Achievements
Investing in Infrastructure, Providing Quality Housing, and Improving Quality of Life
Deni has overseen several key projects during her tenure in office. These projects focus on rebuilding our abandoned, vacant blighted buildings (and blocks) and revitalizating aging strip malls. We are revitalizing our district one neighborhood at a time. One of the key strategies she has employed was by establishing the Northern Gateway Area, an umbrella coalition of all the unincorporated areas of District 2, which complements our Gateway Arts District, a coalition of our incorporated areas in the district.
The Hyattsville Library has temporary relocated in order to build at $34 million new state of the art library in its previous location. To see the video of the new library visit: https://youtu.be/3xexBCx23qM
The Purple Line is a proposed high-capacity public transportation link between the Metrorail Red Line in Bethesda and Metrorail Orange Line in New Carrollton. The 16-mile light rail line would provide a direct connection between the Metrorail Red, Green and Orange lines that radiate into suburban Maryland from Washington D.C. It would also provide an east-west public transportation link between Montgomery County and Prince George’s County.
This project is located at 3300, 3303, and 3310 Rhode Island Ave. The Menkiti Group will preserve and restore the existing building envelope, and ultimately program the space with a vibrant mix of commercial uses with 12 residential units above. The plan, which features a 5,500 SF hardware store, 3,000 SF arts incubator, 1,400 SF cafe/restaurant will create day and evening activation of the site and serve as a catalyst for the further development of nearby properties.
Located at 2300 Queens Chapel Rd this project consists of building 71 townhomes in the Avondale area. Groundbreaking coming soon!
Joining the nearby Netzero home on 34th St in Mt. Rainier, this cutting edge project adds four more units from 1,940 sq. ft. to 2,910 sq. ft. on Perry St. This is the first top of the line green construction project of its kind in the County. It was highlighted in the Washington Post Magazine. This project redeveloped an empty, abandoned undeveloped block in walkable Mt. Rainier.
A new 5,200 sq. ft. location for Artworks, co-located with Pizza Paradiso, space will more than double the size of the previous location. Project includes the opening of Pizza Paradiso, one of a growing number of full-service restaurants in the neighborhood on Rhode Island Ave. This location opened Summer 2017 and is the adaptive reuse of the Marche florist building.
As a $36 million dollar project, Studio 3807 is a new state-of-the art, mixed use development for 147 market rate apartments, 6,000 sq. ft. of artist work space, and 6,000 sq. ft. of retail space. It is located at the intersection of 38th and Rhode Island Ave, in the heart of the Gateway Arts District. This was a projected done with the County's Redevelopment Authority, the Department of Housing and Community Development, the Hyattsville CDC, and the Prince George's County Department of Housing and Community Development.
The Artisan is a mixed-use residential and commercial development on 4100 Rhode Island Ave. This is being done as a Phase II to Studio 3807, a $36 million dollar project (see Studio 3807). This was the redevelopment where the old Plumber building used to be.
Located in 3001 Queens Chapel Mount Rainier, Maryland, Rainier Manor is a thriving senior community that 57 additional active adults call home, next to the 100 already in existence at Rainier Manor I. With newly built apartments, this community offers an affordable rental choice to seniors age 62 and over. Nestled in a convenient, neighborhood-like setting, Rainier Manor has been perfectly planned to fit your lifestyle and provides much more than “just a place to live.”
An $85 million project, The Edition at Kiplinger project is located at the former Editor’s Press site off of East-West Highway, adjacent to the Prince George’s Plaza Metro Station. NVR and Fore Property Company are developing the Kiplinger site to be a mix of apartment units, condominiums and townhouses. The full build out of the project is anticipated to be 348 rental units in a five-story building, 40 two-over-two condominiums, and 86 four-story townhouses.
The latest development in University Town Center (UTC) is the mixed-use project anchored by Safeway at the intersection of America Boulevard and East-West Highway. The 85,524-square-foot development was led by Echo Realty in partnership with The Bernstein Companies and is scheduled to opened in April 2016. The Safeway itself will house a Starbucks, a pharmacy and a bank. Other tenants will include Town Center Wine & Spirits, Unleashed by Petco, Phenix Salon, Pollo Campero and a 10,000-square foot MedStar primary & urgent care facility. The project will also include a two-story parking garage.
After over a decade of waiting, the Takoma Langley Crossroads Transit Center, operated by the Maryland Transit Administration, provides bus service to over 12,000 customers daily, making it the largest non-Metrorail station transfer point in the Washington region. The center features a large well-lit canopy, ADA-accessible bus loading areas and real-time bus arrival screens. The center also provides an off-street location for safe bus boarding and transfers, and decreased vehicular- pedestrian incidents.
A $3.5 million project, The Arcade at 4318 Gallatin Street is an adaptive reuse phased rehabilitation to restore the structure as a future anchor of the Gateway Arts District. Grant funding from the State of Maryland and Prince George’s County have supported the stabilization of the structure and have served as a springboard for revitalization of the building.
