2007 Accomplishments

• Completed relocation of all remaining residents, since 7/1/2005 and contracted for the final phase of demolition of the apartment buildings known as Suitland Manor. Over 250 households were relocated without complaint to better-quality replacement units; and 48 families were able to use relocation benefits to purchase a home and gain a real stake in their community.

• Managed process to select a Master Developer for the Suitland Manor site and facilitated a Proposal Analysis Group in reviewing proposals and making a final recommendation. The selected proposal calls for development of almost 500 single-family homes and condominium units, 125,000 square feet of office space, a community center; and a 125-room extended-stay hotel for a projected total development cost of $234 million.

• Completed renovation of commercial properties on Rhode Island Avenue in Mt. Rainier, and initiated review of several proposals to lease the space for the establishment of a new neighborhood restaurant.

• Negotiated extension of lease agreement with Maryland National Capital Park and Planning Commission for the Sugar Ray Leonard Boxing Center in Palmer Park.

• Established a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Housing Authority of Prince George’s County to provide for management of its tax-exempt bond financing and property disposition programs. New arrangement generates fee income for the Redevelopment Authority, and fixes the Housing Authority’s costs for administering the programs well below gross program income.
  

• Completed underwriting and secured all necessary approvals for issuance of tax-exempt bonds to finance acquisition and rehabilitation of the Allentowne Apartments in Camp Springs ($13.9 million in Aaa-rated tax exempt bonds, with credit enhancement by Freddie Mac and Wachovia Bank, issued July 31, 2007).

• Completed disposition of the Baber Village site (a Housing Authority surplus property on Central Avenue near the Addison Road Metro station) following extensive negotiations with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development to win release of 30-year-old use restrictions and gain approval for development of high quality, for-sale “workforce housing.”

• Completed disposition of the Tantallon Square site a Housing Authority surplus property in Fort Washington, for development of single-family homes.

• Assisted Housing Authority staff in gaining HUD approval for demolition and disposition of the McGuire House, vacant for more than 10 years due to environmental concerns.

• Structured a new program to allow for the negotiated sale of surplus single-family home lots to non-profit community development corporations, to facilitate development of moderately-priced single-family homes affordable to the County’s essential work force, e.g., police, fire and rescue, teachers, health care workers, etc.

• Complete demolition of all structures on the Suitland Manor site, and secure site to prevent illegal dumping and other criminal activity.