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Developer Proposes Townhouse Community In Bethesda Office Park

By WTOP Staff

Overhead image of Rock Spring office park, via Montgomery County Planning Department Site plan of EYA-proposed townhome community at Rock Spring Park, via Montogmery County Planning Department

Developer EYA will seek approval to build 168 townhouses smack in the middle of a suburban office park.

Bethesda-based EYA will go to the Montgomery County Planning Board on July 17 with plans for the townhome community in an area of Bethesda that has been predominantly commercial office for a very long time.

The 10-acre property is across Fernwood Road from the corporate headquarters of Marriott International and a short walk along Rockledge Drive to the corporate headquarters of Lockheed Martin. A building constructed for IBM in the 1960s sits just north of the site, an empty swath of land reserved for two more office buildings and a parking garage.

But Montgomery County office vacancy rates remain in the double-digits, there are new ways of working that require less office space and some federal government agencies — the primary drivers of the local office market — are downsizing or consolidating.

Rendering of EYA-proposed townhome community for Rock Spring Park, via Montgomery County Planning DepartmentThings have improved significantly in Rock Spring office park since the recession. A July 2012 report by management company Transwestern showed that 6710 Rockledge Drive was 76 percent vacant and 6700 Rockledge Drive was 63 percent vacant. Other buildings were 25 percent vacant.

Listings now show the 6710 Rockledge Drive building is 65 percent leased and the 6700 Rockledge Drive building is 78 percent leased. Those figures should be helped by NIH, which is reshuffling its Bethesda office portfolio to the benefit of those buildings.

Still, the improvement apparently wasn’t enough to warrant holding the land for future office projects. County planners, while recognizing that the area’s master plan “did not specifically recommend residential uses” for the site, recommended approval of the townhouse community project.

The developer is offering the county right-of-way along Fernwood Drive for a future North Bethesda Transitway, which would run bus rapid transit from White Flint to Westfield Montgomery mall.

BRT station and route along Fernwood Drive, via Montgomery County Planning DepartmentEYA is proposing a total of 304 parking spots, which is actually 32 parking spots fewer than required by county code. The applicant is asking for a waiver of those spots, claiming that it will offer residents two-car garages that could prevent any issues.

The townhouse community has also worked out a deal to use 72 parking spaces for guest overflow parking in a next-door office parking garage.

The project will require a school facilities payment at the middle school and high schools level, as nearby Walter Johnson High School is over capacity.

Images via Montgomery County Planning Board

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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