A squabble between the incorporated towns of Cheverly and Bladensburg about which one will annex a big development site called Cheverly Hill — and the new tax base it represents — could impact the project’s viability, the developers caution.
Cheverly Hill is a $500 million, 1.5 million-square-foot mixed-used project proposed to go on the partially demolished Prince George’s County Hospital site, between the two towns on Cheverly’s side of Route 295. Cheverly has long planned to annex the land — some 45 acres currently owned by Prince George’s County and the county’s redevelopment authority — into its municipal boundaries. But Bladensburg is making a play to beat Cheverly to the punch.
Cheverly Hill’s developers, Urban Atlantic and Hometeam5 (a private group of equity investors), have “very significant concerns” about Bladensburg’s move, including about potential “fiscal and viability implications” for the project, according to a Dec. 10 letter to Bladensburg Mayor Takisha James. The letter, which asks Bladensburg to rescind its annexation effort, was signed by Urban Atlantic Managing Partner Vicki Davis and Homestead5’s John Porcari
Bladensburg’s claim on the site has been formally initiated, but won’t be complete until the town council votes on the matter, anticipated to occur after a Dec. 19 public hearing. The annexation would become effective 45 days after that, per the town council’s agenda packet for that meeting.
Cheverly will fight Bladensburg’s claim in court, if necessary, the town council and town’s attorney said in separate letters dated Dec. 4 and Dec. 5.
