Bring your little ghosts and ghouls out for some Halloween fun! On October 30th from 10am-12pm, go trick-or-treating around Pike & Rose. Once you’re done, grab some brunch before you break into the candy. Purchase your tickets here. Tickets must be reserved to participate.
October 8, 2021
Hon. Brenda Wolff President
Montgomery County Board of Education
Dr. Monifa McKnight Interim Superintendent
Montgomery County Public Schools
President Wolff, Dr. McKnight, and Members of the Board:
On behalf of the more than 10,000 students and their families in the Walter Johnson Cluster, we
write to you today to support MCPS staff and recommend that the upcoming CIP fully fund Phase II of
the Woodward High School project.
The culmination of Phase II funding follows more than seven years of work with MCPS. For several
years, the Walter Johnson cluster has been actively engaged with you, your predecessors, and MCPS
staff regarding the severe overcrowding in the Walter Johnson cluster and at Walter Johnson High
School in particular. The many years of this work, from the formation of the Walter Johnson
Roundtable Discussion Group in 2015 to the Woodward Phase II design discussions currently taking
place, have made us no strangers to the art of compromise. Compromise is about give and take; it
is about seeing needs of other community members and how decisions might affect them. Compromise,
however, also entails an understanding that some values, some outcomes, cannot be negotiated – they
are firm.
What has been firm for our cluster from the outset has changed little. We have always stated, and
continue to believe, that Woodward must (1) relieve the overcrowding at Walter Johnson HS; (2)
allow the cluster communities to remain together in either Walter Johnson or Woodward, while
welcoming an expanded community from other clusters; and (3) be a facility with physical amenities
and course offerings comparable to all other high schools in MCPS.
Within these firm first principles, however, we have both promised and demonstrated flexibility,
and there have been plenty of compromises along the way. For example, from the time it was first
announced, we fully supported the two-Phase approach of rebuilding Woodward so that it could be
used as a holding school for our neighbors in the Northwood cluster. We supported this plan even
though it would lead to a delay of at least 2 years in the much-needed
relief to the overcrowding at Walter Johnson High School, as well as result in an added level of
uncertainty in the project through a two-phase funding system. Even with these concerns, we
realized that we needed to be flexible to meet the needs of the MCPS community as a whole –
specifically to assure that a new Northwood High School was built in the most efficient and safest
way possible.
We believe that the Phase II design plans presented earlier this month to the community are also a
great example of the art of compromise. In 2019, there was some debate on whether Woodward would
be the first and only MCPS high school not to have its own athletics stadium. We opposed this
suggestion because it would have deprived Woodward students of the opportunities afforded all other
high school students in MCPS. This was a debate that implicated much more than a Friday night
football game – stadium and field space is a Title IX issue, as girls’ sports such as soccer,
lacrosse, and field hockey are, unfortunately, more likely to bear the brunt of playing field
shortages. As we began to reopen from COVID, our MCPS community also recognized the value in
outdoor seating venues – as a place to safely enjoy lunch and resume celebrations like
graduations. Accordingly, we were pleased to see that all four Phase II design options included
an athletics stadium, a track, and separate softball and baseball fields. We thank MCPS for
recognizing we cannot compromise on having sufficient facilities for outdoor play and gathering
spaces and for supporting a core value of parity among MCPS high schools.
The evolution of the design that has become Option 1 also shows the value of compromise – the give
and take needed in projects that affect many different constituents. Chief among them is the
extent to which the county should use an undeveloped land tract between the existing Woodward site
and Edson Lane that used to be a part of the Woodward property. This property was owned by MCPS but
surplused to the county in 2004 at the request of the County Executive as a potential site for a
workforce housing development and to provide funds for the school system. The land, however, was
not used for affordable housing and has remained a wooded area. Neighboring residents near the
future Woodward High School, particularly on the Edson Lane side, value this area and feared the
wooded area would be completely tom down.
While original designs for Phase II would have used more of this property, we are grateful that
MCPS staff has taken these neighbors’ concerns seriously and re-designed Option 1 to use only a
portion of this area, thereby preserving a substantial portion of the wooded space. This choice to
mitigate the disruption to the property – this compromise – came at the expense of design elements
of the Woodward stadium compared to a typical stadium, including smaller total seating capacity,
foregoing a “visitors section”, and a less than optimal location of the press box. In the spirit of
compromise, the Walter Johnson Cluster supports Option 1, as it preserves much of the wooded area
while using only what is needed for MCPS students.
In addition to Option 1, there are options before you that make no use of the property adjacent to
Woodward. However, we are concerned that options that make no use of the Edson Lane area require
workarounds that would make Woodward’s facilities inferior to every other school in the County.
