Building Community at the Gateway: Capitol Heights and Addison Road Metro Area Development Brings Real Affordability to the CHARM Center

The Capitol Heights-Addison Road Metro (CHARM) area is getting an upgrade, and it’s coming at an affordable price. Not only is the area going to look good, but it’s also going to be an example of what transit-oriented development that includes affordable housing could look like for the region. Three recent developments—at Capitol Heights Metro Station, 25 Yacht Place, and across from Addison Road Metro Station— are setting the trend of bringing affordable market-rate housing to the Blue Line Corridor.

WMATA selected Atlantic Pacific Companies to build 320 affordable housing units and 10,000 square feet of retail across four buildings where the Capitol Heights station's parking lot now sits. Atlantic Pacific Companies has done several large development projects in major cities across the country, including Miami and Houston, often prioritizing projects that include affordable housing units.

This development is the type of progress GCHIC has been championing for years and is a clear pathway to transforming the future of our community.

GCHIC’s vision for a new-and-improved area surrounding the Capitol Heights Metro follows core elements of transformative placemaking, intentional development that facilitates collaboration among firms and workers. Key aspects of these attempts include:

Walkable neighborhoods inclusive of multiple modes of transportation

Economic development and job opportunities

And affordable housing

These elements are not just necessary individually, but together comprise the thriving community centers our communities have longed for decades.

The Governor’s announcement of the $17 million project is the start of what is a larger plan to improve Maryland’s infrastructure, build areas around transit stations, and increase the number of affordable housing units. If approved, the Maryland Transit & Housing Opportunity Act will also unlock more than 300 acres of State-owned land adjacent to existing transit stations for transit-oriented development, resulting in more than 7,000 housing units (many of which will be affordable housing), and additional improvements for businesses in the area.

Another project helping to lead the charge of affordable housing in the area is 25 Yacht Place, where a zoning map amendment is paving the way for thoughtful, 80-unit transit-oriented development about midway between the Capitol Heights and Addison Road Metro stations. This mostly vacant 2-acre site, just west of the Addison Plaza Shopping Center off Central Avenue, is currently on the market and listed for $2.1 million. This project represents more than just proximity to transportation—it's about creating a true neighborhood anchor where residents can live, work, and thrive.

Park Place at Addison Road Metro is yet another new coming addition to the CHARM center.

Banneker Ventures is also leading the development of the property at 6301 Central Ave, directly across from the Addison Road Metro Station. Currently under construction, this mixed-use space will includes 11,000 square feet of retail, 193 affordable housing units, and public areas.

The Capitol Heights and Addison Road Metro stations have long been underutilized assets in our community. These developments recognize the potential of transit accessibility to be a catalyst for growth, bringing diverse residential options and connecting our neighbors to jobs, education, and opportunities throughout the region.

Redefining "Affordable" Housing

Here's what makes these developments particularly significant: housing targeted at 60-80% of the Washington, DC metro Area Median Income (AMI) is being marketed as "affordable housing." But let's be clear about what this really means for Prince George's County.

In Prince George’s County, 60-80% AMI is actually market rate based on the County’s median income, which is lower than the overall metro area’s median. When developers receive incentives, tax breaks, or accolades for building housing at this income level, they're simply building for the people who already live here. They're building for teachers, nurses, firefighters, retail workers, and service professionals who make up the backbone of our community.

This isn't charity. This is market reality.

Building Forward Together

As development projects move forward and plans take shape in the CHARM center and around , Greater Capitol Heights generally, GCHIC is committed to ensuring the progress we want to see is included in these plans.

We invite you, our community members, to . The future of Capitol Heights is being built right now, and your voice matters in shaping what "affordable" really means in our neighborhood.