One of the few condominium complexes in College Park is scheduled to be torn down to make room for two high-rise student apartment buildings.
College Park Towers, located at 4313 Knox Road since 1983, has long been a less expensive housing option for University of Maryland (UMD) students looking to live off campus compared with most high-rises on and near Route 1.
“Over the years, [College Park Towers] has mostly turned into rentals for undergraduate students,” former College Park City Councilmember John Rigg (District 3) said. “If this goes away, we will lose some amount of truly affordable housing.”
The Towers has approximately 100 units, compared with more than 600 apartments in the planned Mark at College Park, which will take its place.
Pending approval by Prince George’s County, Landmark Properties plans to redevelop the 4.62-acre property into two 10-story buildings, according to a Nov. 18 presentation to the City Council by the developer’s attorney.
The Maryland Condominium Act requires a majority of landlords in the building to vote in favor of selling a property to potential developers.
Councilmember Alan Hew (District 1) said he and his council colleagues have asked the developer to include affordable units in the new buildings.
Attorney Chris Hatcher told the council the developer has not yet decided on rental prices and acknowledged members’ desire to keep the building affordable.
Ivy Aquilina, a senior at UMD, lived in College Park Towers during her sophomore and junior years. Aquilina said although her living situation was not as luxurious as some of her classmates’, it was financially worthwhile.
Aquilina said she and her three roommates each paid $725 a month for the apartment, compared with friends who paid nearly double that at The Standard at College Park and Landmark Apartments.
“If it comes down to it, [UMD students] are going to have to start weighing that, yes, going in-state is cheaper, but is the cost of living [compareable] to what other schools may be?” Aquilina said.
Barry Levine of Bethesda owns five units in College Park Towers and has rented them to UMD students for 12 years.
“It’s their first experience living off-campus [and] they have so much energy,” Levine said. “They don’t know what they don’t know, and I get texts about so many things.”
Demolition of College Park Towers is expected to begin this year.