Members of the County Council’s Government Operations and Fiscal Policy Committee Thursday unanimously agreed to recommend to the council that it dispose of land in North Bethesda to pave the way for more life sciences and biohealth companies to come to the county.
For several years, plans for the area around Old Georgetown Road and Executive Boulevard included a mixed-use development of homes, retail and parking. But last year, Bethesda-based Stonebridge purchased the property to provide space for more science research and development offices.
“This is going to bring high-quality jobs and life-changing research and life-saving techniques to Montgomery County,” declared Council Vice President Andrew Friedson.
The plans, which have been dubbed Evolution Labs, include three commercial buildings totaling about 700,000 square feet. The buildings will be located walking distance from the Metro Red Line’s North Bethesda station.
A parking garage will serve the commercial buildings as well as users of Wall Park, Kennedy Shriver Aquatic Center and the Josiah Henson Museum. About 100 of the 700 to 1,000 parking spaces will be leased to the county.
The council committee agreed to recommend the disposal of 1.27 acres of county-owned property to Stonebridge at fair market value, thereby enabling the development to be located in a rectangular block.
