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Woodmont Triangle Condo Heads For Final Approval

By WTOP Staff

4990 Fairmont condos, rendering via Starr Capital Art incubator rendering, via Montgomery County Planning Department Art incubator rendering, via Montgomery County Planning Department 4990 Fairmont condos, rendering via Starr Capital

A 17-story, 72-unit luxury condo building with ground floor art incubator space on Old Georgetown Road is headed toward its final development approval.

The 4990 Fairmont Avenue project is set for its site plan review and approval on Thursday, April 3 at the Montgomery County Planning Board. The project, from Chevy Chase-based Starr Capital, will fulfill its public space requirement by dedicating 2,000 square feet of ground-floor retail space to the county for art studios that would be managed by the Bethesda Urban Partnership.

The developer would also make the existing five-foot alley between the property and a county parking garage 11 feet wide and add brick. The idea is to create an “arts alley” type set-up with multiple doors to the studios and where the artists’ work could be shown.

The project is unique for downtown Bethesda in that it would include above-ground, not underground, parking.

The first four stories of the building would be for parking, with a total of 7,000 square feet of retail space and art studios wrapped around the parking on the ground floor. The site plan, if approved, would require screening with metal panels, windows and an aluminum louver system on the upper floors of the garage.

The 72 condos, 12 of which would be moderately priced, would be on floors six through 17 of the building. Vehicle access to the garage and a residential lobby would be on Fairmont Avenue.

The developer got community support for the project by proposing the art space. An art incubator space has been an objective of the Bethesda Urban Partnership and some members of the Woodmont Triangle Action Group (an advisory group made up of residents, business representatives and developers) since a similar plan for the 8300 Wisconsin development fell through.

Starr Capital had hoped to break ground on the project in the fourth quarter of this year, according to its website. But Eastham’s Auto Servicenter, the popular auto repair shop that’s moving from Wisconsin Avenue, recently signed a one-year lease to use the shuttered gas station on site.

Renderings via Starr Capital, 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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