Recent Work
Explore our recent panel reports below to learn about the challenging land use and real estate issues that ULI members have helped to solve.
Grant Building TAP
President Lincoln’s Cottage and the National Trust for Historic Preservation convened a 2-day Technical Assistance Panel to investigate future uses for the historic Grant Building, situated next to the Cottage’s Visitor Education Center.
The Grant Building is situated on the grounds of the Armed Forces Retirement Home (AFRH), was originally built as a mess hall and dormitory for the 400 some armed forces who lived on the grounds. The building stopped being used as a dormitory in the 1960s and has been closed since 1998. Today, the Grant building has serious safety concerns: water damage, asbestos, lead paint. The panel explored the financial reality of mothballing the building, and razing the building, but ultimately recommended rehabbing Grant and reusing it as affordable housing for veterans.
University Boulevard TAP
The Montgomery County Department of Planning convened a two-day Technical Assistance Panel with the overall goal of addressing community needs as they pertain to traffic safety, regional connectivity, environmental sustainability, and economic development. The panel was asked to explore potential opportunities for new infill development, bikeways, future bus rapid transit (BRT), and the potential for creating a “complete street” – a boulevard with wider sidewalks, comfortable public transportation stops and safe access. These goals are in line with the Thrive Montgomery 2050 plan, which envisions how the entire county can focus on growth, development, safety and resilience for the coming decades – particularly in the east county, where the University Boulevard corridor is located – while still keeping the agriculture reserve and parklands intact.
Great Seneca Corridor TAP
The Great Seneca Corridor is the epicenter of national public health research and serves as a hub for life sciences and education institutions. While this area has grown in recent years, more can be done to promote connectivity and community engagement in the space. The Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission (M-NCPPC) has geographic authority in Montgomery County, and approached ULI to convene a Technical Assistance Panel to address this issue. Over two days, panelists toured the area, met with stakeholders and produced recommendations to improve health, wellness and public spaces, improve connectivity and transportation, and better facilitate development and land use.