Montgomery County officials made quite a publicity stunt out of the groundbreaking for 4500 East-West Highway Thursday. The current McDonald's site is the future home of a new office building, as I reported many months ago.
One reader, Diarmaid McGleenan, provided some helpful details about the project. The power lines along Pearl Street will be buried prior to demolition and construction activities. Also, Montgomery Avenue will be reduced to 1 lane during off-peak hours, but expand back to 3 during most rush hour periods.
A good heads up for drivers traveling through that area.
But I thought the politicians' theatrics were a bit much. The relevant point is not so much that new, Class A office buildings are rare, as if development in itself solves an economic problem. Rather, it's that new, Class A office buildings are rare because the county has failed to attract the large employers who create the demand for such space.
And that is hardly cause to congratulate themselves. Bring the jobs, and the office space will follow.
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