An apartment building in Silver Spring. Image by Graham Reid used with permission.

With county council vote, Montgomery County rent stabilization goes into effect

The Montgomery County Council approved rent stabilization regulations on Tuesday, capping rent increases for eligible buildings at 6% or the rate of inflation plus 3%, whichever is less. Newly built properties are exempt for 23 years, although landlords can apply for exceptions to maintain profitability. The law takes effect immediately.  (JeanneTyler Moodee Lockman / ABC7, Lionel Donovan / WUSA9)  

Downtown DC condo project is a five-year size outlier

A 127-unit condo building in Mount Vernon Triangle is the largest to be constructed in the city in the last five years. The planned development at 950 Third Street NW will feature one and two-bedroom units and signals a potential increase in the construction of high-end condos in the region.  (UrbanTurf)  

What will the $14M Rosslyn Gateway Park revamp cost? A view

The Arlington County Board has given up public access to the “View of DC” observation deck in Rosslyn in exchange for a $14 million upgrade for Gateway Park, intended to speed up park upgrades by eight years. The investment will be made by CoStar Group as part of its move from Downtown DC. Of the 32,188 visitors to the space in 2023, reportedly 4,995 were Arlington residents. The county’s Planning Commission opposed the change.  (Daniel Egitto / ARLnow, Emily Wishingrad / Bisnow)  

Agritourism proposal will return to Montgomery County Council

Montgomery County’s Planning, Zoning and Parks Committee unanimously recommended a new agritourism measure Monday for full council consideration. The measure would allow overnight stays in the county’s argicultural reserve and rural cluster. A similar change failed last November.  (Maryam Shahzad / Montgomery Community Media)  

Waldorf Astoria leaseholder blames DC tax bill for loan default, pushes to keep lawsuit open

The Waldorf Astoria leaseholder, CGI Merchant Group, blames a larger-than-expected $28 million tax bill for its default on its $285 million loan for the property. CGI filed suit against the District in 2023, but its attorneys withdrew from the case in early 2024. Lawyers for the District argue that CGI did not find replacement counsel by a court-imposed June deadline and, in July, the District filed to have the lawsuit dismissed. CGI has retained new counsel and asked for an extension to respond by August 5, the date the property is set to be auctioned. (This article is behind a paywall.)  (Daniel J. Sernovitz / Business Journal)  

DASH bus announces assistive device pilot program

Alexandria’s DASH bus announced a pilot program Tuesday to improve accessibility for passengers using wheelchairs and scooters. The transit company will install the Q’Straint Quantum system, which allows riders to automatically secure mobility devices, on a small number of buses. It will host demos on Thursday and Friday at four locations.  (Vernon Miles / ARLnow)  

Amazon buys $136M data center, below replacement cost

Amazon Web Services has purchased a data center campus in Sterling for $135.75 million, including 442,000 square feet across three buildings. The average price per square foot is $307, lower than the regional replacement cost of $500 per square foot. The firm owns 514 acres across 26 parcels in Loudoun County and, since 2024, has bought over 200 acres in Manassas. (This article is behind a paywall.)  (Dan Brendel / Business Journal)  

Fairfax County to open shelter in Reston near encampment

Fairfax County will open a temporary overflow shelter in Reston next week for people experiencing homelessness. The shelter will be set up near an encampment the county hopes to clear, anticipating a land swap with INOVA to build Reston Town Center North. The shelter will also provide food and casework support.  (Angela Woolsey / FFXnow)  

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