The mysterious White Flint redevelopment plan, first conceived nearly a decade ago, is finally on its way to becoming a reality. In the years since it was first announced, many questions have been raised and rumors have been spread. However, there is consensus on some basic facts. For example, it is one of the most ambitious development projects planned in Montgomery County. It will be home to 24-story high rise buildings, a new elementary school, one million square feet of office space and a public park. The new development will transform the area of several blocks around the White Flint Metro Station.
Soon to be redone, the White Flint mall has had trouble keeping up with its competition, particularly Montgomery mall. There is almost no comparison when it comes to the amount of shoppers at each. The empty White Flint mall food court seems out of date to most. On the other hand, the H&M right across from it is booming with business which could cause their shoppers to be unhappy with them shutting down.
Architect Michael Cohen with the Boston Urban Planning and Architectural Firm, Elkus Manfredi design, told The Washington Post the development was transforming White Flint from a shopping mall complex into a town. The development’s website, MontgomeryPlanning.org, said the White Flint Sector Plan won the Neighborhood/Small Areas Plan Award in 2010 from the American Planning Association’s National Capital Area chapter. This has given citizens of Montgomery County a positive outlook.
“White Flint is the biggest thing, from a land-use perspective and a tax perspective, to happen in this county since maybe the Red Line,” said County Planning Director, Rollin Stanley to Bethesda Magazine.
Also, it will almost certainly have a direct impact on the WJ community. The 2,500 to 3,000 apartment and condo units planned for the development’s first phase will fall within WJ’s area. This means high school age children living in these units will be coming to our school. This is going to result in a larger population for our student body.
“We are eventually expected to grow out of our building,” said Principal Jennifer Baker.
Those who favor the project talk about the new jobs and housing opportunities it will bring and how it will create a dynamic new pedestrian friendly urban center, such as Downtown Bethesda or Rockville Town Center. Stanley described it to Bethesda Magazine earlier this year as, “hu-mon-gous.”
However, those concerned about the scale and size of the project express worry about the implications of the additional traffic. The project will generate additional students for the county’s schools and additional pollution. They also note that of the $1 billion plus required in new roads, public utilities and other infrastructure to support the project, about 70 percent will be paid from county or other public funds.
The new community that they have planned will have lasting and major impacts on all, including students just like us.
