By SASWATHI NATTA
June 26, the Prince George’s County Planning Board will discuss a new owner’s plan to redevelop the iconic masonic lodge at 4207 Gallatin St.
The Freemasons, an ancient fraternal society, established Mount Hermon Lodge No. 179 in 1886, according to their website. The historic building now under re-development was completed in 1893.
One Grand Master Williamson laid the cornerstone using the same gavel used by another past master, George Washington, at the cornerstone laying of the U. S. Capitol.
The building has been vacant for some time. The PG county council designated it as a historical site in October 2024 at the recommendation of the historic preservation commission. Now, the lodge has the chance at being occupied once again, while still preserving the historical facade.
Mt. Hermon Lodge Preservation LLC bought the lodge and surrounding parking lot for $1.3 million in April. Managing member of this LLC, Kayleigh Kulp, who has been a Hyattsville resident for 15 years, has supported the historical preservation of the lodge.
Kulp proposes a two phase redevelopment plan, keeping the historic exterior, restoring it, and redeveloping the interior into 8 apartments and 1,700 square feet of retail space. Five additional townhouses on the adjoining parking lot are planned for a second phase of the development.
The retail space will be in the lodge’s former ballroom, which has 16-ft ceilings. Kulp hosted a neighborhood dance party there this spring. She is currently donating storage space in the building to Welcome Home Neighbor, a grassroots Hyattsville organization that furnishes families moving out of shelters.
At the Hyattsville City council meeting on May 19th, 2025, residents opposed the project’s second phase, which calls for the development of five town houses on the 14-space parking lot. Kulp claimed that the phase 2 development is essential for the financial feasibility of the entire redevelopment.
Some residents are worried about the loss of parking. About 50 residents signed a petition opposing the development of the parking lot.
Jessica Taylor said she has seen “a major increase in traffic with the park being open again, both schools [in the area] and eventually there will be retail and at least 8 people living there, and they are all going to need parking.”
Kulp shared a required traffic study with the Life & Times, which shows minimal additional traffic from the first phase of the development, as well as a parking memo that details public parking options near the lodge. In an interview, Kulp said she anticipated the lodge redevelopment would attract tenants who were looking for a walkable lifestyle, and might not have cars. She said she planned ample bike storage. She said town homes would have their own onsite parking.
At the May 19 meeting, another resident, Janet Griffin, said “it’s an important part of the city and residents are excited about what could come into the lodge, but are concerned about . . .the proposal for redeveloping the parking lot associated with the lodge into 5 four-story town homes.” She asked the council to think carefully about the parking.
The city council voted to support redevelopment of the lodge building, and requested consideration of a bike rack and public art, along with the right to consult on plans for the redevelopment of the adjoining parking lot.
As Hyattsville continues to grow and evolve, the masonic lodge redevelopment can be a case study in finding a solution that satisfies both the financial needs of the project and the community’s desires.
The parking lot behind the lodge, slated for redevelopment. Photo: Kit Slack
Details on how to sign up to speak at the meeting are available here. The planning board prefers advance registration but does allow participants to sign up to speak in person.
This article has been updated to reflect a clarification from Kayleigh Kulp, who informed the Life & Times that the townhouse owners in phase 2 would have onsite parking, and that she anticipates that some of the tenants of the phase 1 developer may not have cars given the walkable neighborhood.
