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Apex Building Owner: Razing Building Would Not Be Worth It

By WTOP Staff

Apex building, 7272 Wisconsin Ave.A few weeks ago, the group that owns the Apex Building indicated it was open to selling the property to help the state and county carry out a preferred design for the Bethesda Purple Line station.

On Thursday, a top official from the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists, which owns the building at 7272 Wisconsin Ave., sounded a different tune:

“We’ve not had sufficient time to complete our analysis at this time, but we believe that the plan that is currently proposed imposes significant burdens on the property owner that would limit interest in commercial redevelopment,” ASHP Senior Vice President and COO David Witmer told the Montgomery County Planning Board during a public hearing.

The Planning Department created a Minor Master Plan Amendment that offered the building owner more density in redevelopment. It was an attempt to entice the ASHP to raze the building or sell it to another developer that would.

“We believe the current plan requirements, such as the incorporation of two tunnels, integration of ventilaton, the new addition of a shell-ready Purple Line station and limitations to the ground level will significantly limit the ability to effectively utilize the additional density resulting from the modest increase in [floor-area-ratio],” Witmer said. “Without modification of the plan to better balance transit and commercial interests, and additional incentives outside the plan, we’re concerned there may not be sufficient benefit to us pursuing such a disruptive undertaking.”

Witmer went on to say “there must be benefits to us both now and in the future,” a possible reference to $5 million to $10 million of public money an outside Planning Department consultant said could be required to make up for losses during redevelopment.

“It’s not the answer we wanted to hear,” Planning Board Chair Francoise Carrier told Witmer.

The preferred design for the station would include a separate tunnel for the Capital Crescent Trail, more room for transfers from the Metro station and other improvements over the existing station design. But it would require the building owner to raze the property, a lucrative one that includes restaurants, offices and a popular movie theater as tenants.

The Maryland Transit Administration has also said it wants a clear indication of the ASHP’s decision before the end of the year or early next year, which Witmer testified was too short a time period.

Attorney Bill Kominers, from Bethesda-based firm Lerch, Early & Brewer, introduced Witmer and told the Planning Board he was representing the building owner. In August, the pharamacist group hired David Silver, with D.C. firm Holland & Knight.

It’s unknown why the ASHP made the apparent switch.

Other nearby residents testified about the bike tunnel during the public hearing.

The Planning Board is scheduled to take up the Minor Master Plan Amendment in a Nov. 21 worksession and submit it to the County Council on Dec. 6, yet there is no assurance the ASHP is willing to cut a deal.

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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