Montgomery County Development News

[Dank City]

Originally Posted by sovman

Where are they putting it?

It said they are considering locations throughout the county.

As far as I'm concerned, 100 new jobs equals one new condo tower because 100 jobs moving here will add at least 100 people if not more like 3-400 people because of each of those people have families and all of the new workers spending money in the county will probably create yet another 100 jobs in service fields locally. With the absorbtion rate being of massive importance to developers today, the more people moving in the better imo...

[Silver Springer]

Originally Posted by sovman

Where are they putting it?

Originally Posted by Dank City

It said they are considering locations throughout the county.

As far as I'm concerned, 100 new jobs equals one new condo tower because 100 jobs moving here will add at least 100 people if not more like 3-400 people because of each of those people have families and all of the new workers spending money in the county will probably create yet another 100 jobs in service fields locally. With the absorbtion rate being of massive importance to developers today, the more people moving in the better imo...

They said they're gunning for somewhere between Bethesda and Gaithersburg.


Curriculum Program Relocating To Md.
Montgomery Is New Site for IB

By Daniel de Vise and Ann E. Marimow
Washington Post Staff Writers
Tuesday, February 24, 2009; B01

The International Baccalaureate Organization, whose college-preparatory curriculum has expanded exponentially in the Washington area alongside the rival Advanced Placement program, is relocating its U.S. offices from New York to Montgomery County.

The nonprofit organization was drawn to the new location in part because of the region's high concentration of IB schools: 91 in Maryland, Virginia and the District. In Montgomery, the number of IB students has grown to about 8,000 from 500 a decade ago. Fairfax and Arlington counties, among other places in the area, have large programs.

"Obviously, Montgomery County and Fairfax are great IB partners," Drew Deutsch, who oversees the IB Americas, said yesterday. "Unfortunately, we can't have IB centers in both counties, so we had to choose."

The organization's move could bolster the area's reputation as a center of scholarship and college preparation.

Deutsch said the organization is shopping for space between Bethesda and Gaithersburg, seeking to locate near a Metro stop in a community where employees could enroll children in IB schools. Sixteen public schools in the county have IB programs, including Bethesda-Chevy Chase, Richard Montgomery and Rockville high schools, all within reach of Red Line stations.

"We have a K through 12 IB program," said Montgomery Superintendent Jerry D. Weast. "It's the only one like it in Maryland."

The new offices are scheduled to open in mid-2010, with more than 100 employees who will oversee operations and testing at 1,494 schools in 28 countries and territories in North and South America. Another such center, in Amsterdam, will be responsible for European and African operations. A Singapore office serves Asian and Australian schools.

IB is headquartered in Geneva and offers an international-flavored curriculum to about 500,000 students in 2,500 schools worldwide. The curriculum spans elementary through high school, although IB is best known for its high school diploma program. Students seeking the diploma take a full load of college-level courses in their junior and senior years, then sit for a battery of tests, similar in length and difficulty to AP tests.

In December, school officials and county and state economic development representatives traveled to New York to make their case for a Montgomery location.

Through phone calls, letters and e-mails, County Executive Isiah Leggett (D) said he sought to convince the organization that Montgomery's high-achieving schools and educated residents were a "perfect match" for IB.

Economic development officials said the incentive package offered to the IB organization would include tax credits and loans.

"It's a good deal for IB, and it's a good deal for the taxpayers," said Bernadette Musselwhite of Montgomery's Department of Economic Development.

Fairfax has eight high schools, five middle schools and six elementary schools with IB programs underway or planned. Montgomery's IB footprint is similar: eight high schools, five middle schools and three elementary schools.

Other local IB schools include Banneker High in the District; Washington-Lee High, Jefferson Middle and Randolph Elementary schools in Arlington; Annapolis, Meade and Old Mill high schools and three middle schools in Anne Arundel County; Central, Laurel, Parkdale and Suitland high schools in Prince George's County; and Gar-Field and Stonewall Jackson high schools and three middle schools in Prince William.

View all comments that have been posted about this article.

[rockin'.baltimorean]

Montgomery County may go after D.C. United

Baltimore Business Journal - by Tierney Plumb Contributor
Print Email Reprints RSS Feeds Add to Del.icio.us Digg This CommentsRelated News. Prince George's vote likely kills D.C. United stadium deal Montgomery County may go after D.C. United. D.C. United stadium bill hits snag in General Assembly


The day after Prince George's County killed a plan to study building a new soccer stadium for D.C. United, officials in Montgomery County and Frederick County — but not Howard — expressed interest in housing a 24,000-seat stadium for the team.

