Study explores strategies for more connected community for Georgia Avenue and Randolph Road in Glenmont
Wheaton, Md. – The Montgomery County Planning Department , part of The Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission , presented the findings of the Glenmont Corridors Opportunity Study to the Montgomery County Planning Board at its March 6, 2025, meeting. The study identified infrastructure, services, amenities, and short-term actions necessary to support Thrive Montgomery 2050’s principles of corridor focused growth and complete communities in the Glenmont area, specifically at the intersection of Georgia Avenue and Randolph Road.
Read the Glenmont Corridors Opportunity Study .
Key findings of the study include:
- The need to leverage the Glenmont Metrorail Station as a transit hub while addressing challenges such as car-centric infrastructure, fragmented property ownership, and underutilized commercial spaces.
- Community feedback highlighted concerns regarding pedestrian safety, public space enhancements, and equitable housing opportunities.
- The need for revitalization of the Glenmont Shopping Center, positioning it as a vibrant anchor within the community.
The study also outlines targeted strategies to guide future development, including:
- Strengthening Glenmont’s Identity : Enhance placemaking through public spaces, local retail, and mixed-use development. Establish a central civic green and integrate open spaces with surrounding development.
- Expanding Housing Opportunities : Promote mixed-income, transit-oriented housing with a focus on affordability and accessibility.
- Improving Connectivity and Safety : Implement Vision Zero measures, bike-friendly infrastructure, and expanded transit services.
- Revitalizing Economic Activity : Support small businesses, informal vendors, and flexible retail spaces to boost economic vibrancy.
“We are hopeful that the study shows a path and lays an outline for a much grander vision for what Glenmont truly can be,” said lead planner Zubin Adrianvala. “It is already a wonderful community of people. I think it’s time the space starts reflecting the people of Glenmont as a complete community.”
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Work on the study began in early 2024 and involved conversations with the community to identify the current conditions of the study area and the problems the community faces today. Planners held focus groups with community members, businesses, and other stakeholders, conducted a bilingual questionnaire, and mailed postcards to the study area. Feedback received from the community directly shaped the study’s strategies and priorities from implementation.
Advancing the vision of Thrive Montgomery 2050
One of the main themes of Thrive Montgomery 2050 is to build complete communities along the county’s corridors. Thrive envisions complete communities as areas that encompass a variety of land uses, infrastructure, services, and amenities to cater to diverse needs. Another theme of Thrive Montgomery 2050 is the concept of corridor focused growth. Corridor focused growth aligns the intensity of development along the corridors with the urban, suburban, and rural context of the surrounding area and calibrated to account for existing or planned transit and other transportation infrastructure. Thrive Montgomery 2050 recognizes that certain corridors possess the potential for growth and development throughout their entire length while others are more likely to experience such potential primarily as centers of activity or nodes along the corridor.
The Glenmont Corridors Opportunity Study finds that the area should focus on transit-oriented development, multi-modal accessibility, and inclusive economic growth thus aligning with the principles of Thrive Montgomery 2050.
For updates and link to press release, see here: https://montgomeryplanning.org/?p=61984