Post Park Coming Soon to Post-Hyattsville

After forty years of relative imperviousness to real estate development in neighboring Washington DC, the Prince George’s County hamlet of Hyattsville is finally taking advantage of its seat just one mile from the District line. First came new development at the aging University Town Center, which was followed shortly by EYA’s Arts District Hyattsville project – an ongoing undertaking that’s been a shot in the arm for the town’s main corridor along Route 1. Now Atlanta-based developer Post Properties, Inc. has begun construction on a new phase; their Post Park development at 3300 East West Highway.

Located on a 7-acre parcel just off of MD 410, Post Park will be a serious addition to the Prince George’s County market – especially along the busy thoroughfare known more for its drive-thrus and strip malls than big ticket residential properties. The developments primary building will measure in at 466,700 square feet and four to five stories, for a total of 364 new residential units. 1750 square of retail space will occupy the building’s ground floor, while a 544-space parking garage will serve residents only (and not patrons of the Prince George’s Plaza Metro Station just 1600 feet away).

Post has dubbed their units “apartment homes” and will be offering, in "late 2009," finishing touches like stainless steel appliances, granite countertops, ceramic tile floors, high ceilings, and access to the in-house fitness center and swimming pool to prospective residents. Per a request from the Prince George’s County Planning Board (PGCPB), the developer will also be constructing an 8,000 square foot plaza at the intersection of East West Highway and Toledo Terrace and include a connection to the neighboring Northwest Branch Stream Valley Park – one that according to PGCPB “will contain little or no transition to the park and…make the park an amenity for [Post Park] residents.” Niles Bolton Associates is handling designs for the project, while Clark Builders Group is serving as general contractor.In a move similar to EYA’s intentions for the township, Post - in tandem with the Hyattsville Community Development Corporation (HCDC) - is currently accepting submissions from local artists interested in contributing to the project’s public arts component (and the more they stand out against their Home Depot backdrop, the better). Any and all entries are due to Stuart Eisenberg, Executive Director of the HCDC by January 16^th.

Prince George's County real estate development news

It's Konterra Country

What to do with 2200 acres next to the interstate? Build a city. At least that's what developers are doing with Konterra, a joint venture between Gould Property Company and Forest City Washington, which earned approval to develop 488 of those acres, a phase called the Konterra Town Center East project, just one part of their massive mixed-use development that will include residential neighborhoods, business campuses, and two town centers, and lots of retail. The approved town center will deliver 4,500 residential units including condos, apartments, and town homes, 1.5 million s.f. of "fashion" retail, 3.8 million s.f. of Class-A office space, 600 hotel rooms, and green space.

The titanic development, designed by several architects, including California-based Altoon + Porter Architects, is intended to bring "upscale dining" and retail to northern Prince George' County, create 12,000 jobs in the area, and generate revenue for a "civic framework" in the new community including a police force and fire department.

The developer, owner of the land since the 1980's, submitted plans for the Town Center East last August after meeting with the community and county to design a sustainable mixed-use project. The gargantuan development will replace what is now vacant space, once a gravel and sand mine, situated along I-95 at the intersection of the nascent Inter-County Connector, just north of the beltway.

The business component of the soon-to-be Konterra city in PG now offers fourteen buildings and over 500,000 s.f. of office space, while 500 acres of existing residential space is divided among three neighborhoods: The Wilshire Estates, Fairland Park Community, and The Villages at Wellington. Project spokesperson Julie Chase said the town center will bring together the existing business campuses and residential neighborhoods in the surrounding area.

"The town center is the core. The goal of this development is to bring smart growth and high-end retail to an under served and deserving area. When we say smart growth, it's about retail offerings and services and the opportunity to live and work in same area. There will be transportation within the community, but the project is also about having everything accessible and walkable," Chase said.

The project website describes the town center as a new neighborhood in itself. "A leisurely walk or a convenient bus trip to the heart of Town Center places you amongst tree-lined, pedestrian friendly streets with outdoor cafes, high-end boutiques and exciting entertainment options."

The developer hopes to break ground on this phase in late 2009 with delivery planned for 2012, but the team still has two more hearings with the county. The first is for the preliminary plan of subdivision on July 24th, and the second is for the detailed sight plan that has been submitted, but is awaiting a meeting date.

The second town center, which will also host a mix of retail, commercial, and residential space, will be 253 acres and is still in the planning phases. Altoon + Porter, the one confirmed architect on the project, also has offices in Shanghai and Amsterdam and focuses on hospitality, institution, university, and mixed-use developments.

Washington DC real estate development news

Developer to Expand Hyattsville Project

As the redevelopment of Route 1 in Hyattsville into a vibrant, livable city center moves forward, Bethesda-based developer EYA is already making plans to add new residential units and commercial/retail space to its current $125 million "Arts District Hyattsville" plan for the area. EYA has agreed to purchase two additional properties next to the former Lustine Chevrolet dealership lot (where Route 1 hits Madison Street), which it is now in the midst of redeveloping, with Phase I delivering 12 "live-work" units plus 119 townhouse-style row homes that are scheduled for Spring 2008 completion (and will sell for between $400,000-$600,000), and Phase 2 promising 220 more row homes, four "live-work" units, and 34,500 sf of retail and restaurant space (pending plan approval by the Prince George's County Planning Board this fall). With its new land purchases, EYA envisions building either 82 new residential units, or perhaps 12 residential units and a mix of commercial and retail use. EYA’s "Arts District Hyattsville" project is part of Maryland’s designated effort, launched in April 2005, to redevelop the town’s Route 1 corridor into a "gateway arts and entertainment district."