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Coming in 2015: Loudoun Co.’s first Whole Foods-anchored retail center

By WTOP Staff

Loudoun County’s days as one of the only jurisdictions in the Washington area without a Whole Foods Market are numbered.

Regency Centers Corp. (NYSE: REG) has started site work on an 18-acre retail development in Ashburn that will feature the county’s first Whole Foods supermarket and a host of other retailers and restaurateurs. The popular grocery chain has agreed to lease 40,000 square feet in Regency’s Belmont Chase center by Claiborne and Russell Branch parkways, slated to open in 2015.

Recency Senior Vice President Alan Roth told me Tuesday the grocer’s commitment has helped create interest from other retailers. Roth said he was surprised Whole Foods wasn’t already in Loudoun when the two began lease discussions. Whole Foods officially signed on as a tenant late last year.

The center’s 90,608 square feet of retail space is already about 80 percent pre-leased to retailers including Hawk Winery and Restaurant, to open its first D.C.-area location in Ashburn, and Cava Mezze Grill, which likewise is making its first expansion into the county. Peet’s Coffee & Tea, Bella Beach Spa and PR at Partners Hair Salon and Spa have also signed on as tenants.

Regency plans to close in the next 30 days on its acquisition of the development site, part of a larger mixed-use development Toll Brothers developed in the area that also includes residential and office components. Roth said Regency has an aversion to creating typical “cookie-cutter shopping centers” and set out with Belmont Chase to “create a really unique, synergistic merchandising center.”

Belmont Chase is just one of several active projects Regency has in the D.C. area, which has become a larger focus for the Jacksonville, Florida-based company since it acquired its first two properties here in 2002. The company now has more than three dozen properties in the region.

Regency announced plans last month to launch a roughly $12 million renovation of its Kings Park Shopping Center in Burke. The work will involve demolishing Giant’s former 28,610-square-foot grocery store and replacing it with a more modern, 52,000-square foot Giant. Regency is also planning upgrades to the center’s remaining 40,000-square feet of retail space, common areas and landscaping.

Roth said Regency had planned to upgrade Kings Park, by Burke and Rolling roads in Fairfax County, since it acquired the property in a larger portfolio deal with First Washington Realty and the California Public Employees Retirement System in 2005. The Giant closed last month and is slated to reopen in spring 2015.

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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