The Montgomery County Council is now considering a bold new plan to expand the Shady Grove Science Center as part of the proposed Gaithersburg West Master Plan.  This new plan would literally transform what is now a heavily auto-dependent, suburban commercial center into the kind of walkable, transit-oriented, environmentally-sustainable town center that is consistent with the County’s smart-growth principles and long-term economic development plans.

It will help concentrate future educational, healthcare, bio-science and related development in the heart of the I-270 technology corridor, thereby reducing the pressure for “sprawl” development further away from existing and planned transit stations and other infrastructure.  

In addition, it will provide what we need most to keep the I-270 corridor competitive as a thriving center for science, healthcare, education and innovation in today’s globally competitive market.  This plan will create for the first time, a real focal point for our community:  A place where students, researchers, scientists and entrepreneurs can live and work, share ideas, and collaborate to advance science, technology and healthcare.  

This bold new plan will create the kind of vibrant, mixed-use community that will help attract the next generation of top scientific talent – the “creative class” – on which our economic future depends to locate and stay in this area.

• It will create thousands of high-tech science and related jobs in the heart of the I-270 technology corridor.
• It will expand our tax base and provide millions of dollars to help fund schools and other County services. 
• It will transform an auto-dependent commercial area into a vibrant transit-oriented community where you can walk to jobs, shops and restaurants. 
• It will provide new parks, public recreation facilities, and sports fields for the community. 
• The plan includes a "staging" requirement, so new development cannot happen until new roads, transit and school capacity is in place.
•  The new proposed plan is much better than current plans – economically, environmentally, community use and open space, create kind of vibrant community center that has been missing in the 270 corridor