滨迟鈥檚 one of the biggest redevelopment projects in the works in Prince George鈥檚 County. Even the state of Maryland has put millions of dollars into the redevelopment of the old Prince George鈥檚 Hospital Center, which is unofficially considered part of Cheverly.
The town鈥檚 borders stop at a fence line to the hospital property, and from Cheverly鈥檚 perspective, that will change once the old hospital site, now known as Hospital Hill, is fully redeveloped with new homes, retail and access to the town鈥檚 streets.
Plans even call for a handful of residential streets that dead end at the property line to extend directly into the rest of the town of Cheverly, something developers behind the project have said has to happen. Cheverly leaders said the only reason the town didn鈥檛 annex the site years ago was because the county advised against it so the redevelopment process would move faster.
Now, the town of Bladensburg could move forward with a plan to annex the site instead.
The move has caught Cheverly and the county off guard, and it would mean Hospital Hill would only be accessible from Route 202 and the Baltimore-Washington Parkway. If it goes forward, Cheverly warned it will pursue legal action.
鈥淚t was always understood it was going to be part of Cheverly,鈥� Cheverly Mayor Kayce Munyeneh said.
Munyeneh said the town has helped fund related surveys and studies.
鈥淐heverly has also been the community that has suffered the most from the hospital traffic, from the escapees from the hospital, from the helicopter pad, and all the noise and the damages done to our homes,” Munyeneh said. “It was always sort of understood we did the suffering when it was the hospital, we will enjoy the benefit when it is a new development.鈥�
That鈥檚 not how leaders in the town of Bladensburg see it.
鈥淵ou can’t take something from someone who does not have ownership of it,鈥� Bladensburg Mayor Takisha James said.
鈥淚 want to be clear, there is no formal agreement for annexation with the town of Cheverly,鈥� she added. 鈥淗ad there been an agreement, then we wouldn’t have proceeded down this path … It sounds like there may have been some conversations that we weren’t privy to.鈥�
As it stands, it鈥檚 easier for Bladensburg to try to annex the land because it鈥檚 technically owned by the county鈥檚 Redevelopment Authority, not Cheverly nor Urban Atlantic, the developer behind the looming transformation.
鈥淭his project would actually help us with what many communities are facing across the nation as we try to address the housing crisis, because it would provide space for us to consider things like new town homes or condominiums, new apartments, perhaps new senior housing,鈥� James said. 鈥淭his project would also benefit Bladensburg by giving us the space necessary to enhance our retail offerings.鈥�
James said she sees this as a way for Bladensburg to pull in more commercial development. But one problem is the town鈥檚 borders stop about a half-mile away from the site, and there are concerns about the legality of what Bladensburg is trying to do.
鈥淚t is not contiguous, and unless they are planning on owning part of 295, we don’t really see how they can legally move forward,鈥� Munyeneh said.
That echoes a letter the county executive鈥檚 office sent to Bladensburg on Friday, which warned the plan annexes land 鈥渇or no other purpose than to connect to the remote Hospital Site,鈥� which sits on the other side of the Baltimore-Washington Parkway.
A letter from county attorney Rhonda Weaver also said the 鈥渁rea is arbitrarily included and bears no relation to the municipality other than to incorporate the Hospital Site.鈥�
And because the annexation line runs southeast down one single street before hitting the parkway, Weaver鈥檚 letter also warned that the unincorporated neighborhood that would be surrounded by the newly-annexed property falls under the definition of an enclave, in violation of state law. On top of that, the county is raising questions about procedural maneuvering to get to this point.
James said she disagrees with all that.
鈥淲e have followed the letter of the law in this process,鈥� she said. 鈥淲e understand it is controversial, but I just don’t agree with that assessment.鈥�
Late Monday afternoon, the developers behind the project reiterated their desire to become part of Cheverly.聽But there鈥檚 fear this move, and the resulting court fight it would create, could tank the development or make it much more expensive.
鈥淚 feel like it makes our county look bad, and I hope that we’re able to work it out so that we can invite development to Prince George’s County,鈥� Munyeneh said.
She also said a vote to go forward will be costly for Bladensburg and its taxpayers.
鈥淵ou could save your town a whole lot of money,鈥� Munyeneh said in reference to James, who Munyeneh said she considers a friend. 鈥淲e could certainly save a whole lot of money on legal resources, if you just say, 鈥榊ou know, this wasn’t well thought out. It wasn’t well advertised. It wasn’t discussed with our neighbors. This is not the way we do this.鈥�
Town leaders in Bladensburg were set to move forward with the plan at a meeting Monday night, but the vote was delayed, James said, in order to give residents more time to provide feedback.
Get breaking news and daily headlines delivered to your email inbox by signing up here.
漏 2024 小萝莉影视. All Rights Reserved. This website is not intended for users located within the European Economic Area.
