Developer pitches 600–690-unit Mark at College Park project; council seeks firm affordability terms

Representatives for The Mark at College Park LLC presented renderings and a timeline for redevelopment of the College Park Towers parcels at 4330 Hartwick Road and 4313 Knox Road during the Nov. 19 council meeting. Attorney Chris Hatcher said the project team is seeking rezoning to RTOPD and is awaiting a Zoning Hearing Examiner opinion before the district/county council takes up the matter.

Architect Matt Lam of WDG Architecture described a two-building scheme that steps from a higher 9‑story elevation on Hartwick down to 6–7 stories on Knox Road, introduces a greenway/pedestrian connection between Hartwick and Knox, and includes a Level‑4 amenity bridge linking buildings. Lam said the site slopes about 30 feet and that the design intends to add landscaped green space where a largely impervious parking area now sits.

Hatcher described a density range "600 units to 690" in the presentation and later indicated bed estimates of roughly 1,800–2,200 beds depending on the final unit mix. Council members repeatedly asked when the project will return with binding affordability commitments; Hatcher said the PD rezoning outcome will determine allowable density and that any final affordability terms are intended to be memorialized in a declaration of covenants tied to approvals.

Council raised additional concerns about notification to current College Park Towers residents, vehicle ingress/egress and drop-off design to avoid traffic impacts on narrow rear streets, and east–west bike connectivity across the site. The applicant said statutory notices have been mailed to parties of record and that the condo board has been contacted, but council members and student representatives urged more direct outreach to occupants who may face displacement.

No formal action was taken; the applicant said it expects to file preliminary site-plan and related applications in early next year once the county process advances.