Envisioning Unity: The 20743 Coalition and the Path Toward a One City Vision for Greater Capitol Heights

GCHIC welcomes the launch of the 20743 Coalition and is excited to continue the march toward a broader One City vision that embraces all neighborhoods of Greater Capitol Heights.

The recent launch of the 20743 Coalition marks a promising step toward the kind of regional cooperation the Central Avenue–Metro Blue/Silver Line Corridor urgently needs. The municipalities of Capitol Heights, Seat Pleasant, and Fairmount Heights have aligned to pursue shared development goals through a new coalition supported by LISC-DC and The Capital Market. It’s a compelling example of what’s possible when local governments prioritize collaboration over fragmentation.

At Greater Capitol Heights Improvement Corporation (GCHIC), we see this initiative as aligned with the spirit of our "One City, One Future" program area. Since our founding, GCHIC has emphasized the importance of a unified civic identity across the Greater Capitol Heights area. Our vision extends beyond municipal lines to include unincorporated neighborhoods like Coral Hills, Walker Mill, and Chapel Oaks, as well as the non-20743 municipalities of Glenarden and District Heights. These communities are essential to any wholistic and inclusive regional strategy.

In total, GCHIC's One City vision encompasses a 24-square-mile area home to approximately 110,000 residents. If this area were a single municipality, it would be the second-largest city in Maryland—larger than nearly half of the state’s counties.

 The formation of the 20743 Coalition is a welcome beginning. We stand ready to support and expand upon this momentum by continuing to engage every corner of the Greater Capitol Heights community—including the unincorporated areas that play a vital role in our shared success.

At the heart of GCHIC’s community-centered approach is a belief in accountability: that elected officials must answer to the residents, business owners, nonprofits, and faith institutions they serve. Independent nongovernmental organizations like GCHIC help to ensure that community priorities are heard, transparency is upheld, and key questions are addressed in the public interest.

We also know that change doesn’t happen alone. GCHIC has partnered in the past with both The Capital Market and LISC-DC, and we deeply value their role in shaping equitable development across the region. We look forward to continued collaboration as we work toward lasting, community-driven outcomes.

The launch of the 20743 Coalition shows that our region is prepared for deeper, more inclusive cooperation. At GCHIC, we’re proud to help advance that work by building bridges, lifting up local voices, and pursuing a Greater Capitol Heights area that reflects the hopes and potential of everyone who calls it home.