In an effort to expand commercial development around the community, the College Park City Council unanimously approved a measure that will designate the city as a Sustainable Community.
The state-funded Maryland Sustainable Community program is designed to support existing communities through grants and loans. The move was necessary for the city to remain eligible for the funding, as the state’s Community Legacy program is being phased out. Although the council approved the measure, it must be approved by the state for the designation to become official.
“There are a number of commercial districts that are off the beaten path, off the Route 1 corridor,” District 1 Councilman Patrick Wojahn said. “The ability to improve the quality of those commercial districts will help enhance the whole city.”
The Route 1 corridor was designated a Community Legacy area in 2001 and has received more than $1.3 million in state grant funding in total. However, under the Community Legacy program, no other area of College Park was eligible to receive the funding, but any location in the city is eligible under the new Sustainable Community program.
Specific areas that may be targeted for redevelopment include the area around the College Park Metro Station, the Hollywood Commercial District in North College Park and the Berwyn Commercial District, Wojahn said.
College Park Economic Development Coordinator Michael Stiefvater and several councilmembers said the move ensures that the city will continue its effort to enhance the community.
“In the past we have been somewhat hampered by county and state regulation for development in these areas,” District 2 Councilman Bob Catlin said at the meeting. “With this proposal, hopefully we can piggyback on some of the state money coming into the city more wisely.”
Wojahn said while no official projects have been announced, several ideas have been discussed. Currently, the city is discussing a project that would make it easier to commute on a bike in the city. It’s a plan that Wojahn said may eventually feature the Capital Bikeshare program, although he declined to give more specifics because the details are still in the works.
“Through these grants we will look for projects that will enhance the city’s sustainability,” Wojahn said. “We have a major interest in redeveloping these other parts of the city.”
sinclair@umdbk.com
