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Council introduces ordinance to sell 5021 Lakeland Road for permanently affordable housing partnership
Summary
The council introduced Ordinance 26-002 to allow sale of city-owned 5021 Lakeland Road to a City-University partnership and Habitat for Humanity to create a permanently affordable home; staff described the transaction structure, partners, and a March 9 community feedback meeting and scheduled the public hearing for March 24.
City planning staff and partnership representatives presented a proposal to transfer city-owned property at 5021 Lakeland Road to the College Park City-University Partnership/Community Preservation Trust to support a permanently affordable homeownership project with Habitat for Humanity Metro Maryland.
Senior planner Carlos Nunez and partnership director Orlando Velez outlined the transaction structure: the city paid about $205,426 for the lot in 2025; the proposed sale price is approximately $105,000 with the remaining value (~$100,000) effectively used as a contribution toward construction and affordability. Habitat and the partnership described how Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds and partnership fundraising will support construction. The presentation included a financial diagram of cash flows, indicated a projected development cost of about $410,000 for a single-family home (subject to design and community input), and described a 99-year stewardship model and resale restrictions to keep the home permanently affordable.
Partners present included the College Park City-University Partnership, Habitat for Humanity Metro Maryland, the Lakeland Civic Association, University of Maryland capstone students (working on site design options), and other community stakeholders. Staff noted that the ordinance introduction is required by state notice rules; the transaction documents and grant agreements will return to council for approval, and the public hearing on the sale is scheduled for March 24. A community feedback meeting will be held March 9 in Lakeland to inform design decisions, including whether the final project will be a single-family home or a duplex.
Council members praised the partnership approach as aligned with city housing and restorative justice goals and asked staff to coordinate with the Lakeland community and restorative-justice commission as the process proceeds. Council introduced the ordinance; introduction requires no vote and will proceed to public hearing as scheduled.
