When David Cron moved into his condominium at University Town Center just more than three years ago, he expected more out of the location where he and his parents also owned a Three Brothers franchise.

“Seeing it decline every day is frustrating, sad, depressing,” Cron said. “[UTC] has not lived up to what it’s supposed to be. It’s not being supported by anyone.

On June 30, Leonard Raynod Smith-Matthews, 21, was fatally stabbed at the plaza just outside of Cron’s home. Prince George’s County Police, who are investigating the case, have no suspects in custody at this time.

“It’s kind of surreal to me,” Cron said. “It’s upsetting and disturbing that happening 100 feet away from my door.”

From his work at Three Brothers, Cron said he has seen the area, once billed by locals as the next Downtown Silver Spring, take a tumble.

“Within the first few months I saw kids starting to hang out and cause problems,” he said. “We went to UTC and said we need a police presence. They basically shooed us out of the office.”

Representatives from University Town Center have not returned requests for comment.

The Crons’ restaurant closed around Christmas but has since re-opened under new owners. They cited property management, parking and the economic downturn as reasons for the fold.

David Cron said there were often youth loitering and being rowdy, skateboarding, yelling and screaming and running around UTC. He said he saw high school aged kids fighting on numerous occasions when the Hyattsville Police Department was then called.

Despite his concerns with the area, Cron has remained in the building.

“I’ve stayed there because I don’t really have a choice,” he said. “I would lose about $100,000 that I’ve invested [in my condo] because of the economy. I cannot imagine raising a family there. People did have hope …. It’s just fallen flat on its face.”