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College Park partnership with Habitat and UMD students aims to build an affordable home at 5021 Lakeland Road
Summary
The Community Preservation Trust, College Park City–University Partnership, Habitat for Humanity and University of Maryland capstone students proposed returning a city-owned vacant lot at Lakeland Road and 51st Avenue to permanent affordable owner-occupied housing under a 99-year affordability covenant; council heard details and asked about zoning, timeline and costs.
City and nonprofit partners presented a pilot project on Oct. 21 to convert a city-owned vacant lot at 5021 Lakeland Road into an affordable, owner-occupied home developed by Habitat for Humanity with design input from University of Maryland capstone students and oversight by the Community Preservation Trust.
What the project would do: Under the model presented, the city would sell the land to the Trust for $200,000; the Trust would sell building rights to Habitat, and proceeds would seed a construction grant. The land would remain encumbered by a 99-year covenant to preserve affordability and owner-occupancy. The buyer would take a Habitat 0% interest mortgage and contribute sweat equity. The project aims to be a replicable proof-of-concept for using Trust-owned land to expand long-term affordable homeownership across the city.
Design and community input: The plan emphasizes community design charrettes with the Lakeland Civic Association and Lakeland Historic Society; UMD architecture and engineering capstone students will work with residents to shape the home and site. Presenters said a duplex may be possible under recent state nonprofit-developer rules, but community preference will guide the final design.
Financing and timeline: Staff proposed a $200,000 acquisition package tied to available CDBG acquisition funds held by Habitat; the city reported total acquisition costs about $211,000 (including settlement/appraisal). Presenters estimated construction could begin late next year, with on-site construction taking about six to nine months, but emphasized further legal agreements (MOUs/MOAs), permitting and design phases must be completed first.
Council response and concerns: Council members praised the partnership model and asked about zoning (duplex potential under state law), selection and timing for future homeowners, use of modular construction vs. in-place volunteer building, energy-efficiency features, local hiring preferences, and clarifying how sale proceeds would be reused by the Trust. Presenters said Habitat has comparable projects in Silver Spring and Rockville and that the Trust intends to reinvest sale proceeds to acquire and rehabilitate other blighted or vacant properties.
