Major developments are in the works for the City of College Park! As construction of the Purple Line continues, new development will transform College Park. Numerous entities, such as the City of College Park, the University of Maryland, and Terrapin Development Company have worked together on some of these projects to provide more housing and attract more amenities in the City. “It’s an opportunity to push the City’s potential and capacity to serve our residents’ needs,” said Michael Williams, City of College Park Economic Development Manager. Several residential developments are being constructed in the City to provide more housing and retail opportunities for residents and students. The newly opened residential complex on Baltimore Avenue, the Aster, features the first Trader Joe’s in Prince George’s County. The project brings 393 apartments and 100 jobs to the City. Another complex, Union on Knox, will open in downtown College Park in August 2024 and provide housing tailored for students. In addition to new housing options in downtown College Park, there will also be new food choices! Taim Mediterranean is now open on the plaza level of City Hall; Dog Haus Biergarten will open next door later this spring. A Shop Made In Maryland store will open later this year to promote items produced in our home state. Nearby, Popeye’s Chicken has opened at 7417 Baltimore Avenue. The University of Maryland’s Discovery District, connecting the University and the College Park metro station, will become a center for academic research and economic development. Aviation Landing, a mixed-use development, opening by 2026, will expand working and housing opportunities for the University’s students, faculty, and staff. The Atworth residential complex with 451 units is also slated to open near the College Park metro in May 2024. This area also includes The Hotel at UMD, which was named one of the top ten hotels in the state of Maryland by the U.S. News and World Report. The Hotel is home to GrillMarx Steakhouse and Raw Bar and will soon add another restaurant. In late spring 2023, the Annapolis-based restaurant franchise, Iron Rooster, will begin offering all-day breakfast and an early-bird happy hour. In North College Park, a new WAWA gas station and convenience store will open soon near the IKEA store. For a directory of local businesses, visit www.collegepark.life.