Contact: Doug Wrenn, Wheaton Redevelopment Program, 240-777-8121
Natalie Cantor, Mid-County Regional Services Center, 240-777-8100
For Immediate Release: August 9, 2001

County and State Officials Report
on Wheaton Redevelopment Plans

One year after a new redevelopment program was launched in downtown Wheaton, Montgomery County Executive Douglas M. Duncan today reported that substantial progress has been made in redeveloping and revitalizing the local business district. With nearly two million square feet of new residential, retail and office space proposed for development, representing more than $275 million in private investment, efforts are well underway, according to County officials.

“Approximately one year ago we announced a series of new initiatives that would lay the foundation for revitalizing and redeveloping downtown Wheaton,” said Duncan. “Today, I want to acknowledge the tremendous success of these efforts and announce the exciting new developments and activities that will soon reshape and rejuvenate Wheaton.”

Senator Barbara Mikulski extolled the merits of a powerful partnership of federal, state and county governments that has joined forces with private developers and community activists to rejuvenate downtown Wheaton.

“I am pleased to have secured half a million dollars in the recently passed Senate bill to revitalize Wheaton. This money will be used to make Wheaton’s downtown streets inviting to pedestrians,” said Senator Mikulski, who chairs the VA-HUD Appropriations Subcommittee. “We want to make Wheaton a place where residents can work, shop, worship and play all in their own community. I plan to build on this partnership of government, business and community to do my part on a federal level to keep businesses booming and customers coming to downtown Wheaton.”

"Wheaton has just been waiting to take off and now with this mix of projects, it can really soar! These new developments will enliven our streets and provide customers for our longstanding members of the Wheaton business community," said Councilmember Derick Berlage, who represents Wheaton.

Proposed downtown redevelopment projects and revitalization activities include:

• Development of the six-acre site located adjacent to the Wheaton Metro Station by residential developers Eakin/Youngentob and Bozzuto Group in May 2001. Development, which is expected to start in mid-2002, includes 305 residential units – 75 townhouses and 230 rental apartments along with a new parking garage. The State Mass Transit Administration has tentatively qualified this development to receive $540,000 in Smart Growth Transit funding for pedestrian and transit-access improvements. The County is also providing funding assistance for streetscaping and other public improvements.

• Selection of the Bozzuto Group as development partner for The Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority’s (WMATA) two Metro Air Rights Development Projects along Georgia Avenue, announced in June 2001. The 2.6-acre site east of Georgia Avenue is proposed for development of approximately 175 residential units. The three-acre site west of Georgia Avenue is proposed for development of approximately 300,000 sq. ft. of office space and 15,000 square feet of retail. The Housing Opportunities Commission is leasing a portion of the office space.

• Contracting of the Good Counsel High School site north of the downtown business district in June 2001 by John Laing Homes and Centex Homes to develop approximately 140 residential units.

• Announcement of plans by the owners of Westfield Shoppingtown Wheaton and Target to locate a new store in the former Wards department store, slated to open in mid-2002. Discussions are underway with a national retail chain to secure a fourth anchor department store at Westfield Shoppingtown Wheaton.

• Approval by the U.S. Senate of Senator Mikulski’s request for $500,000 for FY 2002 for Montgomery County’s Department of Housing and Community Affairs for streetscaping and revitalization efforts in Wheaton. This will revitalize a portion of Fern Street, widen sidewalks and improve lighting, and make downtown Wheaton more pedestrian friendly. The result will be a more attractive venue for businesses and customers.

• Construction of two major downtown streetscape projects along Georgia Avenue (utility undergrounding and streetscape) and along Amherst Avenue near the Metro Station, currently underway.

• Opening of the County’s Charles W. Gilchrist Center for Cultural Diversity in September 2001, to be located in downtown Wheaton. The first of its kind in Montgomery County, the center will provide enhanced programs and services to multi-lingual and ethnic communities throughout the County.

• Designation of downtown Wheaton in October 2000 as the recipient of a $250,000 Federal Economic Development Initiative grant to establish a technology center to enhance computer literacy and computer resources for small businesses and to help bridge the digital divide.

• Renovating the Wheaton Regional Library to add another Help Desk and six individual study rooms, provide additional seating space for elementary age students in the Children’s Room and equip a Language Learning Lab with computer modules that will help individuals learn English. The World Language collection and the Reference and Health Information areas will also be enhanced.

• Established a Clean and Safe program and Urban Crew and Service Corps to improve the appearance of the area and provide a more friendly and inviting downtown environment.

Revitalization of downtown Wheaton was kicked off last summer by County officials, the Wheaton Redevelopment Steering Committee, representatives of the National Main Street Center and staff of the Wheaton Redevelopment Office. Efforts have focused on preserving and improving the neighborhoods and business centers in Wheaton’s downtown area. Based on ideas solicited from the community during a series of focus groups and interviews, Main Street staff developed four scenarios for the downtown that were presented to the community at a Town Meeting held in February 2001. The process resulted in both a community consensus for a vision of the new downtown Wheaton and four distinct potential redevelopment scenarios that will be utilized to help determine the desirability and feasibility of future redevelopment proposals. Although all of the proposals were acceptable to the community, future development will likely be a hybrid of all the scenarios.

Copies of the Main Street Report are available at the Mid-County Regional Services Center and at the Wheaton Redevelopment Program office, or, access the County’s website at co.mo.md.us/services/regional/midcnty/mainstreet/sld001.htm.

For more information, call Natalie Cantor, director of the Mid-County Regional Services Center, at 240-777-8100 or Doug Wrenn, director of the Wheaton Redevelopment Program office, at 240-777-8121.