Wheaton Town Square could be built by Summer 2019

Lot 13 building foundation now
under construction in Wheaton

The long-awaited Town Square public event space by the Wheaton Metro station is expected to be constructed by the end of next summer, according to a new Lot 13 project timeline from Montgomery County. While the main part of the Lot 13 project is a County office building expect to deliver in 2020, the new gathering space is what the community is most looking forward to after the dust settles.

Speaking of dust, the foundation of the office building is now under construction. However, placement of the bottom hydrostatic slab will have to wait until the 150 geothermal wells buried earlier under the project site are connected by piping, so they can connect into the building's energy system. Reedie Drive will close again this Saturday, March 3, 5:00 AM to 12:00 PM, so they can airlift heavy equipment out of the excavated pit.

Boom. The Mid-County Services Center
gets the business end of a demolition arm

Finally, demolition of the Mid-County Services Center has begun. County officials estimate that the building will be fully-razed by the end of March, if not sooner.

Meet the MoCo Executive candidates in Olney March 5

Montgomery County Executive candidate
Robin Ficker mobbed by fans at a 2017 rally

Voters will have the chance to meet and hear from the 2018 candidates for Montgomery County Executive at a debate sponsored by the Greater Olney Civic Association. Unlike most debates so far, they've even invited the Republican candidate, Robin Ficker.

David Blair HQ in Rockville

Ficker will square off against Democrats Roger Berliner, David Blair, Marc Elrich, Bill Frick, Rose Krasnow, and George Leventhal on the Olney Theatre Center's Historic Stage at 2001 Olney-Sandy Spring Road in Olney on Monday, March 5, 2018 at 6:30-9:00 PM.

George Leventhal

You will have the chance to speak directly to the candidates at a reception in the lobby from 6:30-7:00 PM.

Bill Frick

Roger Berliner

Marc Elrich (2nd from left)

Wheaton services find new permanent home as Midcounty Services Center meets wrecking ball

The Midcounty Services Center is being demolished as part of the Lot 13 project in the Wheaton Triangle, Four programs from that building have now relocated permanently to the Westfield South Tower, located at 11002 Veirs Mill Road in Wheaton. They are Proyecto Salud Clinic, the Gilchrist Immigration Resource Center, the Adult Behavioral Health Program, and Mid County United Ministries. All four are now open and operating at the new location.

Permit parking could come to residential neighborhoods near Purple Line stations

One of the long-term plans of the Montgomery County political cartel is to eventually charge all County residents for street parking in their neighborhoods. This will be implemented over time by establishing new urban "town centers" in each suburban neighborhood, typically on sites that are currently strip malls or shopping centers with surface parking. But Purple Line and Bus Rapid Transit stations that, conveniently, provide no parking for riders will also serve the same purpose.

The latest development on this front is a public hearing being held on Wednesday, February 28, 2018 in the Great Hall of the Silver Spring Civic Building at 1 Veterans Place at 7:00 PM. The County will propose multiple "Residential Permit Parking Areas" in existing residential neighborhoods north of Takoma Park, west of the Prince George's County line, south of Indian Spring Drive, and east of the existing East Silver Spring and Seven Oaks permit parking areas.

Not only will the overall parking scheme generate more play money for our spendthrift County Council, but it will also serve their needs in their ongoing War on Cars. They will ultimately charge a higher, exorbitant annual fee for each additional vehicle you own beyond the first. Eventually, they believe, the price point will surpass the amount you can afford to pay, and you will reduce your family "fleet" to one vehicle shared by all.

Theoretically, developers profiting from the Purple Line and BRT ought to pay for and provide parking, or cover the cost of residential parking permits, if the latter is deemed necessary. Our County Council, which receives more than 80% of its campaign donations from developers, thinks otherwise.

According to the hearing announcement, public comment and the Hearing Officer's report and recommendation will provide the basis for County Executive Ike Leggett's final decision on the matter.

Ranked voting for Montgomery County elections advances in Annapolis

A bill that would drastically change Montgomery County's election process could be voted on in Annapolis as early as this week. MC 19-18/HB 173 would allow the Montgomery County Council to implement Ranked Choice Voting for County elected offices. It leaves all of the decisionmaking on how to implement instant runoff voting in the hands of the Council, ranging from how the ballots would be designed, to where they would be counted (in each precinct, or at a central location).

Ranked Choice Voting allows voters to rank a first choice, second choice, for each elected office on the ballot. Proponents say it allows the majority to prevail. A winning candidate who doesn't have an actual majority of votes can be bumped in favor of a second-place finisher, who has received more second and third place votes than the winner.

Is this good or bad? There seems to be no definitive study or consensus opinion. Some say it gives a boost to third party candidates. The Cato Institute says it "actually neuters third parties." Republicans have fought it in Maine; College Republicans in Virginia just endorsed it this month. The lack of cohesive response might suggest that ranked voting is indeed fair to all, and being focused on dozens of major local issues, I'm not prepared to condemn something I haven't had time to study in great detail.

But, the skeptic - which any good journalist should be - would naturally have to ask, "Why is the Council pushing for this?" What problem is it addressing? There have been no disputed elections in Montgomery County. There have been no spoiler victories, no GOP victories, and no third-party victories.

Ranked voting might have stopped Donald Trump from gaining primary and general election victories, but Trump was crushed by Hillary Clinton in Montgomery County, and this bill only applies to County offices. We know that Montgomery County Democratic turnout was low in June 2014, but the low turnout was mainly the result of incumbents' desire to hold the Democratic primary while many voters were at the beach.

At this point, I would just like to hear ranked voting proponents answer what specific problem in Montgomery County elections this bill is solving. For example, how the outcome of County races in 2014 would have changed with ranked voting, and what benefit that change would have had. If these types of Montgomery County-specific questions cannot be answered, it would not speak well for the bill, or garner public support for Council action if it passes.

Public meeting on proposed rooftop deck at 8407 Ramsey Ave. in Silver Spring

East MoCo readers were the first to know about the proposed rooftop deck and outdoor patio for the new TTT: Tacos, Tortas & Tequila restaurant at 8407 Ramsey Avenue in Silver Spring. Now you'll have a chance to weigh in on the proposal, at a public meeting scheduled for Monday, February 26, 2018, at 7:00 PM at the Silver Spring Civic Building in the Fenton Room, located at 1 Veterans Place in downtown Silver Spring.

I doubt many residents will be opposed to these amenities, at what sounds like a great restaurant from notable chef Ivan Iricanin. 

Major traffic shift at Georgia-Randolph intersection in Glenmont this weekend

The Maryland State Highway Administration says it plans to route traffic on Randolph Road onto the new lanes that pass underneath Georgia Avenue this weekend for the first time. Drivers on Randolph who wish to turn onto Georgia, or reach the Glenmont Shopping Center, will use the left and right turning lanes on either side of the new Randolph Road through-lanes. The switchover will begin around 6:00 AM Saturday, February 17, 2018, and is expected to be complete by 7:00 PM.

Because traffic signal changes and new paint are among the many tasks that are to be completed, police will be guiding traffic throughout the day Saturday. Best advice for drivers - if you can - is to take an alternative route like Connecticut Avenue (north-to-south) or a creative workaround going west-east (the unbuilt Rockville Freeway would have come in handy Saturday...).