Book Exchange Developers Say They’ll Scale Down Size of Student Housing Building

Developers behind a proposed where the Maryland Book Exchange currently sits say they plan to scale back the size of the building, The Gazette reported.

Earlier this month, the Prince George’s County their plans for the six-story complex, which the College Park City Council originally voted to oppose with a 6-1-1 vote in October.

Councilmembers and residents of the Old Town neighborhood criticized the original plan for its size, and have said it doesn’t fit in with the surrounding area. Residents have said living on that side of U.S. Route 1.

Furthermore, the city’s planning department and the county’s planning staff have both said that the plans do not align with the U.S. 1 Corridor Sector Plan — a claim developers have disputed.

Lead developer Ilya Zusin told The Gazette the revised plans would be turned into the city council by Saturday.

“In the resubmitted plan, the building will not be six stories, he said, but he would not elaborate on its height or what the new design will entail,” The Gazette reported.

City council is set to discuss the revised plans in January.