NVR Inc. buys in at Westphalia Town Center

By WTOP Staff
November 8, 2013 | 2:49 PM

It’s too soon to say whether the FBI will pick Westphalia Town Center to be its new headquarters, but if it does, the agency’s employees will have places to live nearby.

Reston-based NVR Inc. has signed on as the first residential homebuilder at Westphalia, a 479-acre mixed-use project being developed near the Andrews Air Force Base in Prince George’s County. NVR has reached a deal to buy 148 townhouse lots there from The Walton Group of Companies, which is developing the project.

Walton announced the deal Friday but did not disclose a sale price.

“Walton is committed to offering a variety of residential properties at Westphalia Town Center, and we’re excited that NVR has chosen to partner with us,” John Vick, president of Walton Development & Management, Eastern USA, said in a statement. “We look forward to announcing additional partnerships in the near future as we work with Prince George’s County to create a vibrant community in Westphalia.”

Walton started construction on the project by Pennsylvania Avenue and Woodyard Road in Upper Marlboro over the summer and expects to wrap up site work on the project’s first 348 townhome lots early next year. The $1.3 billion development is slated to include more than 3.2 million square feet of offices and 1.1 million square feet of shops and restaurants when fully built. First-phase plans call for 348 townhouses, 400 apartments, 500,000 square feet of retail space and a 150-room hotel.

Walton, based in Calgary in Alberta, Canada, acquired the site in February 2012 from Wells Fargo & Co. for $29.5 million after the site’s previous owner defaulted on a loan to finance the project. It is one of several sights being pitched for a potential new FBI headquarters under a search being conducted by the General Services Administration. The GSA received more than three dozen responses to a request for information it issued nearly a year ago and the agency is gearing up to put out a more formal request for proposals.

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

By WTOP Staff
July 14, 2026 | 6:30 PM

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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