GOVERNOR MARTIN O’MALLEY, LT. GOVERNOR ANTHONY G. BROWN ANNOUNCE RELOCATION OF MARYLAND DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT

Transit-oriented development project will stimulate economic growth and job creation in Prince George’s County

NEW CARROLLTON, MD (September 19, 2011) - Governor Martin O’Malley and Lt. Governor Anthony G. Brown, joined by Prince George’s County Executive Rushern Baker, today announced the relocation of the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) from its current location in Crownsville, Maryland, to a building that will be newly constructed in New Carrollton, Maryland. 

                               

The new site, called “Metroview,” will locate DHCD’s headquarters in a new, retail, residential, and mixed-use facility in New Carrollton. When it is completed, it will also be convenient to the Purple Line light rail. The project is anticipated to generate a net public benefit (to both the State and County) of over $11 million over the course of the 15-year lease and create an estimated 300 jobs in its construction and an additional 80 retail jobs. 

“Five years ago, Anthony and I made it a priority to place a State agency headquarters in Prince George’s County,” said Governor O’Malley. “Today, we are making a modern investment in a modern economy that will create jobs and build a transit-oriented development project to allow us to do the right thing for reducing traffic and sprawl, the right thing for our quality of life, and the right thing for our land, our water, and our air.”

In June of last year, the Governor and Lt. Governor announced plans to relocate DHCD to Prince George’s County to bring an agency dedicated to neighborhood revitalization closer to one of the population centers it serves most, while promoting smart growth and sustainable communities. 

“With the relocation of DHCD to New Carrollton, we will not only fulfill our promise to bring a State agency to one of our most populous counties, but we will provide a significant economic boost to New Carrollton and Prince George’s County at a time when we most need it,” said Lt. Governor Brown. “This project, estimated to create over 350 jobs and generate millions of dollars in economic impact, demonstrates that by bringing the public and private sectors together with a focus on smart growth, we can create jobs, spur revenue, and build stronger communities in Prince George’s County and throughout Maryland.”

Transit-oriented development (TOD) is a critical component of the State’s Smart, Green and Growing initiative aimed at curbing greenhouse gas emissions, sprawl development and traffic congestion, while fostering economic growth.  TOD creates compact, walkable neighborhoods around transit stations and increases transit ridership by creating destinations within a short walk of stations. It also offers residents a convenient commute to jobs, shopping and entertainment in the region.

“Over the past year, my office has worked closely with Governor O’Malley and Lieutenant Governor Brown to move this County forward,” said County Executive Rushern L. Baker, III. “Today is no exception, and our partnership has once again led to a vital step forward for the County and the State. The new metro-accessible Department of Housing and Community Development will bring jobs and growth to Prince George’s County while helping build a greener, more sustainable Maryland.”

The developer for this project is Grand Central Development, whose principals include Mr. Carl Williams, a Prince George’s County resident. This new project received the highest score total out of the 16 qualified responses.  It is a mixed-use development of retail, office, and apartments, where:

• The first floor will consist of approximately 30,000 square feet of retail space;
• The next four floors will be office space, leased primarily to DHCD, with a small portion being leased to the City of New Carrollton; and the upper 22 floors (400+ units) of market and affordable rental housing; and
• Total square footage is nearly 700,000 square feet.

The expected move-in date for the project is late summer/early fall of 2013.

“We are both humbled and honored to be selected as the developers of the first state headquarters agency to locate in Prince George's County,” said Carl Williams, member of Grand Central Development. “It is exciting to have the opportunity to positively impact the community in which we live and work. This is a significant development for Prince George's County and we thank the Department of Housing and Community Development for being such an important partner in positioning our County as a thriving metropolis and one of the state's economic leaders. The Grand Central Team will do everything in its power to make sure that we continue to move forward in a positive direction and bring more economic growth to New Carrollton, Prince George's County and the Great State of Maryland.”