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Briefing Book Provides Facts, Figures Of Downtown Bethesda

By WTOP Staff

Little Tavern, designated historic in 1994, now is home to Golden House  The Mrs. Withers' House at 7740 Old Georgetown Road has been deemed historic The Brooks Photographers Building at 7349 Wisconsin Ave. now is home to the Mustard Seed clothing shop
Wilson's Store and Post Office, also the Bethesda Community Paint and Hardware Store at 7250 Wisconsin Ave. was designated historic in 1986 The Bethesda Theatre, now home to the Bethesda Blues and Jazz Supper Club The Bethesda Post Office was in operation up to two years ago, and was designated historic in 1986

That tiny house that’s home to the Golden House Chinese carry out store on Wisconsin Avenue has actually been designated for historic designation.

That’s something you might not have known about downtown Bethesda that’s included in the Planning Department’s 56-page Bethesda Briefing Book, a must read for anyone interested in downtown Bethesda.

The book details historic properties, streetscaping challenges, how many cars pass through major intersections and a number of other tidbits.

Why is an ordinary looking Chinese restaurant historic?

Golden House used to be the Little Tavern, an early chain of hamburger restaurants that serves as a historical touchstone for today’s fast food restaurants. It is believed to have been constructed in 1939 and was one of four in the county (there were two in Silver Spring and one in Wheaton).

History — There are seven other sites designated historic in the downtown area, including the Madonna of the Trail statue, old Bethesda Post Office, Bethesda Farm Women’s Market and Bethesda Theatre.

There are also some less obvious ones, such as the old Brooks Photographers Building at 7349 Wisconsin Ave. It’s now the home of the Mustard Seed custom and vintage clothing shop.

Back in the late 1920′s, it was the home of Dr. Benjamin Perry, who had his office on the first floor and his residence above. Bethesda’s first dentist, Dr. Clendenin later took over the space. Then, longtime Bethesda business Brooks Photographers made it their own.

Parking — Many complain about finding parking in Bethesda. But according to the book, 32 percent of the overall parking space stock in public lots and garages goes unused.

Even without Lot 31 (currently under construction) the Planning Department says only 68 percent of the 6,180 total spots in downtown Bethesda were used, on average, in FY 2013. That, of course, has a lot to do with location and capacity.

Lot 28, the tiny lot of only 18 spots on Cordell Avenue, is 98 percent full on average. Garage 40, the garage of 327 spots near a busy row of restaurants and bars in Woodmont Triangle, was 89 percent full on average. Garage 57 at Bethesda Row and Elm Street has 890 spots and was 84 percent full on average.

Then there’s Garage 11, the largest garage in downtown Bethesda with 1,095 spaces at 7730 Woodmont Ave. From July 1, 2012-June 30, 2013 it was an average of just 48 percent full.

Employment — The number of jobs in downtown Bethesda in 2014 is estimated at 38,300, up from 35,000 in 2005. Those numbers don’t include NIH and Walter Reed National Military Medical Center. Those are two of the largest employers in the county that supply an additional 37,000 jobs combined, many in the facilities just north of the downtown.

Clark Construction Group is the largest employer in downtown Bethesda with more than 500 employees. Other major employers include Development Alternatives, Inc. (technical consulting services), ASIWorks, Inc. (payroll services), Capital Health Care Assoicates and EagleBank Commercial, a banking company. All employ between 250 and 499 people.

Commuters — Where do those people come from?

According to the Planning Department, only 2 percent live in Bethesda. Most people working in downtown Bethesda commute from other areas of montgomery County. Washington, D.C. residents account for 9 percent of “in-commuters,” and 26 percent of employees in the downtown are younger than 30.

Photos via Montgomery County Planning Department

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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