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Thursday, July 28, 2011

Leggett Celebrates Groundbreaking for County’s EMOC, His First 'Smart Growth Initiative' Construction Project

Montgomery County Executive Isiah Leggett participated in a groundbreaking ceremony on July 13 for the Equipment and Maintenance Operations Center (EMOC).  This is the first of his Smart Growth Initiative (SGI) construction projects that will eventually revitalize an old industrial area by creating an urban village near the Shady Grove Metro station.  Leggett’s SGI is a cost-neutral strategy that will provide substantial economic opportunities for future growth while implementing the goals of the Shady Grove Sector Plan.  The SGI will:

• Create a transit-oriented bioscience enclave at the Shady Grove Life Sciences Center that will increase the County’s competitiveness;
• Construct thousands of new housing units;
• Create new, high-paying jobs;
• Relocate and replace old, overcrowded and inadequate public facilities;
• Save $22 million a year on rent payments; and  
• Create opportunities to protect the agricultural reserve.

The Shady Grove Sector Plan, approved by the County Council in 2005, calls for transitioning the area around the Shady Grove Metro from light industrial uses to transit-oriented housing by building up to 6,500 new units, including affordable and workforce housing.  To accomplish this goal, the County Service Park facilities, located in the heart of the planning area along Crabbs Branch Way, must be relocated.  The facilities that will be moved include EMOC; the Department of Liquor Control Headquarters and Warehouse; Montgomery County Public Schools Food Distribution Center; Bus Depot and Facilities Maintenance Depot; Crabbs Branch Day Labor Center; County Radio Shop; and Park and Planning Facilities Maintenance Depot.

The overall project is designed to achieve a LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Gold certification by incorporating innovative features. 

For more information about the project, see the press release or go to the Department of General Services website.

CATEGORIES: Projects
POSTED AT: 9:00:00 AM |