Takoma Park/Silver Spring Campus Projects Updates – April 7, 2023

Dear Neighbors,

Thank you for your interest in the Takoma Park/Silver Spring Campus construction projects. We strive to keep our neighbors informed about significant construction events with this weekly email notification.

This notice provides information on the construction of the Catherine and Isiah Leggett Building and the campus library renovation in the Resource Center.

Upcoming activities are listed below:

• Masonry: The brick installation for the building will resume in a few weeks.
• Greenhouse: The greenhouse installation on the south end of the building is continuing. 
• Site Utilities: Utility piping backfilling is progressing on the Fenton Street side of the structure. 
• Interior Work: Interior work continues to advance. 
• Deliveries: Materials are being delivered on-site for use within the structure. All trucks are required to follow designated routes to and from the site and must enter and exit on Fenton Street from Philadelphia.
• Upcoming Takoma Ave. Work: As noted last week and during the March 7 Project Update Forum, work is expected to occur in May for the creation of the south parking lot entrance/exit on Takoma Ave. This long-planned lot will serve a limited number of vehicles. Truck traffic specific only to the parking lot completion and partial road closures are expected on Takoma Ave. for the duration of this work. All work will be conducted in line with construction directives and will prioritize minimizing disruption in the area. More information will be provided as May approaches.

• Interior Demolition: The demolition of the interior of the building is progressing. Dumpsters are present on the north and south ends of the site. Deliveries and collections will continue to take place daily. 
• Abatement: Limited interior asbestos abatement work will commence on April 10.  All work will be in full compliance with all safety laws and regulations. The work will be completed within 2-3 days. Public notification signs are posted around the worksite in compliance with regulations. 

• Facilities Master Plan Update: Community colleges across Maryland are required by law to update their Facilities Master Plan every ten years. Montgomery College will update our plan over the coming months for the years 2023 to 2033. The master plan is a high-level document that reviews the conditions of existing facilities, future facility needs based on future enrollment, academic programs, services, and operations of the College. The updated plan is expected to be completed by the end of the year. Montgomery College will conduct community meetings to share information and to solicit your comments as we review and update the plan to meet the needs of our students and serve the residents of the county.
• Community Meetings: Two collegewide public meetings will be held between now and the end of fall, along with additional engagement sessions for specific campus locations. Following the first collegewide Facilities Master Plan public meeting, a meeting will be held for Takoma Park/Silver Spring residents. The collegewide kickoff will be held on May 2 at 6pm and the meeting for Takoma Park/Silver Spring residents will be held May 4 at 6pm (please register here).

• On Monday, April 10, Brawner Builders will begin work required to repair the bearing plates on the pedestrian bridge that spans across Fenton Street from Jesup Blair Park into the Student Services Building. This project has been coordinated with all appropriate agencies, including Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning, CSX Transportation, and Washington Metro Area Transit Authority.Approved tree protection measures in Jesup Blair Park will begin on April 10. Scaffolding will then be erected around the bridge in the park, and a bucket truck will be used on the west side of Fenton Street. The bridge will remain open during the approximately 2-week duration of the project. Traffic should not be disrupted though access to sidewalk along Fenton maybe impeded by the bucket truck placement.

Please visit our website for additional information on all three TP/SS construction projects. As always, you may contact us with questions at community@montgomerycollege.edu.

Thank you,
The Montgomery College Team