Just a few miles outside Washington, D.C., a long-shuttered high school in Prince George’s County, Maryland, is poised to become the state’s newest film production facility—thanks to a newly approved redevelopment deal that blends studio infrastructure with workforce development.

The Fairmont Heights High School campus, located near the Cheverly and Deanwood Metro stations, has sat vacant for years in the heart of a residential neighborhood. This week, the Prince George’s County Council voted to designate the 14-acre property as surplus land, clearing the way for the county’s Redevelopment Authority to finalize a sale to a film company planning to convert the site into a full-scale studio complex.

The new studio won’t just house film and TV shoots. It’s designed to be a hybrid production campus and educational facility, offering hands-on training in cinematography, sound, editing, production design, writing, and more.

“It’s not just going to be a company that is producing films,” said Fred Smith of the Fairmont Heights Alumni Association. “It’s going to allow people to learn all of the various aspects of what it takes to make a film… It’s still going to be an educational facility, and that’s the thing that we like about it.”

The project is already drawing praise as a win for both cultural preservation and economic revitalization. Fairmont Heights is considered a landmark in Maryland’s Black educational history, having served generations of students during segregation. Now, it’s being reimagined to serve a new generation—one trained to enter an industry growing well beyond the traditional coastal hubs.

The state of Maryland is backing the plan with a $5 million investment, signaling its intent to compete with regional powerhouses like Atlanta and New York. Donna Dodson of the Prince George’s County Film Office put it simply: “This is a great opportunity for us to continue to attract film productions… It brings revenue, tourism, and puts us out in the universe as a place to come to.”

County leaders say community support was a non-negotiable. Angie Rodgers, Deputy CAO for Economic Development, emphasized that the deal only moved forward after local alumni and neighborhood voices signed off on the plan. “It was important that this be a collaborative decision—and it is.”

A few dissenting voices, including the Greater Capitol Heights Improvement Corporation, had hoped the site would be used for mixed-income housing. But the Council ultimately sided with those pushing for the film studio, citing long-term economic and educational potential.

With its Metro-accessible location and strong state backing, the new facility could help put Prince George’s County on the map as a viable East Coast production hub—while honoring the legacy of the school it replaces.

“This is the absolutely, amazing, correct and the right use for the building,” said Joan Crowder, president of the Fairmont Heights Alumni Association.