Department of General Services

Wheaton Redevelopment Advisory Committee Agenda and Minutes

Wheaton Redevelopment Program

wheaton design

Downtown Wheaton, is perfectly situated in the center of three major thoroughfares, and less than 2 miles north of the Capital Beltway. With the added convenience and accessibility of Metrorail ( Red Line) and Metrobus, Wheaton is the ideal location for a growing business or development project.

To support this effort, the county opened The Wheaton Redevelopment Program (WRP) at 2424 Reedie Drive. This WRP is based on the concept of encouraging private reinvestment through targeted, complimentary public investment. Private sector investment in downtown projects constructed, underway and in the planning and development process exceeds $416 million, to date. The total amount of County funds expended and committed to downtown Wheaton is over $20.5 million. Effectively, the County has leveraged almost $20 of investment from the private sector for every County dollar invested in the downtown. Redevelopment initiatives currently in place include a balanced mix of residential, office, and retail uses typical of an urban environment. Projects developed or planned to date, will create over 1,300 residential units, and nearly 600,000 square feet of new retail.

The County Executive, in cooperation with Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) and Maryland-National Capital Park & Planning Commission (M-NCPPC), seek to enter into a public-private partnership with a qualified developer partner, or development team, to develop mixed-use, transit-oriented projects within the Wheaton Central Business District (CBD). To see the RFQ, click here

Home to more than 400 businesses and a growing residential population, Downtown Wheaton is transforming from a residential suburb to an urban environment. Current initiatives include:

A revised Sector Plan utilizing smart-growth and mixed-use development allowing for greater density and community integration to ensure Wheaton's sustainability for generations to come. For more information, click here

New streetscapes and safety measures creating a more pedestrian-friendly environment.
Clean and Safe and Façade Improvement programs making downtown Wheaton a more attractive and friendly environment.
To encourage business expansion, reinvestment and redevelopment, Wheaton offers a number of incentives.

Wheaton Sector Plan

In April 2008, the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission (M-NCPPC) initiated a comprehensive update to the 1990 Wheaton Sector Plan. The update will look at the future of Wheaton with a focus on encouraging great urban design, efficient transportation, pedestrian links to the Wheaton Metro Station, environmental sustainability and more. For more information, click here

Business Outreach and Incentives

The Wheaton Redevelopment Program seeks to encourage private investment through targeted, complimentary public investment. We can assist you in identifying potential sites for development or relocation, and identify available incentives that make Downtown Wheaton an ideal choice and exceptional value for your next project. As an Enterprise Zone and an Arts & Entertainment District, Downtown Wheaton offers eligible businesses and projects a "green-taped" permitting process, reduced impact fees, generous property tax credits on commercial development, and income tax credits (state) for job growth.

For assistance with these incentives, contact Pete McGinnity at 240-777-8126 or email him at peter.mcginnity@montgomerycountymd.gov

For a map of Wheaton's Enterprise Zone and Arts & Entertainment District, click here

To download an information packet for the Wheaton Enterprise Zone, click here

Redevelopment Projects

Redevelopment projects planned/under construction or completed in the last several years include:

Wheaton Pedestrian Walkway -- located mid-block between Ennalls Avenue and Reedie Drive on Georgia Avenue was completed in October 2009. The walkway provides better pedestrian circulation and convenient accessibility in the downtown.

Safeway -- has proposed the first "optional method" mixed-use development project in the Wheaton Central Business District (CBD). The site is located directly across from the Wheaton Metro on approximately 1.92 acres. The proposed project would include a 55,000 square-foot Safeway; 1,600 square-feet of retail; some 500 rental units; and three levels of garage parking.
Avalon Bay Communities - has proposed a 383,000 square-foot mixed-use project at the corner of Blueridge and Georgia Avenues.
Washington Properties Company - is pursuing a 225 unit residential development at the 2.4 acre site of the First Baptist Church of Wheaton on Georgia Avenue.
Georgia Crossing - A 32,000 square-foot mixed-use, street-level retail and mezzanine-level office space at Georgia Avenue & University Boulevard was completed in early 2009. Cost was approximately $4.3 million.

