Demolition underway inside The Ambassador in Wheaton

Interior demolition has commenced at The Ambassador, located at the intersection of University Boulevard and Veirs Mill Road in Wheaton. The former Howard Johnson hotel is being torn down as part of the Wheaton Gateway redevelopment of this site, and the adjoining properties currently home to Lindsay Ford and Mattress Firm.

The development partnership behind the Wheaton Gateway project - The Duffie Companies, Willco and the Housing Opportunities Commission of Montgomery County - says demolition of the exterior should begin by late October. It would be great if one of the buildings, or new interior streets, at the new development could be named to remind people of the history of this site as a Howard Johnson, hotels and restaurants that were once landmarks across America.

All that is known about the new development at this stage is that it will be mixed-use, with retail and restaurant space on the ground floor. Units will be 1, 2 and 3-bedrooms, with 70% being market-rate and 30% being MPDUs. Parking will be underground. The approval process is still ahead, and the developers' latest estimate for breaking ground is 2023. They add that Wheaton Gateway will be built in phases over time.