Council President, Councilmembers, thank you for the opportunity to testify today.
My name is Radwan Chowdhury, and I am here to express strong and unequivocal support for moving Viva White Oak forward as the economic anchor, housing catalyst, and long-overdue investment East County urgently deserves.
For decades, East County residents have waited for a project capable of transforming our economic landscape. Viva White Oak is that project—a once-in-a-generation opportunity to deliver jobs, innovation, transit connectivity, and new housing supply at a moment when Montgomery County desperately needs all four.
1. VWO Is the Economic Engine East County Has Been Denied for Too Long
East County is home to tremendous talent, a globally significant FDA campus, and one of the most diverse communities in Maryland—yet for 40 years, we have been left out of major economic investments.
VWO finally corrects that imbalance.
Studies and Planning Board analyses make one fact clear:
VWO cannot succeed without the infrastructure required to support the next innovation corridor of Montgomery County.
This means planning today—not years later—for the full infrastructure package that will sustain long-term development, attract employers, and create a competitive economic zone that benefits the entire county.
2. Housing Shortage: VWO Delivers Supply Where the Need Is Greatest
Montgomery County is in a housing crisis.
Young families, nurses, teachers, and workforce residents cannot afford to live here. East County has land capacity, transit corridors, and shovel-ready opportunity—what we need is approval, infrastructure alignment, and urgency.
VWO delivers:
- Thousands of new housing units
- Mixed-income and workforce opportunities
- Walkable, transit-supported communities
- Housing aligned with real job growth—not isolated from it
If we are serious about meeting our housing commitments and preventing displacement, VWO is not optional—it’s essential.
3. Infrastructure: The County Must Commit to a Connected East County
The East County Citizens Advisory Board has been crystal clear:
US 29 and Cherry Hill Road cannot absorb VWO growth without upgrades.
These are the only access points. They are already failing.
We need:
- A comprehensive Four-Corridor BRT system
- Existing US29 (Blue)
- Modified US29 (Orange)
- Randolph Road BRT
- New Hampshire Avenue BRT
- Intersection redesigns at
- Cherry Hill Road & Broadbirch Drive
- Cherry Hill Road & Calverton Boulevard
- Integrated redesign of the US29–Industrial Parkway–Old Columbia Pike nexus
- Industrial Parkway improvements aligned with the future “White Oak Way” connection
These are not luxuries—these are prerequisites for a modern economic hub.
4. TIF Is Not a Risk—It Is a Necessary Tool to Unlock Growth
The Advisory Board and planning experts have already concluded that Tax Increment Financing is the most viable and responsible method to fund the infrastructure needed for Phase 1.
- TIF does not raise taxes on residents.
- TIF does not take money away from schools or services.
- TIF simply uses the future value that VWO itself creates to build the infrastructure that makes the project possible.
Montgomery County has used TIF before for Downtown Wheaton, White Flint, and transit projects.
East County deserves the same level of commitment.
5. Viva White Oak Is Not Just a Development—It Is a Promise of Equity
For too long, East County has been treated as an afterthought.
We lack the employment centers, tax base, transit investments, and high-value assets that other regions receive as a matter of routine.
Supporting Viva White Oak is not just an economic decision—it is a statement that East County matters.
Final Request
On January 13th, I urge the Council to:
- Fully support VWO Phase 1 and Phase 2 infrastructure planning.
- Approve TIF as the primary funding mechanism to deliver required infrastructure.
- Direct MCDOT to immediately launch the corridor-wide alternatives study for the four-corridor BRT system.
- Advance VWO as a centerpiece strategy for housing production and economic equity.
The future of East County—and our countywide economic competitiveness—depends on decisive action. Please do not delay this opportunity any longer.
Viva White Oak is our path to jobs, mobility, and housing. Now is the time to move it forward. Thank you for your leadership and for the opportunity to speak.