Prince George’s County Executive Aisha Braveboy is currently serving out the term vacated by current Maryland Sen. Angela Alsobrooks. With Aisha Braveboy campaigning this year for a full four-year term as Prince George’s County Executive, she graciously spoke with us about some exciting moments happening in the county, including this weekend’s Afro Plus Fest.
Our Q&A with Prince George’s County Executive Aisha Braveboy can be viewed below. The questions and answers have been edited for length and clarity.
Before we get into some of the entertainment developments in Prince George’s County, we’d like to ask about the increasing number of economic development projects in the County. In what ways do you see the development along the Blue Line Corridor transforming those neighborhoods in Seat Pleasant and Capital Heights?
The large-scale redevelopment along Prince George’s County’s Blue Line Corridor is transforming Seat Pleasant and Capitol Heights from historically underinvested transit stops into vibrant, transit-oriented, mixed-use hubs. Backed by significant state and county investments, over $400 Million, this economic push aims to bring equity, modern retail, and infrastructure directly to these border neighborhoods.
Intentionally, Afro Plus Fest will be held in the Blue Line Corridor at Northwest Stadium. By sitting just off the access ramp for 1-495, the stadium provides a straightforward, highly visible gateway for drivers traveling from anywhere across the DMV region. At the same time, our robust transit connection via the Morgan Boulevard Metro station gives festival attendees a reliable, traffic-free alternative to walk straight to the venue.
Afro Plus Fest is going to be well-attended and will bring a potential boost to the local economy. How does the county hope to retain that interest in obtaining visitors in the future?
Afro Plus Fest is the type of signature event that helps introduce new visitors to Prince George’s County. Our goal is not simply to host visitors for a weekend, but to encourage them to return and explore everything the County has to offer. This includes our restaurants and cultural attractions such as our parks, entertainment venues, and small businesses.
Events like Afro Plus Fest also give us an opportunity to showcase Prince George’s County to audiences who may be visiting for the first time, with the goal of turning a festival attendee into a future visitor, customer, investor, or even business partner. It also highlights that Prince George’s County is a premier location for music festivals due to its massive infrastructure, unmatched regional transit access, and dedicated public investment in entertainment venues.
Northwest Stadium is currently home to the Washington Commanders, who will return to Washington, D.C., reportedly in 2030. What plans does the county have for Northwest beyond sports and entertainment?
Although initially we didn’t want to see the Commanders leave Prince George’s County, the eventual relocation presents Prince George’s County with an extraordinary opportunity. For decades, this 200-acre parcel has been severely underutilized, operating primarily as a seasonal football venue surrounded by a sea of surface parking. By moving on from a single-sport anchor that generated about $14 to $15 Million dollars in tax revenues per year, we are finally unlocked to fully reimagine this land as a vibrant, mixed-use sports and entertainment district that serves our community 365 days a year.
This is also an opportunity to think intentionally about how a major redevelopment can connect surrounding communities to new economic opportunities, including employment, entrepreneurship, contracting opportunities, and amenities that directly benefit residents.
Given Prince George’s County’s vibrant segment of neighborhoods that house communities from all walks of life, what is the county doing to keep those individuals engaged with the county and not head to, say, D.C. or Northern Virginia for their dining and entertainment options?
Prince George’s County is one of the most diverse counties in the nation, and that diversity is one of our greatest strengths. We are actively supporting the growth of local restaurants, entertainment venues, cultural experiences, and small businesses that reflect the richness of our communities.
At the same time, we are investing in major projects like Sphere to further broaden the unique experiences at National Harbor in Oxon Hill, as well as focusing on placemaking and other destination attractions that give residents more reasons to stay, spend, and celebrate close to home.
The future of the former Six Flags site will be another unique opportunity for us to create the next “National Harbor” in the County. Our goal is to create an environment where residents can find world-class experiences right here in Prince George’s County.
Back the lane of entertainment, Sandlot, one of the top party outdoor event spaces in D.C., is coming to Prince George’s County. What is the hopeful vision there?
The arrival of Sandlot Largo at McCormick Drive and Lottsford Road marks an exciting milestone in our ongoing mission to build a vibrant, walkable community in Downtown Largo. This creative outdoor activation provides a much-needed communal space where culture and commerce intersect. Sandlot Largo is not just a destination for entertainment; it activates foot traffic in Largo and supports our ecosystem of small and minority-owned food and retail businesses. As we witness the $340 million mixed-use Promenade at Lottsford development unfold at the same site, we welcome Sandlot Largo and look forward to meeting and greeting our residents upon its opening.
My vision is to cultivate vibrant spaces that support local businesses, attract new visitors, and enhance the overall quality of life and amenities in our communities. Sandlot is another example of how the County is becoming a destination where people come to connect, celebrate, and experience something new.
Back to Afro Plus Fest, provided that things go as well as intended, what momentum beyond financial do you hope the festival will bring to the county?
Beyond the economic impact, we hope Afro Plus Fest elevates Prince George’s County’s identity as a premier destination for entertainment, cultural diversity, creativity, and connection. We want the festival to foster community pride, create opportunities for local artists and entrepreneurs, and strengthen connections across diverse communities.
Success will also help raise the County’s profile nationally and internationally, opening doors for future partnerships, events, and investments that align with our vision for inclusive growth.
We also see Afro Plus Fest as an opportunity to deepen Prince George’s County’s connection to the global African and Caribbean diaspora and demonstrate that our County can successfully host culturally significant events with national and international reach.
Lastly, if you can speak to it, what is the County doing for business development in areas such as Suitland, Largo, Bowie, Upper Marlboro, and other densely populated cities in the county? Share how that outreach looks.
Outreach includes engagement with business owners, community organizations, developers, chambers of commerce, and residents to identify opportunities and address challenges. Instead of a one-size-fits-all business development strategy, we tailor our business recruitment, infrastructure upgrades, and local grants to match the unique strengths and dense populations of each specific community.
We have successfully driven a massive, multi-phase mixed-use development adjacent to the Suitland Metro station at Towne Square at Suitland Federal Center. When complete, the development will feature over 1.9 million square feet of mixed residential housing that includes single-family attached homes, multi-family apartment, and senior housing apartment homes, 150,000 square feet of retail and commercial space, and a 120-room select-service hotel. It also features a 50,000 square foot planned Cultural Arts and S.Τ.Ε.Α.Μ. Center.
We are actively transforming Largo into the county’s premier healthcare and cultural downtown center. Backed by the strategic positioning of the University of Maryland Capital Region Medical Center, our focus is bringing high-density office spaces, sit-down dining, and pedestrian-friendly commercial plazas directly to the transit corridor.
Redevelopment of both state and County-owned land at the Bowie State MARC station has the potential to support up to 670 construction jobs, yield more than 400 housing units and generate $108 million in state and local tax revenue.
And finally, Upper Marlboro requires focused smart-growth investments. We are investing in parking upgrades, streetscape improvements, and pedestrian safety to draw foot traffic to local storefronts. Through our economic development agencies, we provide targeted micro-loans, commercial facade improvement grants, and technical assistance to preserve the character of local businesses while expanding their digital and physical footprints.
To examine more of what Prince George’s County has to offer and to learn more about County Executive Aisha Braveboy’s wider efforts, click here.
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Photo: Prince George’s County Government
