Demolition of 8787 Georgia Avenue to Begin by End of Year

| at 11:02 am | Categories Silver Spring

Demolition of 8787 Georgia Ave., the former home of the county’s Planning Department, is slated to begin by the end of the year in preparation for a 2021 groundbreaking of the redevelopment of the property. The county chose partners Bozzuto and StonebridgeCarras in 2013 for a two-part redevelopment effort, according to Devon Hastie, development manager for Bozzuto. The first part, construction of a new office building for the county in Wheaton, has been completed.

Roeder Road Office Building Being Converted to Condos

| at 10:27 am | Categories Silver Spring

A former office building at 700 Roeder Rd. in Silver Spring is being converted to 35 condos, according to information provided to the Source from Kadida Development Group, a partner in the project. Plans for Elan, as it will be known, include the creation of five studio-size units, 25 one-bedroom and five two-bedroom units. Pricing is expected to range from about $199,000 to the low $400s, KDG said.

Planners to Hold Virtual Listening Sessions on Downtown, Adjacent Communities Plan

| at 1:51 pm | Categories Montgomery County

The county’s Planning Department will hold the first of three virtual “listening sessions” on what’s been rechristened the Silver Spring Downtown and Adjacent Communities Plan on Tuesday, July 21 from noon to 1:15 p.m. The discussion is part of the launch of the sector plan process for the Central Business District and surrounding area.

New Bill Would Provide Tax Incentive for Housing on WMATA Property

| at 11:01 am | Categories Montgomery County

Councilmembers Hans Riemer and Andrew Friedson introduced legislation Tuesday that would extend Metro’s existing property tax abatement for 15 years for new high-rise development. Bill 29-20, the “More Housing at Metrorail Stations Act,” would require the Director of Finance to offer a payment in lieu of taxes for a high-rise building constructed by a private developer on property leased from the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority at a Metro station.

Planning Board to Consider Scope of Silver Spring Downtown Sector Plan Work

| at 11:33 am | Categories Montgomery County

The Montgomery Planning Board will consider a proposed scope of work for a Silver Spring Downtown Sector Plan at a virtual meeting Thursday, June 4. The work, the first step in the planning process, is intended as an update to the 2000 Silver Spring Central Business District Plan. It includes consideration of the boundaries of the current CBD and whether expansion of the area into the downtown sector plan would be a part of the process.

Council Continues to Add Funding to Assist During COVID-19 Emergency

| at 11:17 am | Categories Montgomery County

The County Council continues to propose and appropriate funding to provide various forms of assistance to county residents during the COVID-19 emergency. The council yesterday unanimously approved a special appropriation of $2 million to be used for emergency eviction prevention and housing stabilization programs via a short-term rental subsidy program to low- and moderate-income households.

Council Votes to Limit Residential Rent Increases During COVID-19 Emergency

| at 10:39 am | Categories Montgomery County

The County Council voted to limit residential rent increases during the COVID-19 health emergency and for 180 days after the emergency’s expiration. Expedited Bill 18-20, the COVID-19 Renter Relief Act, prohibits landlords from increasing rents on lease renewals more than the county’s Department of Housing and Community Affairs’ rent guidelines of 2.6 percent.