Plans unveiled for East Campus

Officials released the latest plans for the East Campus development Tuesday as the once-stagnant project inches closer to breaking ground.

Although the project has been discussed for nearly a dozen years, Vice President for Administrative Affairs Rob Specter has drafted multiple plans for the development — a proposed 38-acre project that would help revitalize the city of College Park — since taking the helm in July. The plan calls for a "4-star, significant quality hotel," graduate student housing complexes and upscale restaurants, among other amenities.

"The idea of this is to make it a welcoming place for pedestrians, guests who are staying at the hotel, students and faculty," Specter said.

While construction is not slated to begin until next spring, Specter said he and a team have set multiple small construction phases for the project.

Phase "1A" of the plan — which includes construction on land between the corner of Paint Branch Parkway and Route 1 — will include building a hotel with about 265 beds and 20,000-25,000 square feet of conference space, Specter said.

The plans also include a 30,000-square-foot bookstore, three subsidized graduate student high-rise apartment buildings and 58,000 square feet of ground floor retail space that wraps around an "open air, park-like town center," Specter said.

As plans have rapidly progressed over the last several months, several city officials have voiced their support for the project.

District 3 Councilman Robert Day commended the project's leaders for continuing the development plans amid an overhaul to the university administration.

"They could have dropped the ball and said, ‘We'll look at this another time,'" Day said. "They're still being realistic by not looking at this as a mass project, but as one with the bits and pieces needed to move forward in the right direction."

Although university officials initially anticipated receiving the $5 million state funds for the project in increments, the College Park City Council unanimously approved a letter to Gov. Martin O'Malley and state officials in support of granting the university the remaining $3.3 million in one payment to ensure the project stays on track.

Facilities Management Associate Vice President Carlo Colella said the funds will be used to help vacate any buildings that remain occupied on allocated stretches of land. Additionally, they may be used for infrastructure work, depending on final agreements with the developer.

As College Park takes steps in its revitalization project, some students said they would like to see more than bars and clubs added among East Campus vendors.

"Right now, there is not a hub for sober fun," freshman journalism major Zoe King said. "I would like to see a movie theater or at least an area where kids can have fun without drinking."

In the coming months, Specter said he expects to hold public forums where students and community members can share ideas of what type of retail, food and beverage places should come to the new development.

"It's important to do this outreach early in the process so we have time to respond to it," Specter said. "We want to know whether this fits the university's character."

sinclair@umdbk.com