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Report: County nixes deal for optimal Bethesda Purple Line station

By WTOP Staff

The Apex Building at 7272 Wisconsin Ave.

The County Council this week agreed with County Executive Isiah Leggett not to provide financial assistance to a developer who would tear down the Apex Building and allow for a better Bethesda Purple Line station underneath.

If Apex Building redevelopment is now off the table, it would mean the Maryland Transit Administration would revert to a station design that wouldn’t include a separate tunnel under Wisconsin Avenue for bicyclists.

It could also mean Purple Line tail tracks that extend into the grassy area known as Woodmont Plaza in front of the Bethesda Row Cinema and a number of other design features county and state officials hoped to avoid.

David Lublin, a former Town of Chevy Chase councilmember and author of The Seventh State blog, first reported the outcome of the closed Council session on Tuesday to discuss the proposal.

Montgomery County Economic Development Director Steve Silverman and other county officials had been discussing a deal with the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists, which owns the five-story office and retail building at 7272 Wisconsin Ave., and a third-party developer the ASHP had chosen to redevelop the building.

Lublin wrote that the deal presented in the closed session would’ve meant $70 million in costs to the county. It’s unclear how much of that money would have been for financial incentives or construction of the separate tunnel under Wisconsin Avenue.

Leggett spokesperson Patrick Lacefield confirmed that the county executive recommended against the deal because he felt it was too expensive, but said he couldn’t provide details because it was discussed in a closed session.

The optimal Bethesda Purple Line station would have included a separate tunnel under Wisconsin Avenue for bicyclists, an elevator connection to Metro’s Red Line on the same side of Elm Street and avoid having to build Purple Line tail tracks that extend as much as 100 feet into Woodmont Plaza.

But it could only have been built if the Apex building was razed.

To incentivize the ASHP to raze its building, the County Council approved a “mini-master plan” that would have allowed a new Apex Building to be built to 250 feet, the same height as the Chevy Chase Trust buildings near the Bethesda Metro.

But an outside consultant hired by the Planning Department concluded that increased density alone would not be enough to make up for the financial hit the ASHP would take by selling the building to a developer.

The ASHP could sustain tenant relocation and construction costs of up to $25 million, according to the consultant’s report released in September 2013. The property, which includes the Regal 10 movie theater, is profitable and serves as the ASHP’s own headquarters.

The report said $5 million to $10 million of public money could be required to close the ASHP’s financial gap, but didn’t recommend a specific amount of money for the county to dole out.

The Seventh State: Purple Line Station Downgrade, No Tunnel Under Wisc. Ave.

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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