Konterra to Break Ground on DC-Area Megaproject

Konterra Realty, the real estate arm of Gould Property Co., will break ground next week on the first phase of Konterra, a 1,400-acre, 12 million-square-foot mixed-use development at the intersection of Anne Arundel, Montgomery, Prince George’s and Howard counties, in the state of Maryland.

The first phase of the project will begin with the construction of The Marais Townhomes in Konterra’s future 400-acre downtown area. General contractor Caruso Homes will be in charge of this first residential component within the master-planned community. Work at the Marais Townhomes is scheduled to start on May 14, with delivery slated for this fall.

Konterra and the Marais Townhomes have been equity financed to date, with a combination of equity and conventional financing, Caleb Gould, chairman of Gould Property Co., told Commercial Property Executive.

Full plans for the project include multifamily units, retail, offices, dining, plazas and 8.5 miles of trail parks. The development will sit at the intersection of Interstate 95 and Maryland State Route 200. Downtown Washington, D.C., is 18 miles southwest.

Former quarry turns into community foundation

Parts of the site where Konterra will rise used to serve as a sand and gravel quarry, which was operational between 1928 and 1977. Since then, the area has been remediated and reclaimed, with Konterra having been the owner for decades. The remediation work officially wrapped up in 2010.

“Over decades, the site has been thoughtfully reclaimed, compacted and contoured to meet the highest standards for residential development, erosion control and stormwater management,” Gould pointed out. “Through reclamation, we were able to create efficiencies of mass grading and environmental management, creating the best possible canvas for Konterra.”

Recent mixed-use design trends increasingly center around walkability and open air, so as to more easily integrate residential, office and retail uses into standalone destinations. The master plan takes this into consideration. “Konterra is well-buffered from the major roads,” according to Gould. “(Our) own extensive hiker/biker network integrates with county master plans. The urban core features bike lanes along its streets that integrate with the greater hiker/biker network throughout the site.”