Montgomery County proposes to sell land parcel to Glen Echo Fire Department

The Montgomery County Council will hold a public hearing tomorrow, Tuesday, October 23, 2018 at 1:30 PM regarding the proposed sale of a County-owned land parcel adjacent to 5920 Massachusetts Avenue to the Glen Echo Fire Department at less than market value. County Executive Ike Leggett has authorized a Declaration of No Further Need for the parcel, which must be approved by the Council.

Maryland's State Highway Administration deeded the parcel to the County on July 14, 2017. The deed stipulates that the land can only be used for a public purpose. If the County or GEFD were to propose a private use of the property, the SHA could reclaim the parcel outright under the 2017 agreement. A sale price of $4,425 has been specified.

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The GEFD will use the land as part of the renovation and expansion of its current fire station, including the addition of a third truck bay. That project is already nearly 20 years behind schedule, and won't even get design funding from the Council until FY-2020. The fire station house is over sixty years old, and the GEFD will have to service all of the additional residential and retail development planned in the Westbard sector over the next decade.

BETHESDA MOM SPOOKED BY SANTA CLAUS

Emergency vehicle sirens have been echoing throughout west Bethesda over the last two evenings. 

But it was no emergency - it was Santa Claus.

Each December, Santa makes his way through every street of that part of Bethesda, with the help of the Glen Echo Volunteer Fire Department.  Having grown up there, I can tell you that this tradition is much beloved by the community. The excitement of Santa Claus passing by rivaled the Christmas tree purchase for biggest holiday event of the month (unless Santa's other appearances at Montgomery Mall count). 

But - understandably - new arrivals may be unaware of St. Nick's annual journey, which takes a while to accomplish.

So it was that one resident took to a local "Mommy Blog" to seek answers:

"We live in the Sumner neighborhood between Mass Ave and Sangamore," wrote "Anonymous" at 7:21 PM last night.

"For the better part of the past half hour there has been the sound of emergency vehicle sirens (police?) going through the neighborhood. Does anyone know what occurred?"

Residents responded to reassure the poster that it was just Santa Claus.