Sustainable Communities

The Sustainable Communities Program, administered by the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD), is a place-based designation that supports revitalization and reinvestment in Maryland’s core communities.

Sustainable Community Areas are given competitive access to a toolbox of grants and tax credit initiatives that support projects that include, but are not limited to:

Streetscape improvements
Residential & commercial façade improvements
Community beautification
Affordable housing development
Placemaking projects
Vacant/blighted property acquisition/rehabilitation

The Neighborhood Revitalization Section of the Prince George’s County Planning Department provides technical planning services for municipalities and communities in the County that have, or are pursuing, a Sustainable Communities designation. The services the section offers include:

Planning and implementation support of action plan strategies
Guidance on financial programs and incentives
Assistance in the preparation of renewal applications
Assistance in the designation of unincorporated communities
Coordination of agency and stakeholder partnerships

Prince George’s County has over 20 sustainable community areas that have implemented a variety of projects to revitalize their community, increase prosperity for local households, and improve the health of the surrounding environment.

Maryland DHCD Approved Sustainable Communities

City of Bowie
City of College Park
City of District Heights
City of Greenbelt
City of Hyattsville
City of Laurel
City of Mount Rainier
Central Avenue Blue Line Metro Corridor
Kentland, Palmer Park, and Columbia Park
Langley Park
Suitland-Naylor Road Metro Stations
Town of Brentwood
Town of Forest Heights
Greater Camp Springs – Town of Morningside
Town of North Brentwood
Port Towns (Towns of Bladensburg, Colmar Manor, Cottage City, Edmonston)
Town of Upper Marlboro
Town of Landover Hills – City of New Carrollton
Greater Riverdale Park
Glassmanor-Oxon Hill
Town of Cheverly
Greater Chillum
Town of Berwyn Heights
Town of Eagle Harbor
City of Glenarden

Resources

Recent Accomplishments

Bowie State and MARC Station – Designated in 2026

Glassmanor and Oxon Hill – Renewed in 2026

Greater Riverdale – Renewed in 2025

Current Projects

Fort Washington Designation

The Neighborhood Revitalization Section (NRS) has been working in coordination with the nonprofit Fort Washington Forward Inc., community leaders, and local stakeholders to designate a portion of the Fort Washington area as a sustainable community. This project was initiated by Fort Washington Forward who is interested in revitalizing its commercial corridors as well as marketing and enhancing its community assets.

As part of this effort, an action plan has been drafted.  An action plan is a five-year investment strategy that outlines outcomes and action items that will increase the economic vitality and livability of a sustainable community, increase prosperity for local households and improve the health of the surrounding environment.

The draft plan is scheduled to be presented to County Council for approval on October 20, 2026. County Council meetings are open for the public to attend. A live stream of the County Council meeting will also be available on the County Council webpage starting at 10 a.m. on October 20.

If you are a resident, business owner, employee, nonprofit, or advocate for Fort Washington and want to get involved in this project, please contact Elizabeth Mekonnen at Elizabeth.Mekonnen@ppd.mncppc.org or 301-952-4363. 

Project Timeline

Date / Period	Project Activities and Milestones
Early 2024	Fort Washington Forward, a local nonprofit, requested technical assistance from NRS to explore the possibility of designating a portion of Fort Washington as a Sustainable Community.
March 2024	Maryland DHCD and NRS held a consultation session to discuss designation requirements and the application process.
Summer–Fall 2024	Fort Washington Forward, NRS, and a planning committee held internal meetings to build knowledge of the program, its benefits, and opportunities, and to begin planning the application.
March 13, 2025	A public open house introduced the greater Fort Washington community to the program and the proposed designation. The event also encouraged stakeholders to participate in the workgroup.
Spring 2025	The planning committee, Fort Washington Forward, and NRS conducted a SWOT analysis covering the application’s plan elements: Environment, Economy, Transportation, Housing, Community Health, and Local Planning and Staffing Capacity.
November–December 2025	Outreach was conducted to County agencies and implementation partners to join the Sustainable Community workgroup. The workgroup met to identify outcomes and strategies for the action plan.
January–April 2026	The workgroup met monthly to refine the action plan and prepare for community engagement. On April 21, 2026, a public open house was held at the Southern Regional Technology and Recreation Complex to gather input on the draft plan. The draft plan and proposed boundary were submitted to Maryland DHCD for preliminary feedback.
June 23, 2026	The workgroup met to discuss feedback received from Maryland DHCD’s review committee on the draft action plan and proposed boundary.

Central Avenue Metro Blue Line Corridor Renewal

The Neighborhood Revitalization Section (NRS) is working in coordination with the City of Seat Pleasant, the Town of Capitol Heights, and the Town of Fairmount Heights, community leaders, and local stakeholders to renew the sustainable community designation for the area encompassing the Central Avenue Metro Blue Line Corridor. This project will ensure that these communities and the surrounding unincorporated areas within the sustainable community area continue to have access to grant funding through the Maryland DHCD’s Sustainable Communities Program.

As part of this effort, the Central Avenue Metro Blue Line Corridor Sustainable Community action plan will be updated.  An action plan is a five-year investment strategy that outlines outcomes and action items that will increase the economic vitality and livability of a sustainable community, increase prosperity for local households and improve the health of the surrounding environment.

If you are a resident, business owner, employee, nonprofit, or advocate for any of the communities within the sustainable community area shown below and want to get involved in this project, please contact Elizabeth Mekonnen at Elizabeth.Mekonnen@ppd.mncppc.org or call 301-952-4363.