Ambitious Project Is Planned in Laurel

Konterra Fits 'New Urbanism' Trend

By Ovetta Wiggins
Washington Post Staff Writer
Tuesday, October 9, 2007; B01

In six months, Prince George's County will preside over the opening of National Harbor, one of the biggest and most luxurious hotel and convention centers on the East Coast: a $2 billion marvel of work and play space on the banks of the Potomac River.

Lurking in the wings is another project that could trump National Harbor, this one planned for the northern end of the county near the Montgomery County line.

Konterra, as it is known, will be even bigger and more expensive than National Harbor. Planners envision the $3 billion development occupying 2,200 acres in Laurel and featuring luxury single-family houses, townhomes and condominiums, hotels, a business park and swanky retail, office and entertainment space.

Developers hope to have their plans approved next year and break ground in 2009.

The project is being planned in phases: Konterra and Konterra Town Center.

When the first phase is completed in 2011, it will resemble Reston and Bethesda, with sidewalks and outdoor cafes. "It is seen as a more lively kind of environment," said Steven Adams, supervisor of urban design for the county's planning department. "Sometimes suburban living is characterized as sterile. This provides a neo-urban kind of place."

Like National Harbor, Konterra exemplifies a growing tendency in Prince George's to retool land-use plans in an effort to get developments to group office and retail space, housing and restaurants into single communities.

Source: The Washington Post. View Article.

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