Subject: Update on the Hospital Hill Redevelopment and Bladensburg's Attempt to Annex the Property
Dear Cheverly Residents,
We are writing to provide an update on an important matter concerning the Hospital Hill Redevelopment Site, located at 3001 Hospital Drive in Cheverly, Maryland. As many of you know, this project plays a key role in our community’s future growth and revitalization, with the ultimate goal of annexing the site into Cheverly.
The History of the Hospital Hill Redevelopment:
The 44-acre site, previously home to the Prince George’s County Hospital Center, is the highest point in the county. The hospital closed permanently in 2021, and in 2022 the Redevelopment Authority of Prince George’s County selected Urban Atlantic/Home Team 5 to lead the redevelopment project. This large-scale development will include:
- 1,300+ Residential Units consisting of townhomes, apartments, and senior active living accommodations.
- A 70-Room Hotel on-site.
- 40,000 SF of Neighborhood Retail and street activation to bring life to the community.
- 70,000 SF of Office/Medical Space to support local businesses and healthcare services.
- A Community Town Square with an emphasis on public spaces and trails.
Demolition and abatement work is nearly complete. The preliminary planning process is underway concurrently with the remediation, demolition, and infrastructure work, marking the beginning of a significant change for our community.
Bladensburg's Attempt to Annex Hospital Hill:
The Town of Bladensburg has recently taken actions to annex the Hospital Hill property. This has raised significant concern for the Town of Cheverly. This project is vital to Cheverly’s economic development and future growth. At the request of the Redevelopment Authority, the County Council Chair, and the County Executive’s office, Cheverly has postponed formally pursuing annexation until development of the site is complete.
Additionally, the Town of Cheverly has already invested substantial resources to support annexation, including funding traffic studies, conducting surveys, and collaborating closely with the development team. We have also worked with the State of Maryland and Prince George’s County leadership in seeking and obtaining assistance from the Governor's office to safely remove old buildings from the site.
Our Response and Next Steps:
The Town of Cheverly is fully committed to defending our community’s interests and protecting this critical redevelopment project. The Mayor and Council have authorized a multi-step approach to address Bladensburg's attempts to annex the property, which includes the following actions:
- Cease and Desist: The Town Attorney has been instructed to issue a cease-and-desist order to the Town of Bladensburg, notifying them that the Town of Cheverly will immediately file a lawsuit if Bladensburg proceeds with efforts to annex the Hospital Hill property.
- Annexation Effort: The Town Attorney has been authorized to explore options for annexing the Hospital Hill property into Cheverly to ensure that the development remains under our jurisdiction.
- Public Hearing: The Mayor and Council will attend Bladensburg’s public hearing on the annexation, scheduled for December 9, 2024, at 7:00 PM at 4229 Edmonston Road, Bladensburg, MD. We encourage all Cheverly residents to attend the hearing to express support for our position and to ensure our community’s interests are represented.
- Legal Action: The Town of Cheverly will seek the developer’s support to pursue legal action against Bladensburg for interfering with the development of the Hospital Hill site. Additionally, the Town will collaborate with the developer to explore options for annexing the property into Cheverly.
We urge all residents to stay engaged and informed as we navigate these challenges. The redevelopment of Hospital Hill is a cornerstone of Cheverly’s future, and we are steadfast in our commitment to ensuring the project progresses smoothly and remains an asset to our community.
Thank you for your continued support and participation in shaping the future of our town. If you have any questions or need further information, please do not hesitate to reach out.