WASHINGTON (October 27, 2003) - A jury formed by the Smart Growth Alliance (SGA) has commended a proposed development for Silver Spring, Md., as contributing land use, transportation and environmental advantages to Montgomery County and the Washington region.

The SGA is a coalition of five regional organizations: the Chesapeake Bay Foundation, Greater Washington Board of Trade, Coalition for Smarter Growth, Metropolitan Washington Builders’ Council and ULI Washington (a district council of the Urban Land Institute). These organizations, some of which have held opposing views on growth issues, formed the Alliance three years ago to research, identify and encourage land use, transportation and environmental policies and practices that support smart growth in the region.

The proposal by the SGA is Eastern Village Cohousing, a development involving the rehabilitation of a distressed office building into a mixed-use condominium project providing 55 residential units, common facilities, and 12,000 square feet of office and artist space. As yet, 36 of the 55 available units have been reserved. Substantial “green” technology will be incorporated in the construction to conserve energy; and trellises and a garden are planned for the site.

According to the developer, Eastern Village Cohousing, LLC, the project will fill the need for small, moderately priced offices and artist studies in an area where most commercial space is either large and expensive, or small but in need of renovation. In addition, the condominiums will help fill the demand for more housing that is close to employment.

The location is approximately one-quarter mile from the Silver Spring Transportation Center, which when completed, will offer access to Metrorail and Metrobus systems, MARC trains, and Greyhound/Trailways buses.

“We are very pleased to receive support from the Smart Growth Alliance for our Eastern Village Cohousing development. As an adaptive re-use of an abandoned office building and as a Metro-oriented, urban infill project, Eastern Village exemplifies the smart growth policies of Montgomery County and the state of Maryland,” said Don Tucker, President of Eco Housing Corporation.

Information on the application process is available at www.sgalliance.org; or through e-mail:sga@uli.org