Some Redevelopment Project Take Next Steps, Others Backtrack

Wheaton Patch covered the latest in B.F. Saul’s plans for downtown , but what’s going on with the rest of the projects in the pipeline?

Costco

Costco is requesting the special exception hearing for the gas station to be postponed to Sept. 23. It was originally scheduled for May. No official word on why, but Wheaton redevelopment manager Peter McGinnity notes that one of the requirements for the exception is to establish need.

Washington Property Company

Washington Property Company, which will construct a residential building on the current site of the (the church is moving to Olney), will be holding a public meeting on March 21 as part of the planning process. The concept for the development planned can be found here.

BB&T

Plans to build a new bank on the properties across from the Giant on University Boulevard (where abandoned houses currently stand) have been in the works for a while. Plans were passed by the hearing examiner and ultimately the District Council on March 1. The process will now go back to the planning board to get permits.

Safeway

All quiet on the Reedie/Georgia front, for now. McGinnity noted that while Safeway has transferred the land to Patriot, allowing them to go forward officially with the project, the company is still in the process of gaining permits to demolish the old store and begin construction.

Avalon Bay

The current site of the BB&T office building was sold to Avalon Bay Properties several years ago, but the recession delayed any additional work on the site — at the northeast corner of Georgia and Blueridge. Avalon has now told McGinnity that it is withdrawing its application and selling the property.