Guilford Woods (above) as at present (from Google maps, true-color) showing proposed Western Gateway development (yellow outline) and (below) plan of development as proposed by Gilbane Development and University of Maryland

Introduction

The University is planning to sell its part of Guilford Woods to the Gilbane Development Company

It is proposed to clear 15.07 acres (from Bohler stormwater plan) of currently forested land for construction of high-end private townhouses and a 300-unit graduate student residence, the development to be known as the Western Gateway. The public and University community demands that the environmental impacts are considered before permanent loss of the Woods—a key part of the Campus and neighborhood green infrastructure.

The campaign to save the Woods agrees with the need for additional graduate housing

There are at least three other sites that the University Office of Real Estate does not dispute are suitable. In fact, they are, in fact, better and could accommodate many more students. The 300 new units for students will provide for a very small part of the 10,000 graduate student population but cause disproportionate damage to the environment.

As a result of the campaign to Save Guilford Woods, and maybe other considerations, the President announced on 28 October 2021 his decision to focus on redeveloping Old Leonardtown, one of the alternative sites proposed by the Campaign. Furthermore, graduate student housing will be prioritized.

A pause in development of Guilford Woods

In addition to his announcement about Old Leonardtown, the President said planning of the Western Gateway will be paused. This welcome news comes, however, with a statement that the Administration will “continue to study this area to address environmental concerns”, that is, the Western Gateway development is not to be stopped permanently. There is no indication of how such a study will be carried out and no undertaking to involve the Campus community. The Save Guilford Woods campaign will continue to be vigilant, but will cooperate as far as it is allowed to assist in the study.

The sale and free lease is to a private, for profit, development company.

The sale of University property for private profit is incompatible with the University’s stewardship of public property. It is proposed that the University will receive a small payment, completely inconsistent with the value of the land. Why should public property be handed over for private profit?

Apparent lack of commitment of the University to Graduate housing

The Western Gateway is being publicized by the University as the fulfillment of part of its commitment to improve graduate housing. Recently the redevelopment of Old Leonardtown has been announced by the President. This welcome news also comes with a decision to “pause” planning of the Western Gateway. Again, while welcome, it is still possible that the development will be taken up again at some point. The Western Gateway is not part of a strategy - the only role of the University is to authorize the sale of the property – it will invest zero dollars in the project and little planning. More fundamentally, there is no commitment to lower the cost of graduate student housing and increase its supply beyond the Western Gateway windfall and recent proposal to redevelop Old Leonardtown – neither of which can make a significant contribution to the 10,000 graduate student population at UMD.

A reprise of the Wooded Hillock affair

Thirteen years ago, in 2009, the University planned to clear 9 acres of the “Wooded Hillock” to relocate facilities displaced from the East Campus site on Baltimore Av. The East Campus was to be a multi-use development with upscale restaurants, shops and housing. (In the event, only a hotel was built, occupying part of the site). The Wooded Hillock was preserved after an intense campaign including surveys of the natural resources, letters from faculty and students, student protest, articles in the press, and referral to the Senate.

The attempts to clear campus land for development in 2009 have strong similarities with the current plan to build on Guilford Woods: “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it” (George Santayana, The Life of Reason, 1905, Great Ideas of Western Man.) Some similarities:

• • Involve/involved a natural areas

  • Regarded (wrongly) as in poor condition

  • Ecological importance not recognized

  • The academic (teaching and research) value was not considered in the selection choice

  • Developments kept away from all except the Administration Departments most immediately involved.

  • Both had/have an element of commercial benefit. 80% of Guilford Woods is proposed to be sold to a private company who will build townhomes for private buyers. The Wooded Hillock was to be developed to make way for building the privately owned “The Hotel”, not the downtown that was said to be the reason to clear Physical Plant out and develop the Wooded Hillock for them. The rest of the site is a large parking lot and then Campus mail facility. There has been some recent talk (after 12 yrs) about further development on the E Campus.

  • Obdurate administration, unwilling to engage in open review

  • Initial refusal of the Senate Executive Committee to put the issue on the Senate agenda

  • Strong faculty opposition

  • Conflicts with Campus Master Plan

  • Inconsistent with stated aims for conservation of natural resources

Contents

Section 1 Western Gateway development: land sale and leasing, buildings, planning, permissions and alternatives

Section 2 The University’s commitments to sustainability

Section 3 Environmental damage

Section 4 Stormwater management

Section 5 Non-material benefits of natural ecosystems

Section 6 Loss of Educational opportunity

Section 7 A way forward