Town Center Closer to Reality For Pr. George's

Konterra Town Center East will include 4,500 residential units and 5.9 million square feet of commercial, retail and office space on nearly 500 acres. (Courtesy Of Chase Communications)

County officials said such projects as Konterra and National Harbor will make the county attractive to employers, young professionals and empty nesters, who like an urban style of living. The idea to build Konterra, which includes a small slice of land in Montgomery County, came to Kingdon Gould Jr. during his commute from his Howard County house to his District office.

Gould snatched up the largest undeveloped tract of land along the Baltimore-Washington corridor during a foreclosure sale in 1981. After family discussions around the dinner table, the family came up with Konterra by combining the name of the former landowners, Contee Sand and Gravel, with terra, the Latin word for earth.

"The 'k' is for Kingdon," Caleb Gould said in a recent interview. "But not for him," he added, teasing and pointing at his older brother Kingdon Gould III sitting across from him. Instead, it was for Kingdon Gould Jr., who is the former U.S. ambassador to the Netherlands and Luxembourg, and the great-grandson of railroad financier Jay Gould.

Caleb Gould said his father originally used James Rouse's design for Columbia as a model for Konterra with some changes. Konterra Town Center East will resemble the town centers in Reston and Rancho Cucamonga, Calif., pedestrian-friendly developments where the "live, work and dine" theme has been successful.

"I know they seem to be buzz words," said Deborah Ratner Salzberg, director of Forest City Enterprises, which has partnered with Konterra Realty on the project, of the theme. "But that is what it will be."

For years, many residents have had mixed reactions to the project.

Some were adamantly opposed, anxious that thousands of new residents, workers and shoppers making their way into the area would destroy their community's rural landscape.

"This place is not ever going to be the same again," said Gerry Caulk, who lives just over the Prince George's County line in Burtonsville. Caulk said her road is already congested, and Konterra and the ICC are not even built yet.

"They want to build thousands of dwelling units on the other side of the road that is not able to handle it," said Dennis Cook, zoning officer for the West Laurel Civic Association. "Where are all those cars going to go?"

Despite his question, Cook said he isn't against Gould's plans for the land. "What was there wasn't great, either," he said referring to the gravel pit. "We just want to see a balanced community. . . . In the early planning process, they were talking about doing a good, balanced community with as many jobs as housing units. . . . The last thing I saw was a little bit imbalanced."

Still, Cook said, most residents are resigned to the project, despite their concerns. There was no opposition expressed during the last two public hearings before the planning board.

"I think the essence of the project was fought decades ago," said Mary Lehman, president of the West Laurel Civic Association. "Now we are looking to do what we can to mitigate the effects on the quality of life."

Lehman said residents will keep a close eye on the details of the plan, which will be revealed in the fall.