The Montgomery County Council will meet on Tuesday, Oct. 7, to receive the semi-annual report of the Planning Board, vote on spending affordability guidelines for the capital budget, and consider legislation requiring landlords to provide 14 days’ notice before evictions. The agenda also includes votes on bond authorizations, personnel regulations for displaced federal workers, committee appointments, and proclamations recognizing International Day of the Girl and National Farmer’s Day.
The bus loop at the Medical Center Metro Station will be closed on select Sundays through spring 2026 due to Metrorail construction, affecting Montgomery County Ride On Routes 34 and 46. During the closures, buses will be rerouted to stops along Rockville Pike, while other Ride On routes that do not operate on Sundays will not be impacted.
Last week, Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich signed legislation authorizing up to $420 million in tax increment financing bonds to help finance Viva White Oak, a $2.7 billion investment featuring more than 3 million square feet of lab space, office/medical office, retail, and over 4,400 quality residences. The 280-acre site, which is located adjacent to the FDA headquarters and near Adventist HealthCare White Oak Medical Center, is expected to begin construction this fall.
“This is a project that has been discussed and planned for a long time, and now we are getting to the point where people will actually begin seeing it take shape,” said County Executive Elrich. “VIVA White Oak will bring thousands of homes, good jobs, restaurants, stores, and other amenities to an area of the County that has needed this level of investment for decades. We found a financing approach that allows us to build the infrastructure needed to make this development possible while using the new tax revenue generated by the project to repay the bonds. I appreciate the Council, our State partners, MCB, and especially the East County residents who kept pushing to get us to this point.”
Anchored by Costco and with a focus on innovation and research and development, Viva White Oak represents one of the largest development opportunities in Montgomery County in recent years. Once completed, the development is expected to generate $4.9 billion in annual economic output and give the County $21 million year in new revenue. Additionally, the new development is projected to generate 19,000 construction jobs and 9,000 permanent jobs.
“Viva White Oak demonstrates the County’s continued commitment to supporting growth and investment in Montgomery County,” said Jared Smith, President & CEO of the Montgomery County Economic Development Corporation (MCEDC). “The County’s first TIF gives us another important tool to compete for investment, attract businesses, and create jobs. Montgomery County has tremendous assets and opportunities, and using tools like this strategically will help us translate those strengths into long-term economic growth.”
Viva White Oak is expected to take place in two phases. In phase one, which is expected to be completed by 2031, it will deliver over 960 townhomes, 1,000 apartments, 470,000 square feet of retail space, a 175-room hotel with meeting space, up to 1,279 permanent on-site jobs, and 92,000 square feet of medical office space. Phase two, which will take place between 2033 and 2044, will deliver 1.3 million square feet of life sciences office and lab space, 400,000 square feet of Current Good Manufacturing Practice (cGMP) life sciences manufacturing, almost 2,500 additional housing units delivered, a 150-room hotel dedicated to supporting innovation, and over 3,800 permanent on-site jobs.
Viva White Oak represents the County’s first use of a TIF and follows a push by Montgomery County to remove barriers and create new opportunities for businesses to invest, grow, and create jobs. In July, the Montgomery County Council approved the Job Creation Project zoning initiative, which is expected to cut permitting time in half for development projects that are in Montgomery County’s key industries—including life sciences and technology— or are expected to create at least 200 local jobs, further showcasing the County’s commitment to powering economic growth in target industries.
Montgomery College’s Takoma Park/Silver Spring campus is marking Banned Books Week with a series of events running Monday, October 6 through Friday, October 10, 2025. The programs are organized by the TP/SS Banned Book Week Committee in collaboration with the college’s Reading and English Department and MC Library. (more…)
Falafel Inc is continuing its growth in Montgomery County with a new location planned for 8525 Georgia Avenue in Silver Spring, according to a report by Source of the Spring. (more…)
We are so excited to be in our new location at 4833 Rugby Ave, Suite 200, Bethesda,MD
Spectrum Acupuncture & Wellness has been serving the MoCO community for over 20 years. We specialize in Women’s Health, Pelvic Floor Care & Chronic Pain. Whether you have been experiencing migraines or neuropathy, insomnia or anxiety, are going thru fertility treatments or in the midlife peri/menopause transition, we are here for you! Call or text for your complimentary consultation and let’s make a plan together to get you where you want to be.
October 10 & 11, 2026
The MoCo Epic is a festival celebrating mountain biking, natural surface trails, and the community that makes this region a great place to ride! 2026 marks the 16th anniversary of the MoCo Epic.
The Maryland Department of Transportation State Highway Administration will begin enhancing bike lanes on MD 190 (River Road) in Bethesda between Brookside Drive and Little Falls Parkway on Wednesday, October 8, with work expected to finish by the end of the month, weather permitting. Improvements include new pavement markings, green paint, and flex-post delineators to improve visibility and safety, with weekday single-lane closures scheduled from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. until completion. (more…)
The Montgomery County Community Action Agency’s Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program is seeking volunteers for the 2025 tax season, with a particular need for appointment schedulers to assist residents by phone and online.
O Friday, Attorney General Anthony G. Brown and Secretary of State Susan C. Lee announced that Maryland, along with 21 other state agencies and the Federal Trade Commission, has stopped a deceptive charity fundraising scheme run by Kars-R-Us, Inc. and its operators. According to the complaint, the group raised more than $45 million on behalf of the United Breast Cancer Foundation but used less than 1% for screenings, leading to a settlement that bans certain fundraising activities and imposes financial penalties on those involved.
The Montgomery County Police Department has released addition information regarding a fatal two-vehicle collision that occurred on Sunday, October 5, 2025. The victim, 63-year-old Charles Anthony Hawkins of Rockville, was killed in the crash. (more…)
Montgomery County Recreation concluded the regular season of its NFL Flag Football leagues this past weekend at Wheaton High School. The program, which is offered each fall and spring for youth ages 6–14, drew 468 participants this season, including 84 girls. Games were held at both Wheaton High School and Damascus Community Recreation Center. (more…)
The Montgomery County Office of Consumer Protection (OCP) is advising federal employees and their families on how to avoid scams and financial pitfalls during the current government shutdown, which has left many workers furloughed or without pay.
The annual Kentlands Bar Crawl saw record participation this year, with approximately 150 attendees coming together to raise funds for a good cause. The event, held over the weekend, brought in nearly $1,500 for Comfort Cases, a nonprofit organization that supports children entering the foster care system by providing them with backpacks filled with personal care items and comfort essentials.