Skip to main content

Metro selects next stations for redevelopment

By WTOP Staff

The number of Metro stations with “remaining development potential” has been culled to 20, and four of those — spanning three jurisdictions — will be the subject of solicitations this year.

Metro’s Planning, Program Development and Real Estate committee voted March 13 to adopt the proposed 2014 joint development work program, which will include requests for proposals for developable parcels at the Forest Glen station in Montgomery County, the West Hyattsville and Largo Town Center stations in Prince George’s County, and the Braddock Road station in Alexandria.

The four were selected on the basis of market strength, developer offers and interest, adjacent projects and consultation with local economic development officials, said Stan Wall, Metro’s director of real estate and station planning.

“We have a lot of high expectations about success in all four of these areas,” said Metro Board Chairman Tom Downs.

Downs said he is pleased with the work Wall and his team have accomplished to “begin to clear the decks” of Metro-owned, developable property. Of the system’s 86 stations, 31 have limited development potential, 21 are fully developed or under development, and 14 are the subject of active solicitations or negotiations. That leaves 20 with good prospects.

The 2013 development program included nine stations. Bids for the first five — Morgan Boulevard, Grosvenor, Fort Totten, Brookland and the Navy Yard Chiller site — were due by March 7. Solicitations for the remaining four (Capitol Heights, College Park, Branch Avenue and Huntington) are scheduled to be released this month.

College Park was a late addition.

Last June, the Metro board approved a term sheet with a pair of developers, after nearly a decade of talks, for the redevelopment of a 15-acre parcel surrounding the College Park station’s eastern entrance. Metro, San Diego-based Fairfield Residential and Columbia-based Manekin had 120 days to sign a joint development agreement, but “material disagreements as to timing emerged” and “no negotiations ensued,” according to Metro staff.

The partnership was terminated Oct. 28, as were plans for 350,000 square feet of office space, 290 residential units and 34,000 square feet of retail. In December, the Metro board opted to rebid the parcel as part of the 2013 joint development work program.

(The Metro/Manekin parcel is across the tracks from another Metro-owned property that is part of a redevelopment solicitation jointly issued last week by Prince George’s County, Castle Properties and Metro.  Read about that here.)

As for the 2014 program, here’s what Metro sees in its four stations:

  • A 36-acre parcel at Largo Town Center, developed as mixed-use, will seize on the proposed regional medical center there. According to a staff report, Metro has “already received inquiries from firms seeking to pursue medical-related development uses on our property.”
  • A 28-acre site at West Hyattsville will leverage development momentum at Fort Totten to the west and Prince George’s Plaza to the east. Any development here will “maximize the site’s development potential while also creating a sustainable community” given its close proximity to Sligo Creek and the Anacostia trail system.
  • An 8-acre parcel at Forest Glen is already the subject of developer inquires. The redevelopment effort will include enhanced pedestrian access across Georgia Avenue.
  • A 3.5-acre parcel at Braddock Road Is “at the center of a significant number of redevelopment projects,” Wall said. The focus for this project will be mixed-use development that includes neighborhood-serving retail and restaurants.

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
Read Next Story

Related News

Frustration grows in Venezuela as earthquake death toll reaches 1,430

Israel and Lebanon sign framework agreement with US in ‘first step’ toward peace, Rubio says

Trump-endorsed populist poised to become Colombia’s next president as rival challenges vote