Contact: Doug Wrenn, 240-777-8121

For Immediate Release: January 25, 2002

Wheaton Redevelopment Steering Committee
Expands Membership and Names New Co-Chairs

Montgomery County Executive Douglas M. Duncan recently appointed several new members to the Wheaton Redevelopment Steering Committee to allow for more input from the residential and business communities.

In addition to expanding the membership, new co-chairs were named to serve on the steering committee. Patty Murphy, owner of Wheaton Office Supply and Cliff Moy, National Capital Planning Commission, were named co-chairs at the December steering committee meeting.

The steering committee was established by Duncan in June 2000 to help facilitate revitalization efforts in downtown Wheaton. Efforts of the committee are focused on improving the appearance and vitality of Wheaton's downtown area.

Working with the steering committee and the National Main Street Center - a program of the nonprofit National Trust for Historic Preservation - the Wheaton Redevelopment Office developed four scenarios that will be used to help determine the desirability and feasibility of future redevelopment proposals. The four scenarios are based on ideas solicited from the community during a series of focus groups and interviews. Although all of the proposals were acceptable to the community, future development will likely be a hybrid of all the scenarios.

Last summer, Duncan reported substantial progress in redeveloping and revitalizing the local business district. Several new residential, retail and office space proposals were announced, representing more than $275 million in private investment.

Copies of the Main Street report are available at the Mid-County Regional Services Center and at the Wheaton Redevelopment Program office, as well as on the County's website at co.mo.md.us/services/regional/midcnty/mainstreet.

For more information, call the Wheaton Redevelopment office at 240-777-8121.