“I think there are some potential options in the county, and I think it’s at least worth having conversations with people about it,” said Montgomery County Councilman Mike Knapp, who is also chair of the Planning, Housing and Economic Development Committee.

He said the Shady Grove area, which is next to public transit now, and Germantown, which could be served by transit down the line, are options for a stadium site.

“Clearly the D.C. United team is looking to have local place to have a facility,” he said. “I would entertain us at least talking to folks about it to find out the deal structure. We’ve had conversations about trying to build an arena anyway, so it’s not a new concept.”

For the past two years, the county has been looking at the possibility of building an arena to host smaller concerts and seat 6,000 to 10,000 people.

“This is better and more tangible, with a team associated with a stadium,” Knapp said. “It could replace the [arena] idea or supplement it.”

On Wednesday, Knapp suggested the economic development agency and the county executive office “pick up the phone and engage in conversation with them.”

County Executive Isiah Leggett’s office has not yet been contacted by team officials, according to Patrick Lacefield, director in the Montgomery County Office of Public Information.

Critics say the original proposal — to have the Maryland Stadium Authority float bonds for the $195 million stadium that would have been secured by D.C. United rent and future tax revenue — was a bad deal and left the state liable for any revenue shortfalls.

“We have a major budget crisis now, and it would be hard to make commitments even though it’s a long-term thing,” said Neil Greenberger, legislative information officer for the Montgomery County Council. “We have helped publicly finance numerous major projects in recent years, like the Strathmore music hall, but it came at a huge public expense.”

Howard County is not one of the counties actively looking to score the stadium.

“For the time being we are not participating in the lottery,” said Richard Story, CEO of Howard County’s Economic Development Authority.

Fairfax County Chairman Sharon Bulova’s office has not been contacted by team officials, and neither has the county's Economic Development Authority or Park Authority, according to sources.

Loudoun County’s economic development office is keeping mum on the topic, too.

“We are not able to comment on any potential projects. We aren’t at liberty to talk from a confidentiality standpoint,” said Robin Bailey, manger of business infrastructure for Loudoun County.

There have been discussions this week among the Frederick city and county offices of economic development and its chamber of commerce to see if there is space available.

They are currently using CoStar to see if they have a piece of land large enough to plant the stadium on.

“It’s one loss for a county, but we don’t want to lose it in the state,” said Helen Riddle, deputy director of economic development in the county. “We are just in the very first phase of looking around and are looking to see if we do have something that large. We are still in a looking phase to see if would be a good match for Frederick.”

The Prince George’s County Council voted Tuesday to effectively kill the team’s plan to move from the District’s RFK Stadium to a new 24,000-seat stadium in the county. The legislation is stalled in the Statehouse and likely will die without the support of the Prince George’s Council.

In the proposed deal, the Maryland Stadium Authority would have issued bonds to finance construction, and 75 percent of the total cost would be paid from sales and income tax revenue created by the project.

But some state legislators wondered if the games and events at the stadium could generate the amount of sales needed to pay off the bonds.

“The owners of the team and people who were backing the stadium did a terrible job of trying to sell it,” Greenberger said. “They need to sell it as a public good and more than something that can host 10 to 20 events a year,” he said, suggesting that it could house the Maryland state high school football championship, for example.

[sovman]

Oh lord... Montgomery County doesn't have room for a stadium. I really hope they don't try to shove it somewhere in the Shady Grove area...

[rockin'.baltimorean]

frederick county's also included in this, so i'm with you on the question of "where".

[Htay9500]

Isn't the discovery soccerplex over in Germantown? I think it could be likely.

[sovman]

Originally Posted by rockin'.baltimorean

frederick county's also included in this, so i'm with you on the question of "where".

Indeed. Frederick would be nice, and would probably love the economic investment from a brand new stadium, but they probably don't have anywhere to put a stadium either. And it's kinda far away from the population center of DC.

Originally Posted by Htay9500

Isn't the discovery soccerplex over in Germantown? I think it could be likely.

Yeah, but it's on the edge of the town, right where it meets the agricultural reserve. That means the only open space to build out there is protected farmland. It's either that or nestle it up against the single family homes of Germantown, and that's not at all going to work... plus, it's a ways away from both rail and highway, so it's kinda hard to get to...

[Dank City]

What about the site of those huge radio towers on the 270 spur by Montgomery Mall? Those radio towers are obsolete and abc was trying to sell the massive site to a developer who already went through the steps to get it rezoned residential...

