The county’s Planning Board last week began reviewing data and information on existing conditions in the Central Business District and some nearby neighborhoods as part of the Silver Spring Downtown and Adjacent Communities Plan process.
Silver Spring is one of the area communities that will be featured tonight on the premiere of a new local series from WETA, the public television station based in Arlington, Va. “If You Lived Here” is a house-hunting series that also “spotlights D.C.-area neighborhoods and properties while celebrating each locale’s history, culture, notable places and flavor,” according to WETA’s website.
The county’s Planning Board is submitting comments to the County Council that includes a recommendation to expand the area covered by a proposed zoning text amendment to allow duplexes, townhouses, and small multi-family structures, also known as missing middle housing, to be built within a mile of a Metro station.
Two state legislators from District 20 revealed plans yesterday to introduce legislation that would help protect tenants struggling with the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. Sen. Will Smith (D) and Del. Jheanelle Wilkins (D) will be the lead sponsors of the COVID-19 Eviction Relief Act in the 2021 session of the state legislature.
Owners of property near Metro stations zoned for single-family homes only would be allowed to build additional types of residential housing under legislation introduced yesterday by Councilmember Will Jawando. Zoning Text Amendment (ZTA) 20-07, R-60 Zone – Uses and Standards “would allow owners of R-60 zoned property located within 1 mile of a Metrorail station to build duplexes, townhouses, and multi-family structures within the current R-60 lot coverage, building height, setbacks, minimum lot size, and minimum parking requirements.”
Council President Tom Hucker (D-District 5) yesterday introduced two bills intended to improve safety in residential buildings, primarily multi-family and multi-story units.
The County Council yesterday approved a bill that would exempt 100% of the property tax for a project built on property leased from WMATA at a Metro station in the county. Bill 29-20, the “More Housing at Metrorail Stations Act,” would apply to construction of new high-rise development that includes at least 50% rental housing and be in effect for 15 years.
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.
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.