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Westbard Redevelopment Planning To Kick Off Sept. 23

By WTOP Staff

Westbard redevelopment area, via Equity One

The formal master plan process that might allow for massive redevelopment in the Westbard section of Bethesda will kick off with a community meeting on Sept. 23.

The Montgomery County Planning Department announced the meeting this week along with a new website dedicated to the Westbard Sector Plan and a Twitter handle.

The County Council approved moving the start of the master plan rewrite up to this fall after Equity One, which recently bought Westbard’s main shopping center and many of the surrounding properties, made clear its goal to redevelop the area into a more vibrant, mixed-use style community.

Equity One outlined some of its plans in a series of community meetings earlier this year and has hired a Rockville-based public relations firm to help create its Westbard Vision website and coordinate community outreach.

In March, Equity One officials and an architect said they want to create a “signature” main street on Westbard Avenue with pedestrian crossings and upscale retailers to replace the loading docks, driveways and surface parking lots there now.

Equity One is partnering with EYA, a residential developer known for its luxury townhouse communities around the D.C. area, and promised to make an honest effort to keep every existing retailer in its new project.

But in order to make it happen, Equity One must get zoning changes that would come as a result of a new Westbard Sector Plan. Last revised in 1982, it’s the oldest master plan in Montgomery County.

Until Equity One came forward with its plans this year, the rewrite was still low down on the county Planning Department’s work schedule.

The Sept. 23 meeting will be one of many hosted by county planners. It’s set for 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. in the Whitman High School Cafeteria (7100 Whittier Blvd.).

On its Westbard website, planners acknowledge that Equity One “is ready to redevelop” its properties, which include the Westwood Shopping Center, Westwood Towers, Springhouse by Manor Care, Bowlmor Lanes, two Citgo stations and Westwood Center II.

The Westbard Sector includes the area in and around River Road and Westbard Avenue. Planners hope to have the sector plan rewrite delivered to the County Council by June 30, 2015, with the idea that any zoning changes would go into effect by September 2016.

Other key Planning Department dates include a Planning presentation of the Scope of Work on Oct. 21 at Whitman High School, a series of Planning charettes from Nov. 10-14, a Visioning Workshop on Monday, Nov. 10 and a Planning Board public hearing on May 14, 2015.

Photo via Equity One

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

By WTOP Staff
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
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