Specifically, efforts to avoid using even a portion of the wooded land would come at the expense
of equity in girls’ athletics and accessibility for those with disabilities. It could also
saddle the project with unnecessary costs at the request of a small minority of County residents.
To be clear, we believe that all options presented for Phase II are worth moving forward to fund,
as all contain at least a stadium and field space, an auxiliary gym, an auditorium, and other
related facilities that are integral to the high school. As we discuss below, we believe that
Option 1 offers the most benefit to future students of Woodward High, all MCPS students, and the
entire neighboring community.
Option 1 contains the best use of field space for all sports – regardless of the gender of the team
Therefore, we urge the Board to fully approve Option 1 for the Phase 2 design of Woodward High
School and to reject any design options that do not meet the tests of cost effectiveness, equity in
fac‘Cities, and accessibility.
As ever, we appreciate our continued partnership with you and the MCPS staff on the reopening of
what we are confident will be a Woodward High School that will be state-of-the-art and benefit all
of Montgomery County. While there is much work left to do, it is gratifying to see such an
important project reach this final design phase. We look forward to being a constructive partner
in seeing Woodward to its fruition.
Sincerely,
Emily Beckman, Jim Bradley, and Sara Cortes Walter Johnson Cluster Coordinators
Cc: Members of the Montgomery County Board of Education Hon. Marc Elrich, County Executive
President Hucker and Members of the Montgomery County Council
Chairman Anderson and Members of the Montgomery County Planning Board Hon. Bridget Donnell Newton,
Mayor, City of Rockville
Hon. Kacky Chantry, Mayor, Town of Garrett Park Hon. Tracey Furman, Mayor, Town of Kensington
Cynthia Simonson, President, Montgomery County Council of PTAs Laura Stewart, Chair, MCCPTA CIP
Committee
Sheri Steissel Weiss, President, Luxmanor Citizens’ Association Ed Rich, President, Greater
Farmland Civic Association Shannon Ross, President, West Femwood Citizens Association Amy Ginsburg,
Executive Director, Friends of White Flint
Deb Berger, The Oaks at North Bethesda Community Association
NoBe Market’s Annual FALL-tastic Festival is back! Join us on the plaza on October 16th from 3pm to 7pm for an afternoon filled with fun fall activations, eats, and so much more. Expect to experience the following:
Fall Fest is a FREE event, open to the public for all ages. Eventbrite tickets to attend are highly encourage to reserve your spot.
The Montgomery County Planning Department, part of the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission (M-NCPPC), will partner with the Friends of White Flint to host a virtual meeting to review the Pike District Streetscape Guidelines on Thursday, October 21 from 7 to 8 p.m. These guidelines will complement the Pike District’s existing high-quality streetscape and mixed-use developments that have been constructed since the adoption of the White Flint Sector Plan in 2010 and will provide direction to future developments. The guidelines are being produced as part of the Advancing the Pike District initiative, which is sparking implementation of the White Flint Sector Plan by identifying short-term development opportunities that can be implemented within the next two to five years. RSVPs are required to attend the meeting.
Event details:
Montgomery Planning and Friends of White Flint host the Advancing the Pike District Streetscape Guidelines virtual meeting October 21, 2021 7 to 8 p.m.
RVSP
Pike District Connector
The Montgomery County Planning Department partnered with the Montgomery County Department of Transportation, Montgomery Parks, and the Better Block Foundation to temporarily connect the Bethesda Trolley Trail to the Montrose Parkway Trail and activate hubs at key intersections along the trail connection. The project, called the Pike District Connector, was built with community volunteers and included a kickoff community bike ride with the Washington Area Bicyclist Association (WABA) on September 18. The Connector will remain in place through late fall 2021.
About Advancing the Pike District
Advancing the Pike District is a Montgomery Planning initiative to accelerate the transformation of White Flint’s core into a walkable, mixed-use district by identifying short- and medium-term implementation-focused solutions that build on the Sector Plan’s recommendations, enhance mobility, and promote economic development, urban design and placemaking. The project revisits and builds upon the recommendations from the 2010 White Flint Sector Plan, which has guided infrastructure improvements and development in the White Flint area over the past decade, with the goal of accelerating White Flint’s transformation.
View the Advancing the Pike District Development Trends, Infrastructure Update and Short-Term Solutions report.
For more information about Advancing the Pike District, contact Walker Freer at 301-495-4651 or by email. Sign up for the project’s eletter to stay informed.
From the MoCo Show
Federal Realty announced today that two new tenants, ESAB and Emagine IT, have committed to 909 Rose, located in the award-winning Pike & Rose neighborhood in North Bethesda.
The new tenants will join OneDigital, United Solutions, Industrious and Federal Realty. With the addition of these two tenants, the building is nearly 80 percent leased.
