The Waldorf Urban Redevelopment Corridor (WURC) plan is designed to create a "Downtown Waldorf" area that is a dynamic and vibrant new urban center.

The Vision for Downtown Waldorf

Downtown Waldorf, located along Old Washington Road and bounded by the CSX rail line to the east and US301 to the west, is one of Charles County’s oldest commercial corridors. Charles County’s efforts to revitalize and redevelop this commercial corridor began almost two decades ago culminating in the Downtown Waldorf Vision Plan & Design Guidelines. This bold plan for Downtown Waldorf is to establish a unique community and identifiable sense of place in the traditional heart of Waldorf. By its geographical location, available infrastructure, rail access and existing transit systems, the area has a promising future as a regional, transit-oriented development node that will support ongoing investment and sustain the economic viability and growth of Charles County. Downtown Waldorf has the potential to provide a vibrant downtown center for the broader Waldorf area and Charles County.

Placemaking

A key aspect for the success of the Downtown Waldorf redevelopment will be quality placemaking. One of the key attributes of a successful transit corridor is creating memorable places worth coming back to. While some of the initial efforts at placemaking will be accomplished through improved facades and streetscape, effective placemaking is a blend of quality architecture, innovative landscape design and vibrant open spaces. Charles County is actively working with property owners and developers to create such places and also pursuing them independently.

Placemaking Projects & Resources:

• Façade Improvement Program: The Façade Improvement Program encourages and allocates funding to both existing residential and commercial buildings within the WURC to upgrade the visible, corridor-facing components of their properties. Priority will be given to projects fronting Old Washington Road.
• Waldorf Public Artwork Project: The county is working with a local artist and the community to install a dynamic and vibrant public art project at the Elite Gymnastics and Recreation Facility.
• Public Art Across Maryland Program
• Rural Maryland Streetscape Project
• Design Template

Incentives

• Adequate Public Facilities (APF) – The APF Manual designates up to 650 school allocations each year for Priority Development Projects which include mixed use developments, affordable/workforce housing projects and projects with the Waldorf Urban Redevelopment Corridor (Section VIII. Priority Development Projects).
• Opportunity Zones
• Commercial Real Property Improvement & Rehabilitation Tax Credit – This is a program designed to help businesses revitalize their properties and receive a tax credit from the resulting increased property value.
• Visit the county’s Economic Development website for other economic incentives. Economic Development staff stand ready to assist existing local and small businesses thrive and expand, as well as attract new businesses that can enliven the corridor.
• Sustainable Communities Revitalization Toolbox

Climate Resiliency and the Environment

Charles County’s Resilience Authority

The Resilience Authority is a recently created agency empowered to finance, manage, acquire, own, convey, and support resilience infrastructure projects, ranging from flood control, green spaces, and building elevations to stormwater infrastructure. The Resilience Authority is partnering with the WURC efforts in several ways including an urban tree canopy project and stormwater improvements and tree planting at the Elite Gymnastics and Recreation Facility.

Zoning & Land Use Regulations

Zoning and other land use regulations in the WURC are intended to guide development ion a manner consistent with the Vision Plan and Guidelines and is characterized by multi-modal transportation features, a defined streetscape and decreased surface parking. Specific zoning requirements can be found in 297-97 Activity Center Zones.

In addition, design standards for development in the WURC can be found in the Downtown Waldorf Vision Plan document, under the Design Guidelines section.

Transportation Planning in the WURC

The WURC is envisioned to be pedestrian- and bicycle-friendly, multimodal, to contribute to a vibrant downtown that all can easily access. The centerpiece will be the high-capacity Southern Maryland Regional Transit (SMRT) line currently being planned. A network of pedestrian paths and bikeways will connect WURC residents with shopping and transit. Below are links to various transportation plans:

• Southern Maryland Commuter Rail Service Feasibility Study
• Southern Maryland Transit Corridor Preservation Study
• Waldorf Urban Transportation Improvement Plan
• Connect Waldorf (for larger Waldorf area but also includes the WURC)

Community Assets

The WURC has several community institutions and anchors that reflect the community spirit and cultural vitality of the corridor as well as its history.

• Elite Gymnastics
• Waldorf JCs
• Old Waldorf School

To learn more about Downtown Waldorf initiatives or to be added to the mailing list, contact Amy Blessinger at blessinga@charlescountymd.gov