Of the four sites Prince George’s County is currently considering for its new teaching hospital and medical complex, only one makes economic sense. The Largo Town Center property is next to a Metro station and close to the Capital Beltway, which makes it accessible by both car and Metrorail. That feature alone should put it high on the list. And the Largo site has another major advantage: The county already owns most of the property.

The new hospital, which will replace the county-owned Prince George’s Hospital Center in Cheverly, is to be financed by state and county taxpayers and run by the University of Maryland Medical System under a four-part deal signed last year. In return for expanded gambling at National Harbor, Gov. Martin O’Malley and the General Assembly agreed to provide $200 million.