WJLA: Amazon helps Metro develop affordable housing at North Bethesda station
DEC. 7, 2022 | Written by 7News Staff | ABC7 NEWS (WJLA)
MONTGOMERY COUNTY, Md. (7News) — Affordable housing will soon become available at the Grosvenor-Strathmore Metro Station in North Bethesda.
Leaders from Amazon Housing Equity Fund and the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) gathered at the station Wednesday morning for the groundbreaking ceremony of the Strathmore Square joint development project.
Amazon officials say the project aims to turn the Metro station into a 2.2 million square foot mixed-use development, including affordable housing, arts and cultural venues with the Music Center at Strathmore, a new public park, and more.
"We're going to have high rises on top of Metro where people can walk to the station in just a few minutes. It's going to be one of the best places to live," said Hans Riemer, former Montgomery County Council At-Large Member.
Hans Riemer, former Montgomery County Council At-Large attended the groundbreaking ceremony for the Strathmore Square joint development project in North Bethesda on Wednesday, Dec. 7, 2022. (7News)
Strathmore Square will be the first project to benefit from Montgomery County’s recently-adopted 15-year real estate tax abatement program for high-rise residential development at Metro stations.
Fivesquares Development/AIMCO is also involved in the project.
Amazon's partnership with WMATA is part of their $300 million commitment from 2021 to create thousands of affordable homes near public transportation in several regions across the nation, including the DMV.
This comes as Amazon is currently building its second headquarters in nearby Arlington, Va., with construction on the first two HQ2 office towers expected to be finished next year.
The company has committed to hiring 25,000 HQ2 employees in Arlington over the next decade.
https://wjla.com/news/local/north-bethesda-affordable-housing-grosvenor-strathmore-metro-station-high-rise-apartments-music-center-public-park-joint-development-project-amazon-wmata-residential-fivesqaures-montgomery-county-maryland
