Bowie State Plans New Mixed-Use Development: 184,000 Sq. Feet of Retail, Housing for 600 Students
Bowie State University is soon to announce the Gateway, a new development that will provide additional student housing and better connect BSU with the surrounding community. There will be an estimated 184,000 square feet of retail space and housing for 600 students at the site.
Mosaic Development Partners JV, a Philadelphia-based developer with an office in New Carrollton, has been awarded the rights to turn the 1.6 acres of woods adjacent to the MARC commuter lot into a mixed-use project. They have been working on this project for over two years following a 2022 request for proposals and also worked on a development project near the world’s oldest continuously operating airport in College Park.
“When we talk about the Gateway, we want to bring the community into the university. The reason it’s called the Gateway is because it actually is the gateway building to Bowie State University,” said Mike Atkins of Bowie State’s Budget Office in a 2023 interview. “Being the largest HBCU in the state, we want to really honor it with something that is iconic, from a design standpoint and from an activation standpoint.”
A recent press conference to discuss the development was postponed to a further date. Busboys and Poets CEO Andy Shallal is negotiating a lease and project renderings include a Busboys and Poets location on the bottom floor of one of the buildings.
Morgan State Hires Education Executive to Lead National Center for the Elimination of Educational Disparities
Morgan State University’s School of Education and Urban Studies (SEUS) appointed Dr. Meria Carstarphen as the inaugural director of the National Center for the Elimination of Educational Disparities (NCEED) on July 1, citing her 20 years of experience in education leadership.
Carstarphen has served as a teacher, administrator, and superintendent in major metropolitan public school districts in Atlanta, Austin, and Saint Paul. Her focus areas have included human trafficking, community health, accountability assessments, and economic impact.
“I am honored to accept the role of director at NCEED and to become a part of the Morgan family. Leveraging my extensive executive and research experience, I am eager to lead and partner with a talented team of experts in crafting innovative solutions to address obstacles that hinder students’ learning and achievement,” said Carstarphen. “Our primary objective is to research and solve longstanding inequities in education for our most vulnerable and disenfranchised student groups so that they can have choice-filled lives.”
The NCEED was first launched in fall 2022 and is dedicated to using research to address the needs of preschool and school-aged children and fostering achievement and equity. Some of the metrics they plan to alter include attendance rates, dropout rates, and college preparedness. NCEED will also help to prepare educators for the implementation of the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future, a plan to improve equity and educational quality in Maryland’s public education system.
“I am looking forward to working with Dr. Carstarphen and the dedicated team of researchers and community partners who are committed to re-dressing the persistent inequities in educational outcomes that children from minoritized populations experience,” said School of Education and Urban Studies Dean Dr. Glenda Prime. “I am confident that under her leadership, the National Center for the Elimination of Educational Disparities will develop evidence-based solutions that can improve school outcomes for all children.”