University View revision to add 517 beds

A revision of plans for two additional University View buildings doubles the amount of available retail space and adds 517 beds, View developer Otis Warren said.

Warren, who spoke about the plan at Tuesday's College Park City Council meeting, said the residential and retail space will take the place of planned offices for which he was unable to find tenants.

"We would have loved to have gone with the original plan with the office building, but it's just not feasible," Warren said to the council.

"I think we like the student housing better," Mayor Stephen Brayman replied.

Plans for two additional buildings in front of and adjacent to the View have long been in the pipeline, Warren said. According to plans, the new buildings will now include 1,517 beds.

The revised plan also included a new access point for cars coming in and out of the building. City officials and students have long complained the current access point is unsafe and convoluted because some drivers must make a left turn into the driveway without the help of a stoplight.

The new layout would move the stoplight at Navahoe Street to Berwyn House Road, so that drivers can use it to get in and out of the building's driveway.

A new stoplight would have to be approved by the State Highway Administration. The council asked Warren to come back with another revised site plan if the light is not given the go-ahead.

The amount of open space in the new buildings - known as the village - was also reduced. Planners decreased the size of a landscaped plaza that would sit on top of the parking garage.

The city council was pleased with the overall design plan, having voiced concerns in the past over the size and appearance of the original View building.

"You were the first with a great product; you're going to again be the first with a great product," Brayman said.

The revised site plan still has to be approved by Prince George's County and the City of College Park. It will be presented before the county planning board on April 17.

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