A squabble between Cheverly and Bladensburg about which town would annex a half-billion-dollar development site — and new tax base it promises — has escalated into a legal battle, renewing fears the project might consequently be imperiled.
Cheverly had long been negotiating with Urban Atlantic and co-developer and Hometeam5, a private group of equity investors, on plans to transform the 45-acre former county hospital site, located at 3001 Hospital Drive, into a 1.5 million-square-foot mixed-use project known as Cheverly Hill. Until, on Dec. 19, local lawmakers in Bladensburg beat their Cheverly counterparts to the punch, initiating the annexation procedure first.
As a result, Cheverly filed two actions in Prince George’s County Circuit Court on Jan. 13, one asking the court to void Bladensburg’s claim to annexation, the other asking for $40 million in damages.
Cheverly Hill “now faces termination or significant redesign, putting its viability in question,” according to a press release Monday from the town of Cheverly. Asked whether that’s true, Urban Atlantic declined to comment.
