. Part of our job is to create that eclectic, rich mix."

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The 45 minute presentation segued into a break-out session, where attendees were invited to visit a series of booths arranged across the floor. Each booth expounded on one of the so-called "guiding principles" – sustainability, site concept, architectural character, open space and urban place and public transportation.  Each table was manned by a Cordish employee ready to jot down suggestions on a large drawing pad.

Though the plan is still in its nascent stages - construction isn't expected to begin until at least 2012 - many local officials are pleased with the direction that Cordish Company appears to be going.

"I think that Cordish has thought through this whole project pretty well," said County Councilman Eric Olson (D-3) "I think that they will follow through on this and that it will come to fruition."

College Park Director of Planning Terry Schum agreed.

"It sounds really positive," she said. "We're really looking forward to working with this group."

Cordish is not the first company to attempt to develop East Campus. Foulger Pratt/Argo had been in exclusive negotiations with the University of Maryland for two years before budget constraints forced the company to abandon the $700 million project in 2009.

But Blake Cordish, the vice president of development, said that though some risk is inherent when undertaking a project of this scale, he is confident in the ability of his company to finish the job. Cordish plans to develop the 38-acre lot piecemeal in order to ease the financial strain. He added that in some cases, it's helpful to work on a project that has already been started because a foundation has already been built. In this case, many elements of the original plan, including the construction of a Birchmere music hall, are likely to remain intact.

City councilman Bob Catlin (Dist. 2) shared Cordish's optimism.

"These people seem to be starting from a point that is beyond where Foulger Pratt was willing to go," he said. "I just hope I live to see it."


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