MetroPointe -- Adjacent to the Wheaton Metro, this $53 million public/private project includes 173 residential units (70% luxury and 30% affordable), street-level retail, an on-site parking garage and a "Kiss 'n Ride" for Metro-rail patrons was completed in late 2008. MetroPointe received the Charles L. Edson Tax Credit Excellence Award for its affordable housing initiative.
Leesborough -- Centex Homes is constructing 105 residential units. A combination of townhomes, condominiums and 6 single-family units. Over 96% of the units have been sold. Construction began in July 2008. Centex was recently purchased by Pulte.

The Brownstones/Archstone at Wheaton Station -- 75 luxury Brownstone townhomes; 243 rental apartments and a 400-space private parking garage was completed in late 2005.

Clairmont at Wheaton Metro -- Pulte Homes developed 42 townhomes and one single-family home on this 1.7 acre site. Located at the northwest quadrant of the business district. It was completed in 2004.
Macy's -- 180,000 square-foot, two-story department store at Westfield's opened in spring of 2005. The 750-space parking garage was partially funded by Montgomery County.
Westfield Wheaton -- completed $140 million in expansion and renovations of the existing mall by adding another shopping level with 50 specialty stores. Westfield also constructed a strip center along University Boulevard which includes several retailers and a 58,800 square-foot Giant supermarket.

To download the latest redevelopment brochure, click here

For a map of current and recent Wheaton development sites, click here

Redevelopment Reports and Surveys

Surveys/Questionnaires

To access the 2008 International Downtown Association Report Questionnaire, click here

To access the results of the 2005 Wheaton Business Survey, click here

Resources

To access the 2007 Wheaton Small Business Resource Guide, click here

Reports

To view Wheaton CBD Sector Plan Update (M-NCCPC), click here

To view Urban Land Institute Technical Assistance Panel -- 2009, click here

To view Bay Area Economics Wheaton Urban District Market Analysis, click here

To access the 2009 Wheaton Redevelopment Program Annual Report, click here

To access the PowerPoint presentation from the Wheaton Library Public Meeting on February 9, 2009, click here

To access the Wheaton redevelopment concepts from the National Main Street Center (2000), click here

To access the 2008 International Downtown Association Report, click here

To access a PowerPoint of the International Downtown Association Advisory Panel's Recommendations for the Wheaton CBD, click here

To access the 2004 Wheaton Public Safety Audit, click here

To access the Maryland Dept of Transportation's Wheaton Metro Station Area Pedestrian Safety Evaluation Report (November, 2004), click here

To access the 2007 RMULI Land Use report, click here

To see the possibilities for the future of the Wheaton Central Business District, click here

To view the "2005 Town Center Vision", click here

Wheaton Redevelopment Advisory Committee (WRAC)

Wheaton Redevelopment Advisory Committee Agenda and Minutes

Pictured front row left to right: Jonathan Fink; Susan Petersen; Melissa Brown; Thomas Martin; Robert Schilke; Zoe Lefkowitz; back row from left to right: Sharon Lasswell, WRP staff; Morey Rothberg; Gregory Baker; Diane Lynne; Pete McGinnity, WRP staff; Elizabeth Boyle; Rob Klein, WRP staff; Erin Roberts; Maureen Carrington; Eleanor Duckett; Sabrina Goris; Rahman Harrison; Filippo Leo and Gary Stith, WRP Director. Absent: Mara Baer; Manuel Hidalgo; Chris Lindsay; Dave Taghipour and Fran Ware

The mission of the Redevelopment Advisory Committee is to advise the County Executive, the Director of the Wheaton Redevelopment Program, and the Director of the Mid-County Regional Services Center on all phases of the revitalization of downtown Wheaton which consists of preserving and improving the neighborhoods and business centers in the downtown area.

Department of General Services

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