HANOVER, MD – Governor Martin O’Malley today announced that The JBG Companies of Chevy Chase, Maryland, has been awarded the Governor’s 2011 Smart, Green & Growing Award in recognition and appreciation of the developer’s effective planning, design and construction of Twinbrook Station. Twinbrook Station is a joint Transit-Oriented Development of The JBG Companies and the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA). At full build out, it will transform more than 26 acres of existing commuter parking lots into a vibrant 2.2 million-square-foot, vibrant mixed‐use community on the Red Line in Rockville, Maryland.
“To create jobs, a modern economy requires modern investments. We are pleased to honor The JBG Companies of Chevy Chase with this year’s Smart, Green & Growing Award for their commitment to creating sustainable developments that connect our communities,” said Governor O’Malley. “Twinbrook Station is a great example of Transit-Oriented Development that creates jobs and helps us grow in smarter, more sustainable ways so that together, we can leave our children a better future.”
Governor O’Malley has made Transit-Oriented Developments a top priority because they bring together a mix of retail, residential, office and entertainment space next to established transit stations. The result is that Maryland revitalizes existing communities, increases transit ridership and channels expected growth toward areas where walkable, sustainable communities are planned. In June 2010, Governor O’Malley identified Twinbrook Station as one of 14 designated Transit-Oriented Development projects in Maryland to receive priority development focus. WMATA promotes this type of smart development on its station properties to increase access to the Metrorail system and to create revenue streams that benefit the system.
"Transit oriented development is the Phi Beta Kappa of smart growth and Metro is proud to be the nation's leading public developer of these communities, in partnership with fine private developers like JBG," said Steve Goldin, Metro's Director of Real Estate.
The Maryland Department of Transportation’s (MDOT) Director of Real Estate Andrew J. Scott Sunday presented the Smart, Green and Growing Award to Tony Greenberg, Vice President of The JBG Companies, during the Rail~Volution Conference tour of Twinbrook Station in Rockville. Started by leaders with a vision for using transit to promote smarter growth, Rail~Volution is now a nationally known conference on livable communities. This year’s Rail~Volution is being held in Washington, D.C.
"This award recognizes JBG's efforts to anchor the sprawling and disconnected retail, office and residential areas that currently surround the Metro station," said Tony Greenberg, JBG Vice President and project manager for Twinbrook Station. "We believe we are in sync with Maryland's initiative to merge living, shopping and working near transit centers to help reduce the area's vehicle miles traveled and by making public transportation more accessible and more attractive."
The Governor’s Smart, Green and Growing Award is given to localities, projects, individuals and groups that demonstrate Smart Growth in practice. Governor O’Malley’s Smart, Green and Growing Award Program was established to recognize and to promote local governments and groups that are leading by example, by creating projects or programs that improve the communities and community design and that exemplify Smart Growth principles.
The benefits of Twinbrook Station’s connectivity and accessibility are reinforced by the project’s
assortment of uses. When completed, Twinbrook Station will have a 325,000 square foot Class A office building; 1,595 multifamily units; 220,000 square feet of street front retail space; and acres of public open space with multiple parks and courtyards. In addition to strategies implemented during the design and construction phase, Twinbrook Station will adhere to strict operational policies to ensure the Transit-Oriented Development functions as effectively as possible.
In fact, the development will encourage people to use public transportation through a number of efforts including: shared parking, a transit resource center, an on‐site transit coordinator, real-time transit information, Zipcars and distribution of cycling and transit-related information to residents and employees. Twinbrook Station's first residential and retail phase, The Alaire, has already been completed and residents and shoppers now enjoy a short walk to the Twinbrook Metro station. For views of Twinbrook Station's first phase, The Alaire, click here for Image 1, Image 2 and Image 3.
MDOT is committed to a more sustainable transportation network by linking: community revitalization, transportation improvements, economic development, smart growth and environmentally friendly travel options. MDOT collaborates closely with several State and local entities and WMATA on projects to help restore the Bay, preserve land, revitalize communities, create green jobs, improve transit, conserve energy and address climate change. This award is intended to help recognize and encourage innovation in transportation and to highlight the importance in realizing Governor O’Malley’s vision of a Smart, Green and Growing future for Maryland. Contact:
Jack Cahalan
Erin Henson
410-865-1028 |
