When a man from England stumbled upon a Facebook group called “Maryland is a cult. Not a state,” he decided to join purely because the name made him laugh. Having never visited the U.S., let alone Maryland, his only prior association with the word “Maryland” was a popular British brand of cookies. But after four months in the group, he’s developed a surprisingly sharp understanding of what makes Marylanders tick.
Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Services (MCFRS) responded early Saturday to a deck fire on Parrish Drive in Rockville. (more…)
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.
Maryland Attorney General Anthony G. Brown announced a settlement requiring Heather Hill Apartments in Prince George’s County to provide an estimated $11.2 million in restitution for operating without a rental license, marking the largest landlord/tenant restitution case by the Consumer Protection Division. (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.
Music. Art. Food. Community. The Takoma Park Folk Festival brings it all together for one free, unforgettable day. Discover six stages of live music from around the world, shop an acclaimed juried craft show, enjoy international cuisine, connect with local community organizations, and let the kids explore crafts and activities in the Children's Nook. It's one of the region's most beloved traditions, and a celebration of the creativity, diversity, and welcoming spirit that has long defined Takoma Park.
New this year! Jam at the Crossroads is a place for musicians of all levels to come together and be part of the music.
Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich will lead events for National Hispanic Heritage Month from Sept. 15 to Oct. 15, highlighting the county’s Latino population, which grew 31.4% since 2010 and now represents 20.5% of residents. (more…)
The Limerick Pub, a longtime staple of Wheaton’s dining and nightlife scene, has officially announced a change in ownership. The pub shared a couple weeks back that Luis Reyes, a familiar face to many regulars, is now the new owner along with his wife Maria, his brother Mauricio, and his sister Marina.
ABC’s 20/20 recently revisited a Montgomery County case that haunted the Chevy Chase community for more than two decades– the 2001 murder of 49-year-old Leslie Preer. The episode, titled “First Comes Love, Then Comes Murder,” walked through how advances in DNA technology helped bring long-awaited closure to Preer’s family. The episode premiered on Sept. 12th at and is now available to stream on Hulu and Disney Plus.
Back in December 2023, we let you know that Aloha Poke, a Chicago-based poke restaurant chain, signed on to open its first Maryland location in Rockville’s King Farm neighborhood. Signage went up in the windows of the space at 800 Pleasant Dr. #100 in the spring of 2024, but there was never any additional movement. Now, it has been confirmed that Aloha Poke will not open, with a new tenant lined up.
The Montgomery County Council’s Planning, Housing and Parks Committee will review ZTA 25-07 on September 15, which proposes prohibiting licensed cannabis dispensaries within 100 feet of residentially zoned property and making technical updates to retail use regulations. The committee will also discuss ZTA 25-09 on allowing alkaline hydrolysis, or water cremation, as part of funeral and interment services. (more…)
Two Maryland restaurants have landed on Washingtonian’s latest list of “5 New Breakfast and Brunch Spots to Check Out Around DC.” Bouboulina in North Bethesda and Lapu Lapu, which has a location in Gaithersburg, are both drawing attention for their distinct approaches to the brunch experience.
The Montgomery County Police Department (MCPD) responded to the report of a shooting in Dickerson on Friday afternoon. (more…)