Legislation
Connecting Communities, Improving the Environment, and Protecting Seniors
Listed are some of my key legislation initiatives during my last three years in office. In 2015, Council member Taveras supported sensible legislation to safeguard the environment, protect the elderly, and enhance the quality of life in Prince George's County. In 2016, Council member Taveras presented a quality of life legislative package to focus on improving public safety, public health, and local neighborhood conditions. The bills focus on strengthening enforcement, increasing outreach and education, and ensuring accountability. In 2017, she continued to press on her quality life legislation, as well as focusing on affordable housing, housing standards, and tenant protection legislation. Some key legislation pieces tackled issues such as human trafficking, drug dealing, bulk trash, illegal signs, and overcrowding. Councilmember Taveras was awarded Legislator of the Year in 2017 by the Prince George's County Municipal Association.
CR-22-2017 passed for the purpose of approving Greater Chillum as a Sustainable Community through the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development.
CR-17-2017 allows Tattoo Parlor and Music Recording Studio to be added to certain character areas within the Gateway Arts District.
CR-90-2017 sends a message that Dreamers and those with Temporary Protected Status are welcomed in Prince George's County.
CR-2-2017 was passed to send a message that immigrants and refugees are welcomed in Prince George's County.
CB-74-2017 passed for the purpose of providing an exception to the requirements of the County Subdivision Regulations to allow certain structural repairs.
CB-48-2017 extends the historic tax credit from 5 to 10 years when upgrades are done to a historic home or a home in a historic district.
CB-62-2017 establishes a Language Access program in the County. It will require the processing and reporting of requests for language access services in the County.
CB-49-2017 provides basic standards and community notification for non-conforming uses. This bill will eliminate blight and allow for better protection of the public health, safety, and welfare of our County residents.
CB-91-2017 imposes civil fines and penalties for violations of the housing code in our multifamily rental facilities.
CB-37-2017 creates the first standards of how many people can occupy a home or apartment based on square footage per the International Code of Property Standards.
This bill CB-85-2017 protects tenants for being evicted by property managers for complaining, as long as your rent is paid in full.
CB-90-2016 is a resolution that designates an area of unincorporated land in the northern portion of Prince George's County as the Prince George's County Northern Gateway. This specifically puts under the same umbrella the neighborhoods of Langley Park, parts of Adelphi, Lewisdale, Carole Highlands, Chillum, 8th Precinct, Hampshire Knolls, Avondale and North Woodrigde. This new district will be the densest district in Prince George's County and giving it an opportunity for greater advocacy of revitalization opportunities and housing enforcement.
CR-56-2016 is a resolution that creates the Prince George's Plaza Transit District Overlay Zone. This bill approves the new zoning standards for Planning Area 68 for the area generally bounded by the eastern boundary of the M-NCPPC Northwest Branch Stream Valley Park; on the north by the University Hills Subdivision. This bill increases the density of around the transit area to allow for smart growth development mixed-uses of residential, commercial, schools, and stormwater needs.
CR-89-2016 is a resolution to allow for more creative small business options within the Gateway Arts District. More specifically, this resolution permits the existence of Tattoo Parlors and Music Recording Studios in certain character areas within the Gateway Arts Development District.
CB-59-2016 expands laws to prohibit the use of an apartment for drug activity or prostitution. The legislation holds landlords, owners, management staff, and tenants liable if their property is knowingly used for drug activity or prostitution, including human trafficking. The bill also provides for outreach and education in order to encourage more effective community partnerships in prevention and enforcement.
CB-64-2016 addresses public health concerns related to the accumulation of garbage or litter following an eviction. The bill mandates landlords to remove all garbage, litter, and trash from the property within one business day.
CB-63-2016 prohibits the illegal sales of vehicles on County roads. By increasing penalties, the bill aims to stem the proliferation of curbstoning and better incentivize the necessary complex sting operations across County agencies.
CB-61-2016 with companion bill CB-62-2016 maximizes the penalties for illegally posting signs, strengthening enforcement in the County.
CB-03-2016 amends the zoning ordinance to forbid natural-gas drilling. Prince George's was the first jurisdiction in Maryland to enact legislation prohibiting hydraulic fracturing in an effort to protect residents from health hazards associated with the practice. This led the state to take on a similar position after years of debate in Annapolis.
CB-74-2015 establishes a property tax credit for landowners who are engaged in urban agriculture activities or leasing land for urban agricultural purposes. CB-25-2016 amends the zoning categories for urban farms and expands urban farming opportunities to R-80 and R-55 residential zones, providing more land to cultivate fruits, vegetables, and flowers where residents live.
CB-59-2015 requires age restricted senior housing facilities to provide senior citizens age 55 and over with the option of a 24-month residential lease. Twenty-four month leases must be offered to senior residents signing or renewing leases. Building managers may not increase the rent during the 24-month lease.
CB-05-2015 prohibits the sale, use, or provision of certain expanded polystyrene food service products, which include bio-degradable Styrofoam containers not easily recycled. Effective July 1, 2016, this bill aims to reduce trash pollution and the accumulation of litter.
CB-44-2015 establishes stronger penalities for public drinking in Prince George's County. The bill increases the fines for offenses and adds alcohol treatment and community service to each offense.
In 2015 Hogan Companies and Gilbane Development proposed to develop a 25.3 acre parcel immediately northwest of the West Hyattsville Metro Station as a multifamily unit and townhouse development. The latest conceptual plan proposes 300 apartment units, 183 townhouses, and 10,000 square feet of retail/commercial space. The concept plan proposes a public park and amphitheater, improvements to the Northwest Branch Trail and several connections of the property to the Metro station.