Thursday, January 31, 2013
The potential nominees include the president of an art association, a property owner, a yarn shop owner, and several restaurant owners. Who do you think should win?
The Wheaton Redevelopment Advisory Committee intends to recognize businesses or commercial property owners who have improved the viability of Wheaton's downtown area and created positive change. The designated awardee would receive a plaque at this year's Wheaton & Kensington Chamber of Commerce community awards banquet. In considering the nominees, WRAC will use the following criteria to judge: (1) business innovation, (2) business success, (3) business environment impact, (4) community impact, (5) area revitalization and (6) greenness. These are the names under consideration by WRAC members: Cathy Hirsh: President of the Montgomery Art Association. Chris Georgatsos: The shops at Amherst, which were improved about two years ago…
Tuesday, January 15, 2013
The county's Department of Economic Development director will speak to WRAC about the Small Business Assistance Program.
Steve Silverman, the director of Montgomery County's Department of Economic Development, is scheduled to speak about the county's Small Business Assistance Program to members of the Wheaton Redevelopment Advisory Committee Wednesday night. The department is working out regulations to implement legislation passed by the county council in 2012, so that the county can assist small businesses negatively affected by redevelopment projects done by the county or on county property. The Jan. 16 meeting will begin at 7 p.m. at the Mid-County Regional Services Center, 2424 Reedie Drive, Wheaton.
Monday, December 3, 2012
The committee received updates on redevelopment in downtown Wheaton and the selection of an architect for the Wheaton Library and recreation center project.
The Wheaton Redevelopment Advisory Committee discussed the Wheaton Library project, redevelopment on Parking Lot 13, and Wheaton’s small businesses at its Nov. 28 meeting at the Mid-County Regional Services Center. Wheaton Library Greg Ossont, deputy director of the Department of General Services for Montgomery County, presented an update on the progress of the Wheaton Library and Recreation Center project, which would combine the two facilities on Georgia Avenue into new building. Ossont told the advisory committee that the county has decided to use Grimm + Parker, an architecture firm with offices in Calverton, MD, and McClean, VA. Grimm + Parker is already under contract with the county. Redevelopment advisory committee members …
Tuesday, November 27, 2012
WRAC will hear an update about the Wheaton Library and Recreation Center project at its Wednesday meeting.
The Wheaton Redevelopment Advisory Committee usually meets the third Wednesday of every month, but because of the Thanksgiving holiday, its November meeting was rescheduled to Wednesday, Nov. 28. The meeting will begin at 7 p.m. at the Mid-County Regional Services Center at 2424 Reedie Drive.
At its first meeting, the new Wheaton Public Safety Work Group discussed how to counteract damaging perceptions about crime in Wheaton.
“Wheaton is not a dangerous place,” said Fourth District Police Commander John Damskey at the first meeting of the Wheaton Public Safety Work Group on Nov. 19. “But the perception is horrible," he added. The new Wheaton Public Safety Work Group is tasked with finding ways of “improving public safety, quality of life, and perceptions of downtown Wheaton as it relates to revitalization efforts." At the Nov. 19 meeting, attendees talked about the changes Wheaton has undergone. They also discussed improving appearance and safety in Wheaton with more street lights, cameras at pay stations and median landscaping. In an Aug. 8 memorandum, Montgomery County councilmembers Hans Riemer (D–At Large) and Nancy Navarro (D-District 4) outlined the work …
Friday, July 13, 2012
Council Vice President Nancy Navarro and Councilmember Hans Riemer released a memo Thursday clarifying the purpose and scope of the proposed Wheaton Revitalization Implementation Working Group.
After two Montgomery County councilmembers announced their proposal to form a Wheaton Revitalization Implementation Working Group, questions swirled about how the members would be chosen and whether the group was even necessary, given that two committees--the Wheaton Urban District Advisory Committee and the Wheaton Redevelopment Advisory Committee--already are dedicated to Wheaton's downtown. Council Vice President Nancy Navarro and Councilmember Hans Riemer released a memo Thursday clarifying that the group "is not designed to implement the recommendations of the Wheaton Sector Plan" and "is not intended to usurp or replace existing boards and commissions." WUDAC and WRAC members are appointed by the county executive, but the County …
Thursday, June 21, 2012
Park and Planning continue negotiations for the office building plans on Lot 13, and WMATA fails to draw in bids for Georgia Avenue property.
The Wheaton Redevelopment Advisory Committee (WRAC) held its regular monthly meeting yesterday. Peter McGinnity and Rob Klein, who are both on the county staff for the Wheaton Redevelopment Program, provided updates: Wheaton Redevelopment on Lot 13 The county’s redevelopment plans for Wheaton will begin with an office building on Parking Lot 13 in the Wheaton Triangle, but the building’s future occupants need to sort out a few things first. The Maryland-National Parks and Planning Commission is still working on a framework for a Memorandum of Understanding with the county’s Department of General Services. Creating the MOU will be a major step, Klein told WRAC members, because the County Council will not allocate money until it is done. …
39.043269
-77.052053
11507 Georgia Ave, Wheaton, MD
/articles/redevelopment-highlights-small-business-survey-results-coming-soon
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GreenWheaton is also remaining unofficially neutral.
The Wheaton Redevelopment Advisory Committee voted at its May meeting to take a neutral position on Costco’s special exception application for a gas station at Westfield Wheaton. At Wednesday's meeting WRAC followed up by voting to send a letter to the county executive explaining its stance. Many WRAC members said they did not think the gas station was compatible with the committee’s vision for mass transit and smart growth in Wheaton. But their neutral position stems from a conviction that they are not qualified to determine whether the proposed gas station poses any health risks, as they wrote in the letter. The Kensington Heights Civic Association, which is leading the opposition to the Costco gas station, presented WRAC with testimony …
Wednesday, June 20, 2012
WRAC is scheduled to take a position on the Costco gas station special exception at its June 20 meeting.
The Wheaton Redevelopment Advisory Committee will convene at 7 p.m. for its June meeting in the Mid-County Regional Services Center on Reedie Drive. At its May meeting, WRAC discussed predatory towing in downtown Wheaton. The mission of WRAC, according to its website, 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."
Thursday, May 17, 2012
Emotions occasionally ran high as two of Wheaton’s most controversial issues were discussed at the Wheaton Redevelopment Advisory Committee's May meeting.
In contrast to the April WRAC meeting, which saw a packed room including three members of the Montgomery County Council and numerous citizens, the May meeting was slightly more subdued, yet the topics discussed – predatory towing and Costco’s gas station special exception request – garnered a similar level of passionate debate and discussion. Rob Klein, manager of the Redevelopment Program for the Department of General Services, first offered a brief redevelopment report that included updates on Parking Lot 13 (where recent drill tests did not reveal any significant obstructions to construction) and completion by Lowe Enterprises of the sketch plan phase for the “Computer Building” located at 11141 Georgia Avenue. Klein also announced a …
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-77.051036
Mid-County Regional Services Center
2424 Reedie Dr, Silver Spring, MD
/articles/predatory-towing-and-costco-s-gas-station-special-exemption-main-focus-of-may-wrac-meeting
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Danila Sheveiko
12:16 am on Friday, February 8, 2013
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