MCB Real Estate, the developer of Harborplace in Baltimore, announced on Thursday that it will lead the development of VIVA White Oak, a mixed use project planned for a 280-acre site in eastern Montgomery County, Maryland.
The land, near US 29 and Cherry Hill Road, is next to the U. S. Food and Drug Administration headquarters and near the Adventist HealthCare White Oak Medical Center. It’s also close to the University of Maryland’s College Park campus, the Interstate 95 corridor and BWI Thurgood Marshall International Airport. County officials have approved it for more than 12 million square feet of mixed-use development.
“My partners and I are thrilled to start work on building this vibrant new project,” said MCB managing partner P. David Bramble, in a statement.“At MCB, we like to do complicated projects like this and we have a track record of success. We know that this is a project that can work and, frankly, this community has waited long enough for the kind of investment and amenities that we hope to bring to this location.”
MCB is working with stakeholders and public officials to refine exactly what the development will entail. Its announcement said plans could include up to 4,500 residences and more than six million square feet of shops, restaurants, commercial uses, higher educational uses, and biomedical/biotech labs, offices, and research and development facilities, as well as more than 85 acres of open space, including parks and nature trails. The project will be carried out in phases and will have a focus on space for the life sciences and biohealth industries.
“This is great news for Montgomery County,” said County Executive Marc Elrich, in a statement. “Since first sitting down with Mr. Bramble, we have discussed the possibilities for bringing business, education, training and more to the site. The MCB-VIVA project will create a much-needed geographic economic development balance and inclusive economic prosperity for the eastern region of the County. Our vision for East County is in sync with MCB. Our investments and partnership with MCB in this transformative project will further promote our inclusive community economic development goals for the area and County as a whole.”
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