Category: Montgomery County

Register for our Diverse Neighborhoods webinar, on July 27!

Join us to learn about how the right policies and investments can allow neighborhoods to grow in a way that support racial and economic diversity. The DC region is one of the most diverse places in the country, but remains largely segregated. We’ll talk about the latest research, the policy implications, and why it matters to yo

All About Thrive #3: A home for everyone, and new poll finds Thrive is popular

Thrive is popular! A new poll shows that Thrive has a majority of support from likely Democratic voters in Montgomery County, with the strongest support from Black and African American residents, people under 45, and renters. A total of 55% of survey respondents were in support, with only 21% opposed.

Letter: Affordable Housing at Chevy Chase Library

The twenty-one undersigned organizations urge you to redevelop the Chevy Chase Library with mixed-income housing. We believe this is an opportunity to model the future of Montgomery County by mixing housing and a public facility in one location near transit, services, amenities, and jobs. This project is key to meeting the county’s goals to achieve racial equity and social justice, and to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from transportation. 

TESTIMONY re: Strathmore Square (Support)

March 16, 2022 
Montgomery County Planning Board 
2425 Reedie Dr 
Wheaton, MD 20902 

Item 6 – Strathmore Square: Preliminary Plan Amendment No. 12019018B & Site Plan No. 820220070 (Support) 

Testimony for March 17, 2022 

Jane Lyons, Maryland Advocacy Manager 

Thank you, Chair Anderson and Planning Commissioners, for the opportunity to provide testimony on the Strathmore Square project. My name is Jane Lyons and I’m speaking on behalf of the Coalition for Smarter Growth, the leading organization advocating for walkable, bikeable, inclusive, transit-oriented communities as the most sustainable and equitable way for the DC region to grow and provide opportunities for all. 

We support the application by Fivesquares Development and are excited by the vision of Strathmore Square. This project will bring much needed activation to the Grosvenor-Strathmore Metro station, including 220 units of housing (33 MPDUs), jobs, a 1.2 acre park, shared street, bike amenities, public space, and other improvements to the area. This is an opportunity to turn a parking lot into a vibrant community. 

It is our hope this project will serve as an example of what can be achieved with transit-oriented development in the county. Projects like Strathmore Square are needed to provide the public benefits that contribute to making the county a more attractive, inclusive, and sustainable place to live. By concentrating more housing, retail, and jobs at a Metro station, Montgomery County will be making it easier for more residents to be less reliant on a private vehicle and bring additional business to destinations like the Music Center at Strathmore and Pike & Rose in North Bethesda. 

Thus, we urge you to support the plan amendment and site plan for Strathmore Square. Thank you for your consideration.