An 800-Unit Senior Community and a Sports Complex: The Plans for the Middle of P.G. County

• September 28th 2018

by Nena Perry-Brown

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Between the jettisoned plans to construct a new FBI headquarters in the suburbs and the impending expiration of the Washington football team's FedEx Field lease, the future of the central swath of Prince George's County is largely up in the air. Now, the county is taking steps to proactively tackle this uncertainty.

The Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission released a study of Morgan Boulevard and its immediate vicinity this summer to identify future development goals and opportunities. The study area is a roughly J-shaped expanse northwest of Central Avenue and the Beltway, including such sites as Morgan Boulevard Metro station (map) (where WMATA is planning to sell some of its property holdings on Central Avenue), FedEx Field (map) and the now-vacant site of Landover Mall (map).

While PG County places high priority on retaining the football team past its lease expiration in 2027, planning staff is aiming to begin activating the surrounding area within the next 1-5 years. Towards that end, the MNCPPC commissioned a study of what could take its place. 

"Based on current County growth and development patterns, changing County and Subregion demographics, and overall market trends, the vision for the Morgan Boulevard study area has evolved into that of a regional destination for sports-focused, health and wellness-oriented uses that better capture and use the energy generated by the existing stadium to attract users interested in amateur indoor athletics, sports-centered entertainment, and active living," the report states.

The first component of the plan is a senior and active adult community, delivering approximately 600 age-restricted housing units and 200 assisted-living units by 2020. The housing would be across a variety of typologies and would be interspersed with amenities like a fitness center, supportive restaurants and retail, similar to Asbury Methodist Village in Gaithersburg.

The second component of the plan is a 320,000 to 600,000-plus square-foot indoor amateur and youth sports and entertainment complex. This facility would have 12-20 multipurpose courts and the ability to host large tournaments, as well as e-sports and climbing walls. Hotels, food courts and restaurants would be in close proximity for visiting teams and families, as well as sports medicine facilities as a transition point to the planned hospital near Largo Town Center. The plans may also incorporate a cultural facility which could be in partnership with Thomas G. Pullen Creative and Performing Arts Academy. 

Another goal is to improve the connectivity and safe accessibility of the area for pedestrians and cyclists by connecting the existing trail network to various destinations. Also planned is a "circulator" bus which would run every 10 minutes between the Boulevard at Capital Centre, Largo Town Center Metro station, FedEx Field, the new hospital and other sites. 

This fall, the PG County Economic Development Corporation will explore various development incentives and options for expedited review in the study area to prepare to solicit development partners and investors next spring. Also, the Department of Public Works and Transportation will add the shuttle bus to the county's transit plan this fall and begin exploring means of implementation.

This article originally published at https://dc.urbanturf.com/articles/blog/an-800-unit-senior-community-and-a-sports-complex-the-plans-for-morgan-boul/14498.