Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Capital Projects topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Wheaton Arts and Cultural Center: county staff report cost increase and timeline tied to tax-credit closing
Summary
County staff told the Education and Culture Committee that the Wheaton Arts and Cultural Center project saw a $6,053,000 cost increase in refined estimates and is being delivered by Montgomery Housing Partnership; construction is contingent on state tax-credit financing and is expected to start after Labor Day with a roughly 24-month build and tenant improvements in FY29.
County project staff updated the Education and Culture Committee on the Wheaton Arts and Cultural Center, reporting a refined cost estimate increase and a delivery model that relies on Montgomery Housing Partnership (MHP) as developer and tax-credit financier.
DeWanda Cummings (council staff) said community feedback led to design updates and that the project's schedule slipped while Montgomery Housing Partnership awaited state financing. She said the base building is in permitting, planning and feasibility work continues through FY26, and the county portion is set to conclude in summer 2028.
Greg Austin of the Department of General Services explained the county will be a tenant in the project: MHP will build the base building (including a parking garage) and the county will occupy space in the first floor. Austin said refined pricing from the general contractor resulted in an increase of $6,053,000 to the county's estimate, bringing the proposed CIP total to about $46.3 million. He said the project is a tax-credit-driven affordable-housing development and its timetable depends on MHP's ability to secure state tax-credit financing and closing.
Ronnie Warner (Department of General Services) provided construction timing: MHP is expected to start after Labor Day, the base building delivery is expected in roughly 24 months, and county tenant-improvement work would begin in FY29 and take about 10 months. Warner said the county plans to procure an operator next year to help design and operate the arts center once tenant improvements are underway.
Committee members asked about financing and permitting risks; staff said the state has committed funding and that MHP is preparing its final package to DHCD; permitting and contractor selection are in progress with the intent to have permits in hand by April.
The committee agreed to recommend the CIP package to the full council and adjourned.
Notes: Article reports the contractor-refined increase ($6,053,000) and the approximate total ($46.3 million). The project timeline and start dates are contingent on MHP closing on tax-credit financing and the state's approvals, as described by staff.