Per Federal Realty:
ESAB, a world leader in the production of fabrication technology, will relocate its world headquarters from Annapolis Junction, Md. to 909 Rose before the end of the year. ESAB is taking all 20,887 square feet on the eighth floor, which will be the primary home of its global support functions and senior management team. The global company has more than 9,000 employees in offices and manufacturing facilities across five continents.
“ESAB is excited to announce its new world headquarters in North Bethesda, Maryland,” said Michele Campion, Vice President, Human Resources. “As a team oriented business and leader in our industry driven by continuous improvement, the dynamic Pike & Rose neighborhood is the ideal location, with a wide array of amenities, for our existing team members and clients, as well as a place we can proudly welcome new business partners and attract future talent.”
Emagine IT, an enterprise IT and cybersecurity services and consulting company, committed to 9,787 square feet on the ninth floor. Emagine IT will relocate from Fairfax, Va.
The building also has extremely efficient, customizable spec suites ranging from 1,700 to 7,270 square feet available with a choice of design finishes that tenants can tailor to their own specifications. The suites are located on the sixth floor, offer panoramic views and are move-in ready.
A new Chinese restaurant whose highly-lauded original location is in Chicago, Lao Sze Chuan, opened this week at 20 Paseo Drive in North Bethesda Market.
Robert Dyer @ Bethesda Row wrote, “the restaurant was absolutely packed last night at 10:00 PM. Reservations are recommended!”
According to Bethesda Beat, Lao Sze Chuan’s menu features chef’s specials such as spiced chicken and duck feet, spicy Szechuan boiled fish fillet and deep fried chicken with scallion and fried garlic. The seafood section of the menu features lobster with fried garlic and chili, crab with garlic and chili, and Kung Pao shrimp.
Lao Sze Chuan is open only during dinner hours, from 5 to 10 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday.
TIME TO GET CRAFTY
From Friday, October 8th – Sunday, October 10th experience Etsy IRL when URBNmrkt comes to Grand Park Ave. at Pike & Rose! Local crafters from all over the DMV will feature unique items and handmade products to give customers a totally unique shopping experience. Learn more about the event and RSVP to save the date here.
WASA-BAE?
Let the good times roll at Block Food Hall, welcome Sushi Oma! Redefine the sushi experience and enjoy their creative & affordable Japanese cuisine with signature rolls like the Green Caterpillar Roll with spicy crunchy tuna and avocado, and the Sweetheart Roll which is actually shaped like a heart. Not in the mood for a roll? Try the Raw Oyster Bar! Preview the menu and stop by.
| In-person (limited seating):B-CC RSC 4805 Edgemoor Lane, Bethesda, MD 20814 Online – Virtual – Click HERE Downloading or special software is not needed – just click. The Citizens Advisory Board Welcomes County Executive Marc Elrich and the Management and Budget Staff AGENDA Welcome & Introduction• Pete Fosselman, Director, Bethesda-Chevy Chase Regional Services Center Welcome Remarks• Kristen Nelson, Chair, Western Montgomery County Citizens Advisory Board Presentation – Office of Management and Budget on the Process and Current Fiscal Climate• Office of Management and Budget Remarks – County Executive Elrich Community Comments and Questions Closing – County Executive Elrich Adjourn |
From Bethesda Beat
The Montgomery County Planning Board on Thursday is expected to approve early plans for a project that would bring more than 2.5 million square feet of new development and more than 2,000 residences to White Flint.
The project, called Rose Village, would be on Executive Boulevard, near Montrose Parkway.
Three office buildings, a parking garage and multiple large parking lots are on the property now. The developer, Washington Science Center Joint Venture, has proposed demolishing one of the office buildings, but retaining the two others, then building seven new buildings, according to Planning Board documents.
All but one building would be mixed-use, with ground-floor retail or office space, and the upper levels dedicated to housing. One building would be exclusively residences. Each new building would have a rooftop terrace.
Read the rest of the article on Bethesda Beat
From Bethesda Beat
Montgomery County Council Member Andrew Friedson announced on Wednesday that he plans to run for re-election to his District 1 seat.
Friedson, 35, was first elected in 2018. He said he wants to spend his second term focused on “building on the work we’ve started” in the past four years enhancing residents’ quality of life, creating a more competitive local economy, improving housing affordability and honing the county’s focus on fiscal responsibility.
During his first term, Friedson, a Democrat, was a consistent advocate for fiscal responsibility within the county government, sponsoring a bill that requires an “economic impact statement” for all new county legislation. He also pushed for regular financial reviews of county agencies, monetary relief programs for residents during the COVID-19 pandemic and strengthening county ethics laws.
Friedson grew up in Montgomery County, and graduated from Winston Churchill High School in Potomac.
Read the rest of the story here.