How Prince George’s County reviews data center proposals—and why process alone can’t replace clear rules, enforceable standards, and real community benefit.

Why Performance Standards Matter  In this series, GCHIC has evaluated the Qualified Data Center Task Force’s recommendations against Smart Digital Growth —a policy framework developed to help Prince George’s County harness the fiscal benefits of data centers while avoiding the land‑use, infrastructure, and community harms seen elsewhere. In Part 1 , we explained why the Task Force was created, how it operated, and what its report sets in motion. In Part 2 , we examined the Ta

Where data centers go matters as much as whether they are regulated at all. This post evaluates the Task Force’s siting recommendations against Smart Digital Growth’s  priority-based approach. Proposed NVIDIA Data Facility in Cambridge, U.K.. Image by Richard Croft . The Qualified Data Center Task Force’s recommendations take meaningful steps toward improving how data centers are sited in Prince George’s County. The harder question is whether those steps are enough. In Part

Discover how community nonprofits can partner with the County Executive to deliver for seniors. Read our open letter to the County Executive now!

The Qualified Data Center Task Force has released its long-awaited report, and it marks a significant shift in how Prince George’s County is approaching data centers. Residents raised serious concerns over the past year—environmental risks, land-use conflicts, and a broken public process—and the Task Force’s recommendations directly respond to many of those issues. Some gaps remain, and we’ll unpack those in this five-part series. But first, here’s what the Task Force actuall

In recent weeks, momentum has shifted in Prince George’s County over the proposed data center at the former Landover Mall site. While the project isn’t dead yet, what once seemed like a done deal is now facing increasing scrutiny and community pushback.  On September 15, County Executive Aisha Braveboy issued an executive order halting all permit approvals for new data centers—effectively freezing progress while a newly formed Qualified Data Center Task Force conducts a compr

Prince George’s County spent years updating its zoning to encourage walkable, transit-oriented, and equitable growth , especially in long-disinvested inner-Beltway neighborhoods. Now, a new proposal—the Flagship Project Overlay Zone (FPOZ) —threatens to undermine those reforms. The County Council will soon consider legislation (CB-105-2025 and CB-92-2025) that would create an overlay zone allowing certain mega-developments to bypass essential zoning safeguards and public inpu

The housing affordability crisis in the DC Metro area is hitting families hard—but the solution may lie in Prince George’s County. Greater Capitol Heights has the right mix of assets: Metro access, available land, and deep community roots. Yet too many residents are rent-burdened, spending more than 30% of their income on housing.  Why Greater Capitol Heights Matters The latest policy brief from Greater Capitol Heights Improvement Corporation (GCHIC) highlights why this comm

Greater Capitol Heights Improvement Corporation (GCHIC) filed a lawsuit Friday in the Circuit Court for Prince George’s County against...

Explore how the 20743 Coalition reflects GCHIC’s One City vision for inclusive development across Greater Capitol Heights and the Blue Line Corridor.

As Prince George’s County turns its attention to the Six Flags site closure, this blog urges a shift toward long-neglected Metro station areas like Capitol Heights and Addison Road—and away from headline-chasing distractions.

Greater Capitol Heights has recently benefited from the dedication and talent of two rising advocates: Rockaya Ndoye and Savannah Cobbs....

With the Washington Commanders leaving Landover, Prince George’s County must resist the lure of flashy redevelopment and stay focused on building equitable, transit-oriented communities around its Metro stations.

As America grapples with a deepening housing crisis, New York Times  columnist Conor Dougherty recently argued  that more suburban and...

Small businesses are the heartbeat of our community. They thrive on more than just dollars; they need our engagement, visibility, and...

Only 5% of Prince George's County voters participated in the special primary election on March 4. This is not what democracy looks like.

Dahlia Shaewitzs joined the CLI with a purpose: to make a greater impact on a field that she knew and loved. With over 20 years of...

Adil Ashraf-Mayo was initially supposed to be on the administrative team for the Civic Leadership Institute. Recruited by Brittney...

While the planning process is not well-known to most, members of the CLI became well-versed in what it entails. One such member, Rose...

Shani Gzifa went from collecting recycling after school in Environmental Club to meeting with the Department of Agriculture on soil...