The top economic priority in Prince George鈥檚 County, Maryland, is the redevelopment of the Blue Line corridor 鈥� parts of which, county leaders say, haven鈥檛 been developed since Dwight D. Eisenhower was president.
Millions of dollars are being invested to change that, and while some the money is coming from bonds authorized by the state, a lot more is coming from developers who live in the county and are already at work.
The future home of the Prince George鈥檚 County Department of Health and Human Services sits in the Hampton Park area of Central Avenue, technically considered Capitol Heights, since it sits just inside the Capital Beltway.
That鈥檚 where County Executive Angela Alsobrooks stood, flanked by a number of Black developers who have either already broken ground, or plan to soon, on projects that stretch from Largo to Seat Pleasant.
The news conference was meant to tout the enormous level of money invested by Black developers, as well as the opportunities that still exist.
鈥淲e have $769 million in private investment by Black developers,鈥� touted Alsobrooks.
She also added that people should “get in now,” for development opportunities.
鈥淚t鈥檚 moving, it鈥檚 happening, this is soon to be an amenity rich area, but the opportunities are here today,鈥� said Alsobrooks.
The transformation started years ago on the ground Alsobrooks was standing on Tuesday, but over her left shoulder, vacant stores from yesteryear still stood, waiting their turn for redevelopment.
Leading that project is Brandon Bellamy, who grew up throughout central Prince George鈥檚 County, graduated from nearby Central High School, and still lives in the county. Working to revitalize the place he calls home means all that more to him.
鈥淲e shouldn鈥檛 have 40 years where our Metro stations are underdeveloped, right?鈥� he asked.
鈥淭here鈥檚 a lot of opportunity here. There鈥檚 a lot of money that can be made. You can do good and do well, too. So you can come to these communities, you can invest, and it becomes synergistic, right? You can have one development that feeds another development, that can feed another development, and they don鈥檛 have to cannibalize each other for resources,” Bellamy said.
Other developers who spoke included Omar Karim of Banneker Ventures, Anthony Wash of A Wash and Associates, and Lloyd Blackwell and Jacqueline Alexander of Harambee Development Group and The Community Builders.
Together, those groups are combining to build over 1,500 residential units and close to 200,000 square feet of retail space, stretching between Lottsford Road and the Addison Road Metro station.
Alsobrooks said in the future, the transit-oriented development coming will be the county鈥檚 own version of what area residents already see along the Wilson Boulevard stops in Arlington, and Red Line stops in Montgomery County.
鈥淚f you look at Silver Spring, they chose smart growth,鈥� she said. 鈥淣ow, Silver Spring is a destination rich with amenities.”
Alsobrooks added, 鈥淭he same is true for Ballston, Rockville and other successful Metro station projects across the WMATA system.鈥�
鈥淣ow these well-thought out communities bring amenities and housing that people want. They grow the tax base helping to shore up budgets and provide new services and they attract residents from across the DMV with new, exiting options for activities,” she said. “In fact, our residents leave the county just to visit these places.”
鈥淲hat we are really seeking to change is, we want them to enjoy those amenities here at home,鈥� Alsobrooks added.
It鈥檚 a vision that Bellamy bought into early on.
鈥淲hen you think about what something is, and you consider what it could be, to see it come to fruition is really important,鈥� he said. 鈥淚 love the people of Prince George鈥檚 County.鈥�
