White Flint Partnership

A Busy 2012 for White Flint

maierwarner — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 18:15:39 +0000

Shape of things to come: More Partnership members are unveiling plans to redevelop their properties with some construction starts expected in 2012. Sketch plans have been filed by four of the members, which propose to trasform the White Flint sector into an exciting new urban center.
All aboard: Interest is growing rapidly in advanced transit for the White Flint corridor. Representatives of the Partnership are in demand to speak around the country about how best to marry new development with transit, and find funding. State and federal officials are closely following the Partnership’s plans, which they consider to be a model approach.
Media alert: Look for a major article about the emerging White Flint in the next issue of Bethesda Magazine – the writer did contact several residents for their impressions.
Well-coordinated: Former Bethesda Urban Partnership head Dee Carl Metz has been appointed by Montgomery County as the Implementation Coordinator for White Flint. Ms. Metz has also held positions in the county’s economic development and housing offices and is a former commercial real estate broker. Dee is highly regarded and well-known in Montgomery County.

Happy New Year!

Congressional and federal agencies staff were briefed

maierwarner — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 16:23:26 +0000

on the Partnership's vision for new rapid transit that would connect federal agencies along the White Flint corridor, as well as proposed links to a county-wide network of Rapid Transit. Following the submission of the County Executive's Transit Task Force recommendations to the County Executive in early 2012, a follow-up meeting will be held.

“Retooling places and leveraging transit”

maierwarner — Wed, 07 Dec 2011 16:09:11 +0000

was the ULI topic in Atlanta that lured White Flint Partnership representatives to present emerging White Flint as a prime example and case study. Current transit funding options were discussed in detail by the ULI participants.

WFP Executive Director Francine Waters presented the evolution of the White Flint corridor development and transportation initiatives proposed by the Partnership. David Winstead, the Partnership's transportation counsel, moderated the forum which focused on how developers are thinking about transit, and rethinking how roads and other infrastructure functions should be paid for. Panels also covered possible referendums to fund transit initiatives, expansion of the Dallas Area Rapid Transit System, and Atlanta's ambitious plans to create a BeltLine modeled on New York City's popular HighLine.

The Partnership is working with COG,

maierwarner — Wed, 30 Nov 2011 16:07:00 +0000

which is interested in the Montgomery County rapid transit model for metro Washington. COG has laid the ground work for a regional rapid transit system funded by a TIGER grant, and White Flint and Rt. 355 South are viewed as a priority corridor by the County and COG.

Maryland State Comptroller Peter Franchot’s staff

maierwarner — Mon, 28 Nov 2011 15:52:00 +0000

was briefed about the Partnership's vision for transit and its request for initial engineering funding from SHA which the Partnership has been working on. The Comptroller's office is supportive of the White Flint Partnership's vision as a model for the State's focus on public-private transportation initiatives, and the Comptroller's position on the start Board of Public Works is critical.

Rockefeller grant to underwrite White Flint transit study

maierwarner — Mon, 21 Nov 2011 21:36:29 +0000

New amenities plan for White Flint unveiled

maierwarner — Thu, 17 Nov 2011 21:33:12 +0000

Link to the The White Flint Public Amenities Final Report:

http://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/mcgtmpl.asp?url=/content/dgs/dbdc/RegionalProjectPages/BethesdaProjects/white_flint.asp

More positive State interest

maierwarner — Fri, 04 Nov 2011 15:47:20 +0000

Lt. Governor Anthony Brown has taken a leadership position on public-private partnerships, including those that support transportation options. Brown held a forum on the subject which the Partnership attended and then members participated in breakout sessions on partnerships, such as White Flint, dealing with transit initiatives.

Francine Waters, David Winstead present White Flint development and transit progress at L.A. conference

maierwarner — Tue, 25 Oct 2011 15:29:16 +0000

http://urbanland.uli.org/Articles/2011/Fall11/maccleerytransportation

Wall Park Pool Named for Shrivers

maierwarner — Sun, 23 Oct 2011 20:34:51 +0000

A prominent aquatic center on the western edge of the White Flint planning area has been officially named in honor of the late Eunice Kennedy Shriver and Sargent Shriver, recognizing their long-time contributions to people with developmental disabilities.

At a Sunday ceremony, local officials responded to County Executive Ike Leggett’s proposal to rename the Planning Commission’s facility for the Shrivers who lived nearby. Leggett was joined at the ceremony by Shriver family members and representatives of the Special Olympics, which the Shrivers strongly supported. County Council members Valerie Ervin, Roger Berliner and Planning Board Chair Francoise Carrier also attended and spoke to the Shrivers’ humanitarian impact on the local and global community.

“Well known for their work nationalizing the Special Olympics, naming this indoor swimming facility to honor Eunice Kennedy Shriver and Sargent Shriver is a way to memorialize their legacy of motivating achievement through sports,” said County Council President Valerie Ervin.

The aquatic center, which opened in 1989, features an eight-lane, 25-meter main pool; a warm water leisure pool; two separate hydrotherapy pools; a 10-meter diving platform; and a water slide. The facility also houses an exercise room, snack bar, locker room with shower facilities and saunas. There is also a lighted outdoor jogging trail and enclosed racquetball courts.