Tag Archives: economic development

Montgomery Councilmember Nancy Navarro celebrates the grand opening of ALDI grocery store in Silver Spring

by on December 1, 2016 in Press Releases

Zoning changes spearheaded by Councilmember Navarro

helped enable revitalization of Plaza del Mercado

and attract international grocery chain


ROCKVILLE, Md., Dec. 1, 2016—Montgomery County Councilmember Nancy Navarro was a special guest at today’s grand opening of a new ALDI Supermarket located in the Plaza del Mercado at 2223 Bel Pre Rd. in Silver Spring. Councilmember Navarro collaborated with area residents and Federal Realty to determine what would be needed to revitalize Plaza del Mercado, which is a hub for community shopping in the area. This collaboration led to Councilmember Navarro spearheading the zoning changes needed to help attract ALDI to the area.

When Giant Food closed its Bel Pre Road location, residents from Aspen Hill and Silver Spring lacked convenient and affordable grocery options. Federal Realty, which owns Plaza del Mercado, went to work to secure key anchor tenants for the shopping center, but its options were limited by the County’s existing zoning laws.

Councilmember Navarro took action by introducing a Zoning Text Amendment, which was enacted by the Council in 2014, that helped clear the way for Plaza del Mercado, and other similarly situated shopping centers in convenience commercial (C-1) zones, to redevelop. These zoning changes enabled Federal Realty to attract a wider pool of retail tenants and helped secure ALDI and LA Fitness as two essential anchors for the shopping center.

In addition to the new grocery store and fitness center, Federal Realty is making investments at Plaza del Mercado that will create a town square, outdoor seating and green space that will help revitalize the area.

“I have spoken out consistently about possible ‘retail redlining’, where retailers choose not to enter certain neighborhoods even when the economic demographics of the area could easily support quality retail,” said Councilmember Navarro, who chairs the Council’s Government Operations and Fiscal Policy Committee. “For too long, many neighborhoods in District 4 have lacked the amenities they deserve. Federal Realty should be commended for not giving up and successfully finding a grocery store to locate at Plaza del Mercado. All neighborhoods throughout Montgomery County should have quality, affordable and convenient amenities to serve the needs of our residents.”

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Can’t Stop Now: East County Moving Forward

by on July 2, 2015 in Uncategorized

Last week, the County Council voted 7 to 2 in favor of a resolution approving a Declaration of No Further Need (DNFN) for Site II in White Oak. Site II is a 115 acre property that was formerly a Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission (WSSC) waste composting facility. The County has partnered with a private developer to create a “vibrant, mixed-use, transit-oriented” life science village that is envisioned in the recently adopted White Oak Science Gateway Master Plan.

RDC_MoCo_Photo_WhiteOak

Under Bill 11-12, County Property Disposition, the Council is responsible for deciding when surplus County-owned property is no longer needed. In this case, the Site II property in White Oak was purchased by the County for the express purpose of partnering with a private developer to redevelop the site into a hub for the jobs, housing and high-quality amenities that are desperately needed in the East County.

When I was elected to the Council in 2009, one of my top priorities was accelerating the White Oak Science Gateway Master Plan so this project could move forward. The County’s policy of keeping the East County in a development moratorium for decades before my election was and continues to be one of the policies I have sought to reverse since joining the Council. The Council’s vote last week was an important step towards revitalizing the East County by bringing the jobs and amenities that residents in our part of the county deserve.

You can watch a clip of my remarks before the Council’s action here:

Montgomery County Retains AAA Bond Rating From All 3 Rating Agencies

by on October 28, 2013 in Press Releases

Montgomery County Retains AAA Bond Rating From All 3 Rating Agencies 

Council President Nancy Navarro:

Tough Choices, Smart Growth, and Long-Term Fiscal Planning Keys to Success

 

ROCKVILLE, Md., October 28, 2013—Montgomery County Council President Nancy Navarro today hailed the decision by all three bond rating agencies—Standard & Poor’s, Fitch and Moody’s—to reconfirm the County’s AAA bond rating.

During the Great Recession, the Council took extraordinary steps to strengthen Montgomery County’s fiscal health. Starting in 2010, the Council approved a balanced six-year fiscal plan that ensures the County develops a long-term strategic approach to budgeting. The Council also made structural changes that have enabled Montgomery County to bounce back faster than most jurisdictions nationwide.

The AAA bond rating allows Montgomery County to issue bonds for its capital borrowing at the most favorable rates, saving County taxpayers millions of dollars over the life of the bonds.  The County’s pending issuance will refinance $295 million of bond anticipation notes and $27.7 million of long-term debt.

Montgomery County is only one of 38 counties (out of 3,140) in the nation to receive a AAA rating from all three rating agencies.

On Thursday, Oct. 17, and Friday, Oct. 18, Council President Navarro, County Executive Isiah Leggett and Council Vice President Craig Rice met with representatives from the three rating agencies in New York City.

“This decision by the rating agencies is a reflection of the hard work of this Council and the County Executive,” said Council President Navarro. “During the most challenging economic times, we developed a proactive strategy to put our fiscal house in order for the future.

“The land-use decisions the Council has made over the past few years—to invest in smart-growth opportunities and encourage redevelopment in all corners of the County—will create a strong tax base for years to come.

“Since I joined the Council, we have closed a cumulative $2.7 billion budget gap, slowed the rate of growth in expenditures and put our County on a sustainable fiscal path. As our economic recovery continues, this decision today by the rating agencies demonstrates that Montgomery County is moving in the right direction.”

Council President Navarro has chaired the Council’s Government Operations and Fiscal Policy Committee (GO) since 2010.

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Nancy Navarro Elected President of Montgomery County Council

by on December 4, 2012 in Press Releases

Montgomery County Council Elects Nancy Navarro as First Latina President, Craig Rice as Vice President for 2012-13

New County Council President Navarro gives a commemorative plaque to outgoing Council President Roger Berliner

 

ROCKVILLE, December 4, 2012—The Montgomery County Council today unanimously elected Nancy Navarro as president and Craig Rice as vice president of the Council. They will serve one-year terms as officers of the Council.

Councilmember Navarro, who represents District 4, served as vice president of the Council for the past year. She becomes the first Latina president of the County Council.

“I want to talk about One Montgomery,” Council President Navarro said to set the tone of her presidency. “To me, One Montgomery means recognizing the differences among us, while emphasizing that however different our backgrounds or our lifestyles may be, we are all connected. We all depend on each other. We all share the same need for a government that encourages economic growth, protects our families, educates our children, and provides a safety net in case we fall on hard times.”

President Navarro was elected to represent District 4 in a special election in May 2009 and was re-elected in the general election of November 2010. She chairs the Council’s Government Operations and Fiscal Policy (GO) Committee and serves on the Health and Human Services Committee. Prior to her election to the Council, Councilmember Navarro served on the Montgomery County Board of Education, where she was twice elected president (2006 and 2008). She was appointed to the Board of Education in October 2004 to fill the term of the vacant District 5 seat. In November 2006, she was elected to a full four-year term.

Council Vice President Rice, who represents District 2, was elected to the County Council in November 2010. He is the youngest African American to ever serve on the  Council and only the second African American man to serve in that role.  He is a member of the Council’s Education Committee and its Health and Human Services Committee, where he serves as the lead member for libraries. A lifelong resident of Montgomery County, in the fall of 2006, he was elected to the Maryland House of Delegates, defeating a 12-year incumbent. He served on the Ways and Means Committee and was a member of both its Education and Revenues subcommittees. He also served on Montgomery Delegation’s Land Use and Transportation Committee.

Complete text of Council President Navarro’s remarks upon her election:

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