Metro signs lease at University Town Center

The following article was published by the Washington Business Journal on 7/24/2008

http://washington.bizjournals.com/washington/stories/2008/07/21/daily56.html

"Metro’s Office of Customer Service and MetroAccess Services will relocate to Hyattsville from Silver Spring next year.

The transit agency’s board of directors authorized the agency to negotiate and execute a lease agreement with Prince George Center I Inc. for 40,000 square feet of office space at 6505 Belcrest Road. The 10-year, $10 million lease would begin April 1, 2009.

The property sits across from the Prince George’s Plaza Metro station at University Town Center, a mixed-use development.

It is expected to save the transit agency nearly $6 million over 10 years, compared with the renewal rate for the existing office space in Silver Spring.

“This is a wonderful fit for our site, which is a transit oriented development, and a smart growth project,” said Tim Taylor, vice president of leasing at University Town Center.

Metro would receive three months free rent and have $1.64 million to make improvements under the lease agreement."

More details are available at http://www.wmata.com/about/MET_NEWS/PressReleaseDetail.cfm?ReleaseID=2211

1 comments - Posted by UTC Living at 2:00 PM - Categories: News | Metro

Gifford's Ice Cream & Candy Co. is now open!

UTC's second grand opening of the week is occurring today, Wednesday, July 23!

Gifford's Ice Cream & Candy Co. has opened its doors on the Plaza at UTC.

Gifford's offers ice cream, shakes, smoothies, candies, and other snacks. Perfect on a hot, humid day like today.

Gifford's is located directly across America Blvd. from the movie theater, two doors down from Wild Onion.

1 comments - Posted by dbw63 at 11:24 AM - Categories: UTC Retail

New Town Cleaners is now open!

New Town Cleaners opened yesterday on America Blvd. next to Smoothie King. They offer organic dry cleaning and alteration services.

They are currently offering grand opening specials on dry cleaning orders.

1 comments - Posted by dbw63 at 8:03 AM - Categories: UTC Retail

A Place for Students To Study in Style

From the Washington Post:

A Place for Students To Study in Style
Luxury High-Rise Caters to Collegians
By Ruben Castaneda, Washington Post Staff Writer
Saturday, July 19, 2008; Page T05
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/07/18/AR2008071801419.html

This isn't your father's or mother's dorm.

From the rooftop pool deck of the Towers at University Town Center in Hyattsville, one can see the top of the Washington Monument and the National Cathedral to the west.

On that side of the deck, one can also gaze down at the Mall at Prince George's, which includes Target, Macy's and Ross. On the other side of the deck, which is atop the 16th floor of the complex, one can look down at a plaza with a large, open water fountain; outdoor tables; the Royale 14 movie theater complex; and several eateries, including Carolina Kitchen, Wild Onion (an organic restaurant) and a Three Brothers pizza place.

Stepping inside the complex feels a little like walking into a high-end hotel. A friendly security guard is stationed at a desk just inside the entrance. To the right is a large exercise room, featuring stationary bikes, treadmills, weight equipment, seven 42-inch flat-screen TVs and two tanning rooms.

The first floor also has a large game room, with three pool tables, table tennis, a foosball table and another game table. Six large flat-screen TVs are suspended throughout the room. There's a machine with DVDs for rent -- and two 96-inch projection screens that can be unfurled to show the DVDs.

Individual units are furnished with black leather couches in the living room, and each bedroom includes a double bed and a private bathroom. Each of the 910 apartments has a washer and dryer and is equipped with cable and high-speed Internet. Students pay rent per bedroom.

The apartment building, which comprises two joined towers, opened in August 2006. It was built specifically as market-rate student housing. Students from more than a dozen schools live at the complex, though more than 40 percent attend the University of Maryland's College Park campus, which is a 10-minute drive away.

The university runs a shuttle to and from the campus. In addition, the Prince George's Plaza Metro station, on the Green Line, is across the street.

Read more at WashingtonPost.com

2 comments - Posted by UTC Living at 11:44 AM - Categories: News | Towers

More information about the newest restaurants

Here's the latest about the newest restaurants from a recent press release:

Wild Onion
Wild Onion, a charming 60-seat establishment, is the vision of Chef Rasheed Abdurrahman who is a graduate of the prestigious Culinary Institute of America.  Wild Onion features a delicious menu of tasty comfort foods, spicy ethnic dishes, vegetarian specialties, custom sandwiches, scrumptious baked goods, and organic coffees.  Wild Onion will be open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

Passionate about food, Chef Abdurrahman will be offering cooking classes.   He is committed to the belief that you can eat well while eating healthy.  "Food is a form of art, and with an organic approach we have an opportunity to present a new art form," said Abdurrahman.   Wild Onion will use wholesome foods from local farmers and suppliers who strive to reduce chemical additives.   "I want to meet the growing demand for healthy eating through the menu selections at Wild Onion.  This restaurant will offer new concepts about how to eat healthy and provide recipes for foods that everyone can enjoy."

Carolina Kitchen Bar and Grill
Carolina Kitchen Bar and Grill, a Southern Carolina low country cooking style restaurant, offers a full complement of southern cooking from corn bread and traditional barbeque to more upscale items as grilled steak and lobster with southern style spices. Carolina Kitchen recently opened next to the Regal Royale Stadium 14 Theatre and can seat up to 375 people.   The restaurant is open for lunch and dinner with live music Thursday–Saturday evenings.    Based in Largo, MD this is the second location for the restaurant, founded by Lance London.  The exquisite interior combines casual eating spaces with more a formal white tablecloth dining room.  Additionally, there are private dining areas, a fully decorated bar, and spaces for parties and events.

Gifford's Ice Cream & Candy Co.
Gifford's is scheduled to open early next week!  Stay tuned for more details.

1 comments - Posted by UTC Living at 6:11 PM - Categories: UTC Retail

Wild Onion Is Now Open!

Wild Onion held its "soft opening" yesterday, Monday, July 7, on the Plaza at University Town Center.

According to the Wild Onion website, "Chef Rasheed brings a bold, fresh, and original touch to all his culinary creations. Providing the best quality food and service is always his mission."

The restaurant and caterer will open at 10am daily. It joins UTC's other eateries -- Qdoba, Five Guys, Three Brothers, Smoothie King, and Carolina Kitchen.

Meanwhile, a few doors down from Wild Onion, Old Dominion Brewhouse is now hiring, as is Gifford's Ice Cream and Candy Co. More information about these job opportunities can be found by visiting the restaurants' storefronts. Both should be open before the end of the summer. One block down America Blvd., New Town Cleaners is readying for its grand opening later this month.

8 comments - Posted by dbw63 at 2:48 PM - Categories: UTC Retail

Hyattsville Artists' Market at Independence Plaza

University Town Center has announced a monthly Hyattsville Artists' Market that will be held at Independence Plaza.  Local artists and craftspeople will display and sell their original work from Noon to 5 p.m. on the following Saturdays:

• July 12, 2008
• August 2, 2008
• September 6, 2008
• October 4, 2008

3 comments - Posted by UTC Living at 9:08 AM - Categories: Events