Groundbreaking of Shady Grove Metro Development Takes Place

Montgomery County Executive Isiah Leggett on May 12 participated in a groundbreaking ceremony for EYA’s project, Westside at Shady Grove Metro located at 16658 Crabbs Branch Way in Rockville, former site of the County Service Park. The groundbreaking, part of Leggett’s Smart Growth Initiative, marked the beginning of the project that will revitalize an old industrial area by creating an urban village near the Shady Grove Metro station.

“One of the priorities of my administration has been developing the Smart Growth Initiative, and I am very proud to be celebrating today’s groundbreaking of this exciting, new development,” said Leggett. “By relocating old and overcrowded County government facilities to make way for a pedestrian-friendly urban village within walking distance of the Shady Grove Metro Station, we are creating a better quality of life for our residents well into the future.”

Westside at Shady Grove Metro will bring 1,521 residential dwelling units to the area, including 211 moderately priced dwelling units (MPDUs) and 116 workforce housing units; and 41,828 square feet of retail space. A new pedestrian connection will allow residents to walk to the Shady Grove Metro station.

"Everyone at EYA is so proud to be a part of this transformational effort to redevelop the former Montgomery County Service Park into a world class residential community in accord with County Executive Ike Leggett's 'Smart Growth Initiative’,” said EYA President Bob Youngentob. "EYA believes the combination of innovative new home design, neighborhood-serving retail, a rich complement of recreational amenities and unparalleled  access to transportation options, including the ICC, I-270 and walking distance to the Shady Grove Metro platform, will result in a neighborhood that will offer the ultimate in 'life within walking distance'.  EYA has been working on this community for more than 10 years and we want to thank the County Executive, his staff, and the County Council for entrusting us with this unique opportunity to create Westside at Shady Grove Metro."

Leggett’s Smart Growth Initiative provides substantial economic opportunities for future growth and implements the goals of the 2006 Shady Grove Sector Plan. The Smart Growth Initiative promotes the creation of more high-paying jobs in the County, particularly in a new transit-oriented bioscience enclave at the Shady Grove Life Sciences Center. Thousands of new housing units, including MPDUs and workforce housing units, will be constructed, and aging, inadequate public buildings will be replaced with new facilities in more appropriate locations. The projects will ultimately boost the competitiveness and overall economic health of Montgomery County, creating a better quality of life for residents now and into the future.

The redevelopment of the County Service Park is an integral part of the County’s Smart Growth Initiative. The Department of General Services’ Office of Planning and Development selected Bethesda-based developer EYA as the County’s development partner. EYA is the master planner for all of the County Service Park and is responsible for redeveloping the western side of Crabbs Branch Way, known as Westside at Shady Grove Metro, and designing and building County infrastructure. Improvements include development of a “Main Street” by rebuilding the existing Crabbs Branch Way, pedestrian and vehicular improvements at Shady Grove Road and Crabbs Branch Way, Shady Grove Road sidewalk improvements and providing a nature trail.

Other Smart Growth Initiative projects include the ribboncutting earlier this year for the Montgomery County Public School system’s new Food Distribution Facility which relocated from Crabbs Branch Way, and the groundbreaking for the new Public Services Training Academy. Both facilities are housed at the Multi Agency Service Park off Snouffer School Road in Gaithersburg. Last year, the County opened the new Emergency Maintenance and Transit Operations Center in Rockville – an operation formerly located on Crabbs Branch Way. Westside is the first development project under the Smart Growth Initiative.