The Montgomery County government and the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) announced Monday a partnership to bring a life sciences hub to North Bethesda.
The proposed development is expected to increase the county’s stature as a national center for life science and medical research as well as promote economic development and transit ridership, county and WMATA officials said during a press conference at the North Bethesda Metro station on Monday.
Under a memorandum of understanding signed Monday by Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich (D) and WMATA General Manager Randy Clarke, the two entities will develop nearly 14 acres of land surrounding the station at 5500 Marinelli Road for a new graduate-level life sciences research hub. While a developer has not been selected, WMATA released a request for bids later Monday afternoon. The project is anticipated to include approximately 2 million to 3.7 million square feet of development.
“We’re excited, obviously, about this development. We have an industry-leading strategic plan here at Metro [for the project],” Clarke said at the press conference.
The plan is for the developer to create a new community along with the life sciences hub, with housing, office, retail and public space, according to officials. The life sciences sector includes medical and bioresearch, health data research, healthcare and manufacturing.
Elrich said Monday it would be “an understatement” that to say he was excited about the partnership. He cited his long-term goal as county executive to redevelop North Bethesda following the closure of the White Flint Mall in 2016.
“When I was first elected five and a half years ago, my goal was to create a development scenario for White Flint because it’s simply the largest redeveloped space on the Red Line,” Elrich said. “There is no place else that you can pack in 15 million square feet in an environment that is basically ready for a lot of stuff on the ground. So this was a very unique place in Montgomery County.”
Elrich said the partnership with WMATA is strategic to create a triangle that would connect the research facilities to the Metro station as well as increased housing, dining and retail options. Several officials who spoke at the press conference Monday likened the idea to Kendall Square, a technology hub in Cambridge, Massachusetts, or Silicon Valley.
“[This is about] reimagining what this transit site could be, not just a stop … but really above the cutting-edge innovation, a vibrant place and space for people to be able to live and to work and to meet all of their needs within walking distance of where they live and where they go to work,” Montgomery County Council President Andrew Friedson (D-Dist. 1) said during the press conference.
The project is being supported by $5 million in federal funding from Congress. Sens. Ben Cardin and Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) were on hand Monday to present a ceremonial check.
“These funds are really competitive. They’re not easy to come by,” Cardin said. “But your plan, your partnership, set you up for success, and we’re glad to be part of that coalition.”
The plan is the latest in similar efforts to expand health technology developments in North Bethesda. In November 2022, Montgomery County, state and federal officials joined partners from University of Maryland’s medical system in North Bethesda to sign an agreement that established a health computing center in North Bethesda.
The $40 million center will be built near the North Bethesda Metro station. According to the memorandum of understanding, the county is providing $15 million in fiscal year 2023 — and $5 million in each of the following years, through fiscal year 2028, plus a total of $3 million from the federal government. Gov. Wes Moore (D) visited North Bethesda in February 2023 to learn how he could support the center.
“We are building a future here in North Bethesda, people are excited to be here now to raise their families, and we’re looking for even more exciting things to happen,” council Vice President Kate Stewart (D-Dist. 4), who represents North Bethesda, said, referencing the multiple life sciences developments.