Sneak peek at The Eleanor in Silver Spring (Photos)

The Eleanor, a bowling lounge and restaurant, isn't scheduled to open for about another month at Downtown Silver Spring. But this morning, I have a sneak peek of the interior for you, including the huge bar that is taking shape, lighting fixtures, some furniture, and artwork. The Eleanor has an existing location in the District.

STOP THAT!

Montgomery County has issued a Stop Work Order at the site of the future Cabana Hookah Lounge at 8227 Georgia Avenue in downtown Silver Spring. The violation listed is of Montgomery County Code Section 8-28, which pertains to an Occupancy and Use Permit. Hopefully this can be resolved quickly, as many in the neighborhood are anxiously awaiting the opening of the lounge.

Fenton Apartments open in Silver Spring

The Fenton Apartments have opened at 8240 Fenton Street in downtown Silver Spring. Building management Edgewood Management is currently touting a $1649 rent for a 1-bedroom unit at the building. 1 and 2-bedroom units are available, and are income-restricted. A sign out front touts the bioretention features of the planter boxes that are part of the landscaping around the complex.

Hogan express lanes compromise may be a bust for Beltway drivers

Gov. Larry Hogan's compromise agreement on his Express Lanes proposal, which earned a needed second vote from Maryland Comptroller Peter Franchot to move the project forward, may still provide traffic relief along I-270. But it could wind up being a bust for drivers on the Capital Beltway.

The compromise essentially puts the Express Lanes plan back to where it was hung up a few months ago. Hogan had agreed to postpone the Express Lanes on the Beltway, and focus on I-270 first. There would be no improvement for Beltway drivers under that scenario.

Then Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam stepped forward with a proposal to assist in expansion of the over-capacity American Legion Bridge in exchange for allowing Virginia's Express Lanes to cross the bridge and run into Maryland. Recognizing that this would only work if the Beltway Express Lanes continued around the interstate, and the reality that the project was more feasible if companies could bid on Beltway Express Lanes that went at least to I-95, Hogan then revived the Beltway portion of the project.

Franchot, under pressure from his constituents and preparing to launch a gubernatorial campaign, immediately withdrew his support again. Hogan then capitulated on the Beltway portion beyond the I-270 spur to regain Franchot's vote. But that compromise is a Beltway backfire, and Hogan appeared to realize he will be long out of office by the time that is apparent.

The reality is, unless voters "get dangerous" as former Gov. Bob Ehrlich exhorted them to years ago, there may not be a single vote for Express Lanes on the Beltway on the Board of Public Works. There very well could be a Democratic governor, a Democratic comptroller, and there certainly will be a Democratic treasurer.

So, Beltway Express Lanes past the I-270 interchange are almost certainly dead.

But the compromise plan will likely make traffic on the Beltway even worse, not better.

First, Northam ingeniously made his problem our problem. Extending Express Lanes over the bridge means that he moves the current choke point where drivers enter and exit those lanes onto the Maryland side of the river. His problem is now solved, and we got played like a violin.

Second, Beltway Express Lanes will now terminate in the vicinity of the existing logjam between River Road and I-270 on the Beltway. This jam is caused not only by lack of capacity, but also by the drivers trying to change lanes to either access I-270 or to continue east on the Beltway. There's also a third factor, which is drivers entering from River Road who then need to merge into the far left lanes to access I-270.

So now you will have cars that want to stay on the Beltway pouring out of the Express Lanes exit in that area - and with the lanes in the center, they will have to merge across several lanes to do so.

Apparently no one bothered to study the reality of the situation on the ground there before making this decision. And the local media was too busy filing some of the most embarrassingly-biased praise reports about the Maryland General Assembly ever published to notice what a just-plain-dumb Express Lanes package was put through by the Board of Public Works.

Northam won. Upcounty drivers may benefit if the lanes really go to Frederick - and especially if they are continuing to Virginia southbound - and that's a very good thing. But Beltway drivers are likely to find this Express Lanes compromise a bust. And we still need a new Potomac River crossing.

There will be no real traffic relief until voters start playing hardball at the ballot box, and elect new leaders who will play hardball in Rockville and Annapolis.

Silver Spring woman missing

Montgomery County police are seeking the public's help in locating a missing Silver Spring woman. Shaina Marie Proctor, 28, of Stewart Lane hasn't been heard from by her family since December 18, 2019.  Police describe Proctor as a black female, 5’03” tall, weighing approximately 134 pounds, with brown eyes and medium-length brown hair.  (The above photo provided by detectives shows Proctor's hair being shorter in length, but it is currently longer in length.)

Proctor is known to frequent the area of the 11200 blocks of Oakleaf Drive in Silver Spring.  She does not have a vehicle.

Anyone with information regarding the whereabouts of Shaina Marie Proctor., or anyone who sees her is asked to call the Montgomery County Department of Police at 301-279-8000 (24-hour line).

Wheaton Lot 13 project now 86% completed (Photos)

The future Montgomery County government office building and Town Plaza project at Lot 13 in the Wheaton Triangle is now 86% complete, according to County officials. They say the redevelopment is currently on-target for a May 2020 completion.

Sanitary sewer construction is scheduled to begin on or about January 13 along northbound Veirs Mill Road. One northbound lane will be closed for that project, which is expected to take two months.

The intersection of Grandview Avenue and Reedie Drive will be reconstructed by early spring, officials say. Once it is completed, westbound traffic on Reedie coming from Georgia Avenue will be forced to turn right onto Grandview. Left turns onto Veirs Mill will not be allowed.

Building skin is 67% installed, and will be completed by the end of the month. The building's electrical system is not only installed, but is now online. Elevator cabs for the building's eight elevator shafts will arrive over the next three weeks, officials say. Construction of the Town Plaza's amphitheater's terracing is underway.

MCDOT to replace storm drain culvert on Alderton Road this month

The Montgomery County Department of Transportation will replace an outdated storm drain culvert along Alderton Road in Silver Spring this month. It will be replaced with corrugated steel pipe and head walls along both sides of the road, MCDOT says. Work will begin soon, weather permitting, and last up to three months. The project hours will be 7:00 AM to 5:00 PM to limit impact and noise on nearby residents.