Breakfast links: Virginia’s new I-495 Express Lanes still planned for 2025
American Legion Bridge by Virginia Department of Transportation licensed under Creative Commons.
Maryland toll operator pullout will not affect Virginia toll lane progress
Despite the withdrawal of private toll lane operators from Maryland’s project to add toll lanes, the Virginia portion of the project to add toll lanes on the Capital Beltway will continue, with a target date of 2025 for the lanes to be fully operational. (Angela Woolsey / FFXNow)
Over 700 residential units planned for The Wharf
The two new residential buildings include a redesign of the former Department of Agriculture building into 498 apartments and the redevelopment of the former Disabled American Veterans building into 207 apartments and retail. (UrbanTurf)
MoCo officials worry county apartments prioritize cosmetic amenities over fire safety
The Montgomery County Council held a joint meeting of their Planning; Housing; and Parks, Public Safety, and Economic Development committees on Tuesday where they discussed the recent deadly fire at the Arrive Silver Spring apartment complex. Fire safety officials told council members that the presence of sprinklers would have made the fire less deadly and damaging and that landlords and developers prioritize cosmetics over fire safety. Apartment buildings are not required to have sprinklers until 2033, but state-level officials are seeking changes in that law. (Steve Bohnel / MoCo360)
West Falls Church and Franconia-Springfield Metro station parking changes move to board vote
The WMATA board will vote on changes to the West Falls Church Metro and Franconia-Springfield Metro station parking lots at their March 23 meeting. During the committee meeting to recommend approval, concerns were raised by WMATA staff and CEO/General Manager Randy Clarke over other underutilized station parking lots, prompting future focus on accelerating development at those lots. (Angela Woolsey / FFXNow)
Fairfax County to prioritize Innovation Center Metro area for potential development changes
The Fairfax County Planning Commission has made changes to its county-wide planning document that prioritizes zoning changes near the Innovation Center Metro stop. The changes entail allowing more density and more residential use than was previously planned. Current development applications for the area include one that would add 500 apartment units. (Fatimah Waseem / FFXNow)
Keith Sellers steps down from the WDEDP, organization shifts focus from retail to office development
The Washington DC Economic Development Partnership announced that its leader for nearly 20 years, Keith Sellers, will step down from his role as president and CEO of the DC-based effort to bring and support businesses inside of the District. Sellers was lauded by a number of local leaders for his ability to bring retail back into the DC, but the organization also announced a shift to office-based over retail efforts. (Michael Neibauer / Business Journal)
Driver crashes into outdoor dining area in Silver Spring
A driver crashed into an outdoor seating area at the Daily Dish restaurant in the Rock Creek Shopping Center in Silver Spring Tuesday evening. Several people on the scene experienced non-life-threatening injuries and some other nearby properties sustained some damage. (Apps Bichu / MoCo360)
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