Wheaton redevelopment update (Photos)

Some sad news to report from the Wheaton redevelopment site in the Wheaton Triangle: A reader had asked about the fate of the mural that has been on display at the Midcounty Regional Services Center. Unfortunately, I've learned the mural will be demolished along with the building. Demolition of the center itself has been pushed back to November.

Midcounty Regional Services Center Director Luisa Montero said that photographs of the mural will be taken to document it, and that the Arts and Humanities Council of Montgomery County was alerted when the County vacated the building. The Council has a process by which they will document the work, and contact the original artist, under the stipulations of the Public Arts Trust Program.

The mural depicted the buildings that were originally on the land that was acquired by WMATA for construction of the Wheaton Metro station back in the 1980s, including private homes. It could not be moved, Montero said, because it was painted directly onto the bricks of the building.

All utilities to the services center are now disconnected, and security fencing is up around it, as you can see here.

Installation of tiebacks

In other news from the project site, the main excavation has reached 20' - the target depth for the new County office building garage and foundation is 55'. Forty dump trucks are hauling the dirt away daily. Dewatering of the soil for excavation purposes continues, and tiebacks are being installed for the excavation.