The University of Maryland, College Park has begun negotiations with The Cordish Cos. to lead the redevelopment of the eastern part of the state's flagship campus, school officials said.
The Baltimore-based company, which has developed projects such as the Power Plant complex at Baltimore's Inner Harbor, was selected through a request for proposals process that began in April.
The approximately 38-acre, mixed-use redevelopment will include stores, eateries, entertainment and graduate student housing, which proponents hope will revitalize the area around the U.S. Route 1 corridor. Planners envision the planned Birchmere Music Hall as the anchor of the redevelopment.
"When complete, the development will bring a new urban character to College Park by creating a vibrant district of retail, residential, office, much-needed affordable graduate housing, hotel and entertainment uses that will also stimulate downtown revitalization," Ann G. Wylie, university vice president for administrative affairs, said in a statement Friday.
Blake Cordish, vice president with Cordish, said in a statement that the company will "recognize the broader significance of east campus to the surrounding community and look forward to working closely with the local community and key stakeholders."
University officials said that besides revitalizing the area with new businesses, they hope to emphasize public transportation and bikes.
The first phase, which is expected to be complete within the next three years, will relocate some facilities at the east campus area to the recently purchased Washington Post building in Greenbelt.
Cordish will work with Clark Construction in Bethesda and Design Collective in Baltimore to complete the project.