mh/piccard.pr                      Contact:  David Weaver, 301-217-6530
                                         or Chuck Short, 301-217-1245

DUNCAN RECOMMENDS PURCHASE
OF ROCKVILLE OFFICE BUILDING
TO CONSOLIDATE HEALTH AND HUMAN
SERVICES                           For Immediate Release:  May 9, 1996


     Montgomery County Executive Douglas M. Duncan today has recommended to
the County Council a plan to purchase an 87,000 square-foot office building on
Piccard Drive in Rockville to consolidate health and human service programs --
a plan that would be funded in large part by the State of Maryland.  If
approved, the building at 1301 Piccard Drive would become the new home for the
County's Crisis Center, now located in Bethesda.  In addition, health and
human services programs currently housed at 5630 Fisher's Lane in Rockville
would also be relocated to the new facility.
     "The purchase of this building will support our ongoing effort to
consolidate programs and more efficiently deliver services to better
accommodate the growing needs of our residents," said Duncan.
     The four-story building, located on eight acres at the intersection of
Piccard Drive and West Gude Drive, would be purchased for $8.65 million, with
nearly 85 percent of the funding coming from the State, and the remaining
amount paid for by issuing general obligation bonds.      
      "By purchasing the building and locating the Crisis Center there, we
will have a new center earlier than expected and save more than $500,000 from
the recommended Capital Improvements Program," said Duncan.
     If purchased, nearly three quarters of the building would be used to 
                                  -more-

DUNCAN RECOMMENDS PURCHASE OF BUILDING                 2-2-2-2

house the County's income maintenance services, emergency services, homeless
prevention services, victim assistance services, and several programs serving
children, youth and families.  The remainder of the building would be used for
the Crisis Center, including the 24-hour phone and walk-in crisis
stabilization services, a five-bed triage and evaluation unit for persons in
crisis, and the abused persons out-patient services program.
     Purchase of the building is contingent on County Council approval and
receipt of a grant commitment from the State of Maryland.
                                  # # #
Return to Montgomery County Press Releases Page.
County Home | About Your County | County Government | Services | Guest Book | Questions for the Executive
News | Phone Book | Business Development | Council | Related Resources