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The request for proposals for the new Suitland Development project closed Friday and there is reportedly only one group that has bid on the project — a big difference from the initial bidding round on the mixed-use project.

That process attracted high-profile development groups but ended in controversy when the Prince George's County government canceled it last year without naming a winner.

Kevin Sills, president of Mid-Atlantic Real Estate Investments of Oakton, Va., a longtime property owner in Suitland, said his company is the only bidder that he is aware of for the project, known as Suitland Manor. A spokesman for the county redevelopment authority, which is in charge of the process, confirmed Tuesday that the bidding period closed Friday, but would not provide details on which or how many groups bid.

Each bidder was to have submitted a $100,000 security fee as part of its proposal. The project was initially offered for redevelopment in 2006, but no developer was selected.

Plans for Suitland Manor, a potential $700 million to $800 million project, according to Sills' plans, include 2.5 million square feet of office, retail and residential space.

Getting financing right now is "very difficult," Sills said, but he is confident he can. He said he is trying to provide some opportunities for joint venture partners by breaking up the project into parts.

According to the county government Web site on the project, about $5.5 million in federal, state, county and private funds has been spent on façade enhancements to the area's commercial district, road infrastructure improvements including lighting on Silver Hill Road and Suitland Road and a new wrought-iron fence along the perimeter of the Suitland Federal Center site.

Sylvia Quinton, executive director of Suitland Family and Life Development Corp., who said she has been involved in promoting development in the area for more than 20 years, said Sills was the only developer she knew of who bid.

"He was the only bidder to my knowledge," said Quinton, based on who she said came to a community meeting about the project. "We were aware he was going after it. We could not come to an agreement on what role the community would have, so we didn't offer a letter of support, but we know him and he's an excellent neighborhood partner."

Spokesmen for two of the development groups that were involved in the original bidding round — Mid-City Urban, now Urban Atlantic of Bethesda, and Suitland Development Partners — said their groups were not involved in the new round.

Sills, who said his family has owned property in the Suitland area for many years, said he already owns 28 acres around the Suitland Manor site and has long held a vision for more "quality" development in the area. For example, he said, the area needs "nice restaurants for people there, the people who work there during the day and the residents. If we do get it, I think we'll have a nicer project than anyone else, because we have been there a long time."

Suitland Manor is part of the 33-acre Suitland community development vision that has been promoted by the community and county government going back to the 1990s.

Original process canceled

due to ‘economy'

A year ago, the Prince George's County Redevelopment Authority canceled the original bidding round, citing the "dramatic decline in the economy."

It was the first official word from the county since August 2007, when it appeared to award the contract to then-Mid-City Urban of Silver Spring over a Prince George's group, Suitland Development Partners.

At that time, Suitland Development Partners, which comprised the Suitland Civic Association, Suitland Family and Life Development and other partners, retained counsel and tried to get information about the selection process and why its bid was going to be denied. Meanwhile, the county never formally announced Mid-City Urban's win, despite telling Suitland Development Partners that Mid-City Urban was going to be selected, according to Suitland Development Partners.

According to the request for proposals, bids were sought for the project on 22 acres in Suitland that was formerly the site of Suitland Manor, a large housing complex. All structures on the site have been razed and the tenants have been relocated in preparation for redevelopment. The project is adjacent to the Suitland Federal Center and near the Suitland Metro station.