Lot 31 Bethesda Project Nearing More Major Milestones

By WTOP Staff
July 11, 2014 | 2:05 PM

After roughly 5,000 truck loads of concrete, 8.6 million pounds of reinforced steel and 1,200 miles of post tension cable, the Lot 31 project in Bethesda is nearing some significant milestones.

On Friday, developers StonebridgeCarras and PN Hoffman, along with general contractor Clark Construction and officials from the Montgomery County Department of Transportation celebrated the topping out of construction on The Flats, the 186-unit apartment building that abuts the Capital Crescent Trail.

Woodmont Avenue between Bethesda Avenue and Leland Street will reopen by Friday, Aug. 22, on the weekend before the first day of the 2014-2015 county school year, said StonebridgeCarras Principal Jane Mahaffie.

The county closed the stretch of road in September 2012 to allow for the construction of the underground garage below.

Mahaffie said the developer and county hope to open that garage by or around Dec. 1. The project includes 970 public parking spaces to be operated by Montgomery County as the new Lot 31. Those spaces will be separated by a gate from the roughly 300 spaces that will be reserved for residents and guests of the apartment and The Darcy condos on the east side of Woodmont Avenue.

Crews excavated 35,000 truck loads of dirt to dig out space for the four-level garage.

StonebridgeCarras Principal Doug Firstenberg said the developer hopes to have the buildings finished by May 2015.

The Flats will include a Pottery Barn and Pottery Barn Kids on the corner of Woodmont and Bethesda Avenues, a Paul Bakery, Chop’t and Silver. The new sit-down dining concept from the Silver Diner will have street seating along Woodmont Avenue.

Along the project’s boundary with the Sacks Neighborhood, there will be a public pedestrian cut-thru to the Capital Crescent Trail and public courtyard.

PassionFish and a yet-to-be leased retail space will go in the first floor of The Darcy, the 64-unit luxury condo building on the east side of Woodmont Avenue.

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
July 14, 2026 | 6:30 PM

Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers

Read Next Story