$769M In Investments Popping Up Along Blue Line Corridor In Prince George's County

PRINCE GEORGE'S COUNTY, MD — More than $769 million in investments are being made along a five-mile stretch of the Blue Line Corridor.

Prince George’s County Executive Angela Alsobrooks held a news conference to highlight local minority developers who are working on projects that will uplift communities along the corridor.

“The Blue Line Corridor Project represents our vision for smart growth, creating bikeable, walkable, amenity-rich communities centered around transit hubs with access to workforce housing for our residents,” Alsobrooks said. “We are proud that many of the developers working on this project are not only minority developers, but they are also Prince Georgians who understand the needs of our residents. As our economy grows, we will continue to make generational investments like this that will build generational wealth for our communities and local businesses, helping us close the wealth gap in Prince George’s.”

The Blue Line Corridor Project is the county executive’s vision to create walkable, bikeable, amenity-rich communities near transit stations along the Blue Line Corridor, from Downtown Largo to the Washington, D.C., line. In addition to new amenities and infrastructure improvements, the county is prioritizing investments in affordable housing to ensure longtime residents are not priced out due to new economic growth.

Five major projects are already planned or underway along the Blue Line Corridor, all being led by Black developers, that will help transform communities along the corridor. These projects and associated developers include:

• Pavilion at Lottsford: led by Omar Karim of Banneker Ventures, this mixed-use development will feature 800 residential units and 72,000 square feet of retail.
• Park Place at Addison: also led by Omar Karim of Banneker Ventures, this mixed-use development will feature 193 residential units, 11,000 square feet of retail, and 10,000 square feet of community space. This project received funding from Amazon.
• Hampton Park: led by Brandon Bellamy of The Velocity Companies, this mixed-use development will feature 400 residential units, a hotel, 100,000 square feet of retail and more than 100,000 square feet of office space.
• 210 on the Park: led by Anthony Wash of A Wash and Associates, this development will feature 173 total residential units. This project received funding from Amazon.
• The Epiphany at 6500 Central: led by Jacqueline Alexander of The Community Builders and Lloyd Blackwell of Harambee Development Group, this mixed-use development will feature 112 residential units and 4,300 square feet of retail.

These five projects are in addition to the $400 million in bonding authority through the Maryland Stadium Authority the county has received, which was recently approved by the board of public works. This funding will be used to create a sports and entertainment destination along the Blue Line Corridor, which will include an amphitheater, youth sports fieldhouse, market hall, library/cultural center and civic plaza.

“I understand Prince George’s because I grew up here and I’m a proud graduate of Central High School,” said Brandon Bellamy, CEO of The Velocity Companies. “For me, developing Hampton Park is about eliminating food deserts, bringing new retail and amenities, and creating jobs and opportunities for people who live in the communities we are investing in. By working together through public-private partnerships, we can continue to uplift communities along the Blue Line.”

“I am extremely excited to be apart of this project,” added Lloyd Blackwell of Harambee Development. “I am a Prince Georgian and my desire is to use this project as a catalyst for inclusive real estate development with native residents having a seat at the table. It is no secret that the inner beltway has been underserved for decades. I am elated to work with other minority developers and transform these areas to reach their full potential. We are excited to be part of the county executive’s Blue Line Corridor. She has been a champion for inclusive development and this transit-oriented development opportunity is a win-win for the County and for our residents.”