Maryland Is Building a 1,400-Acre “Mini-City” Between DC and Baltimore — And It’s Finally Happening
For decades, drivers along I-95 between Washington, DC and Baltimore have passed an area of Prince George’s County that was supposed to become something much bigger. Now, after years of planning and delays, Konterra is finally moving from vision to reality.
The massive development in Laurel, Maryland spans roughly 1,400 acres, and its approximately 400-acre downtown is envisioned as a major mixed-use destination combining thousands of homes, apartments, shopping, restaurants, entertainment, offices, hotels, parks and miles of trails. Construction activity is now underway, making Konterra one of the DMV’s most significant development stories to watch. (Konterra)
A New “Mini-City” Is Taking Shape in Prince George’s County
Konterra sits near the interchange of I-95 and MD-200, the Intercounty Connector, placing the development between some of the region’s largest employment and population centers.
The developer describes the location as approximately three minutes from I-95 and MD-200, 20 minutes from BWI Airport and Amtrak, and about 30 minutes from Washington, DC, Bethesda, Baltimore and Annapolis. (Konterra)
But the scale is what really makes Konterra stand out.
At full buildout, the developer is marketing the town center for approximately 12 million square feet of development, including 1.5 million square feet of retail, dining and entertainment and 4,500 new homes and apartments. (Konterra)
Prince George’s County planning records also confirm approvals for as many as 4,500 residential units, including approximately 760 attached units and 3,740 multifamily units. (M-NCPPC Apps)
This Isn't Just Another Shopping Center
Konterra is being designed around the idea of creating an actual downtown rather than another collection of disconnected suburban developments.
The long-term vision calls for walkable city blocks filled with restaurants, shops and entertainment, surrounded by residential neighborhoods, workplaces and public spaces. Parks, plazas, meadows and an extensive trail network are also planned throughout the community. (Konterra)
That combination could eventually create something relatively unusual along this section of the I-95 corridor: a large mixed-use community where residents can live near restaurants, recreation, shopping and employment instead of driving between separate residential and commercial developments.
More Than 40 Years in the Making
Perhaps the most interesting part of the Konterra story is just how long it has taken to get here.
The enormous property has been discussed for development for decades, and portions of what became Konterra Town Center East received approvals many years ago. Prince George’s County records show the conceptual site plan for Konterra Town Center East was approved in 2008, while reporting on the current project describes a development vision that has endured decades of delays and changing market conditions. (M-NCPPC Apps)
For years, residents could reasonably have wondered whether the ambitious downtown would ever actually materialize.
That changed in 2026.
Construction Is Now Underway
This spring, Konterra Realty and Gould Property Company broke ground on the downtown portion of Konterra. Site work, infrastructure and grading are underway to support the first residential neighborhoods and public spaces. (Konterra)
The first major residential community is called The Marais at Konterra, being developed with Caruso Homes.
Approximately 220 townhomes are part of this initial phase, while work is also expected on two apartment buildings totaling approximately 500 units. (Connect CRE)
And residents won't necessarily have to wait years before seeing people move in.
Konterra currently says the first Marais townhomes are expected to arrive in Fall 2026. (Konterra)
Take a Look at the First Homes
The Marais provides the first real glimpse of what residential life inside Konterra could look like.
The community will feature three townhome styles with homes ranging from approximately 1,640 to 2,773 square feet and two to five bedrooms. Current advertised pricing starts in the mid-$500,000s. (Caruso Homes)
Depending on the floor plan, features can include rooftop terraces, private backyards, detached or attached garages and larger spa-inspired bathrooms. A park-like central square and trails connecting residents with ponds and surrounding natural areas are also planned. (Caruso Homes)
That makes the first phase particularly important: instead of waiting for the entire downtown to materialize, Konterra is beginning by establishing a residential population that could eventually support future restaurants, stores and entertainment.
Shopping, Restaurants and Entertainment Could Be Huge
One of the biggest questions will be which businesses eventually choose Konterra.
The long-term plan provides room for approximately 1.5 million square feet of retail, entertainment and dining. For perspective, that's enough commercial space to create a substantial regional destination rather than simply a neighborhood retail center. (Konterra)
Konterra's developers envision a mix of local businesses and national brands lining walkable blocks, with restaurants and entertainment integrated into the community. Specific major retail or entertainment tenants have not yet been announced on the project's current public site, so this will be one of the most important developments to monitor. (Konterra)
Parks and More Than Eight Miles of Trails
Green space is another major component of the plan.
The broader downtown vision includes parks, plazas, meadows and approximately 8.5 miles of trails, according to reporting on the groundbreaking. (CoStar)
Some of those amenities could arrive relatively soon. Konterra says its first walking trails are opening shortly, with additional miles planned as development continues. (Konterra)
If the complete vision is ultimately delivered, that combination of density and outdoor space could help Konterra compete with established DMV mixed-use destinations that have increasingly emphasized walkability and public gathering areas.
Why Konterra Could Matter for DMV Real Estate
The real-estate impact may extend far beyond the boundaries of the development itself.
Adding thousands of residences alongside a major retail and employment destination could change how buyers perceive this portion of Prince George’s County and the Baltimore-Washington corridor.
Its proximity to I-95 and MD-200 gives residents access toward Washington, Baltimore, Montgomery County and BWI, potentially making the area attractive to households whose jobs aren't concentrated in a single downtown employment center. (Konterra)
New restaurants, entertainment and retail could also make surrounding communities more desirable. At the same time, thousands of additional residences and a major commercial district raise legitimate questions about traffic, infrastructure, schools and how quickly transportation improvements can keep pace with growth.
Those are exactly the kinds of factors that can eventually influence housing demand and property values throughout surrounding areas.
Could Konterra Become Maryland's Version of Reston?
It's far too early to know whether Konterra will eventually reach the scale and prominence of places like Reston or Columbia. The project is expected to develop over many years, and large master-planned communities often evolve considerably between their original vision and final buildout.
But the ingredients are significant: thousands of homes, millions of square feet of development, major highway access, retail, restaurants, offices, entertainment and extensive public spaces.
The biggest difference today is that Konterra is no longer simply a rendering.
The first homes are under construction.
After decades of waiting, one of Maryland's biggest development visions is finally beginning to take physical shape.
And with the first residents expected to start arriving as early as Fall 2026, the next few years could completely change this stretch of Prince George’s County.
Would You Live Here?
Would you consider buying in Konterra before the restaurants, shopping and entertainment arrive — or would you wait until more of the downtown is built?
And the bigger question:
Could Konterra become one of the DMV's next major real-estate hotspots?
Tell us what you think.
For official project information and development updates, visit Konterra. Buyers interested in the first townhomes can also explore The Marais at Konterra by Caruso Homes.
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Development plans, timelines, amenities and pricing are subject to change. Renderings shown are conceptual representations from the developers/builders and may not represent the final completed development.
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