[sovman]

Possibly, but I don't think the county would really want to put a 24,000 seat stadium there, especially given that that area is always congested, and will be increasingly so with the BRAC realignment at Bethesda Naval right next door. Though, the spot does have great access to 495 and the 270 spur, and there's probably enough room to put ramps...

[Infoman]

I want it within the Capital Beltway though!!!

[sovman]

Yeah, and that means PG county, cause that's the only place with room

[rockin'.baltimorean]

since p.g. doesn't want the team & montgomery county doesn't have the space, i got a better idea. it'll be an idea that i'm sure would be embraced.


why dont they move the team to baltimore and call the team "Baltimore FC?"

[bamboo stick]

Or, the team needs to go back to DC at Poplar Point and Fenty needs to get his head out of his a**.

[sovman]

that would probably be the best solution...

[gohorns]

Or they could move it to howard county...which would put it within reach of people from Delaware down to Northern VA. They could try to find a place along the MARC line..or just extend the green line (or red line) up this way.

I think the team would benefit from the expanded population base...but I can't figure out why Howard won't even consider it...

[rockin'.baltimorean]

now that i think about it, HoCo would benefit from this greatly. i just don't see officials in this county actually going for the idea.....and that's not even mentioning the NIMBYs that would oppose of it.

[indiethinker]

Having been to the MD Soccerplex in Germantown, its way out there and isn't convenient for anybody but those who live there.


Given how the whole redevelopment of Poplar Point has fallen apart, one would think Fenty might be more open.

[hpal3]

A new 17-story apartment building and a six-story office complex could be coming to Bethesda's Woodmont Triangle by 2013.
Donohoe Development Company submitted plans in January to the Montgomery County Planning Board to redevelop two sites in the neighborhood, which is bounded by Wisconsin Avenue, Old Georgetown Road and Battery Lane. County planners have focused on the neighborhood, which has been slower to redevelop than other parts of Bethesda, as an area ripe for revitalization.

"We're a big believer in Bethesda," said Jad Donohoe, development director for the company. "A lot of our executives live and grew up in Bethesda, and we just think it's a great place to develop."

The 17-story, 457-unit apartment building would be built on the corner of Rugby and Del Ray avenues, on the site of a surface parking lot and a series of small, two-story buildings. The six-story, 90,000-square-foot office building would stand on the site of the Texaco station at the corner of Wisconsin Avenue and Battery Lane. Both sites will include approximately 10,000 square-feet of retail space on the first floor, Donohoe said.

Despite being noncontiguous, the two sites are being handled as one plan by the Planning Board due to a stipulation in the Downtown Bethesda Master Plan that allows for this type of development in Woodmont Triangle.

A 2006 update of the master plan included a zoning change allowing for taller buildings and grouping multiple lots to spur redevelopment in the Woodmont Triangle neighborhood, where the small lots and piecemeal ownership made it difficult for developers to acquire properties large enough to build viable projects.

"Because there is so much fragmented ownership in the Woodmont Triangle, the best way to get retail and housing together is this way," Donohoe said.

Joshua Sloan, a coordinator in the planning department's development review division, said Donohoe representatives have met with planning department staff twice, and he expects the board to hear the project sometime this summer.

Prior to a Planning Board hearing, each new project in Woodmont Triangle must pass muster with the Woodmont Triangle Action Group, a body created by the neighborhood's master plan with the goal to coordinate and monitor the progress of development and amenities and facilities included in new projects and to revitalize retail.

Donohoe presented the plans to the group, which includes representatives from the planning department, area homeowners associations, county officials and other downtown Bethesda stakeholders.

"I think the project looks good," said Ken Hartman, chairman of the group and executive director of the Bethesda-Chevy Chase Regional Services Center. "We wanted a lot more housing because if we get people who live there, then we get people who will shop there and dine there as well."

The apartment tower, tentatively named "The Gallery of Bethesda," would sit one block north from the Palisades and Triangle Towers buildings, both also high-rise apartment complexes.

Donohoe Development also built the luxury 650-unit White Flint Place in North Bethesda in 2007 and is in the final steps of completing the new Hilton Garden Inn on Waverly Street in downtown Bethesda.

Despite the economy, Donohoe said the company is pushing through with the plans, hoping to have the office building opened by late 2012 and the apartment building ready by 2013.

"At this moment everyone is a little bit hostage to the bigger market focus, but we're working our way through our project and preliminary plans and looking to the future where there market conditions may be better," he said.

[Htay9500]

Is that whats going to replace that big hole across texaco?

[bamboo stick]

Originally Posted by Htay9500

Is that whats going to replace that big hole across texaco?

No, that space is a hotel project that's on hold. This project is going to be built ON TOP of the Texaco.