Leggett Announces Contractor to Redevelop Park & Ride Lot in Burtonsville; Project will Help Define Larger Village Center Component of Area’s Revitalization

For Immediate Release: September 30, 2014

Leggett Announces Contractor to Redevelop Park & Ride Lot in Burtonsville; Project will Help Define Larger Village Center Component of Area’s Revitalization

County Executive Ike Leggett has marked another milestone in the County’s plan to revitalize Burtonsville with the announcement that EDENS has been selected to enter into exclusive negotiations with the Department of Economic Development to redevelop the six-acre Park & Ride lot on US Route 29.

EDENS is a nationally recognized developer with regional offices in Bethesda. The firm is known locally for the popular epicurean mecca Union Market near NoMa in the District of Columbia and the LEED Silver-certified, two-million square-foot Mosaic District in Fairfax. EDENS has recommended a community-focused mixed-use development that supports Burtonsville’s long-term goals. The team was chosen through a public selection process that started in April.

“Our goal is to unlock Burtonsville’s untapped economic potential by attracting private investment that will create a vibrant, sustainable mixed-use development,” Leggett said.

“We’re honored to make it to this stage of the process and look forward to partnering with the County, and the community, to make that vision a reality,” said Jeff Kaufman, vice-president of Development at EDENS.

The strategically located six-acre Park & Ride parcel will help define the larger “village center,” which includes Burtonsville Crossing, an adjacent shopping plaza owned by EDENS. Together, the two properties create a catalyst for the Burtonsville Crossroads Neighborhood Plan adopted by the Montgomery County Council in 2012. The plan outlines the community’s goals for 190 acres near US 29 and MD 198 and advocates for pedestrian connectivity, high-quality design, investments in businesses and preservation of the environment.

“The inclusion of the Burtonsville Crossing property is significant,” said Steve Silverman, the County’s Economic Development director. “That additional acreage gives the project the critical mass necessary to be truly transformative for Burtonsville.”

Conceptual plans include restaurants, retail, a cinema and multi-family housing. Silverman said that commuters’ needs will continue to be addressed when the Park & Ride spots are reconfigured and replaced as part of the redevelopment. “As a long-time Burtonsville resident myself, I’m more than ready for a development that will draw families, office workers and foodies to our community,” he said.

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Contact: Tina Benjamin, 240-777-2006