Vision Agenda: Live

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Live

What is our vision for a better quality of life in Price George’s County with regards to things like housing, neighborhoods, shopping, and health and human services (public or private)? Consider:

What is important in terms of creating safe, clean, and friendly communities that offer access to quality housing, jobs, retail, recreation, green space, transportation options, and other services such as health care and human services?
What key things need to be put in place at both the local community as well as the county levels?
How do we provide the appropriate range of desirable housing options for a diverse population and how to provide the services and other amenities needed to position Prince George’s County as a vibrant community?
How do we effectively maintain the rich diversity of the county’s urban, suburban, rural, historic, and modern character, while changing into a more vibrant economy and growing community?

Vision Ideas for Live from the Community Forums

More than 640 ideas were received related to Live across the six community forums. Six themes rose to the top. Each is written here as if the desired future has already occurred:

Flourishing Urban Areas: The county’s urban areas are flourishing as bustling, vibrant communities that people of all ethnicities, incomes, and ages find to be desirable places to live, work, and play
Safe County: Prince George’s County is known as one of the safest areas in the region. The relationship between law enforcement and the community is collaborative and supportive, and true community-oriented policing is working to maintain safe communities
Affordable Healthcare: Affordable health care and other health and human services are conveniently accessible to all county residents.
Great Diversity of Shopping: There is a great diversity of shopping, restaurants, entertainment, and services ranging from affordable to high-end, available to everyone in the county.
High-Quality, Affordable Housing: There is affordable, high-quality housing and high-end housing in the county, including options for residents of all income levels, families, those with special needs, and active older adults.
Mixed-Use Communities: Large numbers of people in the county live and work in mixed-use communities that are pedestrian-friendly, connected to Metro stations and public transit, and where they have access to necessary amenities and services.

Assets, Opportunities, and Challenges

Below are many ideas about the assets, opportunities, and challenges for Prince George’s County to consider as we strive towards our Vision for Live.

Assets

Diverse population across race, ethnicity, immigrants, age, income.
Neighborhoods that are stable and mature.
Housing stock consisting of old and new homes.
Available land that is reasonably priced throughout the county.
Great location close to D.C., Annapolis, and Baltimore.
Access to many transportation options.
Open space and award-winning parks and recreation programs.
Growing cities and towns such as Bowie, Laurel, Hyattsville, Greenbelt, and College Park.
Amenities such as shopping are increasing.
Rural and historic character that is distinct in the region.

Opportunities

15 Metro stations, 7 MARC stations and 1 Amtrak station surrounded by land well suited for TOD.
National Harbor success can be used to further develop areas nearby and elsewhere.
Gateway Arts District could be a draw if fully developed.
Rural character as a high quality of life feature should be preserved.
Immigrant populations should be welcomed.
High-end housing and shopping to attract new residents to the county.
New development with a mix of quality housing choices.
Federal facilities with tens of thousands of day-time employees.
Leverage County’s close proximity to Washington, DC & Annapolis

Challenges

Access to high quality health care is not affordable for many and is a burden on individuals, businesses, and government.
Social services for families and individuals in need.
Older housing, including garden-style apartments build in the 1960’s and 1970’s, that is affordable for the moderate income workforce is available in the county, but in need of maintenance, renovation, and rebuilding.
Affordable housing is difficult to include in newer developments.
Public safety and crime concerns deter new residents and business development.
Public safety and crime concerns impact quality of life for current residents.
Limited amenities for current residents and people considering locating to the county.
Tax burden on residents from local and county governments due in part to lack of commercial development.
High foreclosure rates in the county.
Integration of federal facilities into the community and capitalizing on these facilities as major assets.