Prince George’s County will obtain as much as $400 million in state bonds to spice up the Blue Line Hall venture, a victory for County Govt Angela D. Alsobrooks that ensures redevelopment close to FedEx Subject in Landover even when the Washington Commanders depart city.
Maryland
$400 million investment approved for redevelopment near FedEx Field
Alsobrooks on Wednesday underscored the necessity for the event in testimony to the board outlining what the venture may imply for Prince George’s, which she mentioned is uniquely positioned to be the “financial engine” of the state and the area.
“The Blue Line Hall is the anchor initiative of our imaginative and prescient for financial progress,” she mentioned earlier than the board, itemizing deliberate facilities that embody a youth sports activities subject home, an amphitheater, and a library and cultural heart.
The venture fulfills the county government’s promise to convey financial transformation to Prince Georgians, whom she mentioned have been ready a long time for improvement and deserve a neighborhood that may be walked and biked and that’s crammed with facilities present in neighboring counties.
“Now we have to go away to go to those good locations, and now we’re creating it at dwelling,” Alsobrooks mentioned in an interview.
Funding for the venture was negotiated final yr between state lawmakers and then-Gov. Larry Hogan (R). His newly sworn-in successor, Democrat Wes Moore, mentioned Wednesday that the venture will likely be “an financial recreation changer” for the county and “a fantastic win” domestically and for the state.
Alsobrooks and different native leaders mentioned the funding is an indication that Prince George’s County residents gained’t be forgotten because the Washington Commanders weigh whether or not to desert Landover in favor of D.C. or Virginia.
“The factor I need residents to know is that they won’t be left behind, whether or not they keep or depart,” Alsobrooks mentioned, noting the staff’s dedication to play in Landover ends in 2027. “There’s numerous nervousness within the county about that. … We don’t need to be held hostage by the Commanders. We’ve obtained to develop that space and spend money on it whether or not they keep or go.”
Many residents of the county’s sixth District, the place not less than a number of developments are slated to rise, have voiced considerations a couple of lack of eating places and different facilities near dwelling, mentioned Wala Blegay (D), who represents the world on the County Council.
“They’ve good massive homes or good properties for his or her households, however they’ve nowhere to go,” she mentioned. “You possibly can’t say the identical factor for locations like Montgomery County.”
Increase the Blue Line Hall will deal with these considerations and assist the county diversify its tax base, which is primarily residential, she mentioned.
Wednesday’s approval will set in movement a County Council evaluation of infrastructure wants and necessities to make sure that roads and communities can deal with coming points of interest whereas limiting stress on residents, Blegay mentioned.
Council member Krystal Oriadha (D-District 7), whose district is also slated to see improvement, mentioned she is worked up to see funding in components of the county which have gone missed.
Oriadha intends to advocate on behalf of her district to make sure that it receives its “fair proportion of the pie” with regards to what facilities will likely be positioned the place — “as a result of we’re worthy,” she mentioned.
The county has a chance to alter the notion that White residents are wanted to lure main funding, Blegay mentioned.
“It means loads for those who examine redlining and all of these points the place folks pinpoint the dearth of improvement in communities and that high quality improvement reveals up when completely different teams transfer in,” she mentioned. “Properly, we’re attempting to point out the alternative. This can be a majority neighborhood of principally folks of shade, and it’s thriving with majority folks